Chapter 73: 71, Telling the pack

Sean’s POV

“So she brought Tia with her,” Adina sighed. It wasn’t a question.

Sean growled, and he felt Colin tense up and growl as well.

“That can be an issue,” Adina admitted.

“Both Colin and I are more protective than usual, as you can understand,” Adina added.

“I understand,” Liam nodded.

“That goes for the pack as well. We have just been through a major battle, and they almost lost Sean. If they find out someone is trying to take him away, that individual will not have a peaceful time in this pack,” Colin said.

“I get that, and if you allow her to visit, I will make that clear to her. I have talked to her after your visit and she knows she was in the wrong,” Liam said.

“We will let them in. Sean’s mother should be able to see him,” Adina said.

“Baby cake, that isn’t necessary,” Sean objected.

“I have no issue turning them away,” Colin agreed.

“But I do. Are you going to argue with me?” Adina asked.

“No, baby,” Colin sighed.

“You are too stubborn and kind-hearted for your own good,” Sean told her and kissed her hand.

“All done,” she smiled and tugged on Sean’s white lock of hair.

Colin smiled and pulled her down off the back of the couch. Sean helped him so she was lounged across both their laps. She squealed a little but got comfortable soon enough.

“We have a guest,” she smiled.

“I don’t mind at all. It’s nice to see my brother happy,” Liam grinned.

Sean was about to tell his brother that he was happy when there was a small pop and a silver note with black edges appeared out of thin air and gently floated down to rest on Adina’s chest. All four of them just looked at it.

“That was quick,” Adina said.

“What is that?” Liam asked. He had eyes big as saucers.

“Probably a reply from Selene and Absalom,” Sean smiled.

“The gods?” his brother asked.

“Yes, Adina had a favour to ask of them,” Colin nodded.

“The gods?” Liam asked again.

“She is the Beloved One,” Sean said, as if it explained everything.

“Things like this never happen at home,” Liam sighed.

“I summoned portals in front of your pack house,” Adina reminded him.

“That you did. I don’t think mom has forgiven you for that yet,” Liam smiled.

“I’ll add it to the list of things she is upset about,” Adina nodded. Sean and Colin had to laugh.

“So what do they say?” Colin asked.

Adina picked up the note and read it.

“They want to know a date and a place,” she smiled.

“They agreed?” Colin asked, surprised.

“I would say so, yes,” Adina nodded.

“Selene already knew this was coming,” Sean smiled, thinking of the goddess parting words to them.

“I guess she did,” Adina smiled.

“But how will everyone see them? Do we all need to hold hands so you can share your magic?” Colin asked.

Sean laughed so hard at the image of a courtroom full of people holding hands with each other that he got tears in his eyes.

“No, honey. They can take on a more solid form,” Adina smiled and kissed Colin.

“You are all talking like this is something that happens often here,” Liam said. He sounded astounded.

“No, not really. But it happens,” Sean smiled.

“I think I will take my leave. You have things to talk about, and I think I will go to the airport and pick up my pack members. I will make sure they know they need to be on their best behaviour,” Liam said, standing up.

Sean lifted Adina’s legs to stand up and escort his brother out. But Colin put a hand on his shoulder and scooted Adina over in his lap.

“I’ll handle it,” Colin said.

“You can borrow one of our cars. I’ll have it brought around for you. Would you like a driver or will you manage on your own?” Colin then asked Liam.

“Very kind of you. I appreciate it. I think we can manage on our own. I’ll take one of my warriors with me,” Liam said as they walked to the door.

As Colin came back, he sat down in the same spot again and Sean moved Adina over to his lap and kept her feet in his own.

“Do you think we can do this? It would be a shame if you, or me killed that female from your brother’s pack,” Colin said and scented Adina’s neck.

“There will be no killing,” Adina told him.

“I’m not happy about this. I would have preferred they just turned around,” Sean sighed.

Colin put his arm around Sean’s shoulders.

“The moment they make anyone uncomfortable or stressed out, they will be banned,” Colin said.

“Sounds good,” Sean nodded and then leaned his head back.

“Are you tired?” Adina asked him.

“A little,” he admitted.

“Why don’t the two of you take a nap before lunch? I’ll contact Cernack and see if he can start the ball rolling on this trial. Do we know when the gods expect an answer?” Colin asked.

“No, they don’t care, as long as they have more than a day’s warning,” Adina said.

She was scooting off Colins lap, and Sean opened his arms to let her snuggle into him. Colin gave them both a kiss on their heads and took the dishes into the kitchen. Sean was asleep within minutes.

Adina’s POV

Adina was gently awoken by Colin placing a kiss on her shoulder. She smiled and snuggled in closer to Sean’s chest. She heard two voices chuckle and felt Sean’s chest move.

“No escaping, baby. You need to wake up so you can eat,” Colin told her.

Adina smiled and nodded. The nap in Sean’s lap on the couch had been just what she needed. It had given her a little energy boost and let her feel Sean’s presence. She knew that Colin had been close by as well. Adina got up from Sean’s lap and stretched. Sean stood up and stretched as well. Both of them got ready to go downstairs.

“Where are you going?” Colin asked.

“Downstairs,” Sean said.

“Are you sure you can manage it? We could just as well eat up here,” Colin told them.

Adina smiled at him and kissed him. She knew that both Sean and she had put him through a lot the last couple of days.

“I think it would be nice to eat with the pack, and our new friends,” Adina said.

What she didn’t say, but thought, was that Sean’s mother and Tia would arrive any minute. Adina would feel better to be surrounded by the pack when she greeted them. It would make her feel more balanced and it would give her an incentive to not rip someone’s head off.

“Okay,” Colin nodded, and put his arm around her waist.

“I talked to Cernack. He has a couple of issues with our plan. He is on his way to discuss it in person,” Colin told them as they were walking.

“Of course he is,” Adina smiled.

She knew her advisor too well to believe he was only coming to discuss his doubts. He was coming to check on her, and probably on Sean as well. He might act all stiff upper lip, but in reality, he cared more than anyone else had before Sean and her had come to the Black Moon pack.

As they walked into the dining hall, Adina noticed it was packed with people. There were witches, werewolves and vampire mixing and talking. The mood seemed high, and laughter could be heard throughout the hall. Adina smiled.

When the pack noticed the three of them, there was a moment of everyone studying her and Sean. As they determined that the two of them looked okay, there was excitement and as they took a seat, pack members came up to talk to them, to wish them a speedy recovery, and to tell them how happy they were to see them. It moved Adina, and it made her truly grateful to be part of the pack.

She could tell that Sean felt the same and as a group of pups came over to talk to him and tell him they had been worried for him. Adina even saw him wipe away a stray tear. She took his hand, and Colin smiled at him.

Adina saw Joonas and Andy come walking and she waved at them. They headed for their table.

“Alpha, luna, Sean,” they both greeted them.

“Hi, I just wanted to thank you Joonas, the shakes you made for me yesterday were absolute amazing. Not only did they give me what I needed, but they were delicious.” Adina smiled at Joonas.

“Thank you, luna. It was my pleasure and I’m happy they could help,” Joonas said. A pink tint appeared on his cheeks above the beard.

“We are happy to see you both up and about,” Andy smiled at Adina and Sean.

“Thank you,” Sean said.

They stayed and talked for a while, and Doc and Molly stopped by as well. When they had left, Adina spent some time watching the hall. She enjoyed watching the interactions. Adina smiled as she saw Johnny bringing Rose a plate of food. She nudged her mates and nodded at what she saw.

“Should he be doing that?” Colin asked.

“He has earned it,” Adina smiled.

“How?” Sean asked.

Adina realised they hadn’t discussed what she had been doing yesterday with the portal jumping. She didn’t want to discuss it in the middle of a full dining hall.

“I’ll tell you later,” she said.

“Does it include you going all over the world yesterday?” Sean wondered.

“Glass houses and all that, love,” Adina told him and kissed him. Then she kissed Colin for good measure.

“You won’t distract us that easily, little dove,” Colin smiled. But then he focused on something else and frowned.

“Sean, your brother has returned with your mother and the other woman. Do you want us to go upstairs and meet them there?” Colin asked.

Sean looked at Adina and then at Colin.

“No, I think we can wait for them here,” he said.

“They might want something to eat,” Adina nodded. “We can invite them up to one of our offices when they are done if we feel the need,” she added. She wasn’t sure she wanted them in their apartment.

Colin nodded and relayed the info to whom Adina presumed was one of the guards at the gate.

“They will be here in about ten minutes,” he told them.

“Should we tell the pack about the pup?” Adina asked.

“I thought you wanted to hold off,” Colin said.

“I did. But do you think it will be a secret that much longer?” she asked. She didn’t want to say it, but she thought she wouldn’t be surprised if Sean’s mother blurted out something, or Tia for that matter.

“I think it’s a good idea. If my mother knows, we can’t be certain it will stay a secret,” Sean nodded. Adina felt heartbroken for him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

“It’s okay, baby cake. It is what it is,” he told her.

“You have a point. I don’t want the pack to find out like that,” Colin nodded.

“Everyone, can I have your attention please,” Colin said, standing up and reaching out his hand to Adina. Adina and Sean also stood up.

“We have had a couple of awful days. It has been hard on all of us. It’s not over. We will have some things ahead of us that won’t be easy. But not everything is bad or sad. I’m happy to announce that Sean, Adina, and I are expecting our first pup,” Colin said.

There was a loud roar of approval and congratulations. Someone howled and was soon followed by others. Adina noticed it wasn’t just their pack that was celebrating. Everyone seemed happy to have some good news.

She also saw that Liam, Sean’s mother and Tia were standing in the entrance to the dining hall and watched everything. Both Sean and Colin had the biggest grins on their faces and both their arms were around Adina’s waist.

As the excitement settled down a little, the three of them sat down and Adina smiled at Liam, and he came over with the two women.

“Sean, I’m so happy to see you, but should you really be up and about?” his mother said.