A Mate For Christmas

Chapter 20

When she woke again, sunlight streamed through the windows. Her body ached like she had run a marathon. Her head pounded.

Gideon sat in a chair beside the bed, watching her. He looked exhausted, like he had not slept at all.

"How long was I asleep?" Evie asked, her voice hoarse.

"Eighteen hours," Gideon said. "How do you feel?"

"Like I got hit by a truck," Evie admitted. "How is Victoria?"

"Awake. Stable. The healers say she is healing faster than expected, probably because of the binding." Gideon stood and poured a glass of water, helping Evie sit up to drink. "She has been asking for you."

"I want to see her," Evie said.

"After you eat something," Gideon said firmly. "You need to regain your strength."

Delilah brought breakfast, a huge spread of food that made Evie's stomach growl despite how tired she felt. She ate slowly while Gideon filled her in on everything that had happened.

Raphael's remaining loyal wolves had been captured or killed. Maxwell had disappeared completely, though scouts were searching for him. The allied Alphas who had withdrawn their support were being investigated by the council to determine if they should face charges.

"What about Treasure?" Evie asked.

"Safe," Gideon said. "She is being hailed as a hero for speaking out against her father. The council wants to interview her about Raphael's crimes."

After Evie finished eating, Gideon helped her to Victoria's room. The older woman was propped up in bed, still pale but alert. Her side was heavily bandaged.

"Evie," Victoria said softly. "Come here, child."

Evie sat on the edge of the bed. Victoria took her hand.

"You saved my life," Victoria said. "At great cost to yourself. Why?"

"Because you saved mine first," Evie said simply. "And because you are Gideon's mother. His family. That makes you my family too."

Victoria's eyes filled with tears. "I was wrong about you. So very wrong. I thought you were weak, that you would bring Gideon nothing but pain. But you are one of the strongest people I have ever met."

"I am really not," Evie said.

"You are," Victoria insisted. "You faced Raphael without flinching. You offered yourself in trade to save the pack. And you bound your own life to mine to save me, knowing it would leave you vulnerable." She squeezed Evie's hand. "You are exactly the Luna this pack needs."

Evie felt tears prick her own eyes. "Thank you."

"No, thank you," Victoria said. "For loving my son. For standing beside him. For being brave enough to stay when any sane person would have run."

Over the next few days, Evie slowly regained some strength. Not much, but enough to walk around without feeling like she would collapse. The pack treated her differently now. With respect. With admiration. Some even bowed slightly when she passed.

It was strange and uncomfortable, but also kind of nice.

Treasure became a constant companion. The two of them spent hours together, talking about everything and nothing. Treasure was funny and kind, nothing like her father. She told Evie stories about growing up in Raphael's pack, about her mother, about her dreams of a different life.

"I want to stay here," Treasure said one afternoon as they sat in the garden. "With this pack. If Gideon will let me."

"I am sure he will," Evie said. "You proved yourself. You stood against your father when it mattered most."

"I just hope it was enough," Treasure said quietly.

A week after the cathedral battle, a message arrived from the Ancient Council. They wanted to move the hearing up. Instead of waiting another two weeks, they wanted to meet in three days.

"They are pressuring us," Jayden said at the emergency meeting. "Trying to catch us off guard while Evie and Victoria are still weak."

"Let them try," Victoria said. She was out of bed now, though still moving carefully. "We will be ready."

But Evie was not so sure. She was still exhausted all the time, her strength barely at half of what it used to be. How was she supposed to stand before the most powerful werewolves in the world and prove she was worthy when she could barely climb stairs without getting winded?

That night, she confided her fears to Gideon.

"What if I fail?" she asked. "What if the council sees how weak I am right now and decides I am not fit to be Luna?"

"Then we will deal with it," Gideon said. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "But I do not think you will fail. You have already proven yourself a hundred times over. The council would be fools not to see that."

"Some of them want me to fail," Evie said. "You said so yourself. Half the council supports Raphael's ideas about human mates."

"Supported," Gideon corrected. "Past tense. Raphael is dead. His lies have been exposed. Many council members are reconsidering their positions."

"But not all of them," Evie said.

"No," Gideon admitted. "Not all of them. There will still be opposition. But we will face it together."

The next morning, Evie woke to find Delilah and Treasure in her room, carrying armfuls of clothes.

"What is this?" Evie asked.

"Your wardrobe for the council hearing," Delilah said. "We are going to make you look so impressive, those council members will not know what hit them."

For the next two days, they prepared. Victoria coached Evie on council protocol. Jayden taught her formal pack greetings. Even Julian helped, sharing stories about previous council hearings so Evie would know what to expect.

The night before they were set to leave for the council chambers, Gideon found Evie on the balcony of his room. She was wrapped in a blanket, looking out at the snowy gardens.

"Cold?" he asked, coming up behind her.

"A little," Evie admitted. "But I needed air. I have been cooped up inside for days."

Gideon wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her back against his chest. "Tomorrow changes everything. Win or lose, after tomorrow, the council will have made their decision."

"What if they decide I am not worthy?" Evie asked quietly.

"Then we leave," Gideon said simply. "We take the pack and go somewhere the council cannot reach us. Start over."

"You would really give up everything?"

"Everything except you," Gideon said. "You are all that matters, Evie. The territory, the power, the respect, none of it means anything without you."

Evie turned in his arms to face him. "I love you."

"I love you too," Gideon said. He kissed her, slow and deep. "No matter what happens tomorrow, remember that. Whatever the council decides, whatever happens, we face it together."