We watch Xander and Devin run into the barracks, laughing at their rush to get back to their room.
Sobering slightly, we all turn back to the table. I grab Charlie's hand from across the table and rub Brandon's leg under the table. Brandon's hand lays on top of mine.
"You know that this is all going to go horribly wrong, right?" Charlie says. "This is going to be really, really, really bad."
"I know," I say. "Honestly, all we can do is try to minimize the damage and make sure that we are ready for it."
"So, what do we need to do?" Brandon asks. He starts ticking things off on his hands. "Beef up patrols. Step up training. Stockpile food. Start calling in favors..."
"Whoa, Sweetcheeks," I say, squeezing his thigh. "We've already started the process. All of those things are in the works. Once we knew about Xander and Devin's mating, we knew that problems would be coming. We have called and spoken to nearly all of the packs from the East Coast. We think that many of our alliances will hold strong, though we weren't able to talk about the crux of the issue. Food is being brought in and placed in a variety of stockpiles around the territory. Devin and Xander worked out patrol schedules and training is set to ramp up the day after Mathias arrives - "
"And probably leaves," Charlie interrupts.
"So, what is there left to do?" Brandon asks.
"I need you to do some investigations into our alliances and Mathis's. We need to find out all of their strengths, weaknesses, locations, numbers...the works. Plus, we need to find out if there are any strong objections to homosexuality in any of these packs. Charlie will help you with gathering intel."
Charlie gives a low, seductive purr.
"I expect you two to actually do the work!" Zak says, lightly smacking her hand. "I've got to finish calling the rest of the packs. And probably call back some of our strongest allies. Now that things have happened, we don't have to be so cagey with the packs about the reason we are calling."
"Ok," Brandon says, nodding his head. "We can do that. Let's go." He stands and starts to make his way to the packhouse.
"Hold on, Big Bad," Charlie calls after him.
He turns, a smile wide on his face. We both get up and walk over to him. Charlie wraps her arm around his waist. He puts an arm around her shoulder and she tucks her head under his arm. If I weren't so happy that Brandon was accepting us, I would be jealous that she is able to show him affection in public without anyone batting an eye. But that will all change in a matter of days.
We walk into the packhouse together. Charlie heads to the kitchen to organize food and drinks to be sent up to us. Brandon and I head directly to my office.
I walk in after Brandon, closing the door behind me and pulling him toward me by his hand.
"Yes, Lollipop?" Brandon says, walking into my arms.
I chuckle before grabbing the back of his head and pulling him into a kiss. I keep my hold on the back of his head, the other landing on the base of his back. Brandon hums his approval into my mouth. His hands trail under the hem of my shirt and play along the ridges of my abs. He opens his lips and my tongue plunges in, tasting his entire mouth.
When we finally pull away, I lean my forehead against his. "No matter what happens," I say, my voice breathy from our kiss, "I want you to know that I love you. As much as I love Charlie, that is how much I love you."
Brandon's eyes widen in surprise. He wraps his arms around my torso and pulls me into a tight hug. "I love you, too. No matter what happens. If I find my mate. If Mathias finds out that I'm gay and wages unholy war. Even if Selene herself pulls us apart. I will always love you."
Tears stand in my eyes at the depth of feeling coursing through us both. At a knock on the door, we pull apart and I see that Brandon is near to tears as well.
"Come in," I call.
Charlie and two omegas walk into the room loaded down with food and drinks. Brandon and I quickly turn away, me to my desk and Brandon to the bathroom.
Charlie gives us a quizzical look. "Everything ok?" she links me.
"Yeah. Happy tears." I send her the memory of the last few minutes and I feel the happy glow down our link.
Brandon returns and Charlie pulls him into a hug.
"What's that for?" he asks, smiling down at her.
"Just wanted to," she says.
I can't describe the happiness that I feel in this moment. My mates and I are so in sync, so happy together. I am so in love and it's obvious that they feel the same way.
We easily settle into work, grabbing some sandwiches and chips from what Charlie and the omegas brought in. I sit at my desk, beginning my phone calls to my fellow alphas. Charlie and Brandon sit next to each other on one of the couches, each on their own laptop, creating spreadsheets and talking quietly about different aspects of the surrounding packs.
At 6:00, we head downstairs to dinner. Time to face the pack.
Nearly everyone is in the dining hall when we arrive. The three of us head to the high table and take our seats. The dining hall, which is usually filled with chatter, squeals, and the general hubbub of several hundred people, quiets and then becomes silent once we arrive. They look at us, me in particular. Looks of worry, expectation, and curiosity meet my stare. My pack is looking towards me for guidance after what happened yesterday.
I look to Charlie and see that she is nibbling her lower lip, a tell that she isn't as confident as she seemed when talking with Xander and Devin. But I have faith in our pack. And, honestly, if someone has a problem with Xander and Devin being together, I don't want them in our pack anyway.
I give Charlie a quick kiss on the forehead and get up to address my pack. My family. I walk away from the high table to stand on the ground below the dias, between the high table and the pack. Yes, the pack is looking to me for leadership, but I want this to be more of an open discussion instead of a ruling. I want my pack to feel comfortable in expressing their feelings about this.
I squeeze Brandon's shoulder as I walk by and he gives me a wink of encouragement.
Standing below the dias, I address my pack. "So yesterday was a bit exciting, huh?"
Many of them chuckle and the tension in the room seems to relax some.
"I know that you have questions and concerns. Let me tell you where we stand and our," at this I turn and gesture to those seated at the high table, "feelings on the matter. Then I'll open the floor up to you guys."
Nods and murmurs of ascent greet my statement. The pack has their total trust in me and I will not let them down.
"So here is where we stand. Gamma Devin and Delta Xander are mated." I can't help but smile at this statement. I am so happy for my friend. I am met with many smiles in return, as well as some looks of confusion and concern. "This is joyous news for our pack as this will increase the power and potency of their bloodlines, which will in turn help to keep us safe and prosperous as a pack."
Again, many in my pack are not sure what to make of this. If I didn't have the information that I do, I'd be concerned as well. How are their bloodlines going to continue? They can't have a baby. Unfortunately, I can't provide that information yet. Two more days.
Taking a breath, I continue, "The Goddess has made her will known to many of our leadership, including myself and Luna Charlie, as well as to Oracle Lucille. She wishes for this to happen. There is more information that we have to share, but the Goddess strictly warned us that we have to wait for certain events to occur."
A buzz fills the hall as the pack talks among themselves. I raise my hand and wait for quiet before continuing. "I know that sounds cryptic, but it is nothing to alarm you. The Goddess just doesn't want anything to get in the way of these events happening. For now, all that we need to focus on is that we have a new gamma and a new delta and that both are happily mated. We as a leadership fully support them and we hope that the pack does as well. Now, I know that you must have questions. Hit me."
For a few seconds, no one says anything. Then a hand at the back of the room raises.
"Yes, Gabriella."
A dark-skinned Latinx woman stands up, a questioning look on her face. "So, that means that Gamma Devin and Delta Xander are still gamma and delta, right? We don't have to look for replacements?"
"Correct. They ascended, were accepted by the pack, and were blessed by the Goddess already. Their titles cannot be taken from them, except by challenge."
"Good," she states simply before sitting.
I smile at her. That's what I love about my pack. They are more concerned with the people than the situation.
There are a few moments of silence before another hand goes in the air.
"Go ahead, Neil."
An older wolf stands. He looks sheepish and I already have the feeling that I'm not going to like his question.
"Alpha," he begins after a deep breath, "I'm happy that we have our new gamma and delta and I have no doubt they will be the leaders that you have touted them to be. But, don't we need them to provide heirs?"
Ok, not as bad as I thought it was going to be. "Neil, thank you for your question. I'm sure that many of you are thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, I can't give you the answer. This is something that the Goddess asked us not to talk about. But I will assure you, whether they are able to produce an heir or not is not our concern. That is for the Goddess to take care of. She matched them for a reason, one that none of us know, other than the fact that she made them for each other. And she brought them together to be the gamma and delta of our pack. I believe that she will provide a way."
Neil smiles at me. "Thank you, Alpha. That helps me understand better. I agree."
This interaction seems to spread a feeling of ease around the hall and the anxiety seems to drain from my pack's faces.
"Any more questions or concerns?" I ask.
Many pack members shake their heads and murmurs of "no" are heard.
"If you ever have any concerns or questions about this or anything else, you know that your Luna and I are here for you, as are all of the leadership and council. Now," I say, clapping my hands, "I'm starving. Let's eat!"
With that, dinner starts.
After dinner, we head back to my office to get back to work. We work for several hours, late into the evening, due to our late start on the day. Finally, I decide that it is too late to continue calling alphas and hang up the phone. I rub my face in my hands and roll my shoulders in an attempt to rid myself of the weariness from the past few hours.
I turn to my mates, seeing them staring at their laptops. Twin glazed looks of tiredness line their features and I can't help but give a small smile.
"Hey, guys. Let's knock off for the night," I say standing up and walking to them.
"Do you want to debrief?" Brandon asks, setting his computer aside.
"We can do that tomorrow. I want to shower and head to bed," I say.
"Agreed," Charlie says. We clean up the remnants of food, scrap papers, and other miscellaneous things that we have accumulated throughout our work, then head to our room.
We are all exhausted from the events of the past few days and our feet drag as we walk to the bathroom. Like everything in the alpha suite, the shower is huge. Whatever great-great-great-great-grandparent thought that having a shower and tub this big must have had a mate trio as well, since all three of us fit into each without any difficulty. Things had obviously been remodeled and redecorated since then, but the size of the bathroom and it's amenities had not.
We quietly undress, our movements slow. Occasional touches and pecks happen, but it is more loving than lustful. There is so much to think about, so many emotions to deal with, that we all simply want comfort from each other more than anything else.
In the shower, we help each other wash and rinse. I would be lying if I said that we weren't turned on. It is impossible to see your mate naked and touch them without having some sort of reaction. But none of us seemed inclined to take it beyond light caresses and occasional kisses.
Once out of the shower, we dry off and get ready for bed. There is something extremely intimate in doing these everyday things with the people that you love. With going through your bedtime routine, you take off your outer layer. The part that you show the world and leaving yourself vulnerable. You only show this side to people that you love, those that you trust. That sense of intimacy surrounded us in the bathroom, all of us making eye contact and smiling shyly.
We finally make our way to the bedroom and to bed. Charlie sleeps in between Brandon and me. Our arms wrap around her and our legs intertwine. In this tangled mass, we fall asleep.