Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Brody laughs, like that’s an unlikelihood. And he’d be correct.
Wyatt’s squinty, bloodshot eyes find me as I make my way to the front and stop just ten feet from the stage. He glares at me with hatred. Like I did this to him. Like I foiled his plans. And in a way with help from fate, some incredibly kind wolf shifters, some witches, and the man of my dreams, yeah… I guess I did.
“Blackwood.” He sneers with his eyes on me and I stare right back, saying, “Yes, Blackwood.”
I hope he hears the pride in my voice. I hope, even more, that my mate hears that pride and feels it, too. “And finally, I’m proud of the family name attached to my name. Speaking of which, I got access to old SCC census records and our mothers were cousins, but Father wasn’t blood-related to either of them. In case you were thinking he was. Looking at the ages, it looks like there was an adoption of your mother because she was a product of a teen pregnancy, which might be why Aunt Shea wouldn’t answer questions, family skeletons or whatever. Thought you’d like to know you’re this messed up just because you’re you.”
He says nothing, just glares at me and I find I have absolutely no difficulty meeting that glare that used to make me quake with fear.
I continue, “Grey’s pack has repeatedly shown me in just a short time how a healthy pack operates. Giving everyone a voice. Looking after one another. Sharing burdens. Being giving and generous. Thinking of the pack instead of just the ones at the top. Thinking of people outside the pack that might need some help.”
Wyatt rolls his eyes.
I keep going, “Whatever happens tonight, whether you die or they decide to send you to the SCC for a trial and sentencing of what’ll probably be really hard labor for the rest of your days… which… I like the idea of, but it’s not my decision… I want you to know that I have my happily ever after here. I’m so looking forward to it. I’m not going to lose even one more minute of sleep because of you. I’m going to go home with my mate tonight knowing I’m growing two healthy babies. They’ll grow up in a place that is so much better than where I came from. They won’t have to suffer knowing you. And further, I get to do that knowing the pack I grew up with will be so much better off with you gone. And I’m so relieved that they and future generations will never have to expose their necks to you again.”
I turn away from him and walk away.
“Twins?” Bailey gasps.
I smile at her.
She claps her hands and squeals with glee and shoots a wow look at my mate who is beaming over there against the wall.
“Congratulations, Stacy and Greyson,” Tyson calls out.
“Thanks, brother,” Grey replies.
There are multiple chimes of congrats from others as Tyson walks toward the stage.
“But Stacy, you should get to vote tonight,” Eloise calls out. “You might be a new member of the Arcana Falls pack but you’re still one of our own. Always will be. Am I right?”
Multiple voices call out their agreement.
Tyson gets to the stage and calls out, “Hope you all don’t mind I go next.”
“Go ahead,” Brody invites.
“I’ve made mistakes in my life,” Tyson speaks to the room instead of my brother. “I’ll probably make some more. Nobody is perfect. Except for maybe my Ivy.” He grins and there are chuckles from the room. “Brody here is family to me but I only just met him today. Because someone evil kept me from my family, kept me from the life I was meant to have. Like this fucker did to you people. He kept you from your true purpose and didn’t allow you to be who you are. Wolf shifters. To love and be loved. To run, hunt, swim, and be free together as wolves. Shifting for your physical and mental health. To laugh, have fun, bond with your pack. To do what you want to do. To have free will. That life you were supposed to have was kept from you because of that evil. But…” He gestures to my brother. “that evil no longer has a hold on you. You don’t have to live in fear anymore. You might be angry at some of your pack members because they did what they needed to do to survive. Like this guy who fed you poison save his own neck. Tonight, you decide about Meadows but tomorrow, you should make it a new day.” He pauses like he wants to drive that message deep. “Forgive your pack members for doing what they needed to do to survive. Forgive yourselves if you’ve done things that don’t bring you pride. Move on to not just survive but to thrive together. Be happy like you deserve. If you don’t feel like you deserve it, choose to become the kind of being that will deserve it.”