AARYN

For Aaryn, walking back into the Tree House alone felt like walking into a prison. When he slowly closed and latched the door behind him, he found it hard to breathe.

Turning back to the room, he reminded himself, he was not ten anymore. He was an adult. He could handle this.

His mother's prone form on the couch seemed too small. When had she shrunk? When had he gotten so much bigger than her?

When would she become a mother again?

He cursed himself at the thought. He was an adult—an Alpha. He didn't need to be mothered anymore. She'd been good for years, and never stopped loving him despite her own fear and struggle against the prejudice she faced first because most thought her dead mate was a traitor, and suspected it of her as well. And secondly because her only son was disformed.

His mother had faced much greater hardships in her life than he had. He needed to remember that.

He crept over, picking up another throw rug as he crossed the living space to lay it gently over her, then waited until her breathing returned to the slow, even rhythm of sleep.

She looked really small and young curled up with her hands under her head and her knees drawn up to her stomach. He considered carrying her up to the bed, but he didn't want to go against her wishes. If she truly did want to be alone, it was best to allow her to think that she was. So, with a final sigh, he turned and tip-toed to the stairs.

He would go to his room and listen for her. If she needed something he would be here. But if she didn't, she could do her grieving in peace.

It was only as he closed the door to his own bedroom and let himself slump onto the bed that he allowed himself a single, selfish thought.

She'd love his father dearly, that much was clear. Yet, here they were twenty years later, and her grief was as fresh as if he'd just been lost.

Why didn't she love Aaryn enough to fill that hole?

Growling at himself for a child's pinings, he rolled over to face the wall and wait.

It took an hour, but eventually her familiar voice, high and keening with grief, climbed the walls of the tree—murmured pleas to the Creator to bring her mate home, hushed cries when he didn't appear, and always, always every word heavy with tears.

He remembered the nights of his childhood listening to these increasingly erratic rants and pleas, and his heart thundered with the remembered fear that his mother would die from this seemingly insurmountable grief—and that it would be his fault.

Aaryn closed his eyes and held himself strong as the fear climbed his throat that he'd lost her again—not only to this incessant sleep, but that she might have finally lost her mind. But he shook that thought off too and took a deep breath.

He was an adult. He was Alpha. And he was about to take his True Mate.

He would get through this without breaking.

One of them had to.

*****

ELRETH

When Aaryn wasn't at breakfast, Elreth debated the merits of going to his Tree House to check on him before the meeting. But if his mother was asleep she didn't want to wake her again and risk creating more problems for Aaryn.

So she set herself on the path to the security building where the elders would be gathering. Who knew, he might already be on his way. Perhaps she would meet him on the path.

She picked up her pace.

But she didn't meet him. And she wasn't greeted by him at the building, either.

When she stepped inside, many of the Elders had already arrived, coming straight from breakfast just as she had.

Lhern and Huncer stood just inside the door talking in serious tones. She smiled at them, but kept walking since whatever they were talking about was clearly important.

Eight of the other elders were scattered around the chairs that had been set in a large circle. Elreth walked to the largest chair, formerly reserved for her father, and took her seat, smiling greetings, but avoiding holding eye-contact with any of the others. She didn't want to answer questions yet, before everyone was here. Especially without Aaryn.

She would wait. He would come.

*****

He didn't come. As the time grew closer and the rest of the elders arrived, Huncer and Lhern took their seats. Small, hushed conversations continued around the room, but the tension rose with each passing minute as they waited for Elreth to call the meeting to order and she didn't.

And didn't.

Finally she had to accept that something had kept him—obviously his mother, she knew he wouldn't have missed this for any reason that wasn't dire. But that is what worried her .What had happened in their home last night.

Was his mother okay?

She cleared her throat and the room quieted immediately. "I had hoped," she said without raising her voice, "that we might be joined by… well… the reason I called you here today is because I have found my mate. And I would ask the Elder's advice on how to bring this to the people wisely. And how to prepare the Flames and Smoke."

Lhern nodded, but didn't say anything, for which she was grateful. She wasn't sure how the others would feel knowing he'd learned a day earlier.

There was a moment of silence, then a rush of congratulations and laughter, chatter between some of the younger members, and murmurs between the older. One of the women got to her feet and looked like she might come give Elreth a hug, but Huncer stood, and as she and Lhern were dominant, the others settled, keeping their voices low.

Huncer's eyes were sharp and locked on Elreth. "Who did you choose?"

"I didn't choose," Elreth said, trying to smile. "The Creator chose for me."

"That's wonderful," Huncer said, and gave a genuine smile. "Who is it?" she asked.

Elreth returned her smile and forced herself to relax as she said, "Aaryn of the Wolf Tribe."

The entire room went silent in shock.