June 28th
(Kaiden's POV)
"You know I was just about to text you." Liz says as she hurries over.
"Finally talked to your parents?" I ask turning to face her.
"Yes. When I got off the phone with you a few days ago they were getting ready to go visit some friends. Then my mother didn't know where the letter was, so it took her a couple of days to find it. Long to story short Addison didn't mention anything about a child or being pregnant in her letter."
"I'm honestly not surprised."
"Me either. How was the trip?"
"Good. Wish we could have stayed longer. Andy's family is visiting next week."
"Aren't you going back in a couple of weeks?"
"I know the kids are. If they are still there I might go. For now I'm going to find Cody to see how he broke his hand in six hours."
"Why does that not surprise me? See you later." She says before walking off and I head to the house.
(Kyle's POV)
"Is that the paternity test results?" Cody asks walking into the office and sitting at Aurora's part of the desk.
"Yes. I don't know why I'm so nervous."
"I would be nervous too." He says as I finally open the envelope, "So, what's the verdict?"
"She's my daughter. I'm going to need a moment to process this."
"Are you going to reach out to her? I believe Kaiden has her number."
"I'll get him to give her mine, so she has the option to reach out if she wants to." I tell him staring at the results. There are so many questions I would like to ask, but I know some will never be answered.
"I'll do that because knowing him he'll want to know how I broke my hand." He says getting up and leaving the office.
———
June 29th
(Zachery's POV)
"Surprise." I hear Damien say as he puts his chin on my shoulder and wraps his arms around my waist from behind.
"I thought you weren't going to be here until this evening." I say turning to face him smiling. I'm happy to have him back with the coven. Last time I saw him was three months ago when I went to visit.
"Decided to leave last night instead. Is my sister here or at work?" He asks as Midnight flies past us.
"I think so. Either that or she just went into town with Sophia. They went to town together. The others are at work. Ella is the only one home as she is working on finishing a commission and starting a new one in between packing."
"Packing?" He asks tilting his head to the side.
"She's moving in two weeks. Remember how I mentioned that she has been with a pack this past week. Well, she has decided to officially move there. I can tell she is looking forward to the move." I say wrapping my arms around his neck, "She seems a lot happier even just talking about the pack."
"Anything else I should know?"
"Our dads plus Edison and Ezra are wanting to talk to all of us kids later. About what I don't know, but I have a feeling it has something to do with the coven as a whole."
"Well until than let's just hangout. I want to see how much the coven has grown since I left. Plus spend time with you without the others." He says ping me closer.
"It's grown a bit." I say stepping back out of his arms, but not before giving him a kiss. As we start walking Patch runs in front of us with Midnight flying after her. Who would have thought a crow and a Dalmatian would be good friends. Before Damien left they would curl up and sleep together.
(Ella's POV)
"Nina, it'll be done before her birthday. I'm currently finishing the sketch as we speak. You don't have to worry." I tell her as finish the lettering.
"I know I shouldn't. I guess I'm just nervous since I've been planning this for the last ten months." I can hear her walking around her and Ember's room as we have each other on speaker. She's getting ready to go out.
"My dad planned for a year on how he was going to propose to Nathaniel. In the end he just proposed during movie night while we were watching the movie they watched for their first date. If I remember correctly my dad asked him what would you say if I asked you to marry me right now." I say looking over the sketch to make sure I don't need to fix anything before I transfer it to watercolor paper.
"What was Nathaniel's answer?"
"First was seeing if my dad was serious to which my dad pulled out the ring form his pocket saying one hundred percent. Six months later they were married."
"I don't think Ember and me could plan a wedding in six months."
"They both decided to keep it simple and with just family that lives here." I say as I get everything set up to transfer the drawing. I still have a couple of things to finish on Alex's painting, but the current layer is drying.
"My mom's side isn't small, but I've only ever met that side once when I was about four."
"I've only ever met my grandma on my mom's side. She now lives in the Dawson Coven. Most of my dad's side I haven't met. It's a large family with many branches."
Nina and I continue to talk as I work on the sketch until she has to head out so she's not late meeting up with brother and cousin.
———
"We have gathered you all here to talk to you about something. It's in regard to the coven." Dad says as we all sit down around on the deck of Glinda and Edison's house. It's the only deck that fits all of us.
"Simon and me talked long about this over the last couple of days. It has been decided we are going to work on splitting the coven in two. The coven has grown a lot over the many years it's been here. It's starting to get to the point where we don't have enough room to build more houses." Pierce starts.
"We can build a few tiny houses, but not bigger houses. After talking we agreed we don't want to have to cut trees down to make room or move the entire coven. It's actually common for covens to split if they run out of room and don't want to try to find a larger place." Dad continues, "The main reason for not wanting to move off because so many coven members own things in town. Cutting trees down would be a challenge with how close everything is."
"It will be a few years before the split since we need find a place for the new coven, build buildings and houses, and train the leader and second in command. The last part is what we want to talk to you guys about. Mostly aimed at Hazel, Phillip, Amber and Sophia. The rest of you are just here to know what is going on."
"We want to see who would be willing to take up the mantles of leader and second in command for the new coven."
"I'll do it. I know it'll be hard." Hazel says looking at dad, "You can train me during the day before I head into work."
"I'm with Hazel. I know it'll be harder for as I have at least 3 year more years of school before I get my BSN." Amber pipes up.
"Are you sure, Amber?" Ezra asks, "It's going to be a lot of work between learning how to run a coven and your school work."
"I'm sure, dad. I'm up for the challenge. Plus if I start learning now from Uncle Pierce I can take my time. You did say it would be a few years."
Dad, Pierce and Ezra talk with Hazel and Amber for a few more minutes to make sure they are completely certain that they want to be the leader and second in command of the new coven. Once they are sure they tell us that they will be talking to the rest of the coven at a later date. They want to make things a little more concrete before talking to them. Mostly finding a location for the new coven. I don't know if the original leaders, Christopher and Ashlyn Moonstar, ever thought the coven would grow this much. Maybe is Ashlyn ever visits I can ask her.
(Zachery's POV)
"Before this little meeting ends there is something I want to say." I say speaking up before everyone heads off to do thing their own things before dinner.
"What is it?" Pierce asks.
"Damien and me are soulmates and have been dating for the past four months." I reply looking at Damien.
"I knew something was up." Violet says before hugging Damien, "I'm happy for you both. Though I'm still mad you never visited over the last six years."
"You do realize this means you will the second in command, right?" Damien asks Violet as she lets him go, "I'm sorry."
"Yes. Dad has already been training me just in case you decided not to return to the coven. I'll be ready when Zach takes over as leader next year. Maybe one day I'll forgive you." She says smiling showing she's mostly joking.
"Who knows we all might find our soulmates one day." Amber comments, "I hope I find as I'm curious on who my platonic soulmate is."
"Zachery and Damien found theirs in each other, Ella has found hers and I'm possibly meeting mine next week. It seems like finding ones soulmate is becoming more common again. I mean dad and Simon found each other." Becca says casually.
"Wait, what?" Della asks looking at her sister with surprise.
"Hazel is pretty sure she met me soulmate a few days ago. He's going to be traveling back through town at some point next week."
"He's a cat shifter." Hazel comments.
"Two cat shifters and a wolf shifter arrived at the pack recently to visit family. I wonder if they are the same."
"He did say he was going to the Winter Moon Pack to visit his step-dad's family."
Not long after that every finally heads off to do their own thing. Damien and I decide to take Patch to the dog park in town. Midnight of course tags along. He rarely lets Damien out of his sight.
June 30th
(Ella's POV)
"Up for our usual run?" Zach asks as I walk into the kitchen.
"If you can keep up." I reply as he feeds Patch.
"Running in your wolf form today?"
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"Yes, I got used to doing it while with the pack." I say heading out the back door.
Zachery and me go running almost every morning unless one of us sick or the weather is bad. Most of the time Patch will join us which is always fun. None of our other siblings are morning people. I got into running not long after I learned I was shifter. It gave me an escape and going in the mornings before people got up let me run in my wolf form without being stared at. Zachery started joining me after I broke my leg once while running. I was extremely clumsy the first few times I shifted. Which is very normal. My dad realized I hadn't returned when I usually do and came looking. It took eight weeks to heal and a couple more months before I was able to start running again. It was not a fun time as I could not shift at all during that time. It hurt to shift anytime I tried after my leg was healed for two months. My dad told me I couldn't go running in the early mornings anymore unless I had someone with me in case I got hurt again. Zach offered since he usually ran in the evenings and was a morning person as well.
"How far?" Zachery asks as we stretch and Patch runs around us.
"Around the entire coven at least once." I say before shifting. My wolf form is white with black ears, paws and the tip of my tail. My siblings say my tail looks like it's been dipped in ink. I love when it shows since I mostly blend in. A few years ago I scared the shit of Hazel after Della helped bury me in snow. It's handy have a snow elf as a sister.
"Sounds good to me." With that we take off. I make sure to slow down some as not to lose him.
———
"I'm gonna hit the shower." Zach tells me as we walk up back deck steps after our run.
"Patch needs a bath." I remind him.
"Should probably do that first."
"Probably as she's a muddy buddy." I reply heading inside. She found a mud puddle and decided to roll in it. Not the first time that's happened and will not be the last. Patch has a love of rolling in puddles.
(Carter's POV)
"How are you and Haley settling in your new house?" I ask Emery as training ends. Today was her second day joining in on training. Even though I can't join in with my ribs being fractured I can still watch and give tips. This group is for those who have just started training in their wolf form, most are 15-18 years old. Before I told Emery the age group she was nervous about be the eldest one. She's 19 and only about three months older than the oldest 18 year old in the group.
"It's going to take some getting used to. It's nice having a place to call our own though. You seem sadder than you did a couple of days ago. Does it have anything to do with Ella leaving?" She asks grabbing her water bottle.
"Yes. It's only been a few of days since she left, but I miss her."
"The leader of Haley's clan said in the past soulmates had a hard time being away from each other for long periods of time. If they could stand it than they could withstand anything life throws at them. Who knows maybe she's right."
"How old is this leader?" I ask after taking a drink of my own water.
"794 years. She was around long before clans, covens and packs were created. Her group used to have elves, fairies, witches and shifters in it alongside the vampires. Over time the others decided to settle down in permeant places. The vampires and their soulmates decided to keep on traveling as they have always done. Some vampire clans do settle, but not many."
"You will find that older supernaturals more often than not have found their soulmate while more recent generations haven't. Though it does seem it's starting to become more common to find one's soulmate." Haley says joining of trek back to the house. Where she came from I don't know, but I've learned not to question it. Haley can travel via shadows. She enjoys surprising people much to Ember's annoyance.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Haven't you noticed those in our generation seem to be finding their soulmates more than say our great grandparents?" Haley asks putting her arm around Emery's waist.
"She's not wrong. I've gotten messages from people I know around my age saying they found their's. Our generation is starting to interact with other supernaturals and not just the ones we grew up with." Emery points out.
"Some are interacting only by chance. Ella found the pack by chance. If my mom hadn't stopped to see if she needed help than Ella might have never found out about the pack." I remind her.
"We need to change that. I feel like if leaders of clans, covens and packs start interacting more it would be beneficial. Traveling with Haley's clan we came across Elven Clans and Witch Covens that were not even an hour apart, but they didn't know that. The leaders got to talking and realized they could help each other."
"Some packs are set in their ways and will take time to get through to them. Take the Midnight Pack for example. They don't like anyone who isn't a wolf shifter or human."
"Then start with the ones not set in their ways. Ella is from a coven, so start there. They have always been kind to the clan when we pass through." Haley suggests before her and Emery head off towards their house. I continue to the house and think about what they have said and decided to talk to my dad.
(Ella's POV)
"Hey, Rose. Is your sister working or on break?" I asks walking into the Greenwood Ice Cream Parlor. It's the only ice cream place in town and they make it by hand. They also have a few gelatos.
"She went to clock out for lunch, so she should be out here soon. Can I get you anything?"
"Maybe after lunch. I came here to ask Keira something."
Both Rose and Kiera have light green eyes and the usual mermaid hair. Mermaids gain 1-3 unnatural colors once they turn 13 years old. While between the ages of 150-200 years old their hair will turn completely to one unnatural hair color. Keira has long pale blonde hair with orange and pink streaks while Rose keeps her blonde hair with purple and blue streaks chin length. Most mermaids have long hair regardless of gender, but some do decided to keep it short. Watching Rose go from shy and unsure of herself to outgoing and loving who she is has been like night and day. When they first moved here Rose hadn't came out yet. It's been five years since Rose came out and started transitioning. She went through about a dozen names before deciding on Rose. It was her great great grandma's name.
"And what would that be?" Keira asks walking out of the back room while trying to release her thick hair from its ponytail.
"Do you want yo help me move in a little over a week and a half? I need someone with a truck and I know your mom has one that you borrow sometimes."
"You just got back and are already moving away." Keira says crossing her arms over her chest pouting.
"I'm moving to the pack, so I won't be far."
"Still too far for me. Is your brother working?"she asks walking closer.
"No, so you can't bug him today." I say as we head out to go get lunch at the local family owned diner. Keira promises to bring Rose something back. The diner is owned by a sweet elderly couple and it's pretty much mostly family that works there. Phillip is the only one that's not part of their family that works at it. Phillip alternates between working in the kitchen learning new things and waiting on tables. He hopes to open his own place one day.
———
"Any reason for the move to the pack?" Keira asks as we wait for our food.
"Maybe. I told you before I feel like I can be myself there."
"I feel like there is more to it."
"I may have found my soulmate there."
"Congrats. My best friend and little sister have both found their soulmates and I'm still single. Not that I'm looking for a relationship." She quickly adds the last part making me laugh.
"We aren't dating since you do remember what happened with you know who."
"I know." Keira replies just as my phone goes off alerting me to a text. Picking up my phone I see it's from Carter.
"My dad wants to see about setting up a meeting with your father, Pierce, Zachery and whoever is going to be the next second in command."
"When and how?" I type back quickly, but also making sure I don't misspell anything.
"My dad, Jack, Bri and me are willingly to travel to the coven, y'all could come here or we could do it over video."
"I'll have to get back to you on that as I'm currently in town having a lunch date." I reply making a mental note to talk to my dad when I get home.
"May I ask woth who?" Carter asks just as our food arrives.
Instead is replying with text I take a selfie with Keira as we are sitting in one of the corner booths. Keira puts her arm around my shoulders and acts like she is about to kiss my cheek as I laugh at her antics.
"Meet my best friend, Keira. She says hi." I send after sending the photo, "I'll text you later. Food just arrived."
As we eat Keira tells me about the trip her mother, Rose and her are going on next month. It's to visit family they haven't seen in years. She also asks questions about the pack and the people in it, mainly Carter. After we are done eating we split the bill as usual and head back to the ice cream parlor with Rose's to go order.
Keira goes to clock back in, so Rose can clock out for lunch. While they go do that their mother, Macy, gets me a scoop of blood orange gelato on the house. Her step-grandma taught her how to make gelato. Both Keira and Rose look just like her except for the fact that Macy has dark brunette hair with purple and pink streaks. I finish my ice cream before saying bye as I leave to head back home.
———
"Dad, quick question." I say standing in the door way of the office.
"What?" He asks looking up from the paperwork he was writing on.
"Carter told me that his dad wants to set a meeting with you. Others will also be involved. The question is do you want to travel to the pack, have them travel here or do it over video?"
"How many from the pack would be traveling here?"
"Jared, Jack, Carter and Bri are the only ones I know of. Jared and Jack because they are the current Alpha and Beta. Carter and Bri because they are taking over next year." I say counting off on my fingers.
"Here would probably be better. We have many different things going on at the moment."
"I'll let Carter know. What day?"
"See if they can come next Sunday since that is Hazel's only day off. We can make room if they need to spend the night."
"Will do." I say before sending a quick text to Carter letting him know what was decided. It doesn't take him long to reply saying that works for them. After letting my dad know I head off to go finish up Alex and Nina's commissions.
July 9th
(Ella's POV)
"Thank you for braiding my hair." I tell Zachery as he works on braiding my hair in the living room. I ended up hurting my left wrist falling off my chair trying to reach something. Not the first time I've fallen off my chair and injured myself somehow. Usually it's just a bruise.
"You are welcome." He replies just as the front door open and a few different voices can be heard.
"The others should be over here soon. Sleeping arrangements have been made." I hear dad tell who he is with.
"I thought y'all weren't going to be here for a couple of more hours." I say as they walk fully into the house and into the living room.
"Talked Zach into braiding your hair I see." Dad comments.
"All the girls are off doing things or at work and I can't currently braid it myself due to my brace, so yes. It was easy." I say holding up my left arm for him to see.
"What did you fall off this time?" My dad aks.
"This time?" Carter asks just as I say, "My desk chair. I misjudged how far something was when I tried reaching for it. Ezra says I should be fine in few days, but has told me no shifting for the next week to be safe. I can still go on my runs just not in my wolf form. How's the ribs?"
"Healing." Carter says as he sits down beside me on the floor with a slight look of pain, "Have another 2-4 weeks of weeks plus another month after that of not shifting."
Just than Pierce comes in with Damien, Violet, Hazel, and Amber. Once everyone is seated around the living room introductions happen. Damien and Amber sit on either side of Zachery while Violet sit in the floor next to Carter and me. Dad, Pierce, and Hazel take one of the other couches while Jack, Jared and Bri take the other.
"Hazel and Amber are here as we are in the process of seeing about splitting the coven. Hazel will be taking over as the leader with Amber as the second in command. It won't be for at least four years and that's if we can find a place soon." My dad says once everyone has sat down.
"There is a large open clearing about seven miles north of where the pack is located. The pack owns it as we thought about moving there a few generations back, but decided not to. We have plenty of room to keep growing where we are. I can sell it to you if you want to locate the new coven there." Jared informs all of us.
"That's not a bad idea, dad. We wouldn't be too far away, so it would still be easy to visit." Hazel says before dad could reply.
"How about we talk about that more later? We still have the main reason for the visit to get to first."
With that the next few hours are spent talking about getting the coven and the Winter Moon Pack to interact more. At some point I decide to lean against Carter and lay my head on his shoulder causing Hazel, Violet, and Amber to give me questioning looks. I ignore them closing my eye knowing I'll have to deal with them later. It's been a long day of packing. Also doesn't help I got up early after going to bed super late.
(Simon's POV)
Jared, Jack, Pierce and me agree to see about setting up a party of sorts near the end of the month before school starts up again. It'll be held in the pack's land as it's bigger and those from the coven who wish to attend can, but it's not mandatory. If it goes well it could become a yearly thing and include other packs, covens as well as maybe including clans, groupings and pods. At some point we might try to find a neutral location for it. Mermaids and fairies are a bit hard to get in contact with due to where they live. Mermaids do have royal families though which does help somewhat. Fairies are almost impossible to get in contact with if you don't know a fairy who knows of their locations. I need to see if any of the vampires that pass through know any fairies.
"How about July 28th for the party? It'll give us a few weeks to get everything in order for it." Jack suggests.
"That should work. I'll let the coven know tomorrow and try to get an estimate on how many would want to go as soon as I can." Pierce says.
"That would be a big help, so we can figure out sleeping arrangements for those who don't wish to drive back in the dark."Jared says looking like he's not looking forward to having to deal with that. I know they headache of trying figure that out.
"Speaking of sleeping." Hazel says points to Ella, who has dozed off leaning against Carter.
"She didn't go to bed until almost 1am according to Nathan and got up by 5am for her and Zachery's usually run." I reply while also giving her a look that says leave your sister alone.
"I'm goin to put Ella in Becca's room. That way we don't accidentally wake her up plus her room is currently a disorganized mess of boxes." Zachery says before going and lifting Ella off the ground.
While he is gone I let the others know the sleeping arrangements for tonight. Hazel is bunking with Ella to leave her room free. Della is bunking with Becca to do the same. Phillip already had plans to stay over at a friends house and Zachery is going to stay with Glinda and Edison.
———
July 10th
(Ella's POV)
"Please tell me you haven't injured yourself again, Ella." Ezra says as I walk into the coven's clinic with Carter.
"No. I'm just showing Carter around the coven. It's different from the pack."
"Good. I know how you don't like not being able to run in your wolf form." Ezra replies before looking at Carter, "How are you finding the coven to be?"
"It's cozier than the pack. We have a lot more open space which is needed."
"Ella has ran into trees and buildings on occasion in her wolf form form running around the coven."
"When I first shifted! Not anymore." I say giving Ezra an annoyed looked causing him to laugh.
"Don't worry. Most of the pack has ran into a tree at least once. Some recently even though they have been shifting for over a decade or two." Carter tells me.
"Even you?" I ask looking at him with a smile.
"Much to Ember's amusement yes, but her watching me run into tree caused her to run into one as well. She had only been shifting for about two months at the time. I was showing her one of the trails and had looked behind me to make sure I hadn't lost her when I ran into the tree."
"Better than Alex. She tripped in a ditch and sprained her left wrist in her wolf form four months ago." Bri says walking in with Becca.
"Ella has done that, well not the ditch part." Becca tells her before wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
"Shouldn't you be at work?" I ask shrugging off her arm.
"Not until noon as my client this morning canceled due to coming down with a stomach bug."
"If you four are going to talk do it somewhere other than the clinic waiting room. Preferably outside." Ezra says herding us out of the building.
After we are all outside we decide to walk around the rest of the coven together. With the coven being smaller then the pack it doesn't take long to see everything.
———
"You coming to Em's birthday?" Carter asks as he waits on his dad and Jack to finish talking to my dad and Pierce.
"I said I was before I left the pack."
"Sort of forgot that. Maybe if we have time we can all go to the lake. We try to go a few times during the summer. It's located about a fifteen minute walk into the woods, but still within the pack's area which means we don't have to worry about rogues. They have been spotted in the area again along with unknown shifters. Lucky no attacks, but it means I've been tasked with getting at least two more patrol groups set up."
"I'm sure Keira would love that. I'm dragging her with me since my dad doesn't really want me to go alone. Add the fact that my car no longer works I needed a ride." I tell him as I can't say the real reason she's coming with me if I want to keep me moving there a surprise.
"Time to get going, so tell Ella bye." Bri says walking over and putting her arm on Carter's shoulder.
"See you in a few days."
"See you in a few days." Carter replies before kissing my cheek causing me to blush. He smiles before getting in the backseat of his dad's car.
Once they are out if sight I head inside and up to my room ignoring my siblings. Hazel bugged me last night about Carter as we got ready for bed. I decide to finish adding the details to the painting I've been working on for Nina before getting back to packing up my room. It's a little bittersweet packing up the room I've been in since I was a kid. It doesn't take long to finish packing what I can, so all that's left is my cover, enough clothes to get through the week and what art supplies I'm using. That will all be packed the day I leave.