Page 107 of His Bonded Omega Mate
It wasn’t just that he’d come all that way and said all the right words. Xavier Stewart, the proud alpha, had gone to Blake and asked to join the pack so he could be close by, even if we didn’t accept him into our lives.
Dad spent the day with us, just getting to know each other properly as adults, until Asher took him to our house. My sneaky mate had been in contact with Tate to ask his thoughts on Dad staying with us to give us a hand. With three babies in our family, and after seeing Blake and Kade struggle, I agreed that we’d need the help, especially now I was without the use of this arm. I wasn’t sure if my father was the man for the job, but I wanted him to prove me wrong.
“Is it weird having your dad here?” Kade asked carefully. “Blake won’t accept him into the pack later if you don’t want him around. If things change —“
“Blake will kick him out?” I couldn’t help my laugh. “I believe that. Your parents will have my dad packed and out of the compound in record time if he sets a foot out of line.” I ruffled Kade’s hair. “Even though we have our own families, you are still my family, Kade. You chose me when others would have sent me away.” Emotion thickened my throat, making it difficult to get the words out.
Kade rested his head against my chest. “Don’t make me cry! I love you, you idiot. Of course I’d choose you. Now let’s go drop some truth bombs.”
Truth bombs?
The lawn to the side of the mansion looked amazing, press conference ready, with chairs, a long table at the top, to which Kade led me so I would sit on his right-hand side, Blake to his left. Axel and Deke stood behind the alpha pair, Chase sitting to Blake’s left.
Hiroshi squeezed my thigh from his place on my right, my dad on his other side. Tate and Asher just down from him. I noticed that Teagan, Ívarr, James, and Aldrin were all at the table, keeping Kade and Blake firmly in the middle.
The omegas had been re-inducted to the pack before they even left the clinic, both wanting the link for their safety. Dad would make his vow to Blake after this meeting if there was time. I wanted him to stay.
Blake waited for the council members that lived in the compound or in Sweetwater to take seats before he nodded to Melody to bring the stream to the members elsewhere.
As one, the pack quieted, waiting for their Alpha to speak. “Afternoon, Sweetwater pack and members of the council. We have brought you here today to make an announcement about the pack going forward.” Blake paused and Kade took his hand and stood, taking over speaking.
“As of today, I will no longer be a member of the council. I enjoyed representing omegas, particularly male omegas and highlighting their needs, but feel that my purpose is to guide my pack into its new future. I need to be more present for my children and the omegas of my pack. They need me here, not stuck in meetings and filling out paperwork. I am grateful for the opportunity given to me, but it no longer fits my life.”
Kade sat, looking carefully composed, but he squeezed my hand under the table. “Get ready,” he said under his breath as Blake stood.
“From today, the Sweetwater pack will no longer be affiliated with the shifter council. We are announcing our intention to break free from our problematic government system and will adopt other measures to ensure that I am held accountable for the lives of my pack mates as Alpha of the Sweetwater pack.”
The council members all looked between themselves, a ripple of movement in an otherwise silent crowd. The pack knew their alpha wasn’t done, so they waited to speak.
“At the moment, we don’t know what that will mean. Perhaps we will have representatives and make our own council with me at the head. The time for discussion will be later once we solve the most pressing problem — the council in Sweetwater.”
I could almost feel everyone hold their breath as Blake braced for what he was going to say. “The shifter council is to blame for the events that nearly lost us one of our own. They are to blame for the kidnapping of two of our omegas.”
Alpha shifters from the council launched from their seats and voiced their protest. Blake raised an eyebrow, and as one, the enforcers for the pack moved, pushing the council back into their seats.
“You will listen,” Blake said calmly, a wave of alpha influence flowing over the assembly. “We have evidence that shows the council knew who had taken the bond breaking potions. They allowed Jared to roam free despite knowing where he was and the danger that he represented. He has been given too many passes for far too serious crimes. The alphas on the council have ruled for too long and are no longer welcome in Sweetwater.”
Blake locked eyes with one of the council leaders in the crowd. “The council and their anti-female rhetoric they spout to any alpha or beta male that will listen to their hate is the reason for the continued attacks on my daughter. They are the very reason we lost alpha females before. To protect future alpha females, to promote fertility and prosperity in the pack, The Luna has advised us to break with the council. Visions from the elven seer support us.”
Gasps rang out from the pack, but none argued with our Alpha. The council looked between themselves uneasily aside from a few, like councilman Ford. He looked... proud?
When everyone settled, Blake spoke again. “We have thought about this long and hard since the attack that nearly lost us Roan. Going forward, we will look at each member of the pack individually since so many shifters here helped aid Jared. There is too much hate here for us to live happy lives. We have to stand united against it. I will not allow prejudice to thrive. Kade and I want a forward-looking pack, where each member is valued no matter what they contribute.” Blake looked like he had more to say, but kept that information to himself. For now.
Blake sat, and Kade rose again. “We want to thank the members of the council that helped us in our time of need by providing guards and medical staff. However, we know that information from our pack was fed to others in the area, creating tension where none should exist. Our friends in the Northarbor pride will arrive shortly to escort everyone affiliated with the council off the compound. Access to the compound to retrieve remaining possessions will be granted on an appointment basis only.” Kade looked slightly smug, yet I could see him tremble. I took his hand, Blake taking his other.
“Pack, we are going into lockdown until we find the traitors. Until we can guarantee the lives of the innocent will not be put at risk by men that hold too much power over our lives. Men with an agenda. I have faith in my pack. We will get through this.” He paused. “Council, you have one hour to pack.”
Nesting
Tate
“Wrong,it’sallwrong,”I muttered to myself as I re-organized the blankets and cushions that covered the floor of the master bedroom.
“We can move your nest to the nursery,” Asher suggested carefully as he watched me move a throw somewhere it had already been.
“No, it doesn’t smell right in there. It has to be here, so our egg is with everyone.”
Michaella had been coaching me, letting me know what to expect from laying the egg and what came after. She had suggested it was time to make my nest because my raven might get fussy over it since it was my first time making one. Our doula knew it was going to take me a few tries to get anything close to right. Then I would need to saturate it with my scent.
