Chapter Text
Epilogue
Jared had been Council leader for nearly three decades. He’d presided over cases that were quick and easy, such as a territory dispute between two packs led by young Pack Alphas trying to earn trust and respect, and cases that were much more difficult, such as a rogue band of weres that had killed most of the citizens of a small California town.
The territory went to the pack who proved they were there first. Both packs were sentenced to Level One discipline and admonished by the Council for wasting their time and making them travel to Italy for a case that could have been settled with a simple records search.
The rogue weres were beheaded, and their bodies were dumped in the ocean even though the Pack Alpha had been suffering SBS. His mate had been killed in the town before the two could bond. None of the other werewolves made a move to stop the Pack Alpha. At Jared’s order, the human survivors who wished to witness the executions were allowed to do so in hopes they would feel safe again and trust the weres they’d met since the rogues were captured. Enough money changed hands that the large number of human deaths was attributed to a gas explosion in the small factory town.
Jared cried for days after that case because three of the twelve humans who survived the massacre were Danneel, her husband, and their child, and Danneel had turned her back on him after learning he was a werewolf. She lost her trust in him because he’d never told her about what he was now, and she’d understandably developed a distaste and distrust for weres in general after being attacked by the rogues. He’d known he would lose her eventually due to her death, but he’d never expected her to turn her back on him. That hurt worse than any part of that case.
Most of their cases were usually somewhere in between and were handled without his presence being required. As the prophecy had foretold, he had earned a reputation for being tough but fair. Most weres who got to meet him quickly came to adore him. Those who didn’t were usually meeting him because they had done something horribly wrong and knew he was about to sentence them to death.
This had been a hard week for Jared, the Council, and the entire werewolf community. Three days ago, they had laid Jeremy Carver to rest after he was killed in a car crash. They would be choosing a replacement for him today.
Each remaining Council member would submit a name to be considered, and Jared would make the final decision of which one would be installed.
They sat at a round table in a modern high rise hotel in New York City. Jared shook his head as he reviewed the names and said, “You all know he cannot be on the Council. Why would you even think to nominate him?”
Alaina replied, “He’s one of, if not the best, Pack Alphas in the community. He deserves to be considered.”
“It’s a conflict of interest,” Jared said. “Odds are we would think alike in each case and then be accused of favoritism. Besides, if we’re both away for Council business, our pack is left to fend for themselves.”
Eric spoke up, “Your pack is perfectly capable of handling themselves for a few days at a time.”
“As true as that is, Jensen would never allow it. There’s no way he would accept a position on the Council even if I didn’t deny his nomination,” Jared said as he drew a line through his mate’s name.
“Told you,” Omundson said as he leaned back in his chair.
Kim handed Jared another paper with a different name on it, “Maybe this one would do?”
“Why are all the Council members from North America?” Jared asked as he read the familiar name.
Alaina answered, “It happened when the last Council began building this one. Most of the issues were in Europe, and they believed members from North America would be the most fair and impartial mediators.”
“Why are there only five members when there are millions of weres in the community?” Jared asked as he wondered to himself why he hadn’t asked these questions before.
Omundson shrugged, “Tradition, I guess. It started out as five and still is.”
“Not any more,” Jared said and read the names he’d been given again before continuing, “I hereby declare that Ivan Antonov of Russia, Zuri Abara of South Africa, and Tahmoh Pennikett of the US are to be installed to the High Council, bringing the number of members to seven with the High Council Leader being the eighth member.”
Alaina, pleased with Jared’s declaration, teased, “If Tahmoh’s pack hadn’t relocated to Colorado, your choice to add him might be suspect.”
“Tahmoh has more than proven himself worthy of the Council or none of you would have had his name ready. You’re just jealous we didn’t choose your mate, but none of us would be able to tolerate you and Lisa Berry together on long trips,” Jared teased back.
“I second that,” Kim agreed.
“Third,” added Eric.
Omundson laughed, “Declared and ordered.”
Alaina huffed playfully. “Oh, hush, you scoundrels. We have three trips to plan. Let’s arrange to get these alphas here so we can install them and go home.”
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“How did it go?” Jensen asked his mate after a proper welcome due a week-long absence.
“They tried to nominate you,” Jared said as he walked to his desk and put a folder away.
“No way in hell,” Jensen protested.
“That’s what I told them.”
“Did you choose the new member?”
“We chose three, one of whom is Tahmoh.”
“That’s awesome,” Jensen exclaimed. Tahmoh had become a good friend to their pack. He had only relocated his own pack when they began to grow too large for the two packs to live so close together.
“You’re about to get angry with me, but I’m going to declare at the next meeting that you will be allowed to fill in for me on an emergency basis if I’m unable to bear my responsibilities for any reason other than death.”
“What? Why would you do that?” Jensen asked, worry showing on his handsome face.
“Because in a few months I’m going to be too busy nursing to be flying around the world scolding adult weres.”
Jensen’s expression morphed rapidly from curious to surprised to excited. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Saw Ruthie last week, and the results came back this morning. We’re going to have twins in about six months.”
“Jay, I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it, pal, because no way in hell are you getting out of diaper duty unless you’re away with the Council. And Chris Kane is not allowed to babysit without Megan present. There’s no telling what our pups would be learning,” Jared laughed. “We’re also going to need to add either a nursery or a new bedroom for Kane and Megan onto the cabin.”
“Or we could all move into the bunker and let Alona and Jake move in here,” Jensen said.
“I guess that would help hide me better when I start to show. I just hate giving up our privacy,” Jared said.
“I’m Pack Alpha, and you’re High Council Leader. How much do you wanna bet we’ll have all the privacy in the world with just one word?” Jensen teased.
“It’s not us I’m thinking about. Can you imagine how much Rufus is gonna bitch when the babies have a bad night?”
“If Rufus bitches about anything, it’ll be how much time Loretta spends with our pups. And if he gets on your nerves, I’ll buy you some ear plugs.”
Jared laughed. Then he sobered and said, “I look back now and can’t believe how close I came to not having all of this with you.”
“What made you decide to say yes?” Jensen asked.
Jared looked at his mate and said, “I love you.”
Jensen’s smile was brighter than the sun when he replied, “That’s a better blessing than anything the goddess could ever have given me.”