Chapter XVII

It had been about three weeks since that night of the slumber party. Since then, Atlas had not been a jerk to me and had started letting me use the gym in the basement since non-pack members couldn't train with the members. I had not been able to shift yet, but Atlas promised when the Hunter situation was taken care of, I could. He knew that I could handle myself, but we both agreed it probably would be best to wait until then. The good thing was that they finally got a glimpse of him, so we were one step closer to catching him.

Declan and Ellie came back to the pack a week ago, and that allowed me to freely wander around the pack when Atlas was at the office. Declan was to accompany me so that the other pack members did not feel threatened by me being around them alone.

Ellie, Artemis and I had gotten pretty close, and I was so ecstatic about that. It was nice to have friends that were not just speaking to you because they wanted in your brother's pants. Though, Artemis did mention it a few times just to annoy me.

A lot of exciting things were happening around the pack soon. One being my family would be arriving tomorrow along with our Alpha and his son. Atlas figured since he needed to have a meeting with Aurora Dawn anyway, my entire family should come and bring my things. The next exciting thing was that today was Loup Déchaîné Day. The holiday is French for "wolf unleashed". Loup Déchaîné Day celebrates the werewolves coming out of hiding and fighting for independence to live without fear, just like humans. This year marks eighty-six years since that day we had won.

From what I gathered, Phoenix Moon holds a large feast for its pack members and has a pack bonfire. I was super stoked about the bonfire part because of how much I missed them back home.

"Have you decided on what you are wearing, Everly?" Ellie pulls a dress from Artemis' closet and holds it to her body.

"I'll probably just throw something together last minute. I do not have anything specific in mind." I answered, laying on Artemis' bed flipping through applications on my phone.

Artemis plopped down beside me, leaned back into me. "So, how are things with my bone headed brother? Sleeping in his room yet?"

"Uh, no." I eye her with suspicion lacing my voice. Where was she going with this?

She hummed a bit and got off of me. "You two are so slow paced. Have you kissed yet?"

"No, Artemis." I began to get annoyed, so I got up. "I think I am going to go find something to wear tonight. Do you two want to come to the house to get ready?"

"Yeah, that sounds fine." Artemis chuckled, knowing she was irritating me.

Ellie blushed and looked away from the both of us. "I have never been in an alpha's house before."

"It is basically Everly's house. Atlas just sleeps there." Artemis scoffed.

That was very true. I finally filled the house with food and decorations, making it cozier. Atlas was out at work nearly all day and ran at night. We only really hung out when he got done with his duties early, but I did not mind. We made good on our time together. We always had wonderful conversations, and he really made an effort for me to get used to the mate bond. He always asked before holding my hand or hugging me. It was extremely adorable, but it got annoying, so I told him to stop asking about the little things that I say yes to every time.

"Yeah, I doubt he will be off early with the holiday, so do not worry about it, Ellie." I said before giving them a wave 'bye' walking out the door.

The pack house had several floors and Artemis was on the second. Most of the offices were on the third floor, so it did not surprise me to see Declan waiting at the bottom of the stairs on the first floor.

"Ready to leave already?" He asked.

"I need to find something to wear for tonight. You are going to help me figure it out."

He groaned under his breath, guiding me out of the pack house and to mine. Once we were inside, Leo was sitting on the couch waving at us.

"Hey, Leo! What are you doing here?" I smiled, walking over to him and giving him a hug. We had gotten quite close as well during my time here. He was a wonderful man, and he always gave the best advice.

He returned the hug and laughed, "Hello, Darling. I came to wait for Atlas. He is in a meeting right now."

"Why are you not in any meetings?" I look at Declan. He is the beta, so he should be with Atlas.

He walked over to the couch and sat down. "The delta is taking that responsibility until you are announced luna."

"I am not being announced as luna. Ever." I drop down next to him and they both give me confused glances, so I decided to just tell them. "I am being announced as alpha female."

"You know, you are an extraordinary little thing." Leo said, sitting back down. "I like it. Atlas' mother would have loved that. Unfortunately, when we were in charge, women had a lot less rights than they do now. I am proud of you."

A warmth balled in my chest as he said this. Atlas' mother's and father's approval meant the world to me even if his mother was not here to say it herself.

"I like it too, just do not make me kiss your shoes or something." Declan jokes.

"Of course not." I smiled at him. "You will be kissing my toes."

He made a fake gagging sound, making Leo and I laugh.

"What is so funny?" Atlas entered the room, untying his tie from his neck.

"Declan wants to kiss my feet." I said innocently, looking over at my Mate.

His jaw tightened, and he gazed over at Declan for an explanation.

Leo was nearly in tears as he tried not to burst out with laughter.

Declan looked like a fish out of the water. His eyes were widened, and he held up his arms. "I do not! Your Mate is weird in the head."

I gasped out in dramatic shock. "How dare you? Take it back!"

"No." He crossed his arms like a child and looked away. That was his first mistake. Within a second, I was over by him, tackling him off of the couch.

Leo was full on belly laughing now at us, while Atlas stomped over, trying to break us apart.

I was sitting on Declan's back with my arm around his neck in a chokehold. "Take it back, take it back, take it back." I chanted, squeezing my arm tighter around him, but not enough to hurt.

"NEVER!" he yelled out.

Atlas grabbed me from under my arms, trying to lift me up, but I bit at his arms like a toddler who had rabies. "Get back or your Beta gets it!"

Atlas was forming a small smile now and knelt down beside Declan. "How are you doing, buddy?"

Still in a chokehold, he squirmed a bit, but I was planted firmly on him. "Your Mate is crazy!"

I released his neck, but did not give him time to do anything before I started tickling his sides. "Take it back!"

Declan was screaming in laughter and thrashing around. He finally found his footing bucking me off into Atlas' body.

He quickly got up and ran out of the house like his pants were on fire. When the door shut, we all started laughing at his retreating form.

"I like you, kid. I swear, I am so happy you are not going anywhere." Leo said, wiping his tears from his face.

Atlas' chest rumbled out a chuckle against my face and I picked myself up from his arms that caught me.

"You should probably get dressed, Everly. Everything starts soon." Atlas told me, helping me off the floor.

I huffed and looked at the clock on the wall. I had about thirty minutes. Where are Ellie and Artemis?

"I don't know what to wear."

Atlas shrugged off his suit jacket and placed it on the couch I had just tackled Declan off of. "Whatever you wear at home for Loup Déchaîné."

"So nothing?" I quirked an eyebrow.

Atlas snapped his head down to look at me like I had just told him I did not like coffee anymore and growled out a "what?"

"Gotcha." I giggled and ran away to the stairs, listening to Leo's laugh echo through the house again.

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