Her Mortal Mate

Chapter Seventy Four: Homeward Bound

Jadea

“Have they condemned me?” Chance asked when I stepped back into the dungeon.

I waited until I was standing in front of him before I told him what my pack and I had agreed upon. I thought he would be offended. I thought he would become defensive or abrasive. However, he surprised me, especially when I saw the raw hope and longing in his gaze. He was broken and wanting nothing more than to find a safe place where he could heal. He wanted to be loved and accepted for who he was without feeling as though he was worthless. And I knew he prayed my pack and I were his salvation.

“I think what you and your pack are asking is fair. I agree to those terms and conditions. If I may make a request, though, I would be more comfortable with a blood bond with Derrick.” I hadn’t told him Derrick had offered. I was glad my pack was willing and open to being flexible and ready to help Chance start his healing process.

I nodded. “I will take that into consideration as we move forward. Now, I need to talk with Obsidian and Constance to make sure they are comfortable with you being released and integrated into my pack. I will try to get Derrick teleported here while I am handling that so you can directly speak with him. If that is not possible, I will make sure there is time when you are taken to where my pack and I are staying. Until you have spoken with Derrick, our pact will remain open until then.”

***

Obsidian had made a judgement call and hadn’t waited for Constance to be done with what she was doing. Once I told him I wanted to take on Chance, he placed the wolf in some enchanted cuffs and teleported us back to Lance’s.

There, he and Derrick were able to talk openly. While I had shooed away the others of my pack to give them some privacy, I remained within listening distance. Curious as to what Chance wanted to know and discuss. Most of it had to do with our pack dynamic and if it was truly run how I’d portrayed it.

Derrick spoke plainly with Chance, because he understood how important transparency and the truth was especially after coming out of such a toxic relationship with a pack. I listened intently as Derrick patiently answered every question Chance had.

They were nearing the end of the conversation when Adam appeared by my side. “Who are you eavesdropping on?” He asked me telepathically, not wanting to alert anyone to my presence.

I nodded towards the front door and I led the way outside. When we were a safe distance away, I told him about Chance. “Since it still isn’t official, because Constance has not approved his release, what are your thoughts on him joining the pack?”

He thought about my question for a moment. “You weren’t going to ask my opinion before offering him a spot in the pack?” I heard the hurt in his tone and sighed. When I’d made the decision, I understood this might happen because we hadn’t encountered a situation like this yet. Honestly, I had been hoping this kind of situation wouldn’t have arisen until after Adam had been initiated as the co-alpha.

“Yes.” I answered honestly. I took a few moments to collect my thoughts, because how I explained this would matter. It was complex and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings unnecessarily. I opened my mind to him to try and soften the blow and to hopefully help him understand what I would ultimately say. “This decision directly affects the seasoned members in the pack, because Chance’s training and integration into pack life will fall mainly into their hands as I take on the main responsibility in training you. There will be times when our responsibilities switch, because I believe working and training with everyone individually, as well as a group, helps strengthen bonds and provides its own kind of advantages.

“While you are a part of the pack, and I value your opinion, I had to make a decision in order to pursue this opportunity with Chance. While it may not feel like it, we are under a time crunch. Our time here in California is done. We stayed to ultimately help Constance. If it weren’t for that, we would already be in Wyoming, and possibly at our final destination in Montana. If I would have waited until Constance was done with you, it could have taken another day or longer to get everything worked out, especially since Constance will be wanting to act quickly to recover Celeste and Lance.

“I hope you understand I was not intentionally trying to leave you out of this decision. We have offered Chance a temporary position in the pack. He will not give an oath to me, or be fully bonded to the pack until we have gotten the chance to know him. Because, ultimately, he was working with Hans who is now an enemy of the Immortal State for his misconduct. When we reassess him, you will be a part of that conversation. Does that make sense?” I asked him.

He nodded thoughtfully and I felt him brush a different part of my thoughts, as if encouraging me to explain them. I caressed his mind, reassuring him I understood his request.

“After you have been immersed in the immortal world and are very comfortable with wolf life, you will ascend into an alpha position in the pack. I will still be the alpha in charge, but if there is ever a time I am unavailable to make decisions, you will take over that role. So, ultimately, there will be instances when I have to make a split second decision that won’t involve you because I will be there during the time it is taking place, and visa versa. I would not expect you to get upset with me during those instances, as you should expect me not to get upset when you are forced to make them.”

“That’s fair,” he agreed.

“Jadea!” Obsidian called out to me. “Constance is ready to speak with you.”

Taking Adam’s hand, I led him back into the house where Chance, my pack, Constance and some of her guard were waiting in the living room.

The discussion and decision was short and sweet. Constance asked Chance directly if he wanted to join my pack. When he gave an affirmative answer, she turned to me and let me explain the terms and conditions we had regarding his integration into my pack. “If there is ever a time when he determines, or my pack and I decide, that it is not working out for us, he will be returned back into your custody,” I finished.

“Well, it sounds like you have everything under control Jadea,” she smiled reassuringly. “It is final then.” Her intense gaze turned to Chance. “I release you into Jadea’s capable hands, Chance. You have a long hard road ahead of you. Allow her to help you.”

“Yes ma’am,” Chance said, his gaze not quite meeting hers.

“When will you be leaving?” She asked me.

“Give us fifteen minutes and we will be out of your hair.”

“Okay.”

Before she could stand up, I added, “Is there anything else we can do for you? Is there anything we can do to help you regain Celeste and Lance?”

“You and your pack have already done so much for me. Thank you for everything you have done,” she looked pointedly between me and Adam. “There is nothing more you can do to help me with my sister and brother. Truthfully, it would put my mind at ease if you focus your attention on finding and obtaining Elam. I know it is going to be a process and I do not expect you to find him immediately, so do not place that pressure onto yourself,” she assured. “When you have him, you know how to get ahold of me.”

I nodded and instinctively reached up to the small vial of her blood tied around my neck. “If anything changes, you know where to find me.”

With that, Constance and her guard stepped outside to allow us time to do what we needed in order to get out of their hair. Each of us quickly drank a packet of blood. Large leather ties were passed around and we each stripped and started tying our clothes to our thighs. I helped Adam, explaining why we did this. “If we have to make an emergency stop in town, we will be prepared and won’t be indecently exposed.”

Garret stuffed a couple pairs of shoes into the emergency pack, at least as many as could fit, and then shifted. Derrick helped him get the pack on before shifting himself. While the others shifted effortlessly, I reached into Adam’s mind and helped him start the process.

“When will this become second nature?” He asked curiously.

“After a lot of practice, which you will get when you start training,” I assured him.

I let them out of the house before shifting myself. With a quick goodbye to Constance and her guard, I took point and turned our paws towards home.

“Garret, I want you at the back of the pack. I am relying on you to tell me if I need to slow the pace or if we need a break. If nothing is said, I will keep going.”

“Yes alpha,” he said.

“Adam, you will run beside me. I will try to set my pace with yours because I have a feeling you will be the slowest since you aren’t used to this new body and lifestyle. Then Derrick and Chance, and Briar and Blade.” Garret would be the only one without a partner.

“Where are we going?” Adam asked hesitantly.

“Home,” I replied tiredly, sadly. Home to the ranch that would now be tainted and stained by the blood of my innocent horses. At least the two foals had been left unharmed.

“Briar, you did let the hands know we were on our way, yes?”

“I did, and they know to have everything ready to go, other than loading the foals of course.”

“You’re the best.”

We made great time, only stopping once in Nevada for a short break. The instant we were on our home land, I felt my pack relax. Derrick, Blade and Garret all howled, their voices carrying across the softly rolling landscape.

“Welcome to your new home, Adam,” I said lovingly to him as we crested the last hill that overlooked the very large barn and even larger ranch house.