72, A final stance

Adina’s POV

“Hello, mother. I’m fine, a little more tired than usual. But I’m perfectly fine to eat lunch with the pack,” Sean said.

“You know Adina, and this is my other mate, alpha Colin. Colin, this is my mother and Tia,” Sean introduced them.

“Mrs Murphy, Tia,” Colin nodded.

“Alpha Colin,” both women said with a bow.

Adina didn’t like that Sean’s mother hadn’t offered Colin to call her by her first name. It was a clear sign she didn’t accept him as her son’s mate. Adina felt both her mates tense up.

“Would you like something to eat? You have had a long journey,” Adina asked.

Sean’s mother looked at her and it wasn’t a hostile look, but it was cold and accusing. Adina had no doubt that Sean’s mother saw her as the reason her son had almost been killed. It was enough hostility in her eyes for both Colin and Sean to stand up and move closer to Adina.

“No thank you, we ate on the way,” Sean’s mother told her.

Adina saw it wasn’t just her mates that was reacting to the presence of the two women. The pack felt Colin’s and Sean’s anxiety and they were watching everything that was happening at their table, ready to intervene to protect their pregnant luna and her two mates.

“In that case, I think we should head up to Colin’s office. I will ask for some tea and fruit to be brought up,” Adina smiled and stood up.

“Good idea, baby,” Colin said and kissed her cheek and put his arm around her.

“Please follow us,” Sean said, also putting his arm around Adina.

Tightly sandwiched between her mates, Adina walked out of the dining hall and they led Sean’s relatives to Colin’s office. They had just barely closed the door when the tea arrived. Adina poured it for everyone before sitting down. Colin and Sean took their seats on either side of her on the couch. Sean’s mother and Tia sat on the other couch and Liam chose one of the armchairs.

“Are you sure you are alright?” Sean’s mother asked him.

“I’m fine. Adina healed me,” he said, placing a kiss on Adina’s temple.

“Well, that’s the least you could expect her to do,” his mother huffed. Causing both Sean and Colin to growl.

“Mom!” Liam exclaimed.

“No, I’m not going to keep quiet when it’s obviously her fault that your brother was injured,” his mother told him.

“If you want to be technical about it. Sean was protecting me, not Adina, when he was hurt,” Colin told her.

“You?” his mother asked. She looked like she had a hard time believing it.

“Yes, mother. I was protecting Colin, my mate,” Sean told her. She sighed and shook her head.

“Dara, I am happy that you are here to see Sean, and I understand why you came. But please understand that our feelings are a little raw at the moment,” Adina said.

“We have been through a lot and with the pregnancy, we are just sensitive to outside threats right now. It’s wise to tread carefully at the moment. I know you aren’t happy about our arrangement, but this is not the time to discuss it,” she continued.

“There will never be a right time for us to discuss it, mother. You either accept my mates, and be happy for me, or this will be the last time we see each other. I am happy. Please be happy for me,” Sean said.

“Sean, you can’t mean that. Would you choose them over your family?” Sean’s mother asked.

“You are not my family. My family is the two people next to me and it’s the persons in this pack that not only welcomed me and Adina when we arrived but accepted us when they knew who Adina was and the risk her being here meant. It’s the ones that, without hesitation, stood behind the three of us. That is my family, mother,” Sean said.

Adina was so proud of him and kissed his cheek. Colin reached behind Adina and put his hand on Sean’s shoulder and squeezed it.

“To be honest, I asked Liam to make you turn around at the airport. Adina don’t need the stress of you being here. She used a lot of her energy yesterday to first make sure we had enough warriors and then to save me. She and the pup need rest, not this. But she convinced me to let you come,” Sean told them.

“Do you even know if the pup is yours?” Tia asked.

Adina was happy she had grabbed a hold of both her mates’ arms as they both launched out of the couch and were about to pounce on Tia.

“Did you not hear what I just told Dara?” Adina hissed at the terrified Tia. Liam didn’t lift a finger to help his pack member. He looked like he had resigned to the fact that she had signed her own death sentence.

“She has a valid point. Do you expect me to be a grandmother to a pup that I don’t even know is yours?” Sean’s mother said, patting Tia on the leg.

“Of course, the pup is mine. All three of us are its parents,” Sean growled, and Colin joined in agreement.

“You know that isn’t biologically possible,” his mother pointed out.

“Biology is not important. You and my father showed me that when you, as my biological parents, had no problem with sending me away. Adina showed me that when she turned out to be more family to me than anyone of my biological family was. Hell, even Cernack has been more of a loyal parent to me than any of you were,” Sean pointed out.

“You expect me to just accept this pup as my grandpup?”

“No, I don’t. I don’t want you anywhere near my pup,” Sean told her.

“I think that is our cue to leave. Thank you for having us,” Liam said.

“Thank you for coming, Liam. We appreciate your support. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you,” Adina smiled at him.

“No need Adina. It was my pleasure. Sean, be well and take care of your mates and that pup,” Liam nodded.

“I will. Thank you for coming brother. I will keep in touch,” Sean said.

“Be safe,” Colin told Liam.

“You too, Colin. Keep an eye on my little brother,” Liam smiled.

“I will,” Colin said.

‘Jason, can you make sure Sean’s mother and the other woman leaves without causing any issues, and that the pack doesn’t cause issues with them?’ Adina mind linked Jason.

‘I will handle it,’ he responded.

“I’m sorry,” she told Sean.

“Don’t be, I’m not,” he told her and hugged her. Colin joined them and for a moment, they all just enjoyed the hug and let their emotions calm.

“What now?” Adina asked.

“Now we wait for Cernack and while we do, you will tell us what happened yesterday while we were fighting,” Colin told her.

“Oh,” she said.

“No point in dragging it out, baby cake,” Sean said, sat down and patted on the couch beside him.

She sat down with a sigh, and Colin sat down on the coffee table in front of her. There was no escaping it. She told them everything.

“You went all around the world, all alone?” Colin asked when she was finished.

“No, I had Johnny,” Adina said. Both her mates snorted.

“I like the kid, but he is a kid. He hasn’t even had basic training,” Sean pointed out.

“He was very nice and took care of me and was very polite to everyone,” Adina said.

“You are missing the point, baby. You were unprotected, out in the world,” Colin said.

“I know. If I thought there would have been another way, I wouldn’t have done it. But it was the only way to get the warriors here in a short time,” she told them.

They both sighed.

“She is right,” Sean then said.

“I know, and it’s irritating,” Colin admitted.

“Am I forgiven?” Adina asked.

“Of course you are,” Colin nodded.

“Next time, just let one of us know at least,” Sean said.

“Okay,” Adina agreed.

They continued talking about what needed to be done. The fighting had mostly taken place in the woods, which minimised the damage to buildings. They needed to plan the funeral for the pack members that had lost their lives.

Adina wanted to speak to their families. Sean said he would go with her, but both she and Colin hesitated.

“I’m not weak. Give me today to rest and I’ll be as usual,” Sean said.

“I don’t know, Sean,” Adina hesitated.

“Baby, he will be fine,” Colin told her. “I don’t like the thought of letting either of you go out there, but if I can, then so can you,” he said, kissing her.

“Fine,” she agreed.

Cernack arrived an hour before dinner and was asked to join them in Colin’s office.

“My lady, my lords. It’s nice to see you all looking so well,” Cernack said.

“It’s nice to see you too, Cernack. Thank you for all your help yesterday,” Adina said.

“It was my pleasure. I’m happy we got the outcome we did,” the old wolf smiled.

“You wanted to discuss something about our plans with us?” Colin asked.

“Yes. Although I do like the plan you have for having a trial, I’m concerned about the consequences of it,” Cernack said.

“What would those be?” Adina asked.

“The fact that you exist would no longer be kept a secret. The magical community would once again know that you are alive,” Cernack told her.

“I think we already ruined that cover when I bounced all over the world, creating portals,” Adina giggled.

“Ah, you might be right. Are you okay with that?” Cernack asked.

“I am. Are you?” Adina asked her mates.

“I don’t see and issue with it. The Order is gone, and your cousin is gone,” Sean said.

“You shouldn’t have to live in the shadows anymore, you should be able to show who you really are,” Colin agreed.

“That will also mean that they will find out about this pack,” Cernack reminded them.

“I think we have shown that we can survive that,” Colin said.

“Then you have no objections to going public?” Cernack asked one more time.

“No,” Adina said, shaking her head.

“Well then. I’ll get going with the arrangements,” Cernack said.

“Thank you, my friend. You will stay for dinner?” Adina asked.

“I would love to,” he smiled.

“Did you ever think this day would come?” Adina asked him as they were walking down to the dining hall.

“To be honest, my lady. No. I didn’t think I would get to see the Beloved One move freely again in my lifetime. But I’m happy that I was wrong,” he said.

“Me too. We should really send alpha Dean a big gift basket of some sort for deciding to travel around so much this year,” Adina smiled.

Collin huffed. He still wasn’t a fan of alpha Dean, and Sean chuckled.