Page 80 of The Night Wolf
Sean reached up and fisted his hand in Gareth’s shirt. “I never want to hear you say something so stupid again. You made life better where you could, and that’s not easy. And Lydonisutopia, at least as far as I’m concerned. It’ll be nice for the town to have an influx of fresh voices, though.” He tilted his head. “Are you sure you can give this up? I mean, your family founded Lydon.”
There was no question Gareth would miss the people, but Sean and their kids, and people like Margaret and Quinn, deserved to live in a world that was without fear. As long as Gareth and Sean were together, they would always have each other. Who did Margaret have? The little girl with the big, trusting eyes who had pleaded with Gareth to save her had no one. Oh, sure, Dr. Frank and Marcella had agreed to take her in, but beyond that, what was left for her?
“Yes. I’ll have you and the kids with me, so I’m taking home wherever I go. I’m still fuzzy on the whole Alpha Supreme thing.”
“Think of it like an arbiter. You go in, you see the conditions the people are living under, and you make changes. It might be as minor as helping to build a new school, or it might be removing the Alpha and putting a better one in his place. The same things you were doing in Lydon, but on a much larger scale.”
“And what if they don’t want to go? What if they refuse?”
“You are empowered by Mother. She’s ordained it, so you’ve the right to use whatever options you deem necessary. Buy them out, banish them, or if need be, kill them. That last one? Try not to do that too often. Be true to who you are and find a better way.”
That led to a question that had plagued Gareth. “Why were you sick? I mean, you’re a wolf and an Omega. Why would Mother allow you to be ill?”
A sigh. “She told me that there would be trials, and one of them was allowing me to get sick. She said that in order for someone to be a true leader, they had to show compassion for others. Ryker killed the sick rather than try to heal them. When he absorbed another pack, he gave them nothing beyond the basics. He—” Sean swallowed hard. “—had no problem turning on them if they displeased him. My parents….”
It hurt Gareth to feel Sean’s pain. He pulled Sean into his arms and held him while he cried over two people who didn’t deserve his sympathy, but still.
“I’m here. Let it out.”
And he did. Heaving sobs for the lost innocence of both Sean and Quinn. The lost lives. The traumas Sean had endured. All of it came tumbling out of him as he told Gareth things that had him wanting to hunt and destroy anyone who’d harmed his mate.
“Always remember, I love you. I will always love you.” He kissed Sean’s hair. “And I won’t ever walk away.”
“Thank you.”
The babies began to fuss simultaneously. Sean sat up and went to the cribs. They took one look at him and settled. A moment later, Dani burst through the door but pulled up short when she saw Sean and Gareth.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were up. I was warming bottles for them, and—”
Sean scrubbed a hand over his eyes and beamed a smile at her. “Thank you so much, Dani. For everything. The room is amazing, and I can see how much you already love the kids.”
“They’re precious.” She sighed. “But you’re going to be taking them with you, aren’t you?”
Sean nodded. “We have to leave. Mother gave us a job to do, and it’s hard to tell her no.”
“When you stood up and Kristopher put the knife to your back, I freaked out. But when her voice came from your mouth? I wanted to drop to my knees right there and say how unworthy I was to be in her presence.”
“Oh, hush. All wolves are meant to be in her presence, but those who strayed from her teachings of love, service to one another, and coming together as a pack? They need to find their way back.” Gareth touched Dani on the shoulder. “You, more than most, would be welcomed by her with open arms. You took a scared Omega and gave him a home without question or concern. You let him into your home and made him a part of your family. How does that not show your worth to her, and to me?”
Her lip wobbled a bit. “Smooth talker.”
“You could come with us, you know. We’d love to have you.”
She gazed at the babies for a moment. “I want to, and you have no idea how bad. But you just brought fifty-seven people into Lydon, and Lyram will need me if he’s going to make them feel at home.” She bit her lip. “You are leaving Lyram in charge, right?”
That wasn’t the right way to say it. “No. I left him in charge when I went away on business. Now I’m turning the pack over to him to guide.” It hurt a bit to think of the future without Lydon. “This will no longer be my home.”
Sean cleared his throat. “Actually, as Alpha Supreme, every pack is yours. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You’re responsible for every pack throughout the world, and, as such, you have a home wherever you go.” Sean took a deep breath. “And there’s more.”
“Oh, why wouldn’t there be?” Gareth winked. “What’s going on?”
“Both of our children are Omegas. When Mother said they were the next generation of wolves, she was serious. When they find love, they will usher in a fresh start for everyone.”
“So our son will be able to get pregnant? That should make the Sex Ed talk fun.”
Sean and Dani chuckled. “Only if his mate is a man. If he finds a woman, she will still bear the children.”
There were so many questions Gareth wanted to ask, but the most important one came out. “What changes did Mother make to me?”
