Chapter 14 - Freya #2
“It’s perfect,” I breathed, running my fingers over the careful stitching.
“Go try it on,” Kaydence urged, her eyes bright with anticipation.
I changed quickly in the small bedroom, wearing the tunic sweater over dark leggings and boots. When I emerged, both women made sounds of approval, but it was Kaydence who took my breath away.
She’d changed into a rich burgundy dress that complemented her graying hair beautifully, with a cream-colored shawl draped over her shoulders. She looked elegant and dignified — no longer a refugee, but like the strong woman who’d raised me with love despite the circumstances.
“You both look beautiful,” Willow said, standing and smoothing her green sweater. “Ready to show everyone what Ironwood women are made of?”
“Ready,” I said, linking arms with both of them.
As we stepped outside together, I felt a surge of confidence and belonging that had nothing to do with magic or mate bonds. Kaydence and Willow were my original family, and tonight we were going to celebrate everything we’d survived and how far we’d come.
Walking through Moonblessed, out of its walls, and toward the feast together felt like a declaration. We weren’t victims anymore. We were survivors who’d found our strength and our place in the world.
“Even with every street filled to the brim, we still couldn’t fit all the packs in here last night,” Willow confided.
“That’s why the fun spilled out into the camp,” I realized.
With the walls behind us, we entered the temporary camp in the valley. Out here, we had enough space to howl under the stars and celebrate a moment of peace, however temporary.
We made our way toward the central area of camp, where the sounds of celebration were already beginning. Crowds of shifters mingled together, and my stomach rumbled.
As we approached, groups of people stood aside for us, and to my surprise, some even bowed their heads in respect as we passed.
Multiple bonfires had been lit throughout the central area, their flames dancing as they crackled and popped.
Pack members from all our allied groups had gathered — Moonblessed wolves sitting beside Frost Fang refugees, an Ironwood family sharing space with Brielle, children darting between adults with the kind of fearless joy that only came when they felt safe.
As soon as Hugo caught sight of me in the crowd, he raised a goblet.
His voice carried clearly across the gathering.
“Tonight we honor the old ways,” he announced.
“The winter solstice reminds us that even in the longest nights, the light returns. Our ancestors knew that winter was when communities must hold together against the darkness. With the long night and one battle behind us, we look forward to brighter days ahead. Tonight, we celebrate!”
Flint sat near one of the fires with a traditional drum, the steady rhythm bringing the crowd alive.
Our packs had expanded beyond anything our ancestors could have imagined — descendants of tribes that had once been enemies, witches and shifters, wolves of different ancient lineages creating a new future together.
“This is beautiful,” Kaydence murmured beside me, her eyes taking in the scene with wonder.
It was beautiful. And it would be even moreso when Midnight Path arrived with Astrid’s collection of shifters from every species. Tonight, we weren’t just building an alliance of convenience, but a true community that celebrated differences rather than fearing them.
Shifters carried around platters of finger foods, and I gratefully accepted something from each one as they came by.
“Freya!” Thatcher’s voice called out as he approached with Lee at his side. Both Ironwood alphas looked more relaxed than I’d seen them since their arrival.
“We wanted to thank you,” Lee said when they reached us. “For welcoming our families into your pack when we evacuated them from Ironwood.”
“It was Gage’s decision,” I said, uncomfortable with taking credit. “That’s what made it possible.”
“Still,” Thatcher insisted, “you knew what they’d been through. Our people are free because you made space for wolves who weren’t even your packmates anymore.”
Before I could respond, Brooke appeared beside Thatcher with a bright smile. “Cousin!” she exclaimed. “It seems your wolf managed to sleep off all the whiskey you downed last night.”
Thatcher laughed. “And I see your feet haven’t fallen off from all the dancing I saw you doing last night!”
The banter between the cousins was warm and genuine, another example of families finding each other again after being scattered by pack conflicts. Brooke had found safety and acceptance within Frost Fang, and seeing her joy at reconnecting with her Ironwood family made my chest tight with emotion.
Shante slipped through the crowd and appeared beside us.
She’d woven her tight curls into elaborate rows of braids wound around her head.
Her rich emerald green dress brought out the warmth in her brown eyes.
Her fingernails sparkled with refreshed bright red glitter polish — a perfect match for the celebration.
“Look at you three,” she said with obvious delight, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Absolutely stunning. Freya, that blue is perfect on you — brings out your eyes.”
Kaydence embraced Shante, saying, “You look beautiful, dear.”
Shante beamed at the compliment.
Another server slipped around to bring us all more finger foods, this time little skewers with meat and grilled veggies between each piece.
“Flint,” a familiar voice called, and I turned to see Fern fighting through the crowd to approach my mate.
He wrapped up his song and let a young shifter with feathers braided into his long, dark hair take over.
Fern greeted him with genuine warmth rather than the defensive hostility that had marked their interactions for so long.
“My littermate,” Flint said, rising to embrace her.
I drifted closer, interested to see what Fern had to say to my mate.
“I owe you an apology,” Fern said, her voice quiet but loud enough for my shifter senses to pick up.
“I was so focused on fighting alpha authority that I forgot alphas can serve their packs just as much as anyone else. I refused to believe it was possible even after you and your packmates saved us from those witches without taking back the power I forced you to give up. So… I’m sorry. ”
Flint’s relief was palpable through our bonds. “I never meant to harm you or make you feel less-than. We’re family, Fern.”
“Family,” she agreed, then looked around at the gathered crowds. “All of us, I think. This is what a pack should be — wolves choosing to stand together for everyone’s benefit.”
Around us, the celebration continued to build. Children from different packs played together without regard for old pack boundaries, their laughter bright against the winter night.
Moonblessed wolves shared stories of how their ancestors had celebrated the return of light during the darkest time of year.
At the same time, I heard an Ironwood beta trying to explain human Christmas traditions to several Moonblessed shifters who’d been born and raised inside its walls, resulting in a hilariously mangled version of Santa Claus that had everyone laughing.
The blending of traditions felt natural and right, each culture contributing something valuable to our shared experience. Although I’d missed the winter guardian spirit dance, everyone was talking about it so much I almost felt I’d been there.
“This is what we’re fighting for,” Heath said quietly, appearing at my side with Gage close behind. “Not just territory or survival, but this — the right to choose our own families, our own traditions, without fear.”
Gage nodded, his arm sliding around my waist. “Worth every battle we’ve fought to get here.”
Through the bonds, I felt Zak’s contentment as he moved through the crowd at Rowan’s side, no longer the uncertain outsider but a valued member of our growing family. His easy integration with pack members who’d once viewed witches with suspicion proved how much we’d all grown.
I caught sight of Torsten near Hugo, and when my fellow Odinswolf glanced my way, I waved and blew him a kiss. Under no circumstances did I intend to leave him out of whatever my mates had planned tonight.
I hoped he’d naturally embrace the connections between all of us — the way I belonged to each of my mates, and they to each other. The thought of seeing him interact with my mates sent a thrill of anticipation racing through my veins.
As the evening wore on, I found myself surrounded by my new family — Kaydence and Willow, Shante, Brielle, and my mates — creating a protective circle around us. It felt so good to see them all laughing and talking together.
Something deeper settled into place. I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I was no longer searching for a place to belong or fighting to prove myself to a pack I wasn’t sure wanted a half-breed like me.
Somehow, everything I’d suffered had forged me into someone others looked to for hope. And now, embracing both sides of my heritage gave me the power to protect others. The weight of that responsibility no longer felt crushing — instead, it filled me with purpose.
These wolves and our unlikely alliances moved toward a future I helped to shape. Together, we would see what was possible when different kinds of strength worked together.
I wanted what we were building to honor my late parents’ memories and their dreams for a world where alphas didn’t abuse their power over subordinate wolves, where shifters and witches could intermingle and fall in love with whomever they wanted, where equal mate bonds were commonplace, and where lower-ranking wolves didn’t have to fear becoming the next omega slave.
“What are you thinking about?” Flint asked softly.
As the celebration continued around us, Flint settled in beside me with Zak on my other side.
“Christmas presents,” I said, just to see if I could sneak the surprise out of one of them.
Heath raised an eyebrow playfully. “Christmas presents?”
Heat rose in my cheeks as I imagined what kind of gift needed privacy.
“I was just thinking… someday, when all this is over, when we don’t have to constantly plan for the next battle — I’d love to celebrate Christmas properly.
All of us exchanging gifts, having time to just relax and enjoy being together. ”
“Is that your way of saying you didn’t get us anything?” Zak teased. Then his smile dropped as he looked around the circle at Torsten and my other mates. “Because I didn’t get any of you anything, either.”
We all laughed together. It felt so natural to have him with us. He was one of us now.
“Next year,” Gage promised, his voice carrying absolute certainty. “After Denraider is humbled, when the witches are defeated, when your sister is safe. Then we can have all the peaceful Christmases you want.”
“With terrible gift-wrapping,” Zak added with a grin. “I’m hopeless at it.”
“And Rowan will probably give everyone weapons,” Heath laughed.
“Practical gifts,” Flint corrected. “He’ll say they’re practical.”
“Better than a fresh deer carcass,” Rowan smirked.
Torsten smiled. “Depends how hungry you are.”
The easy banter, the shared laughter, the promise of future celebrations including all seven of us as though it were a foregone conclusion we would escape the upcoming battles unscathed — it all felt like a gift in itself.
As my mates laughed together, Zak caught my eye. Something mischievous flickered in his dark gaze, and he reached for my hand with deliberate casualness. His thumb traced across the back of my knuckles before finding the spot where his mate mark graced the meat of my thumb.
The sensation hit me like a struck match, igniting the mate bond between us. Heat pooled low in my belly as arousal spiked through me, echoing through my bonds. Answering interest flared to life in my mates’ eyes.
“Zak,” I breathed. What I attempted to make a stern warning came out sounding more like an invitation.
His smile turned wicked. “Just a preview of your Christmas present, little spark.”
The promise in his voice, combined with the heated looks from Gage, Heath, and Flint, made my skin flush with anticipation.
“I’m ready to sneak off when you are, Freya,” Heath admitted, grabbing Zak and pulling him close.
“Maybe a little more food for Freya,” Flint argued, gesturing for another server to come by. This one brought us little meat pies that exploded with flavor.
I moaned, savoring every second of the flavor before swallowing. When I opened my eyes, six sets of eyes hungry for something other than food stared at me, making me grin.
“Time to go?” Zak said hopefully.
I grabbed Torsten’s hand, making sure he wouldn’t stay behind this time.
“Let’s get out of here,” I agreed.
Judging by the looks my mates were giving me, I was about to discover exactly what they meant by the perfect gift.