Chapter Eleven

The coffee was strong and sweet, which was a good help to start her day. Marissa was tired and out of sorts. The Council would arrive soon and she was nervous.

Gage glanced across the kitchen table at her when his cell phone rang. The sense of dread that filled her must have been shared by the others at the table since all conversation stopped. Or maybe they had been expecting the call. It wasn’t like they had a reason to be afraid, after all.

“Excuse me,” Gage said while standing up. He paced away as he swiped his finger over his phone. “Hello.”

Marissa watched him as he strolled to the sliding glass doors then pulled one open. He closed it behind him but every shifter in the room leaned forward. They might be able to hear but she sure the hell couldn’t. She’d just have to wait until Gage came back inside and told her what was going on.

Luckily it was a short conversation. He hung up the phone then turned around. His gaze met hers and he smiled. She nodded going to him as he headed back into the house. Marissa moved quickly so that her palm was in his and she felt the heat from his body when he held out his hand to her.

It was so nice to finally have someone to lean on. She’d always considered herself an independent woman but in reality she’d wanted someone to take care of her.

She’d never had that before and Gage was the perfect mate. He might be demanding and stubborn but she trusted him completely.

“The Council will be arriving soon,” he said. “They’ve already spoken to Brandon and his father and now want to hear our side of the story. I’ll go first but after that they want to speak with you,” Gage said to her.

Marissa nodded.

“Just remember that they’re here to pass judgment on Brandon and his Pack. They can’t and won’t harm you. You are my mate. They accept non-shifters as they would a shifter or human. You’re safe here.”

How Gage knew what she was worried about she didn’t know but Marissa was grateful. She was learning a lot about herself the more time she stayed with Gage. He’d brought up her non-shifter status several times but when he did it was never with disgust.

“I’ll make sure the study is ready,” Logan said. “I’ve been in meetings with the Council before and know how they like things.” He rushed out of the room.

“It’s going to be fine,” Gage’s father said, walking up to her. He lifted her chin. “You are our family and the Council is here to protect you and punish Brandon. I know these men that are coming today. Each one of them led their own Packs with love and caring. They will be horrified to hear how you were treated.”

There was just so much happening, and so quickly, that Marissa actually felt somewhat light-headed.

“Would you like some air?” Cain asked from beside the door. “We could take a short walk in the back but stay close enough that you’ll be available for when the Council needs you.”

Marissa looked at Gage. She’d love to go outside but she didn’t know how he’d feel about her being alone with Cain. She would never have given it a second thought before Gage but now she wanted to be considerate of his feelings.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Gage agreed.

“Come along then.” Cain waved to the door.

Marissa lifted her face for a kiss from Gage. She’d thought it would be just a peck since the other two men were in the room but he wrapped his arms around her back and held her in tight before he plundered her mouth. She was panting and aroused by the time he pulled away.

“Just a reminder of who you belong to,” Gage said.

Like she could ever forget. Her ass was still a little sore from him marking her the previous night. She knew her cheeks were red from blushing so she kept her head down and strolled through the door that Cain had opened.

The wood deck was solid as she walked carefully across it to the stairs. Once she was standing on the grass she stopped and closed her eyes.

The last time she’d done this was when she’d first made love with Gage. She’d felt like things were out of control then too. But now she had someone she could lean on, depend on. Marissa smiled before she took a deep breath.

She could handle the Council. Sure, she was nervous but the one thing she wasn’t was weak. She’d grown up having to fight for herself and Elizabeth. Even though her sister was older she was also unable to stand up for them. Elizabeth just didn’t have it in her. But Marissa could and did when she was able.

Now that she was the mate to an Alpha she had to call on that strength. Only Gage would be there for her and her for him. They could rely on each other and care for the Pack.

A Pack. In her heart Marissa had always wanted to belong but had never admitted it to anyone. Since she didn’t think that she’d ever be accepted she couldn’t deal with the letdown. Now she didn’t have to.

She could make decisions about the Pack and help where needed. The biggest way she could think about being needed was to be there for other non-shifters. To make sure that no one else suffered as she had.

Maybe Gage’s father could help her reach out to some of the other non-shifters. He’d said that he knew of Packs that had them.

Decision made, she opened her eyes and turned.

Cain sat on the top step of the porch peering out at the trees. When she moved he glanced over at her.

“Sorry,” she said, embarrassed that she’d forgotten about him.

“No problem,” he told her and stood. “You needed a break and fresh air always helps.”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Cain smiled. “You remind me of someone from my Pack. You like to be seen as strong and independent but you need someone to care for you.”

Marissa wasn’t surprised Cain could read her. It was always the quiet ones that saw more than you wanted them to. “Is she special to you?”

Cain jerked back and she hid a grin. Oh yeah, she had his number right back.

“She’s just a girl that I grew up around. She didn’t have any family and my father made sure she was taken care of,” Cain said.

Marissa could tell by the way his gaze darted around that Cain wasn’t about to admit his feelings for this secret woman. “Where is she now?”

“Emily’s enrolled in school,” he said. “She wanted to go away and try to make it on her own, although she still comes back for all the big Pack events.”

Yeah, if this Emily was attempting to make it without the support system of the Pack they did have a lot in common.

“I’d like to meet her someday,” Marissa said. “It’d be nice to have some real friends.”

“I’ll make sure she’s home the next time Gage visits. I doubt he’ll go anywhere without you from now on,” Cain said.

Marissa planned to make sure her mate never left her behind.

Logan appeared at the top of the porch. “They’re ready for you, Marissa.”

Damn, she guessed she’d spent more time in her mind than she’d thought. “Okay,” she said. She rolled her shoulders back and lifted her chin. It was time to do what she needed to—she would not be intimidated.

Cain grinned at her as she passed and Logan dipped his head. Marissa strode forward and walked through the kitchen toward the center of the house. Gage had shown her where his study was before and she had liked the space, especially the warmth of the room with the heavy furniture and wood-burning fireplace.

She was glad that the Council had come to Gage’s house. It was probably the place where she felt the most comfortable at the moment. Plus he’d be close by.

The house was quiet and Marissa hadn’t realized how much that seemed wrong until just then. Logan had requested that everyone stay away while the Council was there, even sending Hannah off, so only her, Gage, Logan and Gage’s dad occupied the house. She didn’t even know when her sister was going to make it back. Gage had said that Logan was taking control of the travel plans and there was nothing she needed to worry about. Marissa was kind of happy about that. She felt guilty enough that Elizabeth and Greg’s honeymoon had been interrupted that she didn’t want to screw up getting them back into the territory.

There was a man she’d never seen outside the door and he smiled at her as she approached.

“You must be Marissa,” he said, holding out his hand. “Congratulations on your mating.”

“Uh, thank you,” she responded.

“I’m Stephen, one of the Council’s guards. I’ve known Gage since we were both small boys. I was so happy to hear he’d found you,” Stephen said.

Marissa nodded even though she wondered how he could mean that when all of this was her fault.

“Go right in,” he told her, waving toward the door.

“Thank you,” she said, stepping past him. She turned around. “It was nice to meet an old friend of Gage’s. I wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Next time it will be,” he said.

Marissa took a deep breath then knocked on the door. It opened and Gage stood there. He could still take her breath away with how handsome he was. He smiled and Marissa felt the urge to touch him. Luckily he reached for her, saving her from having to make a decision.

“It’s going to be fine,” he whispered against her brow while brushing his lips over her skin. “They’re here to help.”

Marissa peered up into his eyes. “I know,” she said. “I’m strong enough to do this.”

“Yes, you are,” he agreed. “Now come.”

Three men sat in a semi-circle in comfortable-looking chairs with cups of coffee on a table near them. They smiled then rose as she approached with Gage.

The hair on the back of her neck stood from the power in the room. Including Gage, the men were all Alphas and it was obvious to even her non-shifter senses.

“It’s okay, dear,” the closest Council member told her. “I’m Tim Babcock and these gentlemen are Alan Conrad and Andy Williams. We just want to take your statement, verify the events, and as we’ve spoken to Gage already he’s welcome to stay.”

Marissa let out a breath. She glanced over at her mate and he nodded. She didn’t even have to ask and that helped her gain some of her much needed strength.

Gage led her to a couch located directly in front of the chairs where the Council Alphas were seated. They sat together and relief flooded her when Gage scooted closer and took her hand.

“We request that you tell us in your own words of what happened while you were in your birth Pack up to and including your sister’s ceremony,” Alpha Conrad said.

Marissa rubbed her free hand on her jeans. “I don’t know where to start,” she admitted.

“Wherever you think is best. If we need you to go back any we’ll ask,” Alpha Babcock said.

“Okay,” Marissa said then started to tell them how she’d become close Brandon.

The story wasn’t a short one but the three Council Alphas paid her every bit of attention as she spoke. At one point Gage stood and got her a glass of iced water. She drank it down, feeling better as the cool liquid soothed her throat. She’d never spoken this much.

Alpha Babcock gave her a small nod so she started to speak once again.

Through the entire story Gage held her hand. She felt each time that he tensed when he didn’t like what she was saying or he was having trouble handling it. If she wasn’t so selfish Marissa wouldn’t have made him stay. Instead she clung to him.

It was harder than she’d thought it would be, reliving her past. In the years that she’d been on her own, Marissa really thought that she’d gotten over what had happened. But a couple of times she teared up and Gage pulled her close.

“If you need a break we understand,” Alpha Babcock said right after she’d explained about being kicked out of the Pack and the week she’d waited for Brandon.

“No,” she told him. “I’d really like to get this over with.”

“I understand,” Alpha Babcock replied.

Gage rubbed her back and she took a deep breath then continued. The next part of being on her own was easier since she was proud of surviving. Even talking about coming there and meeting Gage was nice. She didn’t elaborate on the fight that she and Gage had the morning of her attack. They didn’t need to know that.

“So,” she said. “That’s about all there is.”

Marissa felt drained and exhausted. She glanced at the clock above the fireplace and realized that she’d been in there for almost an hour. She collapsed against Gage, not caring what the Council Alphas thought about it.

“Did you get everything you need?” Gage asked.

His voice was rough and she could still feel the tension in his body.

“Yes,” Alpha Conrad said. “Everything that Ms. Boyd told us matches the statements given by you and Brandon. Brandon didn’t think he’d done anything wrong so he had no trouble recounting his story.”

“So what’s next?” Gage asked.

“We’ll give our judgment to Brandon and his father,” Alpha Babcock stated. “We’ve already appointed an Alpha to take over the Pack. Any members that are found to have been involved—and we are aware there are more—will be disciplined by the new Alpha.”

“I didn’t know you could appoint an Alpha.” Gage sounded shocked.

“Only in extreme cases,” Alpha Conrad said. “Most of the time we help an Alpha choose a replacement when they have trouble. Very few Alphas don’t have a backup plan or someone already in the Pack that can become the Pack leader, but it does happen.”

Gage shared a look with Marissa.

“Who would take over our Pack?” she asked him.

“Before we mated I appointed Logan. Now that’s a decision we would make together,” Gage said.

Marissa actually agreed with Gage’s assessment that Logan would be a good Alpha. “I already agree with you.”

He nodded.

“There is another matter we’d like to discuss with you both,” Alpha Williams spoke for the first time.

Marissa stiffened, she couldn’t help it. She didn’t know if she could deal with anything else.

“We’d like to bring your father in, Gage,” Alpha Babcock said.

Gage nodded before he pressed a kiss against her temple. “Remember we have each other. Everything is going to be okay.”

She tried to give him a reassuring smile, she really did, but the dread that filled her was too strong. These men were Council Alphas and very powerful. She’d rather they just left and she and Gage could sneak back up to their room.

It was Alpha Williams who stood and went to the door. He was only gone a few minutes but it felt like an eternity. The other two Council Alphas spoke quietly. She had no doubt that Gage could hear them even if she couldn’t. He didn’t seem worried, but then again he was still upset over what she’d shared earlier so he was difficult to read at the moment.

When Gage’s father entered behind Alpha Williams he was smiling. He crossed over to her and Gage and pulled her into his arms. Marissa was so shocked that she hugged him back automatically. Not only had he made a beeline straight for her but he was embracing her in front of the other Alphas. Her, a non-shifter, who was the cause of all this trouble.

“I’m very proud of you,” he whispered to her. “It couldn’t have been easy but you did what needed to be done to protect yourself and this Pack.”

Marissa closed her eyes as she leaned on him. She didn’t think she’d done anything special but it hadn’t been easy. She appreciated his support.

“Now,” he said before he drew back. “Let’s finish up in here.”

“Okay,” she agreed.

When she turned to Gage to sit back beside him he was beaming at her. Really, the two of them were acting like she was some sort of hero. While it was nice, she thought they were being silly.

“I love you,” Gage murmured as she rejoined him.

Damn, every time she heard those words she wanted to melt. “Me too,” she whispered back.

“What can we do for you?” Gage asked the Council in his normal volume.

“I’ve been speaking to your father about what your mate and her sister have been through. We’ll be speaking with Elizabeth when she arrives because I am very interested in how all this has affected her,” Alpha Williams said.

“Elizabeth didn’t do anything wrong,” Marissa almost shouted as she tried to launch herself up off the couch.

Gage’s arm around her stomach stopped her movement while pissing her off. She tried to push him away but he tightened his hold.

“Shh,” he chided.

She sat fuming, and when Alpha Williams appeared amused, she had to literally bite her tongue.

“Of course she didn’t,” Alpha Williams said. “We are hoping that she can give us a point of view that we haven’t tried to see before. As the sister or family member of a non-shifter we hope to offer them support as well as any non-shifter so that they may comfort and assist their non-shifter. We don’t want to leave anyone out of aid we might be able to offer. Elizabeth could provide valuable insight.”

Marissa flushed with embarrassment. One of these days she was going to learn not to jump to conclusions and make a fool out of herself. “Sorry,” she mumbled, keeping her gaze on her lap.

“It’s quite all right.” Alpha Babcock waved his hand as he chuckled. “Your spirit is one of the traits that we admire about you. We believe you will need it as well to help other non-shifters.”

“You really think I’ll be able to help someone?” she asked.

Gage moved his arm from her stomach to back behind her neck. “If anyone can, it’s you,” he said.

She placed her hand on his knee and gave him a squeeze.

“We want to believe that any wolf shifter would contact us if they were in your shoes but we know that’s not reality. The way we operate seems to keep us isolated. It’s needed since we do have to make hard decisions that involve Packs. By having you available we think this avenue will really open a line of communication for non-shifters who may be suffering.” Alpha Conrad leaned forward as he spoke to her and Marissa could see the sincerity in his eyes.

It meant a lot to her that they wanted to make sure no other non-shifters suffered like she had. “What is it that you want me to do?” she asked. “I don’t know anyone from other Packs.”

“That’s where your mate and the Council come in,” Alpha Williams said. “We’d like you to set up something where other Pack members can contact you. We’ll send out a memo to all Alphas, plus as our representatives visit Packs they’ll spread the word. I figure it’ll take a couple of months but this is the first part of the plan. If it works we’ll come up with more ideas.”

“What about a group chat too?” Marissa suggested. “That way not only can someone talk to me but it will be a community of non-shifters.”

“That’s a great idea,” Gage’s father said. “I can help you set that up in the next couple of weeks.”

Marissa nodded then looked at Gage. “I think I need to speak to my mate about our plans. Can we have some time to think about this?” Marissa really wanted to be involved in the project and it seemed like Gage also approved of the idea but she wanted to make sure Gage felt the same way.

“Of course,” Alpha Babcock responded. “Alpha Williams is heading up the project but we’ll all leave you our contact numbers and emails.”

“Okay,” Marissa said.

A knock sounded at the door and Gage’s father rose. “I’ll get it.”

“You doing okay?” Gage asked in a murmur.

“Yes,” she assured him.

“Greg and Elizabeth have arrived,” Logan told Gage’s dad.

Gage stood then offered her his hand. “Let’s go get some coffee.”

She glanced over at the Council Alphas and received a nod from Alpha Babcock. As she rose, Gage slid his hand up to her neck. He kept a hold of her, leading her out of the room.

In the hallway, Greg and Elizabeth were waiting.

“Marissa!” Elizabeth exclaimed rushing toward her.

She opened her arms and Elizabeth fit herself right into the embrace.

“I’m so sorry that your honeymoon got interrupted for this,” Marissa told her sister.

“Are you kidding?” Elizabeth shrieked. “I was so pissed off that Greg didn’t tell me about the attack.”

“I’m fine and if Brandon hadn’t done what he did things might not have worked out the way they have,” she said with a glance over at Gage.

“Really?” Elizabeth peered between Gage and Marissa. “Does this mean I get my sister back?”

“You never lost me,” Marissa assured her. “But this means that when you have kids I get to be the cool aunt living just a few blocks away.”

When Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears, Marissa pulled her sister back into a hug.

“It’s good,” she murmured. “Everything is so good right now I may have you pinch me later just to be sure.”

“After all this time,” Elizabeth sobbed. “I didn’t think you’d ever be really happy and now you are.”

Marissa held one hand up toward her mate. They grasped each other. “Yes, it’s really happening,” she repeated.