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I know Ferris wishes that no one needed to know about his connection to the Lunar Mother, especially because he knows that his presence does nothing to help that particular issue.
He’s doing well with his wolf lessons and integrating into life in Dair’s territory. He’s been working nonstop on plans to update the solar tech around the community, eager to make things as advanced as they were at Grand Prairie. It’s going to require some scavenging along the west coast, which has Ren itching to attempt to raid the fifth and final bunker.
This dual mission is one that Dair will propose to the Lunar Mother tonight, but he’s expecting pushback. Apparently, there’s a reason the clans have been avoiding the fifth bunker, and Dair is quite certain that the Lunar Mother will only agree if nature is on their side.
The crowd quiets down, faces turning toward Iza as she walks through the gathered people to the middle of the clearing. She’s wearing her signature flowy clothes, but today her silvery hair is twisted on top of her head with a polished wooden pin, and there is a bone-carved crescent moon dangling on her forehead.
She raises both arms in the air, calling attention, then speaks loudly to her people. “Welcome! Thank you all for attending the autumn all-clans meeting. Tonight, the Alphas and I will hear your requests and concerns for the coming season, but first, two major announcements.”
The gathered crowd mumbles with shared whispers and speculation.
“First, Alpha Dair’s journey to the Midlands was a success. Aspen and Koda of the Cascades are currently stationed at Grand Prairie in the Midlands, working on setting up communication with the Appalachian shifters. I am confident that through our alliance with Grand Prairie, our dreams of having safe passage through the Wastes and organized trade with the other side of our country are within our grasp.”
The excitement is palpable in the air. Dair’s large hand finds mine and squeezes, shooting me a small smile as if to say that all of this is only possible because of me. I never considered that, but I guess I was the deciding factor when the assembly voted. If Dair and I hadn’t said that we were mated, who knows if the alliance would have happened peacefully.
“Now,” the Lunar Mother’s voice booms, “for my second announcement. Not many of you knew my daughter, Lyra, but you have all probably heard the story of the wolf that crossed the great Wastes and never returned. It breaks my heart to confirm that she died on her mission to unite the continent’s wolves. However, while she is gone, she is not forgotten. In fact, she lives on through her son.” Gasps ring out through the meadow. “I want to introduce you all to Ferris, my grandson, who traveled here on the road of destiny with Dair and Raine, his mates.”
One of her arms swings toward where we stand and Ferris stiffens next to me. I lean in close to him, rubbing my cheek on his bicep, and whisper, “Go, it’s okay.”
He takes a deep breath and then walks out of the crowd toward his grandmother. Once he takes his place beside her, the people of the Northern Pacific clap and cheer. Ferris’s face is unreadable, but I can feel the whirlwind of nerves, astonishment, pride, and gratitude swirling in his heart. Standing side by side, painted in the golden light of the descending sun, their familial connection is undeniable, and I hope that this is just the beginning of a healing relationship for them both. I think they could use a little family.
“Now,” the Lunar Mother says, “territory Alphas, please gather so that we may hear the voices of our people.”
“Alright, baby,” Dair says, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “This is when I have to leave you. By the looks of it, Ferris will be staying by Iza’s side for this. These meetings typically take several hours, usually dragging into the night. Will you be okay here, alone? I can always have Tore take you home to our cabin?”
“I’ll be fine,” I breathe, reaching up on my tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his lips. “Vale should be around here somewhere, maybe I can convince her to take skin so we can finally talk.”
Dair’s eyes darken with worry for my best friend. “If you need me, I’ll feel it,” he says in the serious voice of his alpha. “The second you need me, I’ll be there. Ferris too.”
I smile into his lips, feeling like the most cherished omega on the planet. “I know.”
Ifeel the nest shift as someone crawls in. Rich, warm tea floods over my skin, bathing my body and senses in contented happiness. Ferris’s naked form scoots in to curl around mine. As a pack, we’ve taken to sleeping naked, something that I was even too afraid to do at Grand Prairie, like subconsciously, I knew I wasn’t safe enough to be that vulnerable.
It’s the greatest decision we’ve made as a pack because it makes late night, middle of the night, and first light sex incredibly easy.
Ferris’s deep purr relaxes the tight muscles in my shoulders and back from hours spent sorting through endless paperwork in Ren’s office. His warm hand glides over my hip to grip the softness of my belly before reaching down to give my mons a single, possessive squeeze.
My heat was not ovulatory after all. By now, Ferris and Dair would be able to smell if I was pregnant, and there has been no change to my scent. In many ways it’s a relief. I’d never considered having children before Dair and Ferris, and I’m not afraid to say that I still haven’t made up my mind. Maybe there will be a day when it feels like things have settled and I’ve gorged myself on my alphas enough to be ready to share them, but for now, I’m content to let them practice breeding me. Luckily, Iza has already set me up with an herbal tea to continue to prevent ovulation—just in case.
It will do nothing to prevent heat, however, and now that Dair and Ferris have me, they will both descend into rut on the full moon, likely dragging me into pheromonal madness with them. None of us are too upset about this. I think we like being wild with each other.
“You left the meeting,” Ferris breathes against my bitten scent gland while playing with the short curls on my pussy.
“I got tired,” I mumble. “Dair tried to warn me that they take all night, but I thought he was exaggerating.”
“They’re still going, too.” Ferris laughs. “Iza took pity on me and allowed me to finally leave, but who knows when Dair will be done.” His finger dips between my labia, rubbing gently against my already swollen clit.
“Maybe he’ll be gone until morning.” I moan as his finger slips down to my entrance and glides inside my wet heat.
“Guess that means I have you all to myself,” he growls, nipping his mate bite.
I lift my leg, draping it over his hip so that my pussy is spread and exposed to his exploring hand. He groans into my neck, fingers working me harder and faster. His erection presses into my ass, but I want it pressing into my dripping center instead.
“Please, alpha,” I moan.
“You need more?” he growls. “Want me to fill you with my cock?”
“Yes!” I gasp, squirming in his arms.
