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look.
Well, welcome to the family, little sister, Daniel said then turned his attention to Gabriel
again. Did you get the papers?
It s done, Gabriel told him, and Daniel nodded.
What s done? Kenzie asked.
I was trying to tell you Gabriel began but was cut off again when more people arrived.
Zane was the first to reach them, pulling Kenzie in for a hug then offering Gabriel his hand. They
moved toward the office with him and the moment to tell her was lost. Zane informed them Diane was
lying down and wouldn t be joining them. Gabriel could tell the other man was worried about his
mate.
He stood at the back of the room with Kenzie and his brother while she pointed out everyone
who entered the room. Holt was already there along with Reed and Dusty. Finn, who shared the same
red hair as his brother Murphy, was the next to enter, followed a few minutes later by Gideon, who
was joined by two others, a man and a woman. The woman with them was talking a mile a minute,
which Gideon seemed to find amusing. Without missing a beat, Finn reached out and pulled her
beside him.
I see how it is, he teased her. Gideon gets back and you forget all about me.
She rolled her eyes. No one could forget you.
Is that Vic s sister? Gabriel asked. The two women looked a lot alike.
No, Kenzie said. Vic doesn t have a sister.
That s Ariel, Daniel said. Griffin is the one with the short brown hair with them. From what I
gathered, they showed up in Colorado with Gideon.
How do you know so much? Kenzie asked.
I listen, Daniel offered with a shrug.
Two women walked in who Kenzie pointed out as Amia and Clara, the mates of Reno and
Logan. Kenzie told him that was everyone who wasn t on the council then asked if Laura would be
joining them. Shit! Another thing he didn t have time to tell her.
She s not here, he said.
She knows, doesn t she? Kenzie asked, and Gabriel lifted his brow in question. That Logan s
here. He s her brother.
When did you figure that out? Gabriel asked.
When we were talking in the car. She reminded me of him. It just took me a bit to realize it. I
thought about telling her, but I was afraid she d take off.
His mate s instinct had been correct.
She ll be back, Gabriel assured her then pulled her so she rested against his chest when the
members of the council joined them.
It wasn t hard to sort out who was who from the people he didn t know. The woman holding the
baby, with Tah s arm wrapped around her shoulders, had to be Abby. Next came a shorter man with
glasses who had to be the professor. Reno and Logan walked over to join their mates. Murphy went to
stand next to his brother and Vic joined Gideon.
Diane? Tah asked.
She s resting, Zane said.
I ll check on her, the professor said, and there was worry in his eyes.
Later, Zane ordered. Let her rest.
The professor glared for a moment then seemed to give in and walked over to sit in one of the
chairs.
Nix? Tah turned to ask Gideon.
Waiting in the corridor outside, Gideon said, and Tah nodded.
We ve got a lot to go over tonight, Tah said. First things first. We re glad to have Kenzie,
Holt, Reed, Dusty and Vic back with us. Our pack is growing. Not only has Gideon decided to join
us, but Gabriel and his brother Daniel have, as well. Welcome to the pride.
Kenzie peeked up at Gabriel in surprise, and he dropped a kiss on her lips. She glanced over at
Daniel beside them, and he nodded.
Vic and Gideon have some information to share with everyone as do Kenzie and Gabriel. I
want to make two announcements before they do. Tah held up the papers Gabriel had given him. As
of a little bit ago, we are no longer guests here. This has officially become our home. In joining our
pride, Gabriel has signed all the property over to us to do with as we see fit. The only condition is
that any decisions regarding this land be made by the council with a majority vote rule.
Kenzie jerked around and launched herself at him. Gabriel caught her easily and didn t resist
when his mate stole his breath with her kiss. He d known she d be supportive of his decision, but
believing and seeing were totally different.
Get a room, Daniel whispered.
Gabriel liked that idea, but it would be hours before he could escape back to bed with his mate.
Kenzie grinned up at him and mouthed a thank you.
Tah cleared his throat while several chuckles filled the room. In accepting this gift, the council
has voted unanimously to add one more member. Gabriel, we d like you to join us from now on.
His gaze flew from Kenzie s face to Tah s. A member of the council?
You ve only just met me, Gabriel said. Are you sure this is a step you want to take? It s not
required in the agreement.
We know that, Tah said. We also know we wouldn t have this opportunity, this home,
without you. It s your knowledge we want on the council, though. You ve experienced things we
haven t. The only way we get stronger as a pride, as a community, is to grow and learn. This is a
chance to build something lasting. Not just for ourselves, but for our children and future generations.
Join the council, Gabriel.
Tah s words echoed what Adrian had said when Gabriel had returned home with Kenzie. This
was an opportunity to build something lasting.
Yes, Kenzie agreed, beseeching him.
I& thank you, he said. I d like that.
Good, Tah continued. Now that we have that settled, let s get started.
Chapter Fifteen
Kenzie stood wrapped in her mate s arms still processing what had just happened. Gabriel had
given the pride all the land and buildings around them. She knew without asking that he d done it for
her, for them. She was a little choked up on emotion at the moment. Plus, her mate would now sit on
the council. Whether he realized it yet or not, the group had just shown his status within the pride. He
was one of them.
Gideon stepped forward, Vic at his side. I told you I had some things to take care of when we
left Colorado. Several stops to make. One of which was to speak with a friend. That s where we
came across Nix, who asked if Vic and I had room for him to go with us. He said he needed to get
away, start fresh. He was in the lab when I was there. I thought he d been killed, Gideon said.
Do you trust him? Tah asked.
Kenzie knew from her conversations with Vic that there weren t a lot of people Gideon trusted.
Vic still seemed surprised her mate had agreed to come to Oklahoma and join the pride.
I don t know, Gideon admitted. There s something there, holding me back.
Which Kenzie imagined was why Nix wasn t in the meeting with them.
We ll talk more later, Tah said. Go ahead with what you found.
We went back to South Dakota, first, Vic said. Fayette.
Kenzie glanced toward Clara. Fayette was where Clara was from. The way she nodded, Kenzie
got the impression she d known what Gideon and Vic were doing.
Dillon made some pretty bold statements before he died, Gideon stated. I wanted to see if we
could find anything to tell us if there was any truth to what he d said.
He alluded to the fact he d killed Thomas Walker in order to save everyone, Vic clarified.
He painted quite the picture of Thomas as a manipulative bastard with an agenda.
Kenzie watched Clara and saw sadness fill the other woman s eyes. Logan wrapped his arms
around his mate.
He was, and most likely did have an agenda, Clara agreed. I just don t know if it was as
Dillon painted it. My uncle isn t a bad man. He s not always a good one, either.
Few of us are all one or the other, Murphy said. We re more of a combination of both.
There were several nods of agreement. There probably wasn t anyone in the room who hadn t
done something at one time or another that might be construed as bad under a certain microscope.
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