If she were being honest with herself, Camille would admit that staying in San Francisco for her mourning period and negotiations wasn’t necessary. The real reason was because she found no comfort in the mansion that only reminded her of the years she spent taking care of her mother in secret. The food she ate at their table tasted of ash, and the air smelled of medical grade cleaning solution. Always.
“Cameron comes home with his consort next week,” she told him. “I’ll have him pack everything up and bring it with him when he comes to visit.”
Viktor’s lips twitched. “How is he gonna feel about you mating a shifter?”
“He’ll probably be relieved.”
“Yeah? Why’s that?”
Camille smoothed her palms over the planes of his chest, soothing herself. “Cameron has always hated elvish society. It was half the reason he and our mother fought so much. She wanted revenge, but he just wanted her to let it go and move on. She accused him of being a traitor to our father’s memory.”
“Was he?”
“No, of course not.” Camille shook her head. “He just couldn’t live under the cloud of her grief like I could. Whereas I tried to redirect our mother, he just got angry and shut himself off. After that, they fought about everything. It was all I could do to keep the peace between them.”
Viktor took her hand and tugged gently, urging her off of the counter. When she stood in front of him, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked them back into the living room. “I remember you telling me how bad their fights could get, but I didn’t know it was like that. That sounds like a heavy burden, Cam.”
She shrugged. “It was what it was. I love— loved them both.”
Guiding her to sit beside him on the couch, Viktor set his plate on his thigh and shook his head. “Loyal to the core.”
Camille shifted uncomfortably. She wished that people would stop saying that. “I just did what I had to do. And, honestly, I don’t feel very loyal right now.”
She felt his sharp gaze on her face. “What? Why?”
Staring at the driftwood coffee table, scored with jagged claw marks, she answered, “I promised my mother on her deathbed that I would join with another family and get out of Solbourne reach. Instead I’m here.” She swallowed the acidic taste of guilt. “I swore I’d do it, but today I…”
“You fulfilled your promise.”
Camille’s eyes swung upward, confusion tightening her features. “What? No, I didn’t.”
Viktor cupped her cheek. “Sweetheart, youdid.All your mom wanted was for you to get out, right? Well, you did it.” His hand slid down to cup her throat. The skin of his palm radiated with the same heat that came from his bite. “I got myself on the list, too, so she wouldn’t even be able to complain about it not being a legit union. If you want, I’ll even sign whatever bullshit paperwork Teddy can cook up. I don’t care. It all means the same thing.”
Camille’s throat tightened to the point where speaking became impossible. Was he right? She didn’t think her mother would have ever forgiven Viktor for rejecting her all those years ago — grudges were, after all, her specialty — but he was correct that Camille had fulfilled her mother’s request.
She had negotiated a union with someone outside of the Solbourne sphere, who was actively looking for a territory beyond their reach, and would never again be in danger of losing her mind due to the pull.
Holy shit. I did it.
Seeing the astonished look on her face, Viktor let out a bark of warm laughter. “Sweetheart, whether or not your mom would have approved of me, you did exactly what she asked. I don’t want to see that guilty look on your face ever again, okay?”
“Right,” she answered, dazed.
Later, when they were curled up in bed, Viktor’s arms tight around her middle, Camille stared into the darkness and listened to the sound of coyotes yipping in the distance. She knew from research that they had an incredibly complex system of communication, and that not all of those barks and yowls were shifters. Some of them were regular, wild coyotes — friends of the pack who helped patrol the territory and play with the cubs.
She listened hard, trying to learn the cadence, and felt a heavy warmth spread over her.Pack,the magic now coursing through her veins said.Pack is home. Pack is safety. Pack is my responsibility.
“Vik,” she whispered, knowing he was still awake.
“Hm?”
“What’s going to happen to the pack? What are we going to do about the territory?”
Worry pressed close. This was her family now. Every tiny cub, every elder, every smiling adult who welcomed her with open armsbelongedto her. Had her mating to Viktor irreparably damaged their chances at a better future?
Viktor’s palm flattened against her bare stomach and drew her closer still. He nuzzled the back of her head when he answered, “We’re calling the Alliance tomorrow morning. We can’t do anything until we know where they stand. And as far as the territory goes, there is no use in worrying about it until we have the all-clear to move.” His fingers flexed, digging into the soft skin of her belly. “I meant what I said, Cam. Making plans with another pack prematurely can be deadly. I won’t make a move until everything is secure.”
She threaded her fingers through his and closed her eyes. Leaning into the warmth she could feel resonating through their primal bond, she tried to let go of the insistent terror that clung to her like a second skin. “Let’s say it all works out. Do you have a pack in mind to take over Merced?”
