Claimed

Chapter 38: Surprise

Red's POV:

"...and there's no concern about your pack leaders being unmated?"

Dari sighed next to me and I set my hand on his. He curled his fingers around my hand as he spoke lowly. "Cuantas veces van a preguntar la misma mierda?" how many times are they going to ask the same shit?

Shoulders lifted in a small shrug, I listened to my pack member answer similarly as everyone else had. Darius and I didn't need a mate bond to lead together. The bond we had we formed ourselves, didn't need outside help and we were just as capable as any other pack leaders, if not more so. Other Alphas and Lunas usually had a rocky start when first meeting because they had to find a balance in leading together. Darius and I had known each other for years and had experience. We moved as a unit just as much as mated leaders.

As annoying as the question the Elders kept repeating got, my heart swelled every time our pack answered without hesitation. No, it wasn't a concern. No, they couldn't imagine anything coming between us. Yes, we're the best pack leaders they could ask for, mates or not. No, the fact we weren't mates had never affected our ability to lead and compromise.

Hours passed, some of the interviews taking place with us in the room and some without. I had a feeling our presence there was a test of our patience because they didn't actually need us. They needed to talk to the pack, but we were just kind of there. Our presence required, but for what, we didn't know. Even Tess didn't tell us, which made me think it had to be part of the test.

With nothing else to do, Darius and I divided and conquered, spending some time with pack mates to see how everyone was and discuss the kind of territory we'd be comfortable on. Since the process started in Georgia, it would be easiest to find territory here. Otherwise, Tess would have to find a representative in another location to help us since it would be out of her jurisdiction.

When Dari and I discussed it, we were on the same page. Georgia was the longest place we'd been able to stay in a long time, and in a way it had become home. Home in the way we didn't get to have for so many years. Plus, staying nearby to a strong pack like Blood Moon while ours grew couldn't hurt us. If we were targeted as a new pack or a pack formed from rogues—something some people had problems with—Kane already promised to have our back. We were strong, but Kane and Tess had numbers.

By the time the Elders got to my ranked wolves, some of our pack started heading back to Blood Moon. Ezra was the last one out and the smile he had gave us the impression it went well.

Didn't stop us from sitting anxiously outside the council's room while they discussed how the day went. Noah complained he was in the longest—just like Tess said he would be. Still, I got the impression from the Elder that walked Noah out that they were impressed. Young, sure, but heart of gold and the mind of a protector.

After glaring at the clock because I didn't believe such little time passed when it felt like hours, my gaze shifted at the sound of a door opening. Tess and Elder Freya stepped out, murmuring amongst each other before Freya laughed and patted Tess on the shoulder. Freya walked down the hall away from us while Tess approached us

Tess stopped in front of us, a smile pulling on her lips. "Congrats, Red Claw Pack. You can officially start looking for a territory, and we've scheduled the ceremony to make your pack official. Three weeks from this coming Saturday."

My guys jumped and hooted and I felt light, like I was floating. Part of me was even emotional as evidence by the sting in my eyes. After all the running and fighting and all the pain...

We were actually gonna do it.

I hugged all my guys of course, but I hugged Tess the tightest. When I first woke up in those cells, I never would've believed we ended up here. "Thank you," I murmured as I squeezed Tess.