Page 41 of The Return
He chuckled. “Dude, I wish I had balls like you do.” He went to where Kinsey stood, his hand on Matt’s arm. “I formally request to have these two wolves as part of our pack.”
The three Councilors looked at one another, confusion obvious in their expression.
“We would need to discuss—”
“No. I want an answer now,” I said. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, because I don’t really know anything about you to base it off. Our Alpha, Matt, and Kinsey all say you’re good and wise people, so I don’t think we need to discuss it.”
The three of them were gobsmacked, that was clear. Was I being an asshole? Yes. Would I stop? No. Even though we hadn’t known each other long, Matt was like a brother to me, and I would be damned if I’d let anyone treat him like this. Kinsey? I wanted him because Matt had said he looked to him for guidance. Plus, it was fun needling him.
“So what do you say?” I asked.
“Pack law has no provision for this,” Entwhile admitted.
“We’re not used to being ambushed like this,” Delray said sourly. “You should have told us this was going to happen, Jonas.”
“He didn’t know,” I said. “This was all my choice. Should I have gone to the Alpha? Yes, of course, but I didn’t want him caught in the middle of this. So it’s all on me.”
Entwhile smirked. “You’re a far better person than we’ve been.”
“What? You listen—”
“Oh, come off it. You know he’s right. We’ve lost touch with the wolves. We depend on intermediaries to tell us things, instead of us going out and actually talking to our own people.”
“We can’t be traveling the country and meeting with—”
“We have computers, Kendra. We could hold virtual town hall meetings and actually talk to those we serve. Where’s the problem? I know the two of you are older and probably lacking in technological skills, but that’s no reason for us to hide behind the Council.”
The two people glared at him, but then Yawen sighed. “He’s not wrong, Kendra. If Steven hadn’t logged us in for our meetings, I’d probably still be trying to figure it out.” He nodded at me. “You’ve given us a great deal to think about, and it was probably a long time in coming.”
“Agreed,” Entwhile said.
Delray scowled, but then she deflated. “I have to have my grandson show me how to do things. He’s six, and he knows computers better than I do,” she admitted. Then she turned her gaze on me. “In the future, please follow protocol if you want to address us.”
“Of course, ma’am.” I nodded in the direction of Kinsey and Matt. “So, can I keep these two?”
“If they want to be your wolves, yes.”
“Matt? Kinsey?” Jonas asked them.
Tears streamed down Matt’s cheeks as he flexed his fingers. “You really want me?”
“Yeah, I really do,” I told him. “I want both of you.”
He turned to Kinsey. “What do you think?”
Kinsey looked to Jonas, then me, and finally to Matt. “If you want to be here, I’ll stay too.”
“Yes, please,” Matt said, almost desperately. “But where will I live?”
“We’ll find you each a place, I promise. Until then, you stay with us,” Jonas told him.
“Is this all settled?” Enthwhile asked. “Because I really want one of those buns.”
“It is settled,” Yawen declared, though still seemingly unhappy.
It didn’t matter to me, though. Just like that, our pack grew by two new members.
CHAPTER12
