Chapter Twenty-Three

Three days later…

“Are you nervous?” Alton asked his mate as they pulled up to his parents’ home.

She had been chewing on her lip for most of the two-hour drive. “Yes. But only because I don’t feel like dealing with this. I would rather have driven the other direction and never returned to Silvertip, to be honest.”

He chuckled, squeezing the hand he hadn’t released for the entire drive. After days of having her twenty-four seven with almost no moments of separation, he still felt the urge to keep one hand on her at all times. He intended to continue to do so even in his parents’ home. Anyone who thought they might split the two of them up was in for a surprise.

A dozen cars out front told him there were a lot of people inside. Half of them were from her family and half from his. He was glad they were all together in one place. He just hoped they all had good intentions. He wasn’t in the mood for a brawl.

He put the SUV in park and turned off the engine, turning toward Joselyn to take her in for another moment before he had to open the door and step into the cold. “If anyone gets on our nerves, or you’re done with the shenanigans, say the word and we’re out of here.”

“You too,” she returned.

He released her long enough to exit the SUV and round the front, and then he had her hand again.

With a deep breath, he led her into the house, and they greeted more people than he expected before they made it two steps inside. One by one, members of both families congratulated them on their binding as if they were in a receiving line.

He was glad to see some family he hadn’t been previously sure stood by him. But the looks on their faces and their kind words told him he’d either miscalculated, or they’d had a change of heart.

The same was true of Joselyn’s pack. He had no way of being sure what side any particular member stood when push came to shove, but judging by her subtle reactions to a few people, he had to guess she was as shocked by some of their appearances as he was.

After about a half an hour of greeting people, his father finally lifted a hand, whistled through his teeth, and created a hush. In his booming voice, he instructed everyone to have a seat.

People lowered themselves onto every imaginable surface, including the floor.

Alton’s mother pointed to a loveseat she’d guarded for the two of them, and he led Joselyn to the center of the room to take a seat with her by his side. Her parents were in the chair next to them, her mother obviously so glad to see her daughter that she never stopped smiling.

Allister started talking. “I want to thank everyone for coming here tonight, especially the members of the Arthur pack. Welcome. All of you.”

Several people clapped.

When the noise died down, he spoke again, aiming his gaze at Alton and Joselyn. “A lot has happened in the past few days, and we thought it would be easiest to explain everything to the two of you in a group. Besides, not all of us are completely informed, either.”

Alton nodded. “Thank you. We appreciate the love and support we feel tonight from all of you. It’s been rough making the decision to bind, and knowing those who matter most to us have our backs means the world.” He held Joselyn’s hand over his thigh, squeezing her fingers as he spoke.

“That was lovely, Alton. Thank you,” she said into his head.

“Anyway,” Allister continued. “Like I said, this week has been a week of meetings that followed meetings. Some were held inside Mountain Peak. Some behind the closed doors of Glacial. But others were held in this living room and at Bernard’s home too. This is a big week for both our families and our extended pack members.” Allister turned toward Bernard. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Bernard nodded. “Yes. We’ve made progress, healed old wounds, and forged new friendships.”

Allister spoke again after everyone finished clapping. “Although it seemed insurmountable just a few days ago, believe it or not, many members of both packs have put their differences aside and have decided to let the past remain in the past.

“We recognize that a hundred years ago there were many disagreements over land and water. But the reality is that most of us own property now, and water is a commodity that can no longer be stolen. We may in the not too distant future have a shortage of water from the melting of the Athabasca Glacier, but that isn’t something that can be blamed on either pack. We’ll both have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Alton listened closely, knowing what his father would have to address next.

Allister sighed, his shoulders dropping an inch. “Yes, two little boys fought one morning over a century ago, and one was mortally injured. That’s a horror no family should ever have to face from either perspective. The fact that retaliation was sought and achieved is not something anyone is proud of, either. However, if we want to prevent something like that from ever happening again, we have a responsibility to our offspring to be good role models. The bickering has to stop.”

Alton was a little surprised to see a small smile on his father’s face that seemed out of place.

But when Allister spoke again, he realized why. “My children are reaching an age where they’re binding. That means I hope to have grandchildren filling this house in the near future. They will be raised in homes filled with love and laughter.” He sobered. “We can change. We can make a difference. We can raise the next generation to drop this hatred and let the past rest where it belongs.”

Someone cheered. Someone else joined. And then there was clapping.

Allister lifted a hand. He wasn’t done. “And more importantly, I never again in my lifetime want to hear a tale of two star-crossed lovers denying themselves their right to bind over fear of reprimand from either family.” Allister smiled at his Romeo and Juliet reference. Several members of both families laughed. The cheering resumed.

Alton hoped what his father was saying would henceforth ring true. He glanced around the room, wondering if anyone else was in a secret relationship.

Allister continued, lifting a hand again to quiet the room. “Bernard has a few things to say also.”

Joselyn’s father stood, keeping his hand on his mate’s shoulder as he rounded behind her and spoke to the group. “Early this week I experienced something I never expected to see in my lifetime. Several members of my pack, including two of my brothers, turned on me. Like a mob, they demanded a vote be taken, hoping to overturn my position as both CEO of Glacial but also pack leader.”

A hush fell across the room as several people were probably hearing this for the first time.

“After numerous heated meetings, emotions running high, those of us who disagreed managed to convince the majority of the dissenters that this absurd feud was ruining lives and tearing our pack apart from the inside out. Luckily all talk of my removal has died down, and things will return to normal.”

Claps resounded once again.

Bernard continued when things quieted down. “In addition, as planned, Glacial Brewing Company will be launching the new Glacial Citrus line, Glacial Lemon and Glacial Orange, Monday. The healthy competition will benefit both breweries.”

Another round of claps and some cheers.

Alton smiled. This was going better than he could have expected.

Surprising Alton, his mother stood next to her mate, wrapping an arm around his middle before looking directly at Alton and then speaking. “We feel awful that the two of you were chased from your hometown. And although we realize you might want to forge your own path in another land, we hope you’ll consider returning someday, sooner rather than later.

“The land reserved for you that is your birthright won’t be touched by anyone else. When you’re ready, it belongs to you and your sweet mate, Joselyn.” She shot a warm smile at Joselyn who squeezed Alton’s fingers so hard it hurt.

He felt her rising emotions from within, knowing it was a struggle to keep from crying.

“Thank you, Beth,” she whispered. “That means a lot to us.”

Alton addressed his father next. “Has anyone seen Vinson?”

Allister sighed. “Unfortunately, no. And we also have no way of knowing if he was working alone or had inside help. If anyone was aiding him, they covered their tracks well.”

Unspoken was Vinson’s father’s name. Any help Vinson had from within would have come from Quint, who was not present at tonight’s gathering. Not surprising. Alton’s Uncle Espen was also absent, as were two of Joselyn’s uncles. The divide still existed, but at least many people were stepping out of the shadows and rejecting old disagreements.

Allister continued. “Unfortunately, Liddie from the Arthur pack is in the custody of the Council. She might have had innocent intentions and believed Vinson was her mate, but she’ll remain under their care, being questioned for the time being. She was in possession of a firearm and using it to threaten others. Also, she held Joselyn hostage for over an hour.

“The Arcadian Council is on the lookout for Vinson, but stealing company secrets is not high on their radar. I seriously doubt he ever had any honorable intentions toward Liddie. He had saved a great deal of money over the years and wiped out his bank account before he fled Silvertip.”

One of Alton’s cousins asked a question. “Does anyone know if his father gave him any other money?”

“No. At least Quint isn’t willing to admit so. It’s still possible.”

“Then why go to so much effort to steal company secrets from the competitor if he didn’t benefit from it in the long run?” the same cousin followed up with.

Allister nodded. “We may never know. Perhaps he had hoped to never be discovered and reap the benefits of company bonuses for a job well done. In any case, my gut tells me he’s long gone and won’t return to this part of the country.

“It’s unfortunate that things escalated to the point they did over the past week, and I’m still saddened to think how long my son lived in secret, hurting more than most of us can imagine before admitting that Joselyn was his mate.

“I’m glad to know they’re together now, and I’m sure everyone in the room will be happy to raise a beer in toast to their future.”

The majority of hands lifted into the air when Allister raised his beer.

Someone put a bottle in Alton’s hand while someone else slid one into Joselyn’s. Alton smiled when he noticed they’d each been given one of their other pack’s selection. Apropos.

A collective shout of cheers rang throughout the room before Allister declared that the real party should begin.

For the next several hours, Alton—with Joselyn always plastered to his side—made his rounds, greeting family and meeting new. His heart was full.

He knew by mutual agreement neither he nor his mate was ready to rush back to Silvertip, but maybe someday they could return.

Alton had every intention of claiming his property and building on it one day, but that day was not now.