Chapter Twelve

(James)

As we pulled up to the pack house, it was decorated in full Christmas cheer. Not sure how I'd forgotten today was Christmas. Well, actually I do know exactly how I had forgotten. Three words…Tracy, mate, sex. My entire mind was consumed with her. By the expression on her face she had forgotten too.

"Oh my goodness, it's Christmas?" her high pitched surprised voice made me chuckle. Her eyes snapped to mine. "What?"

I couldn't resist smiling at her. "You are absolutely adorable when you get all freaked out like that."

Her eyes widened. "Your parents are going to freak out! I mean it's Christmas and…" she waved her hands around in the air between us. "…and they'll know what we did. Is it even okay for you to be with me?"

That's an answer for an entirely different time. "They already know you are my mate. I told them."

"Oh…" she replied softly.

"Come on, let's go inside." With her nod, I got out, walked around to her door and held her hand as she got out.

We walked in through the front door. The front room was filled with she-wolves whose attention all snapped our way when we entered. I'd forgotten they were all arriving today. I thought that maybe my parents could have called it off after I told them I'd already found my mate.

Brianna and Stacy pushed their way to the front. Brianna let out a low growl when she looked at Tracy. My wolf let out a deep growl that had everyone bowing their heads. But before I could say anything Tracy did something completely unexpected.

She placed her free hand on my chest and looked toward Brianna. "Told you I could take care of him on my own." Then she leaned up, kissed my cheek and said, "Come on, I believe we are expected to be somewhere."

Damn, she impressed me more and more every single day. She handled that like a true Luna.

Walking down to my dad's office we stopped at his closed door and I knocked.

"Come in," came his voice through the door.

She squeezed my hand in reassurance as I reached for the door handle. Funny, that she was the one reassuring me when she was the human surrounded by wolves.

My mom was sitting beside my dad with Anthony standing against the wall and my Aunt Bonnie sitting on the sofa. Looks like this is going to be an entire family affair. Whether that was a good or bad thing I couldn't tell anything from their vibes, which had me a little concerned, but Tracy squeezed my hand again to let me know it would be okay.

"Good morning," said my aunt.

"Good morning, Miss Bonnie," replied Tracy. "And Merry Christmas everyone."

She was impeccable. I felt like I should sit back and let her do her thing because she had a way of putting an entire room at ease. I was in awe of my mate.

"Merry Christmas," said my mom.

"It would seem you jumped right into this didn't you son?" asked my father.

My aunt spoke up before I could respond. "Now Jacob, if I remember right you didn't wait before mating my sister now did you?"

"That was different."

"Why? Because she wasn't human?" She waved her hand in the air. "That's just genetics. It means nothing. If the Moon Goddess chose her for James then that's all that should matter."

I turned to look at my aunt, but all I could see was the smile on Tracy's face. I knew she liked my aunt, but hearing her stand up for us like that made her so happy that I could feel it through our bond.

His dad grumbled, "And what do we do about the hundred plus she-wolves that are here for tonight's choosing?"

"Hey, I told you I already had a mate. You should have called it off."

Tracy jerked on my hand and with all the authority she could muster in her voice whisper shouted through our link, 'James!'

'What?'

'Don't be rude to your father.'

"Sorry dad. I know you all have gone through a lot of work trying to put this thing together. And although I didn't want to be a part of it at all I understand your effort." I cannot believe I just submitted to my mate. But she was right and I know it.

My parents shared a look and then busted out laughing.

"Did I miss something?" asked Anthony.

While still chuckling my dad spoke. "Boy are you in trouble. You just got reprimanded by your mate, didn't you? And submitted to her at that." He continued laughing until my mother elbowed him and then he immediately stopped. Guess the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

"Tell me what you need me to do."

With a blink of his eyes my dad was back into Alpha mode. The change was like day and night. "Seems simple enough. You found your mate. Even though it wasn't exactly what we had expected to happen, it doesn't change the end game. Tonight we make it official. You will take over as Alpha and you will announce Tracy as your Luna. The ceremony is set to take place at dark."

My mother and aunt stood up. "But first, we need to borrow Tracy. We need to get her prepared for tonight." My mother came around reaching for her hand and Tracy hesitantly slid hers from mine to my mother's. "Boys, play nice. We will see you all soon enough."

As they started to leave, I stopped Tracy and kissed her on the cheek. 'I love you.'

'And I love you.' With that she was ushered out of the office and the entire atmosphere changed into something harder.

I took a seat across from my dad and gestured Anthony to take the chair beside me. Whatever this was, it felt as if I needed to be seated.

"Tell me what's going on."

My father was the first to talk. "I don't know how, but the rumors are already spreading. Someone must have seen you with Tracy. I'm already hearing from allies asking if it's true. And you and I both know that if they are asking then they aren't the only ones who have heard."

I was trying to process what he was saying. If he thought we were in danger… "Should we postpone the ceremony then? Make sure there are no immediate threats?"

"Awww look who's sounding like a real Alpha," teased Anthony.

I ignored him, apparently so did my dad. "No. I think since this concerns you, that you being Alpha will give you the authority to deal with it. I have already doubled security at the borders and we have a conference call scheduled in five minutes with all of our allies within a hundred and fifty mile radius."

I nodded. "Anthony, did you find out anything else in those history books of yours?"

"Nothing yet. We've expanded our research to include other historians that I know I can trust. If I find anything you will be the first to know."

I nodded, knowing he would do everything he could. I had faith he wouldn't give up until he had the answers he and I both wanted.

The screen hanging on the wall lit up as the packs started connecting to the meeting.

My father greeted everyone and turned the floor over to me.

This would be the first time I'd ever been given the floor during these meetings. I'd attended many, but always as a silent voyeur. I took a deep breath and said, "Good morning. I know with it being Christmas that everyone here has somewhere else they would more than likely rather be. With that being said, let's get straight down to business."

"Is it true? Is your mate human?" asked Alpha Jorge, of the Silver Moon Pack.

"She is human, yes."

"My beta has been working with Anthony so I'm going to ask the question we all want to know. The last human was thought to be a witch with visions. Does she have visions?" asked Alpha Taylor, of the Red Diamond Pack.

"She is not a witch. She is one hundred percent human, minus anything she gained from me when she became my mate." And here goes nothing. "However, yes she does have visions." There was a collective silence. Everyone was hanging on what I said next. "She'd foreseen our mating before ever meeting me, although she thought they were just dreams based on watching too many werewolf movies."

"Let's for one second forget about that. Can a human even handle being Luna of the New Pack?"

I knew what he was really asking. We were the most powerful pack on this continent and it could only remain so if the leadership was strong.

"I can attest to the fact that she is more than capable. I've seen her handle many things in the short time I've known her. She possesses the compassion a Luna needs, the love her Alpha needs, and the strength her pack requires," said my dad.

His words left me shocked, but undeniably happy. He was accepting her.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I would like to meet her. With your permission I will be attending tonight's ceremony." Alpha Kane was leader of the second strongest pack. The Whispering Hills wolves were known for their stealth and unique fighting techniques. He was also my dad's best friend. If he wanted to be here, I was not telling him no.

"I would be honored," I replied.