Chapter 5

Once they returned to the edge of the forest where most of the pack had returned along with a fair amount of prey, Toby gently placed the deer next to the others. Since they were successful in returning with food, they wouldn't be expected to prepare the meal. The general agreement with the pack was those that who provided the food didn't have to assist in butchering or cooking. Once his burden was relieved all three made their way toward the area where they had first shifted to retrieve their clothing.

"I'm going to go take a shower before getting dressed." Toby advised them as he slipped his boxers on to at least provide a little modesty. His shoulders, chest, and back had been covered with the deer's blood since they took it down with a neck wound.

Jarold nodded as he dressed and Kathrine chuffed her agreement before heading over to the trees where her clothes would be waiting for her. She dressed quickly and returned to Jarold. She couldn't even pretend their mutual hunt hadn't helped at least a little with her irritation toward the two of them. It honestly wasn't their fault that their father had challenged her father then won the fight for Alpha. It wasn't fair for her to dislike them because of it. But her bitterness ran deep toward their father and she wasn't a big enough person to let it go. But maybe for all their sake, she could try to give them a chance to show her who they are as people separate from their father.

"Did you have a good hunt?" Alpha Jackson asked, coming up from behind them.

"Yes, it was good. We brought back a huge buck." Jarold said, then looked at Kathrine with a grin, "We'd never have tracked the thing down without her though. I've never seen anyone that can track like her."

She felt her cheeks heat at his praise and she looked away from both of them, just in time to see her parents approaching her with Christine in tow. She wondered if Christine ever went on the hunt or if she'd stayed behind to find out what all happened after they all had disappeared to the Alpha's office. She studied her father's face as he came up and she felt a little relieved that he didn't seem to be in a terrible mood. Negotiations must have gone okay then.

"I'd like for us to have dinner together, would you be willing to do that?" Alpha Jackson asked her, causing her to give him her attention once more.

"I….yes….sure." She had started to say she'd have to check with her parents, but since she was mated to his sons, she realized he had at least as much authority in that department as her father did. Plus, they were sure to want to tell her what they had decided about their mating ceremony that she couldn't be bothered to stay behind and plan with them. The best time to have that conversation would be when she was still riding the high of a successful hunt.

Two hours later the clearing had been filled with the picnic tables the pack used for the occasions when the pack gathered for dinner. All of the game had been cleaned and cooked over various fires along with all the sides. Supper was ready to serve and the line formed behind Alpha Jackson and his family to be served. Once they had their plates filled they took their seats.

"So, as you can imagine, we had plenty of time to talk about the mating ceremony." Alpha Jackson said once everyone was settled at the table.

"I can imagine you had. What has been decided?" Kathrine asked, and for the first time, she was able to look up at him without malice shining on her face.

Alpha Jackson looked between Kathrine and her parents then over to his sons as if he was trying to decide who he needed to keep a closer eye on. Kathrine caught her mother's eye and raised an eyebrow to which her mother gave a small shake of her head as if to say she didn't know what his deal was. It became pretty clear, however, when Alpha Jackson started speaking, finally settling a hard look on Kathrine. "You and your mates will be given a house to move in together starting tomorrow. It'll have plenty of space for you guys to have a family and not be too crowded. The mating ceremony will take place in two weeks and will be a pack event. My wife and I will plan everything so you and our sons can focus on each other." Alpha Jackson said.

"You expect me to live with them before the ceremony?" Kathrine asked, irritated. It wasn't unheard of nor even necessarily inappropriate. She had just wanted more time before being alone with the two men that she would be forced to spend the rest of her life with if she didn't leave the pack immediately after rejecting them as her mates. If she even could accomplish that since it had been specifically forbidden by her Alpha. Nothing made her want to disobey more than that fact alone.

"Yes, I do. These first days with your mates are crucial to developing a strong bond with them. I know you already feel them and have some instinctual protectiveness toward them already. That can only grow the closer you three get." Alpha Jackson answered her, all annoyingly reasonable.

"Kathrine, it really is best if you're with them immediately. I'd advise spending the night with them tonight if I didn't know you'd absolutely riot at the idea." Lacey, her mother, spoke up on the topic for the first time. Figures she'd side with the Alpha Kathrine despised, Kathrine thought moodily.

"I am NOT," She emphasized the word powerfully, "spending the night with anyone tonight." She stood from the table fairly vibrating with anger about the whole situation. So much for the endorphins the hunt had given her. "I will be in the woods." She said as she stepped over the bench of the picnic table and caught Jarold and Toby standing to go with her. "ALONE." She snarled before shifting into her wolf form so fast that the shredded fabric of her clothes flew in all directions and scattered from the breeze of her four paws flying away from the table and into the trees.

"Well, that went as well as I expected it to go." Alpha Jackson muttered with a sigh as he watched his future daughter-in-law flee from the table. He turned his attention to the laughing man seated next to him.

"Better than I expected it to go if I'm honest. She still has strong……feelings about what happened a couple of years ago." Lincoln said then sighed and shook his head. "We'll make sure her belongings are packed and ready for her tomorrow. When she's in a temper like this, well, it can be a few days before she comes home."

"A couple of days?" Alpha Jackson asked, surprised.