Page 42 of Pack Witch
After all the tears had dried, and the food had been eaten, all I wanted was to rest, preferably on the bed in Zinnia’s cabin. Our cabin, she insisted on calling it, though I knew I would need to build on an extra room or two if the boys’ plans to visit every year were to happen.
We’d decided to take a trip each year to the Meridion packlands in the fall, with the boys traveling to Mountain in the spring—if Bo could manage it, though he swore he could. “The girls have been runnin’ things this whole time,” he’d argued. “They ain’t burned down the Pack House while we’ve been here—least we ain’t had a call about it. I reckon they’ll make it through an Alpha vacation every spring.”
I’d agreed, though Zinnia’s willingness to travel away from her secluded home had surprised me. “I’ve got you and the boys now,” she’d explained, like that was all I needed to know. “It’s different.”
I supposed it was. Finding out I had living family four years ago had pulled me away from my own seclusion and back into the world.
At least now, shifter society was less dangerous. And even with no claws and blunt teeth, I knew I could still protect Zinniaif it came down to it. I was a skilled fighter, and I felt stronger than ever.
“You think we could stay for another week or two?” Bo asked at the end of the meal. “I still need to learn Alpha stuff, and you’re the only one I’d trust to teach me, Dad.”
“I’d be honored,” I replied, before Zinnia broke in.
“But what about your mate? She’s at Western, or at least she was.”
Leroy and Bo exchanged a look that held an entire conversation. “We know. We’re gonna send her a letter for now.”
I blinked in surprise. “A letter?”
Zinnia let out a small growl. “You’re not going to her?”
“Mom, look at us.” Leroy waved at his dirt-stained legs and arms, and his scrubby beard. I ignored the sniffle from Zinnia at the wordMom.“If we showed up right now, before we’re ready?—”
“Before I even got my pack sorted out,” Bo interrupted. “I ain’t even a proper Alpha yet.”
“And I’m still learnin’ how to be the best true mate I can be,” Leroy said with a shrug. “I know how to cook and grow vegetables now, thanks to you, Mom. But I still need to figure out laundry, and how to give a really good back rub. I heard girls can’t resist a male who knows how to do a shihtzu.”
“That ain’t it, Leroy. Shihtzu’s a little purse dog, remember? It’s shi-at-su that feels good.”
“See?” Leroy sighed heavily. “I ain’t ready. I don’t know my shits from my zoos.”
Bo nodded. “Yeah, and what happens if we go fetch our mate and take her back home, and half of them gals still only think of us as the little chickenshits we were back in the day? And they tell her what kinda stuff we used to get up to, and she decides we ain’t worth the risk? We need to go back and resuscitate ourreputations. Or at least convince some of ‘em to tell the good stories.”
Leroy added, “Bo’s gonna have to fight a bunch of Alpha challenges too, I bet. You think those fellas are just gonna roll over and show throat? He’s half the age of some of them old farts, and now that females are startin’ to be Alpha—a few of ‘em anyways—who even knows? Bo might have to fight his way through the whole pack before they make their vows.”
Bo’s cheeks had turned an odd, pale shade as Leroy rattled on. Now he leaned over the table toward me. “Uh, Dad, do you think you’d be able to come back with me, maybe vouch for me?”
I closed my eyes, the missing part of my soul suddenly aching again. To face my old pack again, but without my wolf? I wasn’t sure I was that strong yet. “I’m not sure I can, Bo. I’m not Alpha anymore.”
Leroy grunted. “Our pack never loved you because you were the Alpha. We all loved you because you’re Sergeant.”
“Being Alpha ain’ what matters.” Bo shrugged. “It’s bein’ pack. And you’ll always be our pack. With or without fur.”
“Someday,” Zinnia answered for me, reaching out to squeeze my hand gently. “Someday, when Julian and I have… found our balance. Then we’ll come and support you both. I promise.” She closed her eyes just as a swallow flew over, swooping down over her head. “We have company coming. It’s Ida.”
The boys and I were equally shocked at her words; there was no scent on the air of wolf. Though I supposed I wouldn’t have the best sense of smell now. My nose wasn’t human-dull, but close.
“How did you know?”
She smiled. “A little bird told me?”
I wondered how true that was. Could she speak the language of nature now? I made a note to ask later. “I expected Brand, or one of the others.” My pack—Bo’s pack now—would have felt theAlpha power move from me to him. For all they knew, I’d died. They would’ve called Mountain for answers. “Maybe Grigor.”
“The shifter boogeyman,” Zinnia murmured. “I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard stories. Bloody ones. I suppose he could be coming and cloaking his magic. They say he’s incredibly powerful.”
Leroy made a strangled sound, which Bo echoed. “Ah, we was thinkin’ it’d be a good time to do some perimeter runs. Maybe a few miles downriver, just to make sure?—”
Leroy finished for him, “—that we ain’t anywhere near Mr. Grigor. He told me he’d magic off my tail the next time I wagged it wrong.” He clutched at his human-shaped backside. “I don’t think my mate’d want a male without a tail, Sergeant Dad. May I be excused to run away?”
