We arrived at the square, the mood in the car somber. My crew was waiting to the side for us.
Each of them touched me as we reached them. That was a new thing they did. I guess they just wanted to assure themselves that I had actually made it back from the brink and wasn’t a ghost.
“I never got a chance to thank you,” I told Indigo, who hadn’t stopped by the house. She’d been busy wandering the town, talking to the grieving. Her healing abilities went beyond piecing together flesh, it turned out. I hugged her, holding on tightly for a moment. “You saved my life.”
“Well…” She shrugged. “Not really. I just kept you from drifting farther away. You saved your own life. And my life. All of our lives.”
“Do women just not allow themselves to be thanked for saving lives?” Austin asked, looking between us. “Is that some sort of default you’re programmed with?”
“I’m sorry about Nathanial,” Indigo said, ignoring him. “When he got to me, it was already too late. There was nothing I could do.”
“I know. And I heard about you leaving me so you could help the others who needed it. That was the right choice. Thank you for allowing Ulric and Jasper to force you to do it.”
“They told you that, did they?” Her eyes narrowed, and she shot the guys a look. “I guess they’ll find out the hard way what it means when I say, ‘Snitches get stitches…’”
Ulric put his hands up. “She was going to find out.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about.” She glanced at Austin.
“Point made,” Jasper murmured.
Austin directed me on, always touching me, through the crowded street and to the square, standing room only. The crowd parted for us, people bowing to me as we walked by. “Alpha,” they said to me respectfully, then repeated the sentiment to Austin.
A little stage had been set up on the grass at the top of the square, and the photos of the fallen were displayed in picture frames stuck into the ground. In the front at the center was Nathanial’s picture, and the wound inside of me opened all over again. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I stopped in front of him, putting out my fingers to touch his photo.
“Thank you, Nathaniel, for your sacrifice,” I said. “You showed your courage and your honor.
Your loyalty. You helped me in a way no one else could. I will miss you at my back, my friend. I will miss you in the house. I will see you again in the afterlife.”
I took the tissue Mr. Tom offered and continued on to the next photo, and then the next, giving each of them a silent moment and thanking each for their courage and sacrifice. Afterward, Austin directed me up onto the stage with Kingsley, and we faced all those who’d gathered for the ceremony.
“My brother and his mate came to us in our time of need,” Kingsley said in a booming voice.
“Knowing what we would face, even though we still didn’t fully comprehend the danger, they brought their people and helped us train for the worst. When the battle came, a battle unlike anything we ever could’ve imagined, they stayed by our sides to ensure our victory. They are not simply a pack. They are not simply a gargoyle cairn. They are something different. Something unique. A convocation. In this new, larger organization, I think we can all agree that there are no alphas fitter for their roles than Austin Steele and Jessie Ironheart. It does me proud to see my brother elevate himself to such heights, even if I am a little jealous that he got the lion’s share of the ruthlessness in battle.”
“The bear’s share!” someone shouted to a smattering of laughter.
“Let any of you naysayers be silenced now,” Kingsley went on, “because it is my intention to join their convocation. As we saw, we are stronger together. We are unstoppable when united. I will remain your alpha, and we will remain a pack, but we will also be a part of something larger. An organization that will stand up to magical tyrants like the one who tried to destroy us. What say you?”
A loud cheer went up, everyone raising their hands, shouting. I widened my eyes at Austin. I hadn’t heard Kingsley would be doing this. He nodded, obviously having talked it over with his brother.
When they quieted down, Kingsley turned and motioned toward Gerard and the basandere waiting on the other side. They climbed the steps and stood beside Kingsley.
“Gerard of the Khaavalor cairn, I thank you for your help. You had no connection to us, but you came to us in a time of need. From now on, you are a pack friend. Should you need us, call, and we will be there.”