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I took in a breath, meeting their eyes one by one. “Thank you all for gathering here today. Each and every one of you will form the foundation of Dalesbloom renewed under brighter ambitions, benevolent and humane goals, and the proactive pursuit of a healthy, balanced integration of our existence as shifters among humans,” I began. It was crucial to let them know that things were going to be different now with me in charge. I wasn’t going to follow in the footsteps of my cruel father. “In this new era of Dalesbloom, we do not seek power over our contemporaries. We will not allow our neighbors and friends to suffer if we should see fortune. Dalesbloom, Grandbay, and Eastpeak are equals, and as such, we will work to lift each other up rather than use one another for our personal gain. We will unite against threats and see each other thrive.”
I smiled confidently at the Grandbay Alpha and then at the Eastpeak Alpha, assured of the strength of our alliance through the ordeals we had all gone through together.
“Dalesbloom will be seeing some critical changes in the future. Through the mutual agreement of all packmates present, we will be selling Hexen Manor and, with the funds from the sale, purchasing the apartment block on 102 Main Street. This building will become the new centralized base of our pack operations, and any who wish to own a suite in the building are more than welcome. We will begin a monthly tradition of hunting alongside our neighbors in Grandbay and Eastpeak, and every two weeks will conduct an Alpha meeting, the location of which will rotate between our three towns. On every full moon, we will perform a singing ceremony in honor of the lives lost during David Hexen’s descent into madness. And, finally, in a break from tradition, each Alpha’s mate will be seen as equal in power to their Alpha. Gavin Steele and Billie Steele lead Grandbay. Everett March and Aislin Mundy lead Eastpeak. And I, Colt Hexen, lead Dalesbloom alongside my mate, Kiara Vale. Our unity and friendship will see a long, successful reign over the towns of the Gunnison National Forest.”
The crowd abruptly broke into applause, cheering for this declaration of promised prosperity. All three packs joined in the triumphant ovation. Our way of life was about to be irrevocably changed for the better, and we would all fight to defend it from any who sought to upend us. I was determined to lead my pack better than my father before me.
That night, our packs mingled in a celebration of our alliance. Tables were set out with food and drink, a great bonfire was lit in the yard, and we sat and talked and laughed with one another, reveling in the bounty of our friendship. We relished our company as friends, and for the first time, I felt like I was truly equal to Gavin and Everett, like they respected me.
Kiara had a glass of wine and was standing with Billie and Aislin, chatting amicably with the girls who had become her friends in the wake of her mother’s death. I admired how she was willing to let them into her life, honoring her mother’s affection for the girls. Nursing a beer, I approached Kiara from behind and slid my hand around her waist. The girls’ laughter tapered into quiet smiles as they greeted me. “Did I interrupt something?”
“No, we were just placing bets on which of us, our beefy Alpha mates, would pump full of babies first,” scoffed Aislin.
“Oh. Well, I guess I’m already disqualified. I’ve a way to go before I’m as beefy as Gavin and Everett,” I laughed.
We all glanced across the yard to where Gavin and Everett were duking it out against their packmates in a game of beer pong.
“You’re already getting there, sweetheart,” Kiara said warmly, smacking my bulging bicep. “Ooh. So sexy.”
I flexed just for her. “So, who’s most likely to get pumped full of babies then?”
“Billie. Obviously. You wouldn’t believe how much she and Gavin f—”
“Ew,” I interrupted as Billie’s cheeks flushed bright red. “That’s my sister.”
Billie shoved Aislin’s arm. “Have a little modesty,” she said, laughing under her breath.
“Whatever.” Aislin rolled her eyes. “You can’t deny all three of these Alphas are getting it on the regular,” she said, pointing at me, gesturing over at Everett and Gavin, who both roared with victory, winning their game.
“Well, I already know that Colt’s going to make a great dad,” purred Kiara. “You should have seen the way he coddled that little dragon baby.”
She glanced up at me with complete adoration. At the time, I hadn’t thought about how it would come off, me caring for the infant as much as I did. I guess it might have tickled Kiara a little.
“Nefrit? What did the Mythguard decide to do with her?” asked Billie.
“She’s currently being fostered by a Mythguard operative, but… we’ve begun the application process to adopt her,” I said. “I know she’s a dragon, but Kiara and I have kind of a soft spot for her now. We think we could raise her right, instill some proper morals in her, the way Lothair wouldn’t have been able to. We want her to know that as a dragon, she doesn’t have to be oppressed. She can still live a free life and not have to hide in the night. And maybe from there, she can lead by example.”
“That’s mighty generous of you,” drawled Aislin. “I hope it works out.”
I wasn’t sure if Aislin was sincere, but I knew from Billie’s enthusiastic nodding that at least my sister truly hoped the application would go through. “You would give her a wonderful life,” said Billie.