Finally Her Turn

Chapter 13: John

The Elders end up deliberating until the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday, when they finally get over themselves and come to an agreement. Spoiler alert: they made the right decision, in my completely biased and unqualified opinion. After that, we guards just stand and watch them do all their official stuff like creating a document that details their decision and the reasons behind it, and then they all sign it. As a final over-the-top step, Elder Stirling makes a big deal about sealing and finalizing it so that no further changes can be made.

The witnesses for the sealing of the document are drawn at random, and it ends up being George and Darrell who have to sign another document that says they were present when it happened, or whatever it is that witnesses to a document sealing have to affirm. I don’t actually know because I’ve never had the honor, but I’m not sad to be left out of it this time either. I still don’t even understand the need for all this extra stuff.

Uncle Ben gathers his three guards around him to take a vote on whether we’d like to stay another night or return home immediately. Since I already know that there’s no chance of Marissa agreeing to meet up with me tonight, the vote is unanimous. We’re going home.

I do make sure to give her a heads up that I’m leaving, though. I know she’s on a patrol shift and won’t be free until around dinner, and since I’ll likely be on a plane when she’s free, I promise to text her once I get home and settled in. It probably won’t be until she’s about ready for bed, though it will be much earlier than that back in Oregon. Ugh, I almost forgot about the time difference and the jet lag I have to look forward to.

After enduring the whole ordeal of hurrying to pack all my stuff so I can meet my packmates out front and ride to the airport, I am afforded the honor of being the one to ride shotgun while Uncle Ben drives our rental. We haven’t really had a chance to relax and talk since the day of the appeal, so it really doesn’t surprise me that the topic of conversation pretty quickly shifts to me and my mate.

“New Horizon, huh?” he asks almost as soon as we’re on the road. “I’m pleased to know that the Moon Goddess has deemed you worthy of such a mate. I’m also not surprised, though.”

“See, I told you I’m not a slacker,” I quip, knowing that he’ll at least get a chuckle out of it, and he doesn’t disappoint.

“It would be more convincing if you were about to tell me that you intend to transfer there to be with your mate and join the ranks of their warriors,” he teases back, though I’m sure it’s because he already knows that I don’t intend that at all.

I’m quite happy at home, and I like things the way they are. I mean, I’ll admit that the early morning workouts aren’t as bad as I originally feared and I’ve actually grown to appreciate them, but I’d still rather live some place where sleeping in isn’t treated as a mortal sin. And I’m sure that in time, Marissa will come to appreciate that as well.

“Heck no,” I decide to just give him the response that I know he was expecting. “But now that you bring it up, I could probably use your help in securing her a timely transfer. The poor girl could probably use a break.”

“Mmhmm,” he answers skeptically, side-glancing me as he drives. “And you’ve discussed this with her?”

“Yeah, of course,” I lie, since I most definitely have not.

But I will. And in the meantime, it doesn’t hurt to start the process so that when she does agree, there will be nothing standing in the way.

“I guess I’m just surprised to hear that someone who was born and raised in New Horizon would be so willing to give up the life she is accustomed to,” Uncle Ben says, obviously not as easily swayed as I had hoped. “You’ve informed her of the distinct differences between her pack and ours? She knows that there are not many female warriors to be found at Crescent’s Boon, and that her duties will likely be quite different from what she is used to?”

“I’ve told her, but I’ll make sure to be more specific and double check,” I promise him, though what I really mean is I probably won’t tell her any of that or at least not in that amount of detail.

It’s not that important. She’ll still be able to be a warrior if she wants, though I half-wonder if it is even what she wants. She hasn’t told me a lot about her background or her family, but when I asked her why she decided join the warriors, she basically said that she was born into it. Her dad was a warrior, and the coming-of-age ritual determined her wolf to be best suited to being a warrior. That’s it. Nothing about it being her passion or even an interest of hers. But if it is, then I won’t stand in the way of it.

“Well, then I suppose I’ll speak to the Alpha about it and get that process started,” Uncle Ben finally agrees. “And you know, we’ll be visiting her pack in about a week and a half. Should she still desire the transfer at that time, then we could just bring her back with us, assuming that Alpha Kane will approve.”

“He’s mostly why I’m asking for your help,” I admit. “I’ve never met the guy, but his reputation precedes him, and I know you’re friendly with him.”

“More like we share a sense of mutual respect and admiration, but yes, I do know him. I don’t anticipate that he will deny you this, but I also do not know him to be the sort of man to make personal decisions for members of his pack. He will ask your mate whether this is what she truly wants before giving you the approval you seek, so you’d best make sure that her answer matches yours ahead of time.”

I can never manage to get anything past Uncle Ben, and I don’t know why I even bother trying. Good thing I already intended to talk to Marissa about this anyway. I will soon.

To my relief, the conversation takes a turn away from me and my business, and I’m able to just relax and enjoy the rest of the ride, and then the flight. Especially once Uncle Ben mentions that we can expect our pay for a job well-done to show up in our accounts as early as tomorrow morning. I’m excited because I still plan to arrange an epic date night for a special lady, even if the lady I have in mind is different from the one I was thinking of when I left.

Ah, Serena. That’s a conversation I’m not looking forward to, though I know I need to get it over with sooner rather than later. Since Saturday, I’ve drafted multiple versions of a text to send her to announce that I’ve found my mate, but I eventually decided not to be that guy who breaks up with a girl over text. I know I need to do it in person, and I know she’ll be ready and rearing for it since I’ve been brief and limited with the few texts I have exchanged with her while I’ve been gone. All I’ve said is that we’ll talk when I get back.

I’m well aware that I haven’t done right by her, and I need to find some way to make it up to her. We’ve been friends for a long time for me to just suddenly go cold on her, but it hasn’t really been intentional.

Not only have I been prioritizing Marissa in what little free time I’ve had all week, but I also haven’t wanted to allow Serena space to have the same flirty chats that she’s used to having with me when I belong to someone else now. I know it’s not her fault since I haven’t told her that yet, but my strategy for dealing with it without being that text break-up guy has been to avoid texting her more than once a day and keep those few interactions brief. She seemed to get the point pretty quickly, though I’m sure she isn't happy about it.

Alpha William and some of Uncle Ben’s Elites are out in front of the packhouse to greet us when we arrive, and it doesn’t take long for word to get around the pack that we’ve returned. It’s strange, but even some people who I’m only vaguely aware are my packmates are clapping me on the back as I navigate the packhouse on my way to the Alpha’s office with the others. He apparently wants to trade updates with Uncle Ben, and he needs the rest of us to sign some paperwork so we can have our wages sent to our accounts.

When I hear Uncle Ben making a teasing comment to Will, who also just happens to be his grandson, about how he missed out on mating with an impressive young woman, I can’t resist. I have to add in my two cents. And since Stevie and George have already left, meaning it’s just the three of us, I know I’ll get away with it too.

“From where I was standing, it looked like the Moon Goddess did Will a favor by pairing him with Carolyn. That Bentley girl would have laid him out by the end of their first night together.”

“That’s probably true,” Uncle Ben laughs, his eyes sparkling with humor.

“What are you trying to say?” Will demands, glaring at me.

“Hey, I’m only kidding,” I assure him. “But the girl is a beast, that’s for sure. I can see why it takes two big guys to handle her.”

“You’re terrible,” Uncle Ben scolds me, still laughing. “Although that reminds me, Will. Your cousin here finally found his own mate, and she’s from New Horizon.”

“Second cousin,” Will corrects him, spitting it out as if the thought of me has left a foul taste in his mouth.

He hates me about as often as he loves me, probably because of how many people seem to think that I take after Uncle Ben while Will favors his mother. He shouldn’t let that get to him, though. He’s the Alpha, and I’m just a lowly, unranked warrior. It doesn’t matter how much I look or act like his grandfather because he still won the birthright lottery in the end.

“Congrats. I’m happy for you,” he forces himself to say, obviously still bitter about me implying that he’s weaker than a female Alpha. He is, but that’s beside the point.

Ignoring his grandson’s sulkiness, Uncle Ben gets right to his own point, wasting no time informing Will about what we were discussing in the car.

“Considering that Elder Stirling has requested that all the Elders join him at New Horizon to deliver our decision next weekend, and I plan to take John with me again, we were thinking that getting a head start on her transfer might not be a bad idea. It would be nice to just bring her home while we’re already there.”

“I’ll look into it,” Will agrees, almost too easily. “Unless we’re talking about the Bentley girl. I’m not getting mixed up in that drama.”

“No,” Uncle Ben chuckles. “She has her own mates. John’s mate is one of their warriors. An impressive young lady to be sure, but no Alpha. I’m sure John can stay behind and provide you with the details. Just let me know when you have that documentation ready, and I’ll deliver it to Alpha Kane myself next weekend.”

Thank the Goddess. With Uncle Ben overseeing it, I feel far more confident that Will won’t try to mess with me and conveniently “lose” or “forget” my request just to get me back for ragging on him about his mate. And honestly, that’s probably why Uncle Ben said that, to make sure that his grandson knows not to mess around. He may be the Alpha here, but Elder trumps Alpha when it comes to official, inter-pack business.

After I’ve finished giving Will all the necessary, boring details about Marissa (boring to him, not to me) and I’m finally headed to collect my stuff and return home to see my parents and Mallory, I almost feel like jumping up and clicking my heels together. It feels like it’s been ages since I was last free to make my own decisions, and I can’t wait to get back to it.

But I barely make it halfway down the hall before being cornered by Serena, and she doesn’t look all that happy to see me. I guess she’s decided that since I’m back, we’ll be having that conversation that I’ve been promising her. Right now.