Chapter Thirty-Four Dylan
It felt weird moving into my parents' room.
They occupied the Alpha Quarters, and it was big enough to house up to five people.
It had been a long time since I came in here and forgot about how big it was until now.
It was its own apartment and was built on the top floor of the packhouse.
There were two bathrooms for crying out loud.
I understood the reasoning behind it. I have three bulky ass men living with me.
Most females had anywhere between one and four mates.
It always depended on the female and power levels of them.
Our little pack? Sometimes there was too much power and this was going to be a hard dynamic to keep contained.
But this room would be my escape now that I have taken over the pack.
The pack bonds were no longer responding to them being the alpha and luna of the pack.
With all my bonds completed, I outranked my parents.
It was an adjustment, feeling every one of my pack mates through the bonds, but this was what I trained for my entire life.
The boys all renounced the ties to their pack and came here, and my room wasn't big enough to even make it comfortable for me and Hunter to live in.
The space had a living area for us to hang out and watch television.
There was a small kitchen and island for us to eat.
Then the two bathrooms and an oversized bedroom.
The bedroom itself was half of the space with a large enough bed for us all to sleep on, which Jackson launched himself into as soon as we moved in and acted like he was swimming on it.
As I stood in the doorway as Jackson and Hunter moved things around for us all to claim this place as ours, I felt an arm go around my shoulders.
The spicy scent of Silas wrapped around me and I leaned into his side.
It still felt a little weird knowing he was my bonded mate now.
After everything with Lupe, Wilcox stepped up as the councilwoman and was looking for a new Pack Magic professor now that she took on a new role.
"Wilcox is here to see you." He told me and gave me a gentle squeeze.
We hadn't been back to the academy. Too much was happening here for me to return and I wasn't about to take time away from the pack and wait for my first official business to come through from the Monarch about my role as an Ambassador for the Shadowborns.
I did see Sera briefly before she returned to the academy, taking my damn beta and a rando shadowborn along with her.
Teowulf had taken them with him as he went back to the academy.
He wouldn't speak to us much after the battle.
We allowed him to take Lupe's body to give her a proper funeral, but outside of him stating he planned to return to the academy, he didn't say much.
As long as he didn't go to the dark side like Lupe, I didn't care.
When things were settled, I would reach out to him and see if he needed anything since I was the one who killed his mate.
"What does she want?"
He chuckled knowing I wasn't in the mood with how much was on my plate. "An update on Sera and she wants us to come talk with her too. Something about us graduating."
I rolled my eyes. "Boys! Wilcox is here and we are needed."
Jackson and Hunter dropped everything, literally boxes from my old room, on the floor and came to my side. I don't think I will ever get used to knowing how these powerful men did everything I told them to do. It's going to go to my head someday, but I feel like these three would actually enjoy it.
Wilcox was waiting on the porch for us. Her wavy brunette hair was tied back and in a black pantsuit.
It somehow made her brown eyes look brighter with this look, but I had a feeling there was something else happening.
She looked lighter, like the drama from her life was finally gone.
I felt her power sweep across me and I raised my eyebrows.
I forgot how the position of councilwoman to the werewolves gave her a boost. That's how Lupe almost managed to take over in the first place.
The only reason she was accumulating power was from her bonding the other wolves to her before she came here.
"Hello, Dylan. A pleasure to see you."
I bowed my head and saw my guys bow theirs, too.
She smiled at us before moving her arm over to signal she would like us to sit for this conversation.
My wolf growled knowing she was giving us a small command, but I reminded her that we liked Wilcox.
It was a suggestion, not a command. Nonetheless, we sat down.
Jackson pulled me onto the porch swing while Hunter stood by it and Silas on my other side.
To get Hunter to sit down, period, was a war in itself.
He was always on alert for any threat that may come our way.
The battle had done a number on him since he wasn't there to stop Lupe from injecting me.
Wilcox sat in a chair by the porch swing and had a folder in her hand that I had missed before.
"I'm glad I was able to see you today, Dylan. I have your diplomas here for graduating the program. Your bonding with your mates, especially Silas, overrode the rest of your classes."
I smiled. "I'd sure hope so. Not only did I bond with all three of my mates, but I also brought down the person who was kidnapping and killing students. Even if I didn't bond with my mates, don't you think I should have graduated?"
She laughed. "I'd agree with you there. It was more of a formality for me to come by and give you these."
She handed me the folder and her smile remained when I looked at her. There was so many questions I wanted to ask, but they didn't seem to matter anymore. Lupe was gone and wouldn't ever come back. The only person at the academy that really mattered to me was Sera.
"What about Sera? I barely talked to her after she rejected my beta and that rando. Those are two Shadowborns back inside the academy and now their welfare falls onto my desk of responsibilities."
The way Wilcox smiled had a hint of pride in there. The academy was definitely in better hands with her at the head of the werewolf department.
"Sera is... dealing. She hasn't left the dorm much, but she also doesn't have you there. I promise to you, Dylan, she is in good hands. If things get too hairy for her, you are allowed on the property."
I growled at the thought of not being allowed.
It was bold of Wilcox to think even if I wasn't allowed I wouldn't go to the academy to handle something for Sera if she needed me to.
That girl was the sister I wish I had. My siblings were off living their own lives and rarely checked in even with my parents.
I couldn't even recall the last time I saw them.
"Did you think any rule would really stop me from seeing her?"
"No, that's why I have granted you access to the grounds regardless of you not being a student there anymore."
This made me smile.
"Is this all?" I asked her.
Wilcox looked over to Silas. "One more thing. Even though you are bonded, there was one thing Dylan requested that I wanted to be sure you completed from your mentorship requirements. Have you given her the letter, Silas?"
The letter. How did I forget that I wanted Silas to write me an apology letter? What the fuck is wrong with me? I shouldn't have forgotten that shit!
When I looked over at Silas, he wore a small grin that sent heat all the way to my toes. It was the one smile I have picked up on when he knows something I don't know. I wanted to smack him for it, but my curiosity got the better of me.
"Oh yes. The letter stating all the reasons you rejected me while on your knees," I said with a devilish smile on my face.
He stood up and held out his hand for me to take.
The way his green eyes looked at me told an entire story just with that one look.
I took his hand, feeling the heat from his skin sinking into mine.
I didn't ask where we were going, but the other two stayed behind to speak with Wilcox.
Something told me Silas already told them where we were going and to hold down the fort.
Because, somehow, over the last week, the three of them had formed a damn bromance.
Silas led me back to our new room and closed the door behind him.
I walked over to the bed and stood before it, not sure where I should stand or if I should sit for this.
Silas waited for me to get somewhat comfortable before he made his move.
He reached in his back pocket for something I didn't notice he’d grabbed and put there before we left the room.
From his pocket, he pulled out an envelope.
When he lowered himself on his knees, he held out the letter.
Just like I asked him to do when he showed up at the academy.
"Dylan Pierce, I doubt even the words on that paper will be enough to tell you how sorry I am, but will you please read it and tell me if it's at least good enough for you to feel safe to continue to keep the bond we have now?"
I laughed because I honestly wanted to cry seeing him like this. For an alpha to kneel before anyone was a big deal, even his mate. At least, I hadn't ever noticed an alpha be like this to his mate.
My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope, not sure what I should expect out of this letter.
Sure, I should expect an apology, but Silas had already apologized for everything.
I didn't actually think he would write this letter now.
But when I opened it up and saw paragraphs waiting for me to read, I knew this was more than what I initially expected from him. If anything, Silas was an overachiever.
My Luna,
You asked me to write down the reasons I rejected you and why they were the biggest mistakes I ever made.
I promised to you that I would do whatever it took for you to want this bond with me, and I meant it.
The list isn't long, which should be more than enough of a hint to me that I shouldn't have done it in the first place.
I was such an idiot, and even though we have completed the bond, I want you to know how much I hate myself for rejecting you. It was the biggest mistake of my life.
The night of the Gathering, I walked in thinking I wouldn't even find a mate.
Part of me didn't want one either because it meant I would have to settle down.
As you probably guessed, I was a bachelor before you came along.
A lady's man who didn't want to give up that life so soon.
I didn't know what it meant to be a mate, and it showed.
I was ready to go all in at first because the mate bond screamed at me to complete it right then and there.
My wolf went crazy knowing we had found you already and wanted you more than lungs needed air.
I just wished I listened to my wolf more than I listened to the intrusive thoughts that weren't even mine.
I rejected you because you were Shadowborn.
The amount of stories I'd heard about them growing up, I thought you were the destruction of our kind.
The only thoughts in my head were how my father would disown me and how he would kill you if I brought you home.
Besides knowing that, I couldn't think past what everyone would think of me if I mated a Shadowborn.
My ego got ahead of me, and it was my fault I let myself think that way.
There was no excuse for rejecting you. The goddess chose you for me for a reason, and I didn't take that into consideration before I let every horrible thought make the decision for me.
It was the worst decision I ever made in my life, and I will never let go of the guilt I feel for sending you to that academy, especially after everything we went through because of it.
Even when I came to the academy and saw you bonded with two others, I kicked myself for not having bonded with you first. I've been kicking myself every moment of every day since I came here, and I cannot explain to you how much I've loved learning everything that I have about you.
Growing up, I was told I would be given an incredible mate; strong, smart, beautiful, and perfect in every way that would make me fall head over heels.
Every person who ever told me that wasn't lying. You are all those things and more.
If you let me, I will show you every single day how much I love you.
I don't know when it happened, but I fell so incredibly hard for you without the bond pounding at me to complete it. Maybe it was when you kicked my ass in combat class, and you weren’t sorry for any of the punches you threw.
Maybe it was when you first accepted me and wanted to tell me about Lupe.
I don't know.
But what I do know is how much I have loved my life since I let you be a part of it. Even more so when you let me be part of yours.
I can't wait to see what kind of life I will live now that I am bonded to you.
Thank you for giving me this chance to redeem myself.
When I looked up from the letter to Silas, he was still on his knees.
He bowed his head, and when he looked back up at me, the floodgate in the bond opened.
I felt how much he loved me and how happy he was to be here in my life.
I could even feel how much he cared for Hunter and Jackson and thought how they were perfect mates for me too.
I lowered myself to the ground and wrapped my arms around his neck.
When our lips met, the heat I felt before erupted inside me.
He threw me on the bed, and worshipped me in every way he could before Jackson and Hunter showed up, banging on the door to join in.
I don't know when it happened either, but I fell for Silas just as hard as I did Jackson and Hunter.
The three of them had balanced me more than I could have ever dreamed of, and they all planned to lead this pack exactly how I wanted to lead it.
And now with the Ambassador position on my shoulders, I knew the four of us could bring the Shadowborns into the light so they wouldn't have to fear a damn thing anymore.
And if anyone made them feel that fear again...They would answer to me .