Book 2: Chpt 20: Rylie’s Surprise
Chapter 20
James
This was only supposed to be a meeting about the Night of Raids and the New Moon Alliance. Why does it feel more like a trial? Parading us out one by one, interrogating us, trying to trip us up. Dad, Gideon, and Logan have already given their statements and sat through this, so now it’s my turn. I have to relive the horror of that night; I almost got killed that night; if it weren’t for Marco, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.
Rylie is up next, and then today’s session will be over. Tomorrow, the Lunas and the survivors will give their statements. They better not treat my sister like a criminal. She had no choice but to kill Tate; he was going to kill the flowers. Then there are the survivors; I feel the worst for them; they don’t have to relive one night but years of nightmares. I can’t believe they are so insensitive that they are going to question survivors like this. They are the victims. They had their whole childhoods ripped away and were treated like disposable soldiers. I don’t get it. Yesterday, all the local Alphas couldn’t wait to get to know us, but now it’s like we are criminals. Did Alpha Han say something?
I scanned the room and found the cowardly Alpha Han in the back with his heir next to him. He had a displeased look on his face, but Yong–rae looked smug. I don’t like that. Our pack founded the US Alpha Council, and my predecessors served as a driving force in putting the internal council together. He thinks a few choice words can erase years and years of history. He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with yet.
“Alpha Heir James Ashwood, you are dismissed.” The Council Chairman dismissed me. I stood up and took my seat next to my dad. I hadn’t really been paying too much attention during the questioning. I let Rafe do the talking. It’s a trick we figured out when I was a kid: How to let him take over just enough to talk–basically, my mind wonders and his focus. 1
We were waiting for Rylie to come in. They kept us separated, and the rooms‘ walls were foiled in silver, so we could not contact each other. When I stepped into that room, I knew something was odd. It was incredibly uncomfortable in there. The air felt hot, and the smell of silver burned my nose and throat. Finding An Jieun made me even more on edge. I don’t trust this place. This resort is starting to feel like a prison.
The doors open, and I see Rylie walk in. He’s on edge. I can see him snarl a bit, and then he just stops. There’s movement in the seating area behind me. I jump up, ready myself for an attack. All I see is a dark–haired female jump past me and head to Rylie. I dart after her. She’s not going to hurt my best friend.
Someone grabs my arm,——– I look back. It’s Logan. He shakes his head. What? Why would he be OK with this? I know Rylie can handle himself, but we don’t know what these other wolves are up to.
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Book 2: Chpt 20: Rylle’s Surprise
I turn and look toward Rylie. He’s grinning from ear to ear. Then I hear it, “Mate.” What? Did he say.
mate?
“Mate.” From a female who seems a little annoyed, or was that an accent?
I can’t believe it; Rylie and I both found our mates. This is crazy. Rylie tries to pull the female closer, but she pushes him back hard. “As the second daughter of the Fianna pack, ya have to prove ya are a worthy mate.” Then she grabbed Rylie’s face with one hand and kissed him. “That’s for me wolf, not from me.” She released his face and then turned to walk away.
Rylie licked his lips, “A real Irish fairy princess, as my mate, I’m honored.”
She whipped back around, “Fea Princess! This one has a feckin‘ death wish.”
“Alia Mac Cumhail!” A stern woman’s voice rang through the air. That name and pack sounds really familiar. Rylie’s mate scoffs and walks out of the hall, slamming the double doors behind her.
Everyone started whispering and looking toward the Alpha parents who at this point were also in a
stare–down.
“CLANK, CLANK, CLANK!” The gavel forced everyone’s attention back to the council.
“Rylie Bye, is your testimony any different than your written statement?” The council chairman says
with a raised eyebrow.
“No Chairman, it’s the same.”
“Then, in light of what we all just witnessed, today’s session is adjourned.” With that, the Chairman slams the gavel down once more before getting up and leaving.
I look over to Rylie, and this crazy bastard just winks and blows me a kiss. He’s lost it completely.
“Rafe, why does that pack name and family name sound so familiar?” It’s bugging me how do I know
it?
“I’m not telling you. It would help if you stopped relying on me for every piece of critical information. What are you going to do if you ever get cuffed with silver? You would be as helpless as a baby.” Rafe would do this to me from time to time–grumpy old man.
12
There was nothing but incoherent blah blah going on around me, so I rushed over to Rylie as quickly as I could. Logan was right behind me, followed by Dad and Gideon.
“Congrats! You found your mate.” I punched my best friend in the arm with a laugh.
“Son, I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse. That one will either make our pack stronger or be the end of us.” Logan shook his head.
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Book 2: Chpt 20: Rylle’s Surprise
“This is definitely unprecedented. We are going to need to approach the Flanna Alpha very carefully.” Dad sighed.
“Rylie, if you can successfully complete the mate bond, I would like to have your Luna teach some of the Druit Guard.” Gideon grabs Rylie’s shoulder.
Was I missing something? “Why are you all so grim? Rye found his mate; this is great.”
Dad looks up, “Please, Selene, give me the strength.” He looks at me, “James, do you pay attention at all in your heir lessons?”
Crap. I look at Rylie with the most desperate look on my face. He chuckles and throws his arm around my neck. “Thanks, man. She’s a spicy one, for sure. Dad, she’s my fated mate, and she will make a great Luna. Alpha John, the Fianna Pack will be happy that their descendants have a council seat in the US, I’m sure. Alpha Gideon, I don’t think that will be a problem. Just don’t blame me if anyone gets injured; I get the feeling she doesn’t hold back.”
“OK, I fully admit that I don’t know why this female is so special besides being Rylie’s mate.” I drop
my head. I know they are all disappointed.
Rylie squeezes my neck a little tighter in a headlock and laughs. “Rafe not helping you again?”
“No.” I sigh.
Dad let out a breath of frustration,” The Fianna pack is an ancient pack that doesn’t let outsiders in their ranks. They are one of the most closed–off packs in the world. They answer only to the head of the council in Europe, if at all. They have a council seat as well. They are also one of a handful of packs with a female Alpha. The Mac Cumhail Alpha family might be older than ours, and from what I know, they have always had a female Alpha; no males are ever born to the Alpha couple. We’ll have to look into how many times the second daughter has been mated outside of the Fianna pack.”
I guess our generation has it hard when it comes to mates. It really makes me wonder what’s going on outside of our view. Gideon and Amelie, An Jieun and me, Rylie and the MacCumhail female- none of these fated pairs are simple. I know what Ithildin told us, but I feel it; it’s bigger. More is coming the gods are preparing us for something. As this realization hit me, my whole body tingled, and my senses went into overdrive. I felt Rafe trying to calm me down.
“Hey man, you OK?” Rylie nudged me.
“You’re being too obvious. Easy, James.” Rafe calmly whispered, trying to ease my nerves.
I took a deep breath. “Yeah, I just miss An Jieun.” I turn to Dad. “I’ll catch up later. I’m sure you have a lot to do now with Rylie’s mate and her being from Ireland. I’m going to go check on my mate.” I shake off Rylie and walk through the resort to my mate.
“Rafe, we need to be ready. I don’t know for what, so I guess anything.”
*Author’s note: The third book in the Ashwood Family Saga will follow Rylie Bye and Alia MacCumhail. Here’s a little into into their story.
