Magic grinned. “You’ll have to prove it later.” He sighed. “But you’re right. For now, we have business to take care of.”
He stood, taking her hand to pull her up.
In the cabin, they quickly dressed for the cool night. He watched his mate as she pulled on jeans, his eyes settling on her mating mark where it peeked out from the bottom of her panties. It had healed so perfectly and it was huge. It’d be visible this summer when she wore those short shorts she seemed to like.
When she was ready, he took her hand and they made their way to the campsite they’d prepped for the occasion. It was far enough away from the lodge to allow privacy, even though most of their guests had started back for home. More would arrive in the morning and they’d be full until New Years.
They approached to find everyone already there. Magic was relieved to see his people laughing, sipping hot cocoa, and roasting marshmallows. There was no sense of doom in the air. Maybe this was all going to go off without a hitch.
Ryan caught Magic’s attention at the edge of the trees and waved him over.
“I’ll be right there,” he told Josie, and watched as she went over to get some apple cider from Bailey.
Ryan walked a ways away from the camp before turning to give Magic an uneasy look.
“I just wanted to let you know I’m taking off for a while. I already talked to Renner and he thinks he and Owyn can handle things for Christmas.”
Magic frowned. The mark he’d seen on Ryan’s arm still hadn’t been explained, but if he was secretly mated, he had no business leaving.
“Everything okay?”
The big guy looked off into the darkness and sighed. “Fine, yeah. I just need to figure shit out I guess.”
“But you’re coming back?”
He stared at the ground. There was an infinitesimal shake of his head. “Sure. To visit and stuff. My baby sister’s here. And that chubby-cheeked nephew of mine. Not to mention the one on the way. Yeah, I’ll be back sometime.”
Magic’s throat got tight. “What the hell are you doing, man? What’s this about?”
Ryan let out a mirthful laugh. “I’m not getting any younger, you know? I want a family of my own, and I’m not going to find it here. I’m human. I don’t belong.”
“Fucking wrong about that. You aren’t the only human in this clan.”
“I’m the only male human. And that isn’t something we can change, is it. Now tell me again how I belong.”
Magic sighed, staring at the frown on Ryan’s face. Something was up, but if he didn’t want to air it out, how could Magic fix it?
“I wish you’d rethink this.”
Ryan nodded but didn’t add anymore.
“Yeah, okay. Go, if you need. But you always have a place here. Know that.”
“Yeah,” Ryan murmured. “I know.”
Magic turned back to the group, and decided it was time. Get the business out of the way so they could have fun.
He went to stand by the fire. “Alright, so it’s like this. The pact is fucked. I’m the third person to break it, and there’s a reason for that.” His gaze hit on each of his cats. “The pact as it was, took away all our choice. Made us slaves to our past, to tradition. To rules we had no part of and never wanted. Straying, as I’ve come to learn, is not an instinct for our cats. If you dig deep within yourselves, you’ll know this is true. It’s a choice. The wolves, their animals make it easy for them. They find their mate, they’re done for life. Our cats, by nature, don’t work like that. But that for damn sure doesn’t mean we aren’t capable of being faithful.”
His gaze found Josie, and she gave him a nod of encouragement.
“So, I propose a new pact…”
Magic looked at Renner, then to Eagan.
“If you choose to mate, make it forever.”
Only the crackling of the fire could be heard above the silence.
“If you stay in this clan and you mate, it’s a done fucking deal, you got me? You hurt your mate, you’re out. You stray, you’re out. I will take down anyone who fucks this up for our young. We’re talking about a better future here, and if you aren’t willing to help with that, then the Ouachitas isn’t the place for you.”
He swallowed hard, his heart in his throat. He needed his people, but this wasn’t something he could give up on. They had to be with him on this.
Clapping came from his left and he saw it was Mason. The cat nodded, looking as determined as Magic felt. “I’m in.”
More clapping, and one by one they each nodded their agreement. Until he got to Owyn. His friend stared into the fire, brushing his palms together in a nervous motion.