Chapter 1 #3
But this was his little girl they were talking about.
She’d be in a small pack, but she’d also be grouped with volatile, unpredictable shifters that might not have had a solid home for years.
They might’ve turned feral. It wasn’t just dangerous for her as a shifter, but as a woman.
Kingsley would not send her into that with blinders on, no matter how revered Yazanth had been.
“What did Austin and Jessie have to say about this?” he asked. “About the danger?”
“Austin has assessed each rogue or each person he’s moved to my outfit. He’s not at all concerned, and because he’s not concerned, Jessie isn’t. This is a more volatile group, but we still exist within a community. We won’t allow anyone that isn’t safe for the community, including Dicks and Janes.”
Kingsley scratched his chin. “This is true. It’s easy to forget that more exists in that town besides the convocation.”
“Yes, it is certainly power heavy and leaning toward battle. As a whole, it’s wound up tight. For all that, though, there is very rarely a problem. All these volatile creatures somehow mind their manners. It’s pretty extraordinary. I would never have thought it.
“You can ask Austin his thoughts directly, but he did mention that he thinks this is the perfect placement for Aurora. She is close with the Ivy House crew, including the gargoyles. He thinks she’s adapting phenomenally to the various species.
She’s open to it. If I can get over my…issues with the gargoyles, we could be a go-between unit.
There, she would likely turn teacher, and I would struggle to keep up. ”
Kingsley huffed out a laugh. “Oh, I don’t know, you seem to be quite a bit more relaxed than you were in your former role.”
“A bit more, yes. A bit.” Aljoe sighed. “I tried to calm things down for the Dicks and Janes, not that it mattered. My very presence made them nervous. It’s funny, though.
The gargoyles are a very loose culture…even though brutal.
The basajaunak, too, are a laid-back culture…
until they start ripping heads off. It makes me question why shifters try so hard to be buttoned up? ”
“Because we can’t change things all at once or we’d be fielding challenges all the time.”
“This is true. You’ll just have to let some gargoyles in.”
“No thanks. I already dread heading back to that territory for the very issue you’re having. I just didn’t want to mention it.”
Yazanth huffed out a laugh.
“Though I will say…give the garhettes a chance. We get routine visits from them now, and my pack absolutely loves them. No garhette wants for a place to stay when they come here. If a husband forbids the spare room…he ends up in a hotel room.”
Yazanth sighed. “They are everywhere I turn, smiling or offering something or being pleasant. But their pleasantness is actually pushy…I just don’t realize it until I get home with new clothes, a new haircut, and a dinner invitation to a new potential friend’s house.”
“And that is probably why gargoyles are so incredibly stubborn.”
Yazanth blurted out laughter. “Maybe you’re right.”
“As to your proposal, yes,” Kingsley said. “It’s a great honor you offer. You’re one of the best alphas I’ve ever heard of, if not the best. She is incredibly lucky you would think of her. If there is anything I can ever do for you, please let me know.”
They chatted a bit more, the experience surreal.
After he hung up the phone, he stared at nothing for a while.
Yazanth had been his hero. He’d grown up hearing about his mighty feats, and when he was trying and then assuming his place, the legendary alpha seemed to be making all the right choices, increasing the size and wealth of his territory in leaps and bounds. It had truly been inspiring.
And now that man was going to train his little girl. Aurora was going to be taken under the wing of a legend while her uncle, a legend in the making, built an empire around her. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve such good karma, but he felt truly blessed.
He texted Austin: Dick. A little warning would’ve been nice.
He pushed to standing. Austin was probably busy.
Earnessa was in the kitchen, getting dinner ready for them. He took up the flowers again, happy they weren’t ruined.
He held them out to her. “Thank you for all you do. Which, I realize, would mean more if I didn’t just dump them on the counter while I took a call. I assume now I need to get chocolates to apologize…”
She laughed and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.” Her eyebrows lifted. “Was that really Yazanth?” she asked in an incredulous whisper.
He barely knew what to say.
He told her about the call, about what this would mean for Aurora. It wasn’t just training; it was a connection with Yan—Aljoe’s sisters. With their network. It was all so incredible. She’d worked so hard for it, too. She’d chosen her path, stood her ground, and she deserved this opportunity.
He regretted having to tell her he’d earned an I told you so. She’d never let him live it down.
“Do you think she’ll take it?” Earnessa asked, leaning harder into him.
“Yes. I don’t think she’ll hesitate.”
Text from Austin: HAHAHA!! I wish I could’ve seen your face. I assume you’re not a total idiot. You said yes, right??
“Go, go.” Earnessa shooed him away. “Dinner’s almost ready. I’ll yell for Mac.”
Kingsley texted his brother back: I did. Thanks, brother. You made this possible. I mean it.
Austin: Text that to Jess. She enjoys your dramatics. See you tomorrow for the Zoom call. Invitations go out next month. We’ve got a lot to do.