The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 120

Staring at the phone in my hand I wonder if calling Tristan really is a good idea. He has just finished getting his Pack in order, creating an environment that is finally peaceful for the wolves that were once under the Huxley tyranny. If I call him, Shadow Rose will be turned upside down once again in a war that is meant for Kalee and me.

“You haven’t called yet?” I jump at the sudden noise, looking towards the open door where Brynlee just entered through, two Omegas coming behind her carrying trays of food.

“No. At the time I thought it was a good idea to involve him, but now –”

“You worry it will make his newly stabled Pack a target.” She finishes for me. I nod, not sure what else to say. Brynlee knows me too well now. Knows what I am thinking and feeling. Add in the fact we are newly Mated and she has an easier time figuring out what’s on my mind.

The Omegas – June and Charles – are quick in setting the trays down on the coffee table to the left before bowing and leaving my office, closing the door behind them. My office. I had just received this room to work from as Uncle Gale’s Beta and now I will be losing it because of our plan.

“Call him, Rune. Tristan will definitely join our battle.” Brynlee sighs out, moving around my desk, taking the cell phone from my hand, and climbing into my lap. My arms instinctively wrap around her waist, her cinnamon-sugar scent wrapping around me, calming me as usual.

“You're right.” I agree with a smile.

“I’m always right.” Brynlee teases, kissing my cheek and making me chuckle. Goddess I love this woman. She holds my phone out to me, her expectant gaze staring into my eyes. With a shake of my head, I take the phone back and unlock it, quickly pressing my contacts app and scrolling until I find the number I am looking for.

With a deep breath, I press on my screen, the number being dialed. Brynlee is the one to put the call on speaker while we wait for Tristan to pick up.

“Alpha Tristan Ithica of Shadow Rose.” His deep voice calls through the speaker, sounding a little tired and weary and a little distant.

“Is this a bad time to call?” I ask, hearing Tristan curse before the sounds of something being picked up – most likely the phone – is heard.

“Hey, Rune.” Tristan says, his voice sounding clearer and cheerier.

“I’m here too.” Brynlee chimes in, making both Tristan and me laugh.

“Hey, Brynlee. What’s up, guys?”

“Rune and I are Mated and we are planning to kill Valor and Tanya.” Before I can answer, Brynlee has already gotten straight to the point. I groan, resting my head against her shoulder as she smirks at me. It seems my Mate wastes no time in beating around the bush when it comes to any conversation.

“Wha-what?” The disbelief in Tristan’s voice though is worth the trouble that Brynlee’s words will bring and I decide to stay quiet. She could have let me talk to my god-brother before getting to the main point of the call, but no.

“We are planning to kill Valor and Tanya.” She repeats, making me chuckle.

“No, that part I get. It’s the first part I need you to repeat.” Tristan retorts back, Brynlee grinning like a mischievous pup.

“Oh, Rune and I are Mated. What’s up, brother-in-law.” Her answer has me bursting into laughter as silence follows the other end of the call. I did not expect her to call Tristan brother-in-law yet here we are.

“You guys finally Mated!” He shouts through the phone, making me laugh harder.

“When? How – I mean, I know the how – but I thought you hated him!” Tristan continues. I can just imagine his shocked expression as he tries to figure out how we ended up together. Last he saw of us; I was racing out of Viren’s bedroom with Brynlee in my arms due to the forced heat.

“We are also expecting a pup.” Brynlee adds nonchalantly.

“What! Rune stop laughing and explain!” Tristan demands on the other side. I am trying so hard to stop laughing, but the way Brynlee went about this conversation leaving Tristan confused and trying to connect the dots to where we are today is the funniest thing I have ever witnessed while on a call.

“I think Rune is broken.” Brynlee deadpans, this time Tristan chiming in with laughter.

“I think you broke me!” He exclaims with giggles in between.

“Good, I made this awkward conversation less awkward.” With that, Brynlee frees herself from my grasp and bounds over to the sofa, picking up an apple from the many trays of food and taking a large bite. I think we need to get a few fruit trees if all her pregnancy ends with her craving apples.

“Rune, speak.?” Tristan playfully orders as my laughter dies down. I can’t help but giggle some more, not realizing how much I needed this laughing fit.

“She doesn’t hate me, anymore.” I manage to wheeze out, closing my eyes and taking deep breaths.

“Clearly if she is pregnant and Mated to you!” Tristan retorts, his own laughter dying down.

“Oh, the pup happened the day you two rescued me. That heat was brutal.” Brynlee calls out from her spot on the couch.

“I still hated Rune after that.” She adds. Tristan starts laughing again at this while a smile grows on my face. I’ve missed this side of Brynlee. The no-nonsense says what she wants side.

“Yeah, it took me a few weeks to gain her trust, but here we are about six weeks later.” I chime in. I then go into detail on how I won Brynlee over, the friendship we rebuilt, and the way I helped Crescent Phoenix become stronger. Tristan listens, chiming in with his questions that Brynlee or I would answer. Somewhere in the middle of explaining, I found myself beside Brynlee on the sofa, eating the lunch that she brought up with June and Charles’ help.

“So, you saved her life by Mating her during her heat. Proved you changed from the asshole your father tried to turn you into –”

“Don’t call Valor my father. I have no father.” I cut Tristan off.

“Got it. The asshole Valor tried to turn you into, then you two fell in love all over again and marked each other last night. Did I miss anything?” Tristan says with a chuckle, making Brynlee and I smile.

“Yeah. You missed the part that we want to take back Pine Moon and kill Valor and Tanya.” Brynlee chimes in.

“Oh honey, that’s a separate issue. And the answer is yes.” Tristan retorts with a snort.

“We didn’t even ask you to help yet.” I sigh with relief, happy to know my god-brother is willing to help.

“You don’t have to ask, Rune. We’re family and family help each other.” He replies back.

“Besides, I have my own grudge against Tanya and Valor. Those two bastards need to die before their demon spawn is born.” Brynlee chuckles at this, a smirk on her face as she looks at my cell phone.

“They really do. I have a few years of grievances to take out on that whore.” She agrees, Tristan chuckling as well.

“As long as Delilah can rip her hair out, you can kill Tanya yourself.”

“Deal.” Listening to my Mate interact with my god-brother, a sense of peace washes over me. I am glad these two met before Brynlee knew of my and Tristan’s connection. It gave her an ally she could count on without the anger and hatred she had for me.

“We have twenty minutes before we need to talk with Aunt Asteria and the others. Would you be free to join a conference call then?” I decide to cut in, wanting to end the call to enjoy twenty minutes alone with Brynlee.

“Yeah, that gives me time to get some of my men together as well so we can get to planning.” Tristan readily agrees. With a plan to call him back in twenty minutes, I hang up the call on Tristan and place my phone on the coffee table. Brynlee takes this as her cue to shuffle to my side, curling up beside me and yawning.

“That went well.” She muses, a soft smile on her face.

“It went better than expected.” I say, playing with her soft blond hair. We have our ally now. An ally that is only a few hours away. Now all we need to do is plan and prepare for a battle.”