Chapter 24

Chapter 24
The afternoon before the mating ceremony Kathrine, Jarold, and Toby decided to spend the evening and night in the woods in their wolf forms. As the symptoms of her heat were starting to make themselves known Kathrine felt calmer in her wolf form. She was restless and irritable to the point of refusing physical contact from her mates. They took her refusal in stride, knowing that in a few days she'd need almost constant contact from them to sooth her. They'd left a note on their kitchen table letting their parents know that they were in the woods and would arrive at the pack house the next morning. They knew when they weren't there by supper time, someone would come looking for them at their house. They intended to be at the cave and refuse any contact with anyone other than each other. Their instincts were telling them that there was danger afoot. Since they couldn't prove it and face it up front, they decided discretion was the better part of valor and were just going to avoid the pack house until they could be assured that there would be witnesses around.

They galloped through the woods playing chase and tag with each other. Just enjoying time together with the carefree games they played as pups. Once the sun started going down, they decided to hunt small game and prepare supper for themselves before it would be time for them to head to the cave to avoid someone finding them. They had made a point to frolic far from the cave in case there were wolves out that would see them. The pack was still under orders to give them space. It was likely someone would see them but not approach them. Once they had their supper, they made their way to their cave and after a quick sniff around to make sure there were no fresh trails to the area other than theirs, they shifted and climbed down and went through the curtain of water that hid the cave opening. They had prepared the cave the night before and changed into some warm clothes. Though, the days may be warm and sunshine, the cave was significantly cooler inside. They had brought out sleeping bags and knew they would sleep more comfortably than the night their mate mark formed.

The next morning the three of them had got up and straightened up their camping supplies. They knew they would be in deep shit with their parents, but strangely each of them had felt such peace in the cave throughout the night. As if they were exactly where they were supposed to be. They had woken up rested and ready to face the long day that would end with Jackson's completely self-serving ceremony and party that they would be expected to act as if didn't chafe them to the bone. Kathrine already planned to do whatever needed to be done to get them excused as quickly as possible after the ceremony. None of them had any interest in helping Jackson's agenda.

"I guess we need to go get this over with." Kathrine said in a sigh, giving a regretful look at their happy place. They'd never done anything sexual in the cave but she somehow felt more intimately connected to them in the cave. Just the three of them together with no distractions. Basking in each other's simple presence.

"I guess so. Anyone who sees an opportunity to escape after the ceremony, utilize it immediately." Toby instructed, though they were already on the same page without words.

They stripped their clothes off and folded them on top of their camping supplies. They'd have to exit under the veil of water and their clothes would be soaked anyway. Once back up on the ground they shifted into their wolves and took off towards the pack house. They galloped through the water of the stream instead of jumping it like they'd normally do, as an alibi for their human forms being wet. They planned to tell their parents that they had played in the woods all night and washed up in the stream to get the worst of the evidence of their hunt off them before they arrived. They'd know that they had intentionally avoided them, but hopefully it would be put to wanting to spend the night out in the woods rather than confined to a house.

As expected, their parents were sipping coffee at one of the tables in the back patio of the pack house. They seen the three wolves approaching, fur wet and muddy and both of their fathers shook their heads as Letha stood with a resigned sigh to let them in the house to go bathe.

"We're going to have a talk when you're cleaned up." Jackson said sternly once they reached the table. "Go take showers and meet me in my office."

Jarold and Toby gave a distinct nod in their wolf forms and nudged her in her rump to urge her towards the house. She growled at them over her shoulder in a 'don't shove me' rebuke. Jarold gave her a low growl in response, though it sounded apologetic. Half an hour later Kathrine, Jarold, and Toby made their way back down and to Jackson's office freshly showered and dressed. They took seats opposite their parents and waited for the reprimand that they knew was coming.

"What part of be here the night before the ceremony did I fail to make clear to the three of you?" Jackson asked in a hard tone.

"At what point did we seem receptive to spending the night here?" Kathrine asked, her tone matching his.

"I didn't ask you to be here. I ordered you to be here." Jackson said.

"Well, that is funny then. Because there was no compulsion lacing the order. So, we decided that it would be more relaxing for us to spend the night before the ceremony in wolf form in the woods. Which I'm sure you're aware because I'm sure you went to the house and found our note." Toby said reasonably.

"I shouldn't have to lace every command with the authority of the Alpha for my sons to comply with them." Jackson said sternly.

"Well, Father, that is the thing you need to understand. We have been adults for several years. We are beyond the age that we will blindly follow your commands. If you would like our attendance, you may request it. We reserve the right to spend the night in our home, the woods, or to grant your request of attendance at our discretion. But, since we no longer live under your roof, you no longer have the power to demand we appear and have us obligated to comply. Respect will be met with respect." Jarold said crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes at his father.

"Is it so much to ask for a night together as a family before your mating ceremony?" Jackson demanded.

"When it is a command to attend? Yes. You tried to order us in our own home. We decided to spend the night as we seen fit." Kathrine answered. glaring.