Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
George leaned back against Evan and sipped his beer. Evan slung his arm around George and kissed the side of his neck as if casually claiming him. Like most of the other shifters, George had pulled on track pants and not much else after coming inside for the more official part of the run. While Evan hadn’t shifted, he was relaxed and smiling, although George could feel his shifting energy vibrating beneath his skin.
He’d shift later, once this part was over and they were able to sit quietly somewhere. It wasn’t that Evan cared if others saw; he just didn’t want too much of that bouncy pack energy. With them all in Kyle’s living room, despite having run, the shifting heat was high in his blood.
He turned his head and glanced at Evan. Evan dropped a quick kiss on his lips before giving him a small nod. He was fine, and George needed to stop worrying, which was easier said than done. That he’d been talking to the three witches—Penrith, Ross, and Mark—and the human who had been raised a hunter when George returned from running, was reassuring.
He was still stunned that Ross Starling was a witch and part of the pack, as well as being Brandon’s fiancé. Although the whole point of this gathering was because Brandon was moving to Sydney to live with Ross.
He looked over at Callum, who hadn’t said a word about this being his last run. Not yet anyway.
When he’d first come out to this place five years ago, it had only been Kyle, Con, and him. There had been no talk of making a pack, although Con had met another wolf and they had been talking about inviting him to run. And by ‘met,’ George meant Con had hooked up with another wolf shifter. It seemed as though he’d slept with half the pack and brought them to Kyle.
Over the years, Con had added to his collection of tattoos and settled down with Zach. Though it was clear from the way they ran together that they were always tussling for who was going to be on top. Some people were like that. They liked the edge and the challenge and saw it as fun.
George couldn’t imagine anything worse. He liked things easy and drama free…a lot like Evan. He also liked telling Evan how good he was being, as much as Evan liked hearing it.
Five years ago, this is not where he imagined himself. Mostly because he couldn’t have imagined such a pack existing. And while he had been very good at imagining getting his hands on Evan, the reality was much better.
Kyle stood, and everyone went quiet without him needing to do anything. He was the pack leader, and they all knew it with every cell in their bodies.
Not only was he the pack leader, but he had a cute leopard fiancé. Not that he would ever call Cooper cute to his face.
“I’m glad you’re all here today. The last time we had an official event was Christmas Eve, although we didn’t call it an official event. I don’t intend to do a lot of compulsory events. It’s not how I want this pack to be, and I don’t think it’s what you want either,” Kyle said, his gaze moving to each of them in turn.
A few people murmured in agreement.
“We are an official pack, not just in name and territory, and almost everyone has updated their pack status with the Coven, which had its own problems. It was necessary, though, so I’d like to thank you all for doing that. Callum, can you come here for a moment?”
Callum got up and walked over.
“Callum is not an official member of the pack. His family pack wants to make changes to be more inclusive, and he has agreed to assist. I have always said that I would rather there be no need for this kind of pack, so I am excited for Callum to take on that role, and I hope it spreads to other packs. I’m not banning him from running with us, though. That’s not what this pack is about. It just means that he won’t be invited to official pack runs, but he’s more than welcome at social gatherings.” Kyle opened his arms and pulled Callum into an embrace. “I really do wish you all the best.”
“Thank you. And thank you for being here and for making a stand. All of you. It’s because of you that this change is possible,” Callum said.
George joined in, giving him a small clap while being overly aware his family pack hadn’t kicked him out or made his life hard. Everyone else’s stories made him feel like he didn’t belong. He was here because he wanted to be, because Evan was.
Evan smoothed over George’s chest and shoulders as if to soothe the tension.
Kyle lifted his hand, and everybody paid attention. “Now you all know why we are here. Brandon, wedding planner extraordinaire, is leaving. He has decided to move to Sydney to be with his mate. As much as we are going to miss him, it wouldn’t be right to keep fated mates apart, so Brandon and Ross are also no longer official pack members, though you are both more than welcome to visit any time you’re in Victoria.”
“We will,” Brandon called out.
“While we are saying goodbye to three members, we are also welcoming George, who was actually one of the first wolves to run here… I believe it was because of Con? That is his superpower, finding gay wolves in the city and inviting them around for a run.”
Everyone laughed.
“Fuck me,” Con said. “I found four, five, including you.” He jerked his head at Kyle.
“Six, including me,” said Zach.
“Not helping,” Con muttered.
George grinned.
Sam and Mark put a rather tall box on the dining table. “Do you want to come over here, Brandon?” Sam nodded at the box.
Kyle frowned at the box.
While Kyle and Cooper were the official pack leaders, Sam, because he was Coven, and Zach, because he had been raised to lead a pack, were the seconds and advisors, given the status of getting a room in the main house. And the ability to interrupt proceedings.
Brandon walked over to the dining table. “Before I leave the pack, and because I know that while Kyle does an excellent barbecue, he would not organize an excellent cake, I took the liberty of arranging this one. This is not a farewell cake, though, because I heard that our leaders snuck off and got married and didn’t tell anyone.”
Sam and Mark pulled off the top of the box, revealing a three-tiered cake on the top of which sat a dog and a cat.
George, along with everyone else, turned to stare at Kyle and Cooper.
Cooper sighed. “We didn’t want to overshadow your party, Brandon. We were going to wait a bit before having a party.”
“And then not invite me?” Brandon asked.
“We would’ve invited you,” Kyle said as though not impressed to have been found out.
Brandon crossed his arms. “Uh-huh, but you didn’t invite me to plan your wedding?”
“We didn’t want that kind of wedding. It’s not us. But you are right. The cake I organized cannot compete with that.”
Cooper fetched another box of cake and put it on the table. “I guess people can now choose between cheesecake and wedding cake. Thank you and how the fuck did you find out?”
Brandon glanced at Sam.
Cooper rolled his eyes. “There are no secrets in the Coven, are there?”
“Not when you marry the leader of the newest pack and update your next of kin.” Sam nodded at Justin.
Justin smiled and ran his fingers through Taylor’s long hair. “There was no way I was keeping that quiet.”
“Any other surprise announcements?” Brandon asked. “Any other engagements or secret weddings?”
Everyone looked around, waiting for someone else to have an announcement.
Zach shrugged. “Con and I are moving in together. I’m not sure that counts.”
“It does. Congratulations.” Kyle said.
From what George had heard, Con and Zach were the only other couple not living together. Miles and Simon were, as were Penrith and Mitchell. Drew and River had gotten married last year. Sam and Mark had been married for years.
That left him and Evan as the newest couple in the pack. And it didn’t take long for everyone to do the math and look at them.
Evan shook his head. “We aren’t even talking about moving in together. Why don’t you take some bets on who’s next to get engaged instead. But I want to know who did the asking because we had a bet on at Drew and River’s wedding.”
“I did,” Cooper said as Kyle pointed at Cooper.
“Knew it.” Evan took a drink of his beer.
In another pack, betting on when the pack leader was going to get married would have resulted in some kind of disciplinary action, as it showed a lack of respect.
“No bets… How about cake instead?” Kyle walked over to the table. “I suppose you want me and Cooper to cut the cake properly?”
“Of course I do! I can’t believe you tried to deny me this parting gift.”
Kyle hugged Brandon. “Because I wanted it to be about you, not us. We were quite happy with signing the papers and not worrying about it. I’m going to miss you. We’re all going to miss you. It’s like we finally became official, and you couldn’t wait to leave.”
“Blame Ross. I do,” Brandon said with a sniff.
“And when are you going to get married? You’ve been wearing that engagement ring for a while.”
“And I’m going to be wearing it for a while longer…but we are talking about the end of season. Maybe.”
“And we will have the wedding in Victoria, probably somewhere out of the way.” There was a glint in Ross’s eyes. He may not have been a wolf shifter, but he seemed to like getting away from it all with his mate, probably because there were always people watching him.
Would Evan enjoy getting away, going somewhere wild for a little while so he could be a little more wolfy in human form and become comfortable being in the bush? That might be a good first holiday. The plane trip to Tasmania was only an hour, so if he discovered he didn’t like flying, at least it was a short trip. Not only that, but the Tasmanian pack wasn’t territorial.
Evan leaned in and whispered in his ear, “You went very still.”
“I had an idea.” He turned his head. “I’ll tell you later because right now, I want cake.”