ETHAN POV
We were heading to the airport. Izzy had a little temper tantrum with us, telling us that we needed to treat her like an adult who was capable of making her own decisions. My brothers and I apologized and agreed to keep her informed, but then she went ahead with the plan that my brothers, dad and I had originally come up with. I am not sure I understand women.
She was still angry with us, though. I could tell by the way she stiffened up when I touched her. My wolf was angry with me for making her mad and I knew that my brothers’ wolves were equally pissed at them. It made us all unhappy and a little cranky with each other.
The only one on this flight that was in a good mood was the damn cat. Stella was coming home with us. I wasn’t happy about it, but it really wasn’t up to me. She saved our mate, as Reese pointed out. We owed it to her to give her the best home we coul
IZZY POVTime stood still for a moment. No one moved and the phone was quiet. Silvo was smart enough to let the triplets process the information before continuing.“You are the new Alphas. Your mother is waiting for you to come home. As are we all.” His voice finally broke. I realized for as big of an ass that Silvo could be, he genuinely loved his Alpha.“How is mother?” Caleb asked. His voice sounded stiff. I went over to him and took his hand in mind, leaning in and letting my bond soothe him.“Not well,” Silvo said. “Alessia is with her. She’s not eating or drinking.”Ethan walked through the cabin and went to the cockpit door. He went inside and spoke to the pilot, and then stepped back.“I let the pilot know that it’s imperative that we arrive as quickly as possible,” he told Silvo.
IZZY POVThe Funeral Rites were scheduled for that night. In the werewolf culture, it was custom to do the Rite immediately after death, however Jenna had insisted that her sons be home for their father’s Rite. And now we were going to do both of their parents together.Mom helped me pick out an outfit. I wore a long black dress with a white fur lined cape over the top. I put on leggings and snow boots; the ceremony takes place outdoors and on a lake.The bodies of the Alpha and Luna were gently washed and dressed by my mother and the triplets. I sat on my bed hugging Stella while that was taking place. I could feel the sorrow pulsating through the mate bond, and I was at a loss as to help my mates. I felt like their sorrow was crushing me.The bodies were put into long boats and then carried through the woods to a lake that was tucked back into the Packlands. I had seen it on my run with Heka and made
IZZY POV“We need you,” Reese growled into my ear. “We need to mate with you. All of us.”I nodded. I had known that reaffirming the mate bond would be important for the triplets tonight. Their grief was palatable, and they had just taken on the huge responsibility of the pack.I let Reese pick me up and begin to carry me back to the Alpha House. The rest of the pack followed us out of the woods, before heading to their own homes to try to get a few hours rest before starting their day.My mother gave me a quick glance and then turned away. I felt for her, knowing that she was dealing with her own grief, but my mates needed me now. I would find her later in the day and be with her then.Reese was swift and Caleb and Ethan kept up. He bounded up the stairs, not letting my feet touch the ground before he deposited me into our bedroom.“Get undressed,&rdqu
REESE POVIt has been a week since the Funeral Rite. The hole that the death of my parents left seems almost too much to bear sometimes.My brothers and I shared a large office with three separate desks and a large area in the middle with comfortable chairs and couches surrounding a low table for an informal meeting area. Typical for us, Caleb was the only one that was consistently behind his desk. I tended to sit in a chair and use the low table and Ethan liked to sprawl on the couch and shout his input at us.We were in our usual places going over the suggested warrior assignments for the next month. Alessia remained our Gamma and she was in charge of setting things up and giving them to us to approve.I threw the proposed assignments back on the table. “Alessia knows these warriors better than we do. I trust her judgement,” I said. Ethan opened an eye and looked out at us.&nb
IZZY POVMy days were long and every moment was filled. I woke up with the dawn and slipped out of our room to let Heka run with Stella. One or more of the triplets always comes with me, never allowing me to get near the borders of our lands without some sort of protection. We would then eat breakfast and then they would go to their office.At the same time, Stella and I went to mine. The first day after the Funeral Rite, my mom led me into Aunt Luna’s office and I just couldn’t.“It’s not right,” I said. “There are plenty of other rooms in this house. I don’t want. . . “My mom nodded, sympathetically. “This has traditionally been the Luna’s office,” she said, practically. I shook my head. “Then we change tradition.” Mom gave me a sad smile.“Okay, Luna Izzy.” She closed the
IZZY POV“Try again,” Reese instructed. We were in the basement of the Alpha House and he was trying to instruct me on how to shift fluidly. The triplets could shift mid-air or while running. I wanted to be able to do that.I backed up and began to run and then tried calling Heka while leaping forward. I landed on my stomach, the wind knocked out of me. The poor landing was made worse by the fact that I was naked. I didn’t want to ruin another set of clothes today, so I was racing around the basement in the nude.“Most wolves can’t do it,” Caleb said, kindly. “Other than us, your mom, Silvo and our friend Brian are the only ones that I know that can.”“I don’t care,” I said with gritted teeth. “I will learn.”“Okay, then again,” Reese said, patiently.I got up on my hands and knees, slowly, an
IZZY POVThey carried me to the bed. Ethan disappeared into the closet and came out with a handful of silk ties. I watched with interest, wondering what he planned to do with those.He began by capturing my wrist and tying it to the headboard. He did the same with my other hand, bringing my arms wide open. My ankles got the same treatment, and I was soon spread eagle on the bed, tied with the softest of silk bonds.“Here,” Caleb said, coming forward with a scarf. He gently tied it around my eyes, blocking off the light. I closed my eyes. This was going to be fun.I knew that the boys were mind linking back and forth because no one said anything, but they began moving. I felt the bed dip as one climbed up next to me and began running something light down my body. I shivered. It felt soft, like a feather, and barely tickled me.He dragged it across my chest and around my nipples,
REESE POV“I’ll go talk to her,” I told my brothers. “You guys stay out of this. That way she can be mad at one of us, not all of us.”We had just spoken to the Council. The Council was a group of elder werewolves who knew the lore and the traditions. They made the laws and stepped in when Packs overstepped or didn’t comply. If a Pack is peaceful, the Council rarely intervenes. But if an allegation was made, they would step in and rule.We had a virtual meeting with one of the Elders that had been a good friend to our father. He was aware of the living situation and how it had come about.“Traditionally, the Packhouse is the home of the Alpha, Beta and Gamma as well as where the pack gathers. When your father approached the Council about building a separate Packhouse that would also double as a sort of community center, we were agreeable because your pack had grown t