The Found One

Chapter 46

Izzy POV

"You're good for him." Izzy looked up at the Queen not having heard her enter, easily returning the warm smile that met her. They were currently sitting around a long table loaded down with trays of food and covered steaming dishes. Rowan was further down the table having been snagged by his cousin and Derek as they entered, after an encouraging smile in her direction he'd pulled out a seat between let the two soon-to-be Alpha's, letting them pull him into a deep back and forth. Glancing behind Rowan's mother, Izzy wasn't surprised to see that the King had also joined them along with his mate, he nodded to her offering his own warm smile in greeting before joining his nephew and son.

The twins who had finally relented after being bullied Olivia into taking the seats on either side of her, rose to help the Queen into the chair at the head of the table, both silently ignoring her attempts to wave them off. When it was clear they would not relent, she sighed dramatically, but Izzy didn't miss the genuine love and gratitude that flowed between not only the three of them, but all of them around the table. Family. True and tested, all of them. It had tears prickling her eyes, and she cursed her emotions, having had enough of crying the night before.

"They're good for each other. And that is something most of us will only ever dream of." Olivia added with a smile in her direction, the grief that had become a living thing having faded just a touch in her chocolate eyes.

The Queen reached for the she-wolf, her hand covering Liv's and squeezing it in comfort. Olivia smiled at the Queen, wiping at the tear that hung to her lashes. "I'm okay Ais."

"You will be Liv." The Queen promised, smiling in both sadness and understanding.

"I see you've stolen my Beta again." Came the King's words from across the table, and earning some good-natured laughs as they all looked between Aislinn and Olivia.

"Like a good Beta, she knows who wears the pants." The Queen said, eyes dancing with mischief and a touch of sadness as she looked up from Liv to the King who sat across from her, his own pain staring out at them.

It felt like no matter where they looked or stepped there was some reminder of Austin there to prod at them, to illuminate his loss, the emptiness and void he left, but rather than try and ignore it, try to forget him, and pretend he was never there, they seemed to take every opportunity to acknowledge it. To speak of the friend and brother they had lost.

Even Olivia laughed at the Queen's words, eyes glistening as she let herself remember, falling into the memories that were always just a breath away.

Realization struck and Izzy turned to stare at Olivia in amusement, mouth falling open. "You're the new Beta?" She asked.

It was the Queen that answered though, "Olivia is a born Beta, she was already filling most of the role with Austin, she'll do our Pack well."

"Clay will not be amused." Olivia said, her face lighter and brighter than Izzy had seen in days.

"Clay's never amused." Blair said from beside her, the two sharing a conspiratorial look.

"Why would Clay care?" Rowan asked, also having missed whatever had the others so amused. Hayden and Derek wore matching expressions of confusion as they looked around to the others.

"Because Clay is a lazy ass. Liv becoming Beta means he'll have to Head the Runners and her network of informants as well as his other duties until they can find a replacement. He hates dealing with her spies." A new female voice answered from the doorway, a dark humor turning her light voice wicked with glee.