He held her close, looking down into her eyes, trying to ignore all the people watching and put his heart on the line once more.
“Enid, love, I’ve got to know. Will you marry me?” he whispered.
Joe’s heart stopped as she gazed up at him. Tears filled her eyes once more as she nodded. He started breathing again, as a smile lit her face, and he saw the uncertainty leave her, hopefully, forever.
“If you’re sure,” she whispered back.
“Of course I’m sure,” he told her, grinning. “I love you.”
“Oh, Joe. I love you, too.”
At her words, a howl arose from the Pack as they signaled their approval. Joe put his arm around Enid’s shoulders and turned to face his people—their people—as Enid blushed. She was so beautiful in heart and soul. She had brought this miracle to their people, and she would help him make the Pack as strong as they possibly could. As the Lady had intended.
With the ceremony over and the startling events behind them, the party turned into an impromptu mating feast. Joe and Enid were seated near the tree, with Joe’s family all around. His children seemed to be thinking hard about what had happened, but they weren’t rejecting Enid, which was a good place to start.
It was little Emma who changed the dynamic in a heartbeat. She climbed down from Tracy’s lap and came over to Enid while everybody was eating. Enid turned to the little girl as Joe watched. Emma looked up at Enid with that curious tilt of her head that was all feline, like the jaguar that shared his granddaughter’s soul, then lifted her hands in the motion that meant she wanted to be lifted up.
Enid smiled and complied, lifting Em to her lap. Quietly, Em snagged a long string bean that had been on the edge of Enid’s plate and began munching on it as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Every shifter in the place knew it wasn’t. That Emma had accepted Enid as not only one of the Pack, but as one of the trusted inner circle of her own family, was clear.
Joe looked at Tracy, who was watching her baby with tears in her eyes. He reached over to take Tracy’s hand and whispered to his only daughter. “It’s going to be all right.”
Tracy looked into his eyes and nodded. “I know it is. It’s just…unexpected.” Joe’s heart sank until Tracy smiled. “But who am I to argue with the will of the Goddess? Or Mom, for that matter. That’s just like her, you know,” Tracy said, letting go of Joe’s hand and including her brothers in her words. “Mom always told us how it was going to be and then made it happen. She’s done it again. Only this time, she’s got the highest power imaginable behind her.”
“Mom never did anything in a small way,” Ken agreed, shaking his head while the siblings chuckled.
“I didn’t get as much time with her as you guys,” Kevin said in a thoughtful way, “but if Mom arranged all this, I don’t see there’s much to object to. I’m happy for you, Dad,” Kevin told him, shades of the adult Alpha he would become in his tone. Joe was so proud of his children, at that moment, he felt it deep in his wolf’s heart. “Enid’s cool.” That last comment came from the boy Kevin still was, and Joe understood. Enid could never replace Kevin’s mother, but she might come to be a steadying female influence in his life.
Chapter Thirteen
Emma stayed on Enid’s lap for the rest of the meal, allowing her to cut up portions of meat for Em to nibble. Enid loved having Emma close. She loved children, though she’d never had any of her own. Enid was aware of the slight tension that seemed to work itself out over time as the family spoke amongst themselves. Enid pretended not to notice that they were discussing her and this new situation, focusing instead on Em, but she did feel when acceptance swept over those around her like a welcome wave of warmth.
Enid heard Kevin pronounce her cool, with a glowing heart. That boy was on the verge of becoming a man any family could be proud of. She wanted to be here, to see it happen. She wanted to be his friend, if he’d let her. Just as she wanted to be friends with Tracy and Hank and Ken and his mate.
As Enid looked around the table, her vision shifted into a magical gaze that had happened to her a few times before, though not recently. She saw glimpses of the future and the child that was even now just beginning to form for Ken and Barbara. Enid gasped, and Joe turned to her.
“What is it?” he asked quietly.
Enid looked at him, her eyes wide, and realized he’d picked up on her emotion. “Nothing bad,” she raced to reassure him. “I’m just not sure if I’m supposed to let the cat out of the bag.” She looked over at Ken and his blushing mate. “Do you two want to tell him?” she asked, realizing the couple knew but were keeping quiet for some reason.
It was Barbara who spoke first. She was a shy, maternal sort of wolf, and her mate was doting. Ken had all the power of his father’s Alpha personality, but it was channeled to a very narrow focus. He wasn’t interested in leading the Pack, but that was okay. He served the greater community in other ways, by being the steadfast force at his father’s side. Enid had seen all that in just a few moments and had liked the man. His mate was harder to figure because she was so quiet, but Enid was coming to appreciate her now, as the beautiful secret she’d been guarding came out into the open.
“We didn’t want to ruin your night,” Barbara said, looking straight at Enid with a shy smile.
“Ruin it?” Enid said, smiling right back. “This can only make it even better. Believe me.”
“If you’re sure…” Barbara lost her air of shyness, and her gaze turned playful. Enid nodded encouragingly at her. “Well, we’re expecting,” Barbara said in a rush as the family broke out in congratulations.
Joe was silent at her side, but Enid could feel the emotion coming off him. She was so attuned to his moods already. She placed one hand on his under the table, squeezing gently. He looked over at her and nodded, his expression so full of love, she caught her breath.
Once the hubbub died down a bit, Joe offered his congratulations to his eldest son and daughter-in-law. “This night has brought so much to us all,” he said, raising his glass in a toast. “To the Mother of All and Her infinite wisdom. She has given us so many gifts this solstice, it’s almost too much to take in. The miracle of new life.” He nodded to Barbara and Ken. “The miracle of new love.” He took Enid’s hand in his free hand, linking their fingers. “Blessed be.”
“Blessed be.” The others around the table repeated the blessing and drank.
Enid felt everything slip into place as the family praised the Goddess and gave thanks for Her many blessings. This truly was the most sacred solstice she had ever spent…and the most joyous.
When Joe led the wolf Pack out on its communal run, Hank, Tracy and Emma stayed behind with Enid and the others who had opted to remain behind in the Pack house to prepare for the others’ return. Tracy was kind, and Emma didn’t leave Enid’s side, insisting on helping move the things she’d used for the ceremony out of the way. Hank was a friendly face, as well. He had apparently been telling Tracy all about Enid’s time in his piloting class because Tracy was full of questions.
It was then Enid realized that, in this Pack of aviators, Tracy was one of the few who didn’t know how to fly. Enid was surprised, but it occurred to her that, considering Tracy had lost her mother to pilot error, she might still have some insecurities surrounding flying and pilots, in particular. Odd, then, that she’d mated a flying ace.