Chapter 58
CHAPTER 58
I t was the week of the banquet and the castle was a hive of activity. A stunning marquee had been set up outside, with tables and chairs being set out.
Berni, Romsey, and Morty had been to the council offices. Charges were levelled at the rogue wolves, including the two that were transferred from the castle dungeons to the Council cells and Berni had the wolf Council chairman removed from office, citing no confidence in the man.
Nominations were now being taken for new ministers, the voting due to close at the end of the month, when those nominated would start their election campaign.
Wolf ministers whom Berni still trusted were keeping things ticking over until a new chairman was voted in. Romsey and Morty were coordinating everything.
It was a full table for breakfast that morning. Romsey and Samantha had returned home and would be returning for the dinner.
Morty and Annfield had stayed, with Frank and Joe showing them around.
Today, Aubrey, Christine, and Annfield planned to shop for outfits for the dinner, and the ladies were chatting happily.
A tailor had come to the castle and taken measurements for Finn, Jacob, Joe, Morty, and Emory so their dinner jackets could be made to measure and fit perfectly.
“Right, we’re off. Have fun, everyone,” Aubrey said, standing up.
“Have fun ladies,” Finn said to them.
“We will, darling,” Christine said. “Our first stop is a spa, then it’s onto dress shopping.”
“And we’re not coming back until we’ve brought everything needed. Clairmont knows not to keep dinner for us,” Aubrey added, bending to kiss Berni.
Annfield kissed Morty goodbye and the three ladies left the room, Annfield closing the door behind them.
Robbie grinned. “You realise what this means don’t you?”
“What?” Finn asks.
“Mum is out all day. Emory, Fran, and I aren’t due at the hospital until this afternoon.”
Ezzy gasped. “We can raise the drawbridge.”
“Finally,” Berni said, jumping up and smiling widely. “I can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for this day. Come on.”
“Wait,” Ezzy said. “Who’s raising it?”
Berni looked at his youngest son. “Frankie and I are, of course. You boys go up to the battlements and watch.”
“Yes,” Frank said, standing. “Let’s do it.”
“So unfair,” Robbie grumbled.
“When you’re the Duke, you can raise it. This is my time.”
“To the battlements,” Ezzy said, jumping up.
“Jacob,” Berni said, looking at him. “Take it slow and text me when you’ve reached the battlements, then we’ll raise it.”
“Will do, thanks,” Jacob said. He had been shifting every day and was a lot stronger than he used to be, but still struggled with too many stairs.
Robbie led the way out of the breakfast room, up to the battlements.
Fran walked next to Jacob, taking his hand and linking their fingers together. “How did you get on with college yesterday?”
“It was good. My tutors seem nice. I can finish all my current lessons, thank goodness, and don’t need to make up or retake anything.”
“That’s good news.”
“Yep. They also said that they could work my lessons so that one day a week I can have work experience with a local vet.”
“That’s amazing. I’m glad your dream is coming true and you can keep your promises to your mum.”
“Me too. I’m loving the mix of our furniture,” Jacob said, switching topics.
They had been back to Fran’s house, had collected up all his clothes and had moved over all the furniture Fran wanted to keep. The rooms weren’t completed yet, as the builder was still working on Frank and Joe’s suite, but they had picked out the colours they wanted, both agreeing on natural tones, pretty much like Fran’s house.
Fran laughed. “Me too. I’m glad we can mix the two together.”
Robbie led them up two more staircases before they reached the final one, a stone spiral staircase.
Jacob leant against the wall, catching his breath.
“Do you need your puffer, Jake?” Joe asked him in concern.
Robbie had prescribed an asthma puffer for Jacob, hoping it would help, and it did a bit.
“Not yet, but I might need it when I’ve climbed these stairs.”
“We’ll go last so you can take your time,” Fran said.
Joe grinned. “Want to take my hand and I can pull you up behind me?”
Jacob laughed. “Possibly, I’ll let you know.”
It took a while for everyone to get to the battlements. Jacob used his puffer once he reached the top. While he was resting, he texted Berni, then made his way to join the others, standing on the battlements overlooking the drawbridge.
“The view up here is amazing,” Morty said in awe.
“It really is. I don’t come out here nearly enough,” Robbie said.
They heard a creaking sound and the drawbridge started to rise.
“Mum’s going to kill us when she finds out,” Ezzy said. He had his phone out and was videoing the bridge ascending.
Jacob noticed that those who had been working on the grounds had stopped what they were doing to watch. No one had seen the bridge raised before.
Clairmont came and looked over the side, grinning. “I’m glad I came up here to watch this.”
“It is something,” Robbie said. “Truthfully, I wasn’t sure the bridge could be raised.”
“His Grace had the mechanism checked to make sure it worked after you told him it was going to be raised.”
“Gotta love Dad,” Ezzy said, leaning against Emory.
“So amazing,” Joe said. “This tops finding that secret passage from the long gallery to the music room.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Robbie griped.
Everyone laughed. Robbie and Fran had been working the night shift, when after dinner one evening, Ezzy, Joe, Morty, Annfield, Christine, Finn, and Jacob had searched the larger pictures for the secret passageway. Indeed, it was Christine who found it, behind a large portrait of the 7 th Duke of Avon. They had to pull themselves up to get into the passage as the picture was halfway up the wall.
“There is literally no way anyone would have found that passage. I mean who puts ones up that high?” Robbie commented.
“The builders of the tunnel, obviously, babe,” Finn said grinning.
They heard a clang as the drawbridge fully closed, and they cheered. Robbie and Ezzy high-fived each other.
“I never thought I would see a drawbridge raised. I’m glad you boys found your mates and now live here,” Morty said.
“Us too, Dad,” Joe replied.
Jacob lifted Fran’s hand and kissed the back, looking at Fran. “Me too.”
And he was. Here he could be his true self, a second heir to the stronger Alpha heir. A ghost wolf who could protect the pack and his family. He was surrounded by proper friends and family, and he had Fran, the most perfect mate imaginable. They would grow together, build their best life together and know that they were loved forever.
The end