"Stop that," Faith had smacked his shoulder, and Marc jumped, startled. "You didn't kidnap her, and you were injured trying to fight off the assholes that did. I saw the blood and I know Madeline pulled you in for some stitches when you thought nobody was watching. And you managed to keep the situation from getting any worse. Kaylee could have been grabbed. Don't take on responsibility that's not yours to carry. I swear, you and Aldric both work from the same manual or something.“
Marc had blinked at her for a long moment, then smiled and reached out to squeeze her hand.
Now, Faith watched as he strode across the lawn to the deck, where he climbed the steps and glanced over at them. Aldric put a hand on her back and they both made their way over to stand near the steps up. Tamika met them there with Jake and Kaylee just as Marc started speaking. Kaylee slipped up to her side and hung onto Faith's hand, and, Faith noted, also leaned back against Aldric's leg. Interesting.
"Good afternoon folks!" he called, and waited as everyone settled down and turned to him. Faith saw Leo and Madeline standing next to a handsome older gentleman who must be their father. Leo caught her eye and grinned, and she felt herself smiling back.
"It's nice to see Leo outside of a computer screen. I was starting to think he was just a head in a box,“ she whispered to Aldric and he and Tamika both covered chuckles.
"Good afternoon," Marc said again, now that he had everyone's attention. "I'm pretty sure that you've heard the rumors, and that you've noticed our enforcers being out more, well, in force."
There was a general rumble of confirmation in the crowd, and Marc nodded. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that some of the rumors are true."
There was a louder reaction this time and someone called out "What happened, exactly? Were we really attacked by the Goldfangs?"
"A small group of them were here, yes. One of them has elected to stay and has petitioned for membership, and the rest are in custody and are waiting for the Goldfang Alpha and I to come to an agreement. Frostwalkers do not take kidnapping lightly, and we will not allow these wolves to simply walk away from this."
There was a rumble of agreement.
"Is it going to be pack war? Is that what all the security is about?" Another voice called.
"I can't answer that question, quite yet, but yes, it’s possible. That is one reason for the increased security," Marc grimaced before continuing. "Unfortunately, while we were retrieving the kids, a group of unknown vampires attacked, with blighthounds, and while we did drive them off, they took one of our people, and killed another.” Marc paused and the crowd’s mood turned solemn.
“Mia Carlyle was killed defending our territory from an attack by an unknown coven while rescuing several of our pack members from the Goldfang Stalkers. While Crissy Latham is not formally a member of this Clan, since she has been held captive by first the Goldfangs and now by this unknown group, her daughter Kaylee and her sister Faith are here with us today. And that is the third reason we are gathered here today, and the cause for our celebration! Today we celebrate the life of Mia and the addition of our new members.“
Marc gestured for Faith and Kaylee to join him. Kaylee was a bit hesitant, but when Aldric started to move as well she let him usher them both to the top of the deck steps. Faith wasn't upset for the support either, if she was being honest. Public speaking was definitely not her thing.
"I present to you your newest Clanmates: Faith Latham and her niece, Kaylee Latham!"
The response to that news was significantly happier, and mixed in with the applause and the whoops and the shouts of welcome, there rose a chorus of howls that Faith felt reverberate in her soul. Beside her, Kaylee threw back her head and joined her voice to the song of the wolves.
After a moment, she locked eyes with Aldric, who then threw his own head back to join the song. With a laugh, Faith did as well, and the night was full of the Frostwalkers’ voices.
Epilogue
Aldric sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face and dug his fingertips into his eyes. His palms chafed and scratched against the beard growing in, and he sighed again.
"What's that noise all about?" Marc's voice interrupted his thoughts and he lowered his hands to find his friend sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"I was trying to recall the last time I shaved," Aldric answered. “I cannot.”
"Probably before the pack welcome. That was only yesterday, and the rugged bad-boy look seems to be working for you, but you do need some sleep. You were badly injured just a few days ago, and even though you’re mostly healed now, there is still some recovery to do. Your body is exhausted from so much healing work, and I’d bet you already need more blood. Have you been feeding enough?”
“I have, yes,” Aldric sighed. “Faith has been making sure of that.”
Marc's expression was mild, but Aldric knew full well that he could flip from mildly concerned friend to either overbearing father or dedicated leader in one short second. "You should take a lesson from the kids. Kaylee didn't even bother to pull out the trundle tonight, just piled right into Jake's bed.” Now Marc sighed. “Although, as adorable as it is at their age, I'm going to have to put a stop to that pretty soon. Get her all set up in a bedroom of her own."
"I will sleep, I simply want to be certain that I have as much completed as I can, first. I feel
