Alliance of Shadows, Book 5: LEIF

Tangled Threads

A few months after our wedding, we attended Izzy and Neil's. For the first time, we met with the newest member of the Alliance. The Fox Shifter Alpha was a little more conservative, but he didn't say or do anything out of the way.

He found out quick that Neil wasn't someone to mess with when it came to his friends. One snide comment about Kaden's skin tone later, and the whole table dropped into silence. Neil’s glare shut him down, and Cece? She leaned in with that slow, dangerous smile—the one that said she’d cheerfully skin him alive for going after her youngest pup. He looked like he’d rather vanish than deal with either of them again.

Everything went amazingly, and I was sure Rowan was more nervous than his niece as he walked her down the aisle. His hand kept tightening on hers like he was afraid she'd float away. The natural forest setting was picture-perfect—green shadows dancing across the petals she dropped with every step, the canopy filtering light down like it was part of the magic. Two of our closest friends tying the knot under the trees? Couldn't have asked for a better day.

Kaden later pointed out that Neil was now officially part of the family.

"Dude, c'mon, you've always been brothers to me, you know that," Neil scoffed, taking a swig from his beer and nearly knocking over the tiny dessert tower Kaden had claimed as his own.

We were sitting around talking when I noticed Colt sneak something into Kaden's drink. The guy had been avoiding alcohol on purpose—wanted a clear head before going to talk to Akita.

Her oldest brother, Jasper, had just accepted the position as Neil's Gamma. He took the role seriously—well, as seriously as someone could with Colt constantly pushing his buttons. Those two couldn’t be in the same space for more than five minutes without something sparking.

Colt smirked as he slid the glass back toward Kaden, playing it cool like he hadn't just committed low-level sabotage.

"What was that?" Dreson asked, turning his head just enough to give Colt a side-eye that said he already knew the answer.

"A little somethin' to help him chill," he replied.

Neil cuffed him in the head. "i***t. He needs to stay sober tonight."

"Ah, come on," Colt whined as Neil held him back and handed Jas Kaden's drink. "It wasn't even that much."

Glaring over at him, I scoffed. "Takes just a bit t’ ruin someone’s life, Colt. I know that path—I’ve walked it. Ain’t an easy one t’ crawl back from. Might not seem bad t’ you, but Kaden’s likely never touched the stuff. Could hit him wrong. He might lash out, or worse... might not be able t’ keep his appetite for his Mate in check."

Cursing under his breath, Colt handed the rest of the powder to Dreson and lowered his head. "Sorry. That was more than a little reckless of me. I, uh... I didn’t mean t’ dredge up memories or anything. It’s Valerian."

"It's fine," I told him. "For the most part, I’ve healed well enough. But from one friend t’ another—try not t’ piss off Izaria tonight. That’s one mess I’d rather not have t’ clean up."

His eyes went wide. He held up both hands in defeat. "You got me there. Last thing I want is t’ piss off my Luna on her wedding night."

"I’m pretty sure your off-key singing gave her the headache she was claimin’ to have," Kaden snorted, eyeing Colt as he accepted a fresh drink from his brother. He grinned, bright and a little too pleased with himself.

Knowin’ him, he had somethin’ planned that was gonna land him in a whole bucketload of trouble.

Colt grunted. "Sorry about that, K."

One of Colt’s twin boys ran up with a folded piece of paper clutched in his hand. "Daddy! Mommy said it was important!"

"Oh? Did she say why?"

Watching Colt immediately shift into dad-mode made me want to check on our own kids. I pulled out my phone and had just started dialing the number when it was gently taken from my hand.

"Not tonight, babe," Dreson said, leaning in to kiss me. His voice dropped low—just for me. "Mom and Dad took the kids back home for the night. Besides, I’ve gotta talk to you about somethin’."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and waited.

"I was thinkin’ maybe we could pull Conner and Heather outta the public system. Enroll ’em in the Alliance Academy instead," he said, sounding unsure.

I let the pause stretch just long enough t’ make him sweat a little.

"Dude, put my brother out of his misery, would you?"

Damn it, Kaden.

Neil snickered. "I ain’t messin’ with Dre’s head—not when my wife could take me out six ways from Sunday. Izzy may be small, but when it comes to family? She’s got more fire in her than anyone I know."

Growling, Kaden snapped, "That’s my baby cousin you’re talkin’ about."

Jas smirked. "I can always whisper somethin’ into my little sister’s ear for you."

"You wouldn’t! Jasper, c’mon, man!" Kaden groaned.

I let out a long breath and hugged Dre closer, grounding myself in his warmth. "I agree t’ the idea of sendin’ them t’ school here. We know they’ll be safe and cared for while we work. And besides, I’ve accepted a position here at the school. Can’t wait t’ start teachin’ the kids how t’ cook."

Dreson laughed, fingers threading through my curls. "What’s got you all fired up like this?"

Before I could answer, Colt finally unfolded the paper as his son dashed off. His eyes went wide. A grin tugged at his mouth. He handed Neil his beer without a word and bolted. "The wife’s demanded my presence while the kids are occupied!"

"I guess my idea for Aunt Daisy worked," I heard someone say. Turning my head, I looked at Logan’s smug face.

Neil started laughing, but Logan slowly shook his head. "Luna's orders, big brother. You and Colton have to go keep your wives company for the rest of the night or she's going to make you sleep in the office."

It was Neil's turn to pale as he got to his feet, downed the rest of his drink, and walked away. "Sorry, gentlemen, but my Mate has spoken."

Laughing, Logan grinned up at one of the men he idolized the most. "Hey, Kaden? I wanted to say thanks. For everything."

Hugging the boy close, I watched as Kaden held back his tears. "I wasn't fast enough, kiddo. I'm sorry."

"You did your best, Kaden," Logan replied with a shrug.

As the little redhead left, Kaden swallowed the rest of his drink and started toward the direction of the house Jasper shared with his siblings. Including Kaden's Mate, Akita.

"Hold on, brat," Jas said, jumping to his feet. "You ain't bein' around my baby sister alone. Dre, you might need to order a casket for your brother if he gets fresh with Kiki."

"Doubt it," Dre muttered.

We could hear Kaden and Jasper arguing even after they left the slowly dispersing circle around the fire.

My Mate smirked up at me. "Want to go to the tent and have some fun?"

I needed to talk to him, but the prospect did indeed sound tantalizingly tempting. Shaking my head, I frowned. "Heather's starting to show more and more signs of being a Witch, and Conner seems to be leaning toward Druid. Have you looked into their family background?"

Sighing, he nodded. "Yeah, their father was a Sorcerer who ended up finding his Mate in a Wanderer—a Druid born without a coven to back them. He had a few enemies, including the McDillard’s."

Hearing the name made my heart constrict painfully. Kissing the back of Dre's neck, I asked, "What else did ye find out?"

He cleared his throat. "Their mother was Seamus' older sister, Leif. Legally speaking, they could have contested our adoption of the kids."

I hadn't the faintest idea Seamus even had any siblings. Yet, despite it, knowing I was raising his niece and nephew brought me a sense of peace. I was actually comforted by the fact they were now being raised in a loving environment. I held Dreson tighter.

I murmured, "I wish there were a way t’ put the kids’ parents’ names on their grave markers."

Dreson stiffened in my arms. "I, uh, may have already done that."

"We talked about this, love," I said with a chuckle. "I don't mind that they're related t’ th’ bastard. I'm just glad we're giving them th’ chance t’ take a different path than the rest of their family. I ne’er knew their mother."

"I was a little worried that you would take offence to it, but I should have known better. You love those kids as much as I do," he muttered.

My frown deepened. "Honey, I would ne’er blame a child for something their parents did. 'Sides, there's nothing wrong with ‘em. Our babies are perfect. Now, what other things did ye find out about them?"

"Winston, their father, had a spotless record and so did their mother. The car accident wasn't an accident, either. Someone, probably McDillard, wanted them dead. Apparently, he was looking for his daughter for some time, but each time he got close, they disappeared," Dre told me as he interlaced our fingers.

I reached for my beer, only to find it empty. "Hand me Kaden's old beer. I'll drink that, then we can go have that fun you were talking about."

"Leif, you do know that it's drugged with Valerian, right? It's a natural herb that helps relax the person ingesting it."

"My darling husband, are ye worried? It won't hurt me to drink this, my love. I may be left with one ‘ell of a hango’er where it's mixed with alchy, but I ought t’ be just fine as long as you're with me." I whispered breathily in his ear.

I knew what teasing him did, and I was so looking forward to the rest of our night.