Bo Hunter

Chapter 17

"Bo, Stiles texted. The pack is cleared for the next two weeks and they'll be here in a few hours." Emmett's voice pulled me from the void of my nap. Over the course of the past three months, the La Push pack and Cullens had helped my family build three homes on a nice piece of property between Forks and La Push while Alice, and Rose helped Emmett, myself, Jo, and my mom plan the wedding. My family had finished moving in last week and our wedding was set two weeks from today, with the Beacon Hills pack coming down early to help with the final touches. My sister, though slightly irritated I was getting married before her, had agreed to be my maid of honor, with Edward being Emmett's best man. Not many people were coming to the wedding, as our not in the know human friends would be confused and suspicious. Outside of my leash, the Cullens, and the packs, we'd only invited the Cullens' cousins, their sister coven, and a few of their friends and informed the Volturi of the Cullen/Hunter union.

"What time is it?" I asked as I sat up in the bed.

"Almost one. I figured you'd want some time before everyone showed up. By the way, the mail came in today. You got a package." I perked up immediately.

"I wonder if it's my new knife." I hopped out of bed and pulled my sweat pants on before I ran to the kitchen where Emmett normally put my mail if he picked it up. A square box about three inches thick sat on my kitchen counter with my letter opener already laying out beside it. 

"You're so excited about a new weapon when you're a living weapon." Emmett teased.

"Oh, hush. I've had a knife collection since I was five. I'm going to continue it for the rest of my life."

"We're gonna have a whole storage unit for your knives, I can see it now."

"Yes, yes we are. Now, drumroll please." Emmett tapped his hands on the counter at my request and I went to work opening the box. I popped the seal and dug through packing peanuts until my fingers met cool metal. Out it came; but instead of the knife I expected, a silver crown was hooked around my fingers. I turned it around in the light and found my family's crest sitting proudly in the center. "The wolf, the fox, and the man..."

"What is it, babe?"

"It's my family's crest. Is there a note in the box?" I asked, dazed.

"Here." Emmett held out a plain three by five envelope that had no scent to it with my name written on the front. Whoever sent it wore gloves. I opened the envelope and pulled out the card. "What does it say?"

" 'Miss Hunter, we were so glad to hear that you would be marrying into the Cullen Coven. We found this in our vault and felt it best if we returned it to you. We look forward to meeting your clan. Best wishes: Aro, Caius, and Markus Volturi.' "

"What the hell?"

"I swear to God if they ruin our wedding, I'll kill them." I seethed.

"Hey, it's okay. I doubt they'll come to the wedding. They almost never leave their city."

"We have to get to the others. Now."

"What does this mean for us?" Rosalie questioned the group. We'd called everyone to the training clearing so we'd have plenty of room to talk.

"It means they think they can intimidate us into leaving them in charge of the supernatural world. We shouldn't have left them in charge this long. It's gone to their heads." Uncle Buck commented.

"I was not going to drag our family back into that mess. The kids are older now; they have to decide."

"Decide what, Daddy?" I asked.

"Each of you has to decide if you are able and willing to be the new matriarchs of our world. Foxes are inherently patriarchal, but our world's order started with a woman and will be continued by women. That is our way."

"I will." Charlie spoke up.

"I will, too." Jo added. Everyone looked to me expectantly.

"Don't give me those looks. Of course I will. I'm the one that started this so I'll take responsibility for it."

"So, that makes you guys queens. Can I be a duke?" Stiles spoke up.

"Really Stiles?" Lydia sassed.

"Oh, come on. You can't tell me you've never wanted to be royalty. You've always had the perfect attitude for it."

"Enough, you two. We're not going to be royalty." Derek interrupted.

"Well, actually... Everyone here is a member of the royal family since we all have mates in one of the groups." Nick corrected.

"He's right." Jo piped in.

"So what now?" Jackson asked.

"Now... we all get ready for the wedding. Bo's bachelorette party is tomorrow night. And so is Emmett's bachelor party." Rosalie answered.

"I told you I didn't want a party." I argued.

"That's too bad. You're getting one. I already paid for the strippers." Alice said.

"Alice..." Emmett growled.

"I'm kidding. We're doing the same thing you are. Hunting and then playing party games. Relax."

"Besides, we all have mates. Strippers would be pointless." Charlie added.

"And some of us are barely legal." Kira spoke up.

"Moving on. We should all get home. It's getting a bit too cold for the humans." Mason said.