The Alpha's Mother-In-Law's Forbidden Love (The Cresta Chronicles)

Dane POV

The lacy gray morning fog rolled in over New Moon City, but didn't dim Dane's feeling of joy.

In the crisp air, he stood outside Cresta House with Lilia beside him. Ravyn and Jude bookended them on one side, Jiro and Garnet on the other, and also Talon and Kelara beside Jiro and Garnet. Four Alphas and Lunas. The rest of the family lined up on either side. Barrett and Harland, Betas of the Crimsontails and the Silverpaws, had joined them. Tulaska was present, along with Wise Woman Roslynn from the Crimsontail Shadows Pack and Wise Woman Eirika Argad of the Silverpaw Pack, as well as Lugdunum Royal Head Mage Pascalline. Anneliese's parents were also present.

In the square and spilling out into the field, the entire pack, as well as a number of the Crimsontails and Silverpaws, breathlessly awaited the start of the official homecoming. The restless energy buzzed around Dane and the others. 

Kyon and Azandra stepped forward. Kyon boomed, "Azandra and I are thrilled to give back leadership of the pack to Alpha Dane and Luna Lilia upon their safe return from Abandonnado Island, where they decisively beat Hades once again with the help of our family, our allies, and the strength of our combined packs!"

Howls drowned out even Kyon's voice that could roll like thunder. 

Dane stepped forward with Lilia, both of them wearing their crowns. "It is good to be home after our long journey!"

Lilia beamed. "We not only pulled my father, Daxius Houdini, and his new wife, Marieke, from the grip of the Dark Goddess' curse, but as our beta so eloquently said, we defeated Hades and the Dark Goddess once again!"

A deafening roar of excitement soared to the heavens. Daxius and Marieke blinked, unused to the power of a full pack welcome. Dane smiled genuinely at Daxius.

Dane and Lilia pulled Ravyn and Jude forward. Lilia said with emotion, "My mother, the Luna of the Silverpaws, and Alpha Jude led this expedition. They honored the Silverpaws–"

Bram, Mali, and Eamon led the cheering from the Silverpaws. 

Dane howled to get the pack's attention, and the noise died down. "Patch and Anneliese were, as usual, putting their stealth skills to good use, while Daxius proved that everything we ever believed about him has been wrong. Welcome to the pack, Daxius and Marieke. Marieke is human–"

Mutters from the crowd as they noticed. "Human? Here?"

Dane cleared his throat. "But Marieke grew up in the Battlecona Woods, and knows shifters. She, too, has proven herself."

Daxius smiled at Dane in a fatherly way, and Marieke quietly beamed. The shifters were all too stunned to do more than gawk.

Dane continued, glossing over the human in their midst as if such a thing happened every day in the pack lands. "Duffy Kruspodin, an old friend of the Rolfe family, also assisted us. The bravest gnome I've ever met."

Sitting on Anneliese's shoulder, Duffy waved to the crowds.

"And Edna and Graydon Chalice have cleaned house in the Wildefell witch community. Their civil war is at an end," Dane declared. "They risked bloodshed and their own safety to stand with us!"

Edna and Graydon stood stoically, and Dane saw them breathe a sigh of relief for the first time. They'd probably slept through the night last night for the first time in weeks.

Dane smiled. "And last but not least, or the Crimsontails will never let me hear the end of it, my brother, Alpha Jiro, and his Luna Garnet, made shifter history by saving the royal soldiers of Lugdunum and successfully winning the hearts of the king and queen of Lugdunum, who sent us help. Without them, we could never have succeeded!"

* * * * *

Garnet POV

Silence fell at Dane's words, except for the Crimsontails, who let out howls of approval. 

The shifters all stood still, as everything they thought they knew changed in an instant. Garnet could read it on their faces. Their world would never again be the same. They had heard from the combined councils about this majestic development. But now, to have Jiro stand here and tell the story … Garnet smelled a fresh, brisk wind of change blowing. 

Jiro cleared his throat. "If I may, Alpha?" Always respectful.

With a wave of his hand, Dane gave permission.

Jiro stepped forward. "The councils of our packs boldly approved our request to warn King Odo and Queen Giselberthe about the threat from Hades and the Dark Goddess, and their invasion of the human kingdom. The soldiers had already seen Garnet and I transform on the island when we charged in to save them from Hades' enchanted rogues."

The Evenhide and Silverpaw shifters muttered, but their respect for Jiro and Dane kept them mostly quiet. For anyone who was bolder, Kyon planted his feet and gave them his best brooding stare, the one that worked so well on little brothers, and even on Dane. Patch and Dirge stood, defiant. Naomi's and Azandra's eyes turned wolf colors, and they looked fierce.

An island of calm, Jiro stood proud and dignified. "Many good shifters have died to protect humans from our own kind. We couldn't stand by and do nothing. The real test of an Alpha's worthiness is what he does when no one's looking."

Every Alpha and Luna made soft howls of agreement.

Garnet put her hand on his arm. "And because of that, we were brought before the human king and queen and their closest advisors. They have all pledged to keep our secret–and signed that promise of secret friendship."

A collective gasp from everyone.

Jiro pulled out the pledge of friendship and showed it before the astounded pack. He read it out loud in his enchanting voice. Ears perking up, the crowd hung on every word. 

Jiro rolled up the parchment and said, "We also taught the king and queen our Cresta vow. And my Luna, I, Alpha Jude, and Luna Ravyn helped write their address to their people about the Dark Goddess' threat. As we stayed hidden, we heard the citizens' determination in the face of fear."

Awed howls rippled through the gathering.

Jiro added, "We fought together on Abandonnado Island, where no one will ever again set foot. We shed blood, side by side. The king, his mages, and his elite soldiers were warriors that fought tooth and claw beside us. That creates a bond. And as a result, we have members of the royal court with us today. Royal Head Mage Pascalline, mistress of magic."

Mage Pascalline joined him, bowing her head.

Jiro continued. "But that's not all. Garnet?"

Garnet trembled, beckoning the Blackthorns forward. "One of my family, over a century ago, ran off with a human–no growls, please. Well, the Moon Goddess brought Talon Sinsworth's descendants to us. May I present the House of Blackthorn, Lord Talon and Lady Kelara, their son William, and Lady Florinda and her mate Lady Alicia. As well, Sir Walter Longbridge, the family's counsel and a shifter himself, and Aldwin Brocius, their human bodyguard and William's tutor, who, as a former bandit, understands very well what it is to have secrets."

The shifters were all spellbound.

Beautiful and noble-looking, the Blackthorns bowed before the pack. Talon and Kelara looked royal, as did Alicia and Florinda. Walter looked scholarly, and Aldwin just bared his teeth in a fierce smile, daring anyone to look cross-eyed at the family. William threw back his head and let out the loudest howl he could. 

The crowd erupted, amazed at this little pup with the big voice. The Crimsontails went absolutely wild, falling in love with the family on sight. If anyone would, it would be the Crimsontails. Garnet beamed, so proud of her pack.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

She'd expected the Evenhiders, and even the Silverpaws, to throw more of a fit at seeing the humans in their midst, embraced by the royal family. However, she'd misjudged how deeply the packs respected their Alphas. In most everything, the Alphas and Lunas had the final say. And perhaps the revelation that the Blackthorns were descended from the Sinsworths carried weight with the shifters. Wolf blood was wolf blood, after all.

Yet she saw the stiff backs and the curled lips and the bared fangs. The pack might behave properly and welcome the newcomers, but some of them hated this change.

She cleared her throat. "Welcome, Daxius and Marieke. Speaking as the Silverpaw Luna, I also welcome the Blackthorns to our shifter family. You've been apart from us for far, far too long."

Cheers from the pack. Patch, Anneliese, Dirge, and Thessi whipped up enthusiasm in the crowd.

Standing beside her, Jude added his voice as Alpha. "And Lady Kelara will soon gift us with another pup for our pack family, in addition to this little future Alpha." He smiled at William.

The pack murmured approval. 

Dane and Jiro both shot Ravyn and Jude looks of gratitude. Jiro's smile was breathtaking. This was his family, after all. It helped that Garnet had a golden glow about her despite her recent trials.

Was she, too, expecting another pup?

Ravyn used her powers to sense new life in Garnet. Yes. None in Azandra yet. Maybe after her children were older. Anneliese, yes. Naomi, yes.

So much new life and promise. She wouldn't let the difficulties of change, the hatred of the Dark Goddess always seeking to tear everything down, or anything else spoil this bright future.

Dane, Jiro, Jude, and Talon all presented a united front. "Tonight, we'll have the first of three celebrations," Dane declared. "Evenhide's will be one for the history books, followed by a royal feast in Crimsontail territory in the days to come. Finally, Alpha Jude intends to hold a grand ball for his formal bonding ceremony with Luna Ravyn."

The shifters all gasped at the novelty of a ball and a bonding ceremony–an old tradition that had fallen out of favor in several packs.

Dane, with a wicked gleam in his eyes stolen from his younger brothers, added, "And there may be some reviving of the bonding ceremony tradition around here and in Crimsontail territory. Great days are ahead for shifters everywhere!"

Ravyn cheered along with everyone else, but the shadowy feeling of foreboding wouldn't let go. And the sense of hatred from some shifters in the pack turned her stomach.

Her family must all stand together. No matter what.