Chapter 34 #2
“It’s amazing,” I answer honestly, laughing as I look up. “Better than I imagined.”
And it is. After weeks of planning and construction under Baxton and Felix’s guidance, our builders managed to get the essence of both our packs into one structure.
The house is sleek and sturdy on the outside, like the Black Moon’s buildings, but its walls and beams carry the colours and warmth of my pack.
“No wonder everyone’s so happy,” I mumble as I stare up at it.
“You did what?”
Julian’s voice suddenly booms, loud enough to quiet those hanging around as they register their alpha’s anger. Heads turn. I’m already moving—straight towards the trio like greased lightning. It only takes one look from those I pass to make them scram so that nobody overhears what’s to follow.
Familiar crystal-blue eyes flick up to me, narrowing briefly at my approach, but Julian’s mother has an angry alpha on her hands, and that’s more important than me.
“We didn’t think it would upset you so much,” she says, voice soft as she peers at her son. “Truly, Julian.”
He’s a bundle of bottled nerves, standing stiff like he’s barely keeping himself from exploding again. When I stop at his side, he forces himself to breathe. He inhales deeply, but his anger remains fixed in place as he glares daggers at his parents.
“We thought it was for the best,” Michael says quietly, almost apologetically. “Your position as alpha is solidified with your completed bond. Your focus should be on the pack.”
Julian scoffs, fists flexing at his sides. “I am perfectly capable of determining my own priorities. I know what I can and cannot handle,” he says, his tone clipped but even. “I do not need either of you making those decisions for me.”
“What happened?” I ask before they can reply. Now they’re both glaring at me, but I don’t give a fuck.
“They pulled me out of school while we were gone,” Julian answers stiffly, and though he hides it well, I can feel the pain in his words.
It takes real effort to keep my canines in as my eyes settle on the pair who seem insistent on making my mate miserable.
First, they left without his permission, and now they were taking away the one thing Julian ever let himself be selfish about.
And he wasn’t even. He was going there with the future of his pack in mind, and they still managed to trample all over it.
“Julian,” his mother says imploringly, drawing his inflamed gaze back to her. “I am sorry we upset you, truly, but think about this logically. What more do the humans have to teach you?”
“Think of how much better your time will be spent within the pack,” his father tacks on, and I can see in their eyes that they truly think Julian’s being unreasonable, when they’re the ones trying to micromanage their alpha.
“I had plans,” Julian says slowly, his voice cool but unyielding. “Plans you’ve just thrown out the window.”
“We—”
“No.” His single word snaps like a whip, silencing his mother. “Even if you did this with only the best of intentions, you keep forgetting that I’m in charge of this pack and my life now,” he says plainly. “You no longer make decisions for me.”
Their eyes widen as if he just committed blasphemy against our Goddess, instead of stating a fact.
“I know it wasn’t easy preparing me to be alpha when that wasn’t the plan,” he continues, his voice terrifyingly brittle. “And I appreciate all you’ve done for me. But you did it. I am the alpha of this pack, which means your job is now done. I do not need your help anymore.”
Looking between them, he says, “Unless I ask for it, I don’t want you meddling in my life or the decisions I make.”
Julian’s father parts his lips for some rebuttal, but he doesn’t find the courage to say it when Julian stares him down, challenging him to do it. He presses his lips together instead.
“This is the last time I’m warning you about interfering,” Julian says as he slides a hand over mine and steps back, pulling me with him. “I hope you respect these wishes because if you don’t …” He doesn’t finish the threat. He doesn’t need to.
My gaze stays fixed on him as he walks us away, his steps sure and powerful, every inch the alpha he is. I thought I’d have to push him to speak up for himself, but he’d done it on his own, and left no room for future misunderstandings.
I glance back at his parents, finding them still standing there. Their confusion seems genuine, but so does the rage burning in his mother’s cold eyes when they cut to me.
Yea, I’ve just dethroned myself on their shit list.
Emitt, Beckett, and Isabel are the only wolves still waiting at the packhouse. They trail us inside without a word, Julian leading the way. He’s a pillar, unshakeable, until the doors shut behind us, and then he slumps as if the weight of the world has hoisted itself onto his shoulders.
“Hey,” I murmur as I pull him into my arms. “Don’t regret that. You did nothing wrong.”
“I know,” he mumbles against the crook of my neck.
“What am I going to do, though? They just pulled me out.” He draws back to look at me, his eyes showing the worry he’d kept hidden from them.
“It was hard enough getting in the first time with no real records. And the humans take parental status far more seriously.”
“You’re eighteen now. You’re an adult, that’s got to change things,” I say as my mind works.
“I’m sure we can reverse it, and if not, we’ll figure something out, don’t worry,” I promise, kissing his temple.
“You’re finishing, even if we have to get you tutors or something. Hell, I’ll tutor you in biology.”
That gets a laugh out of him, his frown easing for the first time as he crooks a brow. “You sure you’d be able to put up with me?”
“For you?” I cock my head back. “Anything.”
He grins before he glances at the others, who stare at us with smiles of their own. I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be supportive, but lined up like they are, the creepy triplets strike again.
“So, the packhouse,” Julian says, eager to shift their attention as he looks around the interior.
It’s as nice as the outside, with open beams and rustic touches that make it feel warm. It smells like pine and wolves, and home.
“Nobody’s moved in yet?” I ask as we wander further in.
“Everyone wanted to wait for you guys,” Beckett explains, following Emitt around the large entry room—a communal space stuffed with sofas and chairs. “But there’s already chaos over who gets to move in.”
“Do you guys plan to?” Julian asks.
“No for me,” Isabel says. “I like my housemates. It’s a maybe for Emitt, and I think no for Beckett, right?” She glances at him, and he nods. “Makes no sense when he might be moving in with a mate soon.”
“Oh shit, happy belated,” I say to Beckett. His birthday had passed while we were away, and I had said it then too when Julian stole my phone so he could call his best friend at exactly midnight to wish him a happy birthday. But I’d been more focused on teasing my mate for needing a phone.
“Still no sign of them?” Julian asks, hope creeping into his tone.
Beckett shakes his head. “No,” he answers sadly, but he doesn’t look sad. He looks off, but I’m not about to pry, especially not with something as sensitive a topic as mates.
“Why don’t you guys check out your place?” Emitt suggests with a smile. “We’ll be down here in the meantime.”
“Okay,” Julian replies, already tugging me towards the elevator with a sparkle of excitement in his eyes that the others don’t see.
He’s been looking forward to seeing our new place since we agreed that we’d move in. He had his cottage, which he still adored, and I’d grown to love. And I, of course, loved my place. But they were both in the centre of our old packs’ borders.
In our newly merged pack, neither would work. The new house meant no one could complain we were favouring one side.
“We have an elevator,” I whisper breathlessly as I stare at it like I’ve never seen one before.
“I know,” Julian says, pressing the button. “No more scaling up a million stairs every day.”
With a ping, the doors slide open, and we step inside. Hands intertwined, we rise up to the top floor, and there’s only one set of doors up here.
I let Julian open them, and follow him into our new home.
“Oh shit,” I breathe as I take it all in.
It’s like my apartment, with an open layout, only it’s far bigger and lighter.
At the centre, a long grey couch stretches in front of a coffee table; to the left, a kitchen that I can’t wait to share with Jewels.
Further in, there’s a massive study with a table large enough for both of us.
Two smaller bedrooms, then a larger one with a massive bed, and best of all—per my request—a bathroom with a massive stone tub.
“This place makes my home look like a dump,” Julian says as he drifts towards the study.
“So when we never leave, they can only blame themselves, right?” I ask, making Julian snort. “We’re not done yet. We still have to see your personal request.”
At the reminder, his eyes light up, and it’s only by the grace of Goddess that I manage to keep up as he bolts back into the elevator.
More than Julian’s wet dream come to life, the library’s supposed to be a space for anyone who wants to study our pack and species’ histories without inhaling the archives’ dust mites.
That being said, I hadn’t been expecting this.
I’m no book nerd, but even I miss my next breath when the doors open. An entire floor of books. Shelves to the ceiling. Stacks upon stacks.
“Holy shit,” I breathe while Julian makes a strangled squeaky sound.
“Are those … globes?” he asks, pointing to the large, metallic spheres at the far end of the room. His hands come up to cover his mouth. “It’s so perfect.”
“Just don’t move in here,” I warn, and I’m half joking, but when Julian glances at me, the look in his eyes brings genuine worry to the surface. “Alright, you have your moment with all of this. I’m going to check in with the others.”