89

“Yet somehow through this, you found a way to forgive.”
“Only those who regretted their actions. Carol and Olivia, they were brought up believing that what their parents were doing was right. Since their offense was against me, I forgave them.”
“So when you and Olivia killed Alpha Lewis and his men, that was also self-defense. What about Alpha Anderson and his mate? Word was that you walked right into their Pack House and shot them in cold blood in front of the rest of the Pack.”
“I did. They had given up information that led to hundreds of deaths, including my closest remaining family. They were a disgrace to the werewolf race and had threatened to expose more Packs. It was self-defense as well, for me and others. So I’m up to what, ten people I’ve killed? Eleven with Alpha Marvin? I don’t regret a one. As they say in Texas, they needed killing.”
I put the empty plate down and grabbed another Coke. “I watched American Sniper once, Chris Kyle had over a hundred and sixty confirmed kills, and he didn’t regret a one. His only regret was those on our side he couldn’t save.” I stared into his eyes. “That is my only regret too, that I couldn’t save Darryl, I couldn’t save the Johnson Pack. I sleep just fine.”
“So, back to Marvin.”
“He didn’t deserve to keep sharing the air with me. His death is justice.” I looked over at Charlie. “So many have died. I had plenty of time to think about what I would do if I ever got out of that place. Not once did I want revenge. I wanted justice, quick and simple. Plus, Charlie doesn’t need to see any more. He struggles enough with the thoughts that a monster is inside of him. I know different; the monster is not in the wolf side, because I never hurt anyone before I lost mine.”
“Thank you, Ella. This conversation has been very illuminating.”
Charlie woke up and looked around frightened, I jumped up and went to him to calm him down. When he was wide awake, I brought him over to sit in my lap while he ate. There was still plenty of food, but there wouldn’t be soon. A growing werewolf had a bottomless pit for a stomach.
The pilot announced that we would be landing soon, so I put Charlie back in his chair and buckled him up before sitting in the chair across from him. Al woke up Ker and they settled in to their seats. Charlie had never been in a plane before, so he was fascinated by what they saw out the window.
We landed and taxied to a hanger where three cars were parked. The pilot shut the plane down, then came back and opened the door and lowered the stairs before going back to the cockpit. He never even looked at us.
We walked out, this time Charlie and I followed Al and Ker. They walked straight for the cars. Al opened his up, then gestured for me to go to the other. I looked at him quizzically. “We’re not going with you, Ella. Go to your people, and when you are ready to talk, call us at this number.” He handed me a piece of paper with his cell number. “Don’t take too long, we’ll only be in town a couple days.”
I nodded, thanking them both for getting us out of that place. Charlie and I got into the car, it was a Ford Edge with navigation system. The key was in the ignition, and rental papers were on the dash, along with a driver’s license in the name of Elanor Black. I noted with a snort that it was MY corporation that had rented the vehicle, the same one I had used to do research on the Packs. I went to the navigation system and the map, then worked my way through to set Raub, in the center of the reservation, as my destination. We drove out, my mind still spinning with how quickly things had changed.
“What do we do now, Ella?”
I looked over at Charlie as I drove, he was scared. He was still just a kid. “Whatever we want, Charlie. Whatever we want.” He smiled as he looked out the window into the setting sun. “Right now, we’re heading towards the place I think my Pack is at. I want to find them, my mate, my sons.”
“Will they like me?”
I ruffled his hair. “Of course, they will. I told you before, you’re Pack now, and we’re family. You have a home, Charlie. I can’t wait to see your wolf running with the others.”
“I wish you could run, too.”
I sniffed a little. “Yeah, well, I had to make my peace with my life a few years ago. I’m happy just being around a Pack now.”
We stopped at a Dairy Queen for dessert, since he was getting hungry again, then an hour later we were crossing the border of the reservation. I was shocked to find a checkpoint there. I had to wait a couple cars, then rolled down the window and the Tribal Officer looked in at us. “Identification and business on the Reservation?”
“Visiting friends,” I said as I handed the man my new license.
He looked at it, then shined the UV light in my eyes. “Who are you visiting?”
“Rose Stormwater.” He looked a little shocked, but got over it.
“Is she expecting you?”
“No, I’m a friend, I thought I’d surprise her.”
He stepped away from the car and made a phone call. He frowned as he talked before coming back to me. “She says she doesn’t know you,” holding his hand over his phone. “Tell her Ella needs to talk, I haven’t seen her since that party on Labor Day weekend a few years ago.”
His mood changed suddenly and he hung up. He wrote down an address and handed it to me. “She’s waiting up for you, this is her home. Drive carefully.” He waved me through, and I stopped just past the checkpoint to put the address into the navigation system.
Twenty minutes later, I was pulling into the driveway of a large home overlooking the reservoir. We got out of the car and walked to the front door; we were almost there when there was a loud scream, and I was knocked sideways into the grass as arms squeezed around me.
“ELLA! OH MY LUNA ELLA!!!” I looked up from where I had almost faceplanted on the neatly trimmed lawn to see Olivia’s glossy black mane hanging down from her face. She was looking down at me and grinning madly. I heard a growl behind me, looking quickly I saw Charlie was about to shift and rip her off me. “CHARLIE! Stand down. She’s a friend.” The Alpha command hit his wolf and he immediately stilled, then his wolf retreated and his shift stopped. I hugged Olivia for all I was worth. “Oh man, am I glad to see you!”
There was a rumble of feet and two young ones joined the pile. I barely recognized Tina and Tony, they had grown so much since I last saw them. It was all one rolling ball of laughter, tears and hugs until we could finally break apart and I could get up again. I looked over to see Rose Stormwater standing in the doorway, grinning widely. I gestured Charlie over to join us, nobody was letting me go even though I had gotten up.
“Alpha Rose, I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for my Pack. I am in your debt.”
She waved for me to come in, and eventually we all made it onto the couch in her living room. Her Beta and Head Warrior introduced themselves, and we were served refreshments. “So, Alpha Ella, where have you been hiding the last two years? Your mate has been beside himself with worry.”
I smiled, imagining just that. “I was captured by police outside Minot, then given over to military control. I spent the last two years at Fort Detrick as a lab rat, that’s where I met Charlie here.” I gave the young wolf a hug. “He was force turned and captured, and put in the cell opposite mine. I was able to calm his wolf, and he’s now part of my Pack.”
“Oh my. What do you know of what has happened?”
“Almost nothing,” I said. “I had no access to news during this time. It was only after Black Ker arranged for me to be released that I heard anything. I know my mate and children are alive, and they took refuge here. Other than that…” I looked at her, pleading for a good answer.
“They are all safe here, Ella. In fact, your Pack has grown a bit since you left.” She looked at Olivia, who was blushing. “You want to tell her now?”
“Mark and I had twins as well, six months ago. Both are werewolves, they are home with him.”
“Werewolves? But you are… he is…”
“He’s a wolf now, Ella. Craig bit him to give him the change. We decided that one of us needed to be able to shift to protect our Pack and family. Twin girls, Elanor and Elizabeth.” She pulled out her phone, and showed me the photo.
“Oh wow, they are SO cute!” I looked around, then looked at Rose. “When can I go to my Pack?”
Her eyes glazed over for a second, then her men got up and left the room, heading out the back of the house. She looked at Olivia. “Dear, will you do the honors?”
She grinned. “Oh, I’d love to.” We got up and followed them through the house to the sliding door leading to their large backyard. I stopped for a second at the door, the lawn was filled with adults and children; the grills were fired up, music was playing, and games were being played. There were hundreds of people here, but my eyes locked onto one. The music stopped and all of the people turned to look at the house and their Alphas.
He turned.
Our eyes locked on each other.
And I ran to him and jumped into his arms. “CRAIG!!!” I crashed my lips to his, his mind hadn’t caught up to real time yet so he was still staring at me, trying to convince himself I was real. I kissed him, hard and possessively, as the sparks ran down my arms and from my lips. My body was on fire for him.
His wolf pushed forward, and he shifted, tearing his clothes as his big black wolf appeared before me. I hugged him tight, his tail wagging and his tongue bathing my face as he shivered in his excitement. He knocked me to the grass and stood over me, letting out a joyful howl that was picked up by members of both Packs.
Before I could get up, I was engulfed in the arms of two little boys, their chubby little arms on my neck. “MAMA! MAMA HOME!” I hugged them tight to me, putting kisses on their heads and faces as they squealed and wiggled in my arms. Tears were flowing down my face, the relief was evident as was the joy.
I had my family again.
Craig shifted back and someone tossed him a pair of shorts; he pulled them on, then pulled me back into his muscled chest. His arms stayed wrapped around me; it was like we were a pair of rare earth magnets, pulled together so strongly it would be almost impossible to separate us again. He was kissing my head and neck, sniffing both as he reassured himself that I was really here. I reached down and pulled each of my boys up by one arm; like little monkeys, they climbed up me and held tight as we stood there. No one wanted to let go, least of all me.
The Pack had given us a little time for ourselves, but they couldn’t be held back for long. I went through the mental list as I saw everyone, marveling at how the children had grown. Mark came up, holding the baby girls, as Olivia and the twins hugged their legs.
“Oh Mark, I’m so happy for you guys!” If Craig hadn’t been holding me up I swear I would have collapsed. I set the boys back on the ground, where they immediately grabbed at my legs. Charlie saw some kids his age and ran off, and I let him go as he needed this so much.
Olivia took one of the babies, dressed in a pink onesie with flowers, and handed her to me. “This is your niece, Elanor. I named her after you, I mean, you saved me by leading them away from the gas station, and we… I mean…”
I hugged her tight, crying as the baby fussed in my arms. “She’s so beautiful. You guys make great babies together.”
Mark smiled, and I handed Elanor back to Olivia as he handed me the other. “This is Elizabeth, and I want to thank you, Ella. I don’t know all of what you went through, but I’m so happy you are back!” We hugged, causing Craig to growl lowly and pull me tighter back to him. I glared at him, Mark was mated and family, but I could tell Craig’s wolf was on edge. “Are your parents here?”
“No, they are still back home,” Olivia said. “I can’t wait to tell them you are back!”