Autumn After (Waiting Hearts World)

10. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Cedric

It was a busy day in the pack. The festival was almost here, and we were putting together the finishing touches. I wished that I was more of a list keeper or that someone had thought to put our ideas and plans into an app that we could all track. Instead, we all were running around with clipboards.

Willow and Fern offered to make sure the slushy machine was all ready to go for the festival, and I took that as an opportunity to go see what my parents were up to. In hindsight, I should have just stayed home.

Halfway to their house, three of the older pack members—Seamus, Mitch, and Brett—waved me over. At first, I thought it was just to say, “hi”, you know, being social and all that. But as I got closer, I realized it was something else.

The three of them were elder members of the pack with a lot of opinions on how things should be run. They weren’t part of the official leadership, but they had their hands in just about every decision the pack made. Even if their opinion was in the minority, they were some of the loudest voices.

“How are things going with that human?” Mitch asked. Not my mate. Not Willow. That human.

I clenched my jar and forced my wolf back so that I didn’t snarl. It wouldn’t do well to provoke them. Never mind that all wolves knew that emotions were high early on in a mating. The last thing anyone should do is provoke a newly mated wolf by insulting their mate.

“They’re going great, thanks for asking.” I slapped on my best happy voice, keeping it polite and attempting to hide my dislike of their behavior.

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t asking to be nice.” He apparently wanted to be sure I was very clear on his intent, his expression sour.

Asshat.

“He’s human,” Seamus chimed in.

“I’m aware he’s human.” I pushed my wolf down. He was ready for blood. “And fate sent him to me, so back off. I’m not the first wolf in history to mate a human. Fate works in mysterious ways.”

“And what if he tells people what we are?” At least Brett wasn’t being a dick. He was just nervous, and that I could at least respect.

The other two reeked of distrust and fear.

“He won’t. And you know the rules—mates are allowed to know. So don’t even start with the whole ‘humans aren’t supposed to know’ garbage.” Was matching their energy the best plan? Absolutely not, but it was that or call a challenge, so matched energy it was.

“We’ve been talking, and a lot of us agree that it’s dangerous having him here,” Seamus said. He flicked his gaze toward Mitch as if to make sure he was allowed to say that.

I was curious just how many were in this “a lot” that he spoke of.

“Yeah? Well, you can agree all you want. That doesn’t make you right. Willow is not a risk to this pack. He’s one of the kindest, most caring people I know, and he’d do anything for this pack. We talked to the Alpha about this when Willow first arrived. He is aware of the risks. This pack is as much his as it is mine, and he would not do anything to jeopardize that.”

That had Mitch and Brett looking a little ashamed. Good. They should be.

“Look at how many hours he’s been putting in getting ready for the festival. He’s supposed to be at his own event, but where is he? Here, helping us. Why? Because he cares.”

“Bullshit. It’s because his truck isn’t fixed yet,” Seamus sneered.

My wolf was so close to the surface that keeping him at bay was no longer fully within my control. They had to have scented it on me. I was furious. I wanted to punch him in the nose then tear into his skin until I tasted his blood.

I took a deep breath. Fighting hate with hate would get me nowhere.

“Listen, we’re not having this conversation. He is my mate. He’s allowed here. I want him here. He’s good for the pack. If you want to live in the times of old, then go—take your form, live in the woods, sleep in caves, and only eat what you kill. Go for it. Go old school. I don’t want that, and this pack doesn’t need that. If you truly have concerns, bring them to Alpha.”

I couldn’t remember being as angry as I was in that moment. I went straight to my parents, hoping they’d know what to do, because I was pretty sure I’d just made things worse.

My father was sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

I smiled despite my sour mood. “How did you get out of doing work today?” I asked.

“Signed up for the later shift. Gotta conserve my energy until then. What brings you here, Son? Looks like your mate is having a good time.” He pointed, and I followed his direction.

Fern and Willow were at the cider station washing their second wagon of apples. Though it looked a bit like they had more water on each other than the actual apples.

I turned back to my father. “Have you heard any concerns from pack members about having a human here? I know it happened rather suddenly, but it seemed like he was accepted at our run the other day. Has that changed?”

My father stopped rocking. His eyes narrowed. “I have heard no such thing. Where is this coming from? Who said something? You know Alpha doesn’t put up with that sort of hateful talk, and if anyone is threatening your or your mate, then we need him aware now.”

I shuffled my feet. “I know. I just didn’t want to bother him on the eve of the festival.”

My father stood and put a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him.

“Listen, Cedric. It’s the Alpha’s job to ensure everyone in his pack is safe and at home. When you met your fated mate, Willow, that automatically made him a part of this pack. Therefore, it is part of the Alpha’s job to make sure that Willow is safe and at home here. If there are those in the pack that are threatening that, then we need to nip that in the bud before that sort of filth can fester and grow. If Seamus gets a chance to infect others with his ideas during the festival, we’ll have a harder time fighting this.”

“How did you know it was Seamus?”

“I just assumed. He’s the only one I know of who holds humans in that much contempt to actually question the Goddess. Now let’s get the Alpha here.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

In true parent fashion, he made me call the Alpha. It was my responsibility, of course, but there was definitely a moment where I wanted my father to fight the whole battle for me.

Alpha arrived quickly, with two of his Betas and Seamus with him.

“You went crawling to the Alpha? Couldn’t face me like a man?” Seamus sneered.

“Quiet!” Alpha barked.

Seamus shrank in on himself, looking very much like a scolded dog. “Sorry, Alpha. We were just having a conversation earlier, and I don’t think he really needed to tattle to you about it. You’re very busy, sir.”

“I said quiet.” Alpha’s gaze bored into Seamus. He bared his neck in respect. Had that look been directed at me, I’d have rolled over and showed my belly. “There is no discussion to be had, Seamus. Willow is a part of this pack, same as you and me. Not only that, but based on what I have seen of him so far, he will be a valuable, caring member of this community. I suspect there is a lot you can learn from him.”

Seamus’s gaze jerked up and his eyes blazed. “He’s a human. They lie and cheat. They don’t take care of their own. We cannot trust him, and he doesn’t belong here.” His voice rose, and my wolf howled out his displeasure.

Fur erupted on my arms. My father put a hand to my shoulder.

“That’s not true!” I shouted. “Willow is not like that.”

“Silence, both of you. I have stated my ruling on the matter as your Alpha. There will be no more discussion on it.”

Seamus spit at my feet. “This is a mistake. You will see. That human doesn’t belong here.” He turned on his heel and left.

My breath quickened and my wolf nearly broke free.

Alpha standing in front of me brought me back to myself. “You did the right thing by calling me, Cedric. I know it is not easy to ask for help. I want to assure you that you and your mate are safe here. My Betas will keep an eye on you and Willow. We plan to talk to Mitch and Brett also.”

“And Seamus?” I didn’t like to think ill of my pack members, but all trust in Seamus was lost.

“He’ll be punished for his behavior today.”

Alpha left it at that.

One thing I did have was trust in him. I bared my neck in respect. “Thank you, Alpha.”

He clapped me on the shoulder. “You’re welcome, Cedric. And thank you for all your help with the festival. It’s going to be even better than last year.”

That was the plan.