Chapter 549 – Meeting after the full moon festival
"Greetings, all of you," Voren started, the hard edges of his face softening as his eyes moved around the room. The news about the twins excited him so much that it softened his voice unexpectedly.
"Usually, whenever there’s a team like this, at least one person ends up selling everybody out, but I haven’t seen a single thing like that here, and I’m grateful for it."
It still amazed him that not one person standing in that conference room had given him a reason for shame or regret. Every single face had proven solid loyalty, and Voren never took that lightly.
"I hope you all also understand that from today, everyone here becomes family. Those who want to join the pack can do so before the blood moon festival."
His gaze swept slowly across Athaliah, Emery, Zane, Nicole, and Callum, giving each of them the quiet space to decide for themselves without pressure.
Then his attention settled on his betas.
"Damon, there’s a whole lot I still need to teach you, but for now you’ll learn from Kael until I can carve out the time. Grimroot is different from Centenary in more ways than you can count, and you’ll feel it the second you step foot there."
Damon gave a steady nod, soaking in every word like it mattered. Voren focused on Kael and informed him.
"Kael, after the blood moon festival, you’ll spend a few months in the city learning the business side of things."
Kael’s eyes went wide with pure shock before excitement flooded his whole face. "Alpha, are you certain?"
Voren let out a low chuckle, the sound warm. "I couldn’t do it before when you were the only beta, but now there are two of you."
Kael looked completely overwhelmed, gratitude shining right out of him. Those few days he’d spent in the city helping train Corvine and Seraphine had sparked a real hunger to learn business, yet he’d never worked up the nerve to ask.
Hearing it now made something click deep inside him about his Alpha. Voren genuinely loved watching people grow, wanted everyone around him stronger, sharper, better than they’d been the day before. Such a leader was rare.
"You have no idea what this means to me."
"I know," Voren answered with a faint smile before his eyes landed on Nessa and Desmond.
"Uncle Desmond and Aunt Nessa, if you want to join the pack, the door’s wide open. Right now, there’s a chopper waiting to take those heading out of here."
He didn’t need to address Seraphine’s parents, knowing they would immediately leave for the pack.
His gaze landed on Corvine. Corvine, there’s a lot waiting for you to learn, and honestly, I wanted to give you a full week off, but that’s not happening now. Stay back after this meeting."
How Corvine wished to have gotten that one week. He would have escorted Athaliah to France but if only he knew it was due to his pursuit of her.
"Dad, we still have a few things to handle in the city," Voren informed Vladimir, the elderly man nodded in understanding as Voren continued, "please give us three days to get back to the pack after settling some important matters in the city."
He was talking about Oriana and Olivia’s situation, and Vladimir understood immediately. Voren’s attention moved toward Humphrey and Kylie.
"Auntie and Uncle, Ravyn is still your son, and I get it if you need to help him. You’re still welcome at Grimroot, and you don’t have to cut ties with Centenary. I’m giving you dual privilege because you earned it standing by Sera through everything."
The couple nodded, quiet gratitude written all over their faces. "Ravyn contacted us, but we haven’t given him an audience yet," Humphrey admitted, his voice low.
Seraphine offered them a gentle smile, her expression soft but steady. "Mom, Dad, you need to be there for him before he does something to himself." She drew in a quiet breath. "Whatever help you need, just ask. I’m still your daughter."
The heavy thump of helicopter rotors suddenly rolled in from outside.
Voren glanced toward the windows, then informed the room, "Those leaving for the city can head out now. There’ll be another one ready for the people going back to the pack."
His attention turned to Damon. "Damon, you don’t want to swing by your company while we’re in the city?"
Damon looked torn, conflict clear in his eyes. He was eager to dig into his new pack and new role, yet plenty still waited for him back in New York. "Well, I’ve been running things remote, and I’ll take real time off after the blood moon festival. Hosting every pack during the festival is going to take a hell of a lot of work."
After assisting Ravyn with organizing the full moon festival, he knew exactly what to expect with the next festival.
Voren nodded, accepting the choice without argument. He let the first group file out before turning his full attention on Jasmine.
"Bryan and Espe stay with us, so you automatically stay with us for the few days we’re in the city. We all head back to the pack together."
"Does it mean Corvine is also coming with us?" she asked, hope flickering across her face.
Voren gave a single nod. "Wherever we are, Corvine stays with us for now."
A soft sigh of pure relief slipped out of Jasmine before she could catch it.
Athaliah noticed, and the thought of flying back to France instead of sticking around started circling hard in her mind.
The energy Jasmine threw off every time Corvine was near made her skin crawl, and Athaliah’s wolf felt it just as clearly.
The meeting finally wrapped. Jasmine gathered Espe and Bryan and slipped out, giving the remaining people some privacy.
Once the room held only a handful of them, Voren locked his gaze straight on Athaliah, his expression serious but not unkind.
"Princess, I need to be honest with you. I don’t have a problem with you joining our family, but your father dared to put his hands on my daughter, and I won’t go easy on him."
Athaliah froze solid, every muscle locking up.
But the words that left her mouth next hit hard enough to make Voren tear up every plan he’d just laid out and start over from scratch.