Loud banging on their front door woke the lovers bright and early the next morning. Jensgar imagined the king had grown tired of waiting and sent someone to collect them. In all honesty, until that moment he had forgotten the king was even in Black Ridge, but who could blame him with his mate by his side.
He tightened his arms around Lily’s body, her soft skin like silk against his own. They were lying in their usual position: his body wrapped protectively around hers. Lily stretched her arms out followed by her beautiful legs as he ran his hands up and down his mate’s lean body. His completed alpha tattoo covered his entire right arm with intricate details of places he’d never seen before, while his left had Lily’s white wolf standing dead center of his bicep, confirming what he’d already known: she was his destiny. The design surrounding his mating tattoo was bright and colorful, sure to draw a great deal of attention. The only thing missing was the portion of each mating tattoo that foretold of children. It crushed him that he couldn’t give that to Lily because he was an alpha.
“I guess it’s time to face the rest of the world.” Lily sighed, her voice rough with sleep. “Before they break down our door. Why didn’t they simply call one of our cell phones?”
“I hope they’re smart enough not to even try breaking it down.” Jensgar’s chest rumbled with laughter. “I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time and I’d hate to have to ruin that by throwing someone off of our front porch.”
Lily rolled over, her blue eyes sparkling in the morning sunlight that crept in between the curtains. “Good morning, mate. I love you.”
Jensgar’s heart beat a bit faster at hearing those words, and he hoped to hear them each and every morning for the rest of his life. “I love you so much, my beautiful mate. I feel like I could take on the world with you by my side.”
Lily’s joyful laughter made him smile even wider. “I don’t know about the world, but how about the front door?” Another series of knocks reverberated through the timbers of their home.
“On it,” he agreed before taking Lily’s lips in a soft kiss. He lifted the blankets and slid out from underneath before tucking them back around her. “You stay here. I’ll be right back.”
He reached out and grabbed a pair of shorts on his way to the front door. By the time he got there, whoever was waiting outside could be heard pacing across the porch, obviously running out of patience. When he opened the door, he was surprised to find his son, Marcus, about to walk down the porch steps.
“What are you doing here, son?”
Marcus spun around so quickly that he misstepped and began to tumble backward. Jensgar knew he’d never make it in time to grab his son, but out of instinct, he moved his body and reached forward as if to grab him, even though he was several feet away. What happened next had both he and his son stunned into silence.
“I see you’ve gained more than simply your completed alpha markings, mate,” Lily said as she came to stand beside him. Marcus remained frozen in midair. “You’re going to have to release him sooner or later.”
“Release him? I don’t even know how I did it in the first place. How am I supposed to know how to release him?” Jensgar asked. He noticed Lily had slipped into his shirt, which went down to her knees. She was adorable.
Marcus looked over his shoulder at the ground several feet below him and asked, “Dad, can you drop me over something a bit softer?”
“Be ready to land on your feet because I have no idea what I’m doing,” Jensgar warned. “Lily, how do I let him down?”
“Well, I would envision what I wanted to happen and focus on it. Over time, controlling it will become second nature to you,” Lily explained, and he heard a touch of sorrow in her voice.
It wasn’t enough for the gods to take his mate’s powers away, but now they were bestowing them upon him. It felt like they were intentionally rubbing Lily’s loss in her face. Jensgar was beginning to feel like a pawn in some sort of game between the gods, which was pissing him off.
He did as she said and focused on Marcus, on him drifting to the ground slowly so that he could stand. Surprisingly, it worked. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe his mate, but he didn’t trust himself not to drop his son. Once Marcus was firmly back on the ground, Jensgar gathered Lily into his arms and held her tight.
“I’m sorry.”
Lily looked up at him. It felt like she was busy reading his thoughts before saying, “You have nothing to be sorry about. Any gifts given to you by Fenrir can be used to help others. You saved Marcus from a nasty fall where he could have been injured. Never be sorry about that.” Jensgar let a little of his anger go but he still wanted answers as to why the gods were doing this.
“That was unexpected,” Marcus said as he joined them. “But so cool, Dad.”
Jensgar couldn’t help but smile at his son as familiar brown eyes looked up at him in adoration. Marcus was one hundred and fifty-six years old, but at times Jensgar could see the boy he once was. Marcus, his sister, Amalia, and Jensgar had moved into the palace when his children were still young, after Jensgar’s first mate had died suddenly. He had already been a general in King Leonidas’s army for over eighty years and had spent a great deal of time at the palace. It was a place his children would be safe while he was away on missions for the king.
“I don’t know about cool, but I do agree it was unexpected.”
Marcus’s eyes grew wide and his smile grew even bigger. “You two finally mated. It’s about time. I’m so happy that you have each other. Congratulations.”
Jensgar ran his hand over the spot on his chest where Lily had given him her mating bite. It was already healed, and when he looked down at his mate’s neck, hers was healed as well. Only the raised edges remained.
Lily hugged Marcus, and Jensgar’s emotions surfaced as a single tear escaped down his cheek. She released Marcus and stepped back. “Thank you, my son,” he said before pulling his child into a fierce hug. “I am truly blessed.”
“We both are, love,” Lily assured. “My life is incomplete without you in it.”
When he let Marcus go, his son made a big production of stretching out his upper body. “Sometimes I forget how big you are now, old man. You could twist me into a pretzel.”
“I could have done that before I became an alpha, and never forget it, kid,” Jensgar joked. “What brings you to our home this early?” he asked while reaching for Lily’s hand.
Marcus’s smile disappeared. “The king wants a meeting with the two of you as soon as possible. He’s waiting in the main house.”
King Leonidas wasn’t a horrible leader or a bad person. In fact, Jensgar respected him as his sovereign and friend. The thing that had him concerned was what would happen now that he and Lily had mated. His alpha tattoo was complete and the fact that he had powers was sure to raise a few questions. Even though he didn’t know what all of these gifts were, Jensgar could feel parts of himself changing. He’d decided not to mention it to Lily quite yet. She’d been through enough.
“Tell the king we will be there shortly—we need to dress,” Lily replied before taking Marcus’s hand. “It’s going to be okay, no matter what happens.”
Marcus squeezed Lily’s hand and nodded in agreement, then turned to leave. Jensgar could feel his son’s worry and loved his mate for trying to ease some of it. “Well, I guess we should hurry. We don’t want to leave the king waiting too long considering I sort of took off on him yesterday.”
Lily tightened her grip on his hand and led him into the house, heading straight for the bathroom. “First I have to wash your back and you have to wash mine. While we’re at it we might as well do each other’s fronts.” Her eyes were shining as her wolf peeked out, ready for playtime.
Jensgar loved this idea more and more. “We can’t meet with the king until every part of our bodies are thoroughly washed. It would be rude.”
“Agreed.” Lily laughed before shutting the bathroom door, keeping the world out for a few more precious moments.
***
Lily felt the eyes of the other Black Ridge pack members on her and her mate. She’d chosen a boat-necked shirt that would highlight Jensgar’s mating bite. He had forgone a shirt altogether, choosing to wear jeans and his boots alone. It did something to her every time she saw her mate puff out his chest, showing off his new mating bite. That and Jensgar’s completed alpha markings were garnering their fair share of attention.
She knew Jensgar was stressed with all the changes his body had undergone, and the uncertainty of what King Leonidas had planned for them. That’s one of the reasons Lily had suggested the joint shower, to ease some of his worry. However, an even bigger part of her simply couldn’t keep her hands off her mate.
When they arrived at the pack house they both walked past the royal guards, many of whom Jensgar had led in the not-so-distant past. Each of them stood a bit straighter as her mate passed, tilting their heads to the side and baring their throats to him out of respect.
Lily could feel Jensgar’s pride and affection for the men he’d trained. It helped to confirm her suspicions even further that Jensgar had been an alpha since birth, but required a catalyst to free it. She had been that catalyst.
Lily had yet to mention the fact that she could feel her mate’s emotions, because at first it had been only a trickle, but for some reason that was quickly turning into a stream. When they returned home, she would have to tell him.
They walked through the front door and up the stairs to the kitchen. This main part of the house was for pack members who wished to be closer to their alpha and omega. The alpha family had a private wing in the house, with guards watching over that entrance. No one ever went there unless invited. Lily understood the need for family alone time. Aldric and Helena gave so much time, love and care to their pack that they could easily forget about themselves. A private retreat gave them what they needed.
Lily had always wanted her own pack to love, care for and help thrive into the future, but she wondered what use she would be without her gifts. She wasn’t second-guessing her mating. Jensgar was her mate and always had been. She would stand by his side through whatever was thrown at them. She simply had so much inside of her that she wanted to share with others, and it would have been a lot easier if she had her gifts.
They heard people talking in the conservatory and headed in that direction. Jensgar looked down at her often as if trying to judge her comfort level, and each time she smiled. Lily didn’t want to worry him with her insecurities. She may not be an omega any longer, but she was Lily, and she was damn well strong enough to handle whatever came next.
Sunlight filled the glassed conservatory as flowers reached toward the sky to bask in its warm glow. All talk ceased once they stepped over the threshold. King Leonidas, Aldric, Helena, Godric, Ceva, Lothar and two strangers, who stood when they entered, were gathered around a circular table covered in pastries and carafes of coffee. Thank the gods. Lily desperately needed a cup of that heavenly brew.
As if reading her mind, Jensgar led her to the two open seats beside Aldric and Helena before reaching for two cups and a carafe for themselves. Lily glanced around the table. Though the people gathered were guarded, they all looked happy to see her and Jensgar, including the strangers.
The king stood with his cup of coffee in hand and said, “Congratulations on your mating. May you have a long and loving life together.”
Everyone lifted their cups or glasses and toasted to their mating. Not a single frown in the entire bunch. Honestly, she’d been worried that somebody would disapprove of an alpha mating a powerless shifter, but perhaps her worries were unfounded.
Jensgar raised his cup and said, “Thank you, my king. We are excited to start our life together.”
“Yes, thank you,” Lily agreed as she toasted and downed a long gulp of hot coffee. If she had a vice it would be Jensgar, but a close second was coffee. She couldn’t help the small moan that escaped at the first taste of the roasted beans on her tongue.
“Feel better, mate?” he asked as he pulled her chair closer to his, making her smile in the process.
“Seriously, what would we do without coffee? Nothing, absolutely nothing. So respect the bean, my love,” Lily teased, for the moment forgetting they were in a room full of people. She blushed slightly when the king cleared his throat followed by Helena’s soft laughter.
Lily leaned into her mate’s side as she waited to hear what fate might be doling out to them next. “Love you,” she whispered, knowing that with wolf shifters’ exceptional hearing everyone had heard her declaration.
Jensgar wrapped his muscled arm around her and said, “Forever.”
Even with his assurance, Lily couldn’t help but worry about what the two strangers had to do with all of this.
King Leonidas set his cup down and opened one of the two thick file folders on the table in front of him before looking up at the two of them. “I am truly happy that the two of you have worked out your differences. I know it has been a difficult time for the both of you but we must move forward considering the continual threat of repeated ogre attacks on the packs.”
That sent a chill down Lily’s spine. Of course she and Jensgar could refuse whatever the king suggested, but out of respect neither would do so. She only hoped the pack wasn’t expecting an omega to be part of the package.
Before King Leonidas had a chance to continue, Jensgar stood and bared his throat to their king. “We have known each other a long time, sire. You have always been a fair and just leader for all wolf shifters and I have served you loyally and without question for hundreds of years. However, I will not allow anything remotely close to what happened yesterday to ever happen again.”
King Leonidas stood and for a moment, Lily was concerned that Jensgar had offended him. At least she did until the king let his true emotions show for a brief moment. Lily could see the guilt on his face before he bowed his head slightly to the both of them. She reached for Jensgar’s hand, needing the connection.
“I must apologize to the two of you for yesterday’s events. I’d expected the meeting to pass uneventfully once Jensgar told the gathered omegas that he had already chosen his mate. Miss Fraser’s actions came as a shock to all of us. Finding her chaperone dead in the garden shed is another matter that will be dealt with.”
Lily couldn’t help her gasp of shock. “She used her omega gifts not only to attack us but to kill one of her own pack members?” She’d never heard of such a thing happening. Omegas were chosen by the gods because of their overwhelming need to care for and protect their packs. It seemed as though Jane Fraser had veered off that path like a plow through a hill of snow.
“Yes, it comes as a shock to us all.” King Leonidas lowered his head as if in thought before sitting down on the high-backed leather chair.
Jensgar gave Lily’s hand a squeeze before continuing. “Also, I’m positive my mate has had enough people making decisions for her up to this point. That is why any choice as to what we do and where we live is her decision alone. So whatever you plan on pitching here today should be directed with that in mind.”
He sat back down and nonchalantly pushed the files placed before him over until they were in front Lily. She could feel Jensgar’s emotions through her newfound link. Absolute calm. He had no doubts about his decision, but most of all his pride at being by her side was unmistakable.
She desperately wanted to share her love with him and attempted to send it through the same link, but sadly, he didn’t react. Perhaps it was only a one-way link. Whatever it was didn’t matter in this moment. She would not disappoint her mate or herself by not jumping on the opportunity.
“Thank you, Jensgar. Sire, you were saying?”
Lily had to admit the king didn’t miss a beat—he simply carried on as if this whole thing wasn’t odd at all. Hell, none of this mating had gone as it normally would. They were definitely breaking new ground.
“I was about to introduce the two gentlemen joining us today. To the right is Mr. Thomas Varrow, from the Evergreen pack. The other gentleman is Mr. Jacob Sharquin, from the Bridgeline pack.”
Both men stood and bowed in her and Jensgar’s direction. Lily noticed the one called Jacob stood favoring his right leg as if he were in pain. “Gentlemen, please sit,” Lily insisted, not wanting the man to stand longer than necessary.
Jensgar smiled at her and leaned back in his chair, leaving her front and center. She glanced over at Helena and Ceva finding both of them watching her intently with smiles on their faces.
“These gentlemen are here to plead their individual cases of why you and General—I mean, Alpha—Jensgar should consider their packs when deciding whom the two of you wish to lead. The files in front of you contain all the information about both packs: the population, the area covered, the financial reports, history and a map of the entire location. Both packs have been under my care for many years and have waited for the opportunity to have an alpha pair lead them.”
Warning bells were going off in Lily’s mind and she needed to clarify. “Do both of you know that I am no longer omega?” Because yes, she was part of an alpha pair but she wasn’t what they might be expecting.
“Yes, Alpha Lily, we are aware,” Thomas was quick to answer.
“Alpha?” Lily was sure that’s what he said, but why?
Thomas didn’t fidget or show any outward sign that he was uncomfortable. He simply answered the question without pause. “You may not be an omega any longer but there is a chance that the two of you could lead our pack. That makes you an alpha in my books.”
Interesting, and not exactly what she’d expected to hear at this meeting, but she could roll with it. If anything, she was flexible. “Whether I’m called omega or alpha, I come with no powerful abilities. That does not mean I would not work night and day to assure members of my pack had everything they needed to flourish. But I want no misunderstandings here, or regrets.”
Both Jacob and Thomas began assuring her, but she held up her hand to stop them. “I know you say that now, but you must remember this is a lifelong commitment with no magical way out. If we were to accept either of your packs I must have the assurance from not only you but the members of the pack themselves.”
Both men nodded their understanding and Lily decided to let that go for now. She reached for the files in front of her and began looking through the pages, surprised by what she found on one of them.
***
A couple of hours later, Amalia walked in carrying trays of sandwiches indicating the meeting could go on for several more hours. After depositing the tray on the table, she came around and hugged both her father and Lily.
“I’m so happy for the two of you,” she gushed.
“Thank you, Amalia,” they said in unison as the three hugged. They turned quickly when a soft growl broke through their bubble of happiness.
Jensgar shifted his body so that Lily and Amalia were safely behind him and away from any possible threat. Thomas quickly attempted to cover his growl by coughing but no one had been fooled. Lily chanced a glance over at Amalia and what she found was interesting. The younger woman was blushing and biting her bottom lip, showing no fear. It took Lily all of two seconds to figure out what was going on here.
Lily placed the palm of her hand on her mate’s back, making his tense muscles ease slightly beneath her fingers. Others had stood but so far no one had said a word. All waited for Jensgar’s reaction since the growl had been directed at them. Ceva seemed especially interested. No one ever knew what that crafty white witch was thinking.
“My love,” Lily whispered. “I believe that wasn’t a growl of anger or a threat toward anyone.”
Jensgar turned part way to look at her while keeping an eye on Thomas, who was standing with his throat bared. “What makes you think that, mate?” He wasn’t asking as if he doubted her, but more out of curiosity. He was such a good man.
Lily looked over at Amalia once again and could see her silently begging Lily for discretion. She would never do anything to embarrass her stepdaughter, but Lily had to deescalate this situation before Thomas found himself in a cell or worse.
She raised her hand and cupped Jensgar’s cheek, hoping this would be enough. “Trust me, love. There is no danger.”
His dark eyes searched her face. Lily hoped he understood they would discuss this later.
“Okay, my mate, if you say there is no danger or disrespect then there is none.” Jensgar sat back and Lily could feel his body relaxing further.
He pulled out Lily’s chair as everyone resumed their seats. Amalia made a hasty retreat out of the conservatory without looking back. Thomas still stood waiting, unsure of what to do. Well, with what she had to say, Lily was afraid the man might pass out.
“Sit down, Thomas,” Lily ordered and the man quickly complied.
“Now that the excitement is over, let’s go forward with questions from the alpha pair,” the king announced with an unmistakable smile on his face.
“Oh I have many questions, but it seems the decision has already been made,” Lily admitted before looking up at Thomas. “Evergreen pack it is.”
As her announcement sunk in, Jacob from the Bridgeline pack flew to his feet. “You choose them over us simply because he’s sweet on the servant. Bring her back. I’ll hit on her too. This is what happens when you allow a female to make decisions.”
Jensgar was up and across the table before Jacob had time to react. Her mate slammed the suddenly quiet man into one of the glass panels. Thankfully, it was laminated safety glass. It broke but didn’t fall in dangerous shards.
“That servant is my daughter, and you disrespected my mate. Is there anything else you would like to say?” Jensgar asked as he lifted Jacob by his neck until the man was several feet off the ground.
“Then…why them?” Jacob wasn’t giving up easily.
Lily grabbed the file off the table and pulled out the picture she’d seen earlier and raised it high. “Because of this.” Everyone turned in her direction, but Lily could see the confusion in their eyes. “Mate, put the idiot down please.”
Jensgar leisurely opened his hand, allowing Jacob to fall to the floor. Her mate’s grin confirmed he wasn’t sorry about the man’s hard landing. “What do you see in the picture, Lily?”
Conversations were carrying on around them as the confusion spread. Lily carried the picture over to Jensgar who growled at Jacob, warning him not to move. She lifted his right arm inspecting his new alpha markings. Lily was sure she’d seen it here when she’d ran her fingers over the tattoo last evening.
“Here it is,” Lily huffed as she turned to the back of Jensgar’s bicep. In the cluster of lines and designs there were drawings of places she’d never seen before until she’d opened that file. “See, they match.” Lily pointed at the picture and the side of a building covered in ivy with a small emblem above it, and then she pointed at Jensgar’s arm, which depicted the building right down to the last brick. “It seems the gods have already made this decision for us.”
Lily wasn’t certain how she felt about that. Now, it seemed whenever she was given the ability to decide for herself it was taken away from her. Would this be what her future looked like? Powerless.