Rose

Chapter 14. Edward's Suggestion

With the quiet after the storm the pack returned to some sort of normal, those mourning their lost mates and family members either sought out the noise of the big house or they retreated into their own private dens. Those mothers who had now fatherless pups were offered the maximum support, everything from food to full live in child care while they came to grips with the grief. Death within the packs was treated with a deep respect, but just as it was within the vampire’s it was also to be accepted as part of life. The battle had been just and those who died defending the wolves were considered heroes. While there was consternation that not all of the attackers had been captured or killed there was hope that those who escaped were weakened enough to not bother the pack again.

The survival of every wounded wolf taken to the hospital and such a rapid recovery was deemed almost miraculous although almost everyone agreed it was probably down to the vampire nurse Letty.

While most of the vampires had left soon after the battle a core number stayed, a few were happy to have somewhere considered safe to stay for a while, although they knew once they got hungry, they must leave immediately and maybe not return for fear that the pack memory was short. In this respect they would be mistaken, the wolves would always honour their promises and the one stating the vampires would be safe was almost a sacred promise. Even the Shore Pack would offer sanctuary as thanks for the return and healing of the 2 pups.

After a week of pure bliss it was Edward who popped the bubble of happiness. I had been enjoying spending my time with the queen Luna, learning her ways and the ways of the pack. She believed that as mate to her eldest and now joint Alpha I was the next queen Luna. While I was happy to do everything I needed to do to make Daryn happy I wasn’t sure the pack would welcome a vampire as the next queen. I also took to watching how Rebekka behaved towards the queen Luna, Rebekka had a way of guiding her towards a way of thinking, to see thinks in a different light. I think between the lessons the Luna shared with me and the observations I had of Rebekka I might yet prove to be an asset to Daryn and not an embarrassment – well any more than his mate being a vampire was already. There were so many rules these packs had, pack as well as wider wolf rules. Thankfully non said they couldn’t be mated to a vamp… probably because it was so unlikely no one thought they needed that rule.

Daryn was to have a ceremony in a month’s time, to make him the official heir apparent and co Alpha of the pack, while everyone explained this was highly unusual Daryn was the one to say he wasn’t happy to rule without his Pops and the plan was that slowly his father would do less and less allowing Daryn to seamlessly take his place. According to the wolves, an Alpha was only crowned when his father either fully retired or was killed in battle. To have a joint rule was almost unheard of. I worried Daryn would be seen as weak because of this and the blame for his lack of command to be seen as his mate, but he assured me this was not the case.

It was Edward who suggested that in advance of the ceremony I go back to our joint apartment and retrieve all my stuff. Move properly into the new home that Daryn had purchased from the pack for us. He also wanted a new car which I owed him, having crashed his ancient little red fiesta from the 1980’s. He had his heard set on an E type vintage Jaguar, in British Racing Green, this was going to be very expensive on my part but a deal is a deal.