Carter and Kelly popped claws and fangs in response, crowding around Joe, waiting to see what Robbie would do. The others began to move behind, assuming tactical poses, ready to fight if need be, to protect their Alpha should the others come after me.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
None of this was.
I wasn’t dreaming.
I wasn’t dreaming.
I said, “Enough.”
Robbie sagged.
As did Carter and Kelly.
They stepped back, away from Joe.
Gordo still hadn’t moved, either to attack or to defend.
Robbie looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his head as he stood. “I would do it again,” he muttered.
“I know,” I said. “But you don’t have to.”
He brushed against my shoulder as he resumed his place behind me.
I looked back at Joe. “You’re here.” Short. To the point.
“I am. We are.”
“Did you do what you set out to do?”
A brief hesitation. Then, “No.”
That… I didn’t know what to do with that. “Why not?”
“Things change.”
“So all of this was for nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Look at you.”
“Look at me,” I echoed.
“Are we welcome?” he asked, and that was the most important question. Because an Alpha of the territory had to give his consent to another pack. It was how things worked.
But it shouldn’t have to be with him. With them.
“This is your home,” I said through gritted teeth. “You don’t have to ask that.”
“We do,” Joe said, the red in his eyes fading to their normal blue, bright and wide. “You know that as well as I do, Ox. Especially now that you’re… you.”
For the briefest of moments, I thought about saying no. No, you aren’t welcome here. No, we don’t need you. No, we don’t want to see you. Because you’ve been gone so long. You left us alone. You put others in front of us. You were selfish. And cruel. We needed you. I needed you. I fucking needed you and you left—
I said, “You’re welcome here. All of you.”
Everyone relaxed the smallest amounts.
Except for Joe and me.