And there was something between Akio and Michelle. Akio was the kind of male who listened more than he talked. Which was a quality Josh respected a great deal. But he came out of his shell when he was around people he genuinely enjoyed.

Like he was doing just then. Charming Michelle with stories of Boston and the wolves there.

Akio paused, a hand on her arm, when Jack called his name. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I need to go see what he needs. I’m sure we’ll talk more.” Akio smiled and nodded to Josh before he headed to see what Jack needed.

“You’re here! And look at you, the bond looks good on you.” Gina came over and pulled Michelle into a hug.

“Hi there.” Michelle smiled at Gina, and Josh realized she’d already made friends. He was totally grateful for that. They chatted, and Josh scanned the room automatically, always alert for any problems.

Akio stood with Nick and Jack, everyone wearing serious faces. Truth be told, he’d thought Akio would be an excellent choice as an anchor. He was strong and smart. And he lived across the country so while he would of course be at their home for the holidays and that sort of thing, he wouldn’t be in their same pack or the same city.

It would be easier on them all that way. He’d seen anchors pining for the woman they could not have, and he didn’t wish that on anyone. He wanted Michelle to be close and comfortable with her anchor, but he sure as fuck didn’t want any other male being in love with his woman. The distance would help with that.

Damon came over and hugged Michelle, and Josh nearly socked him in the face. He didn’t stop a growl, which made Michelle tense up and give him a look laced with apprehension. Funny, he hadn’t felt nearly this possessive when Akio had just touched Michelle. Another point to him as a possible anchor.

Gina snorted a laugh and patted Michelle’s arm. “They’re all like this with mates. Damon too. They don’t really mean anything by it. Have you had anything to eat yet?”

“Let’s get a toast and introduce Michelle to the pack.” Tracy took Gabe’s hand as he approached.

“Oh good idea.” Josh bent and dropped a kiss on Michelle’s cheek. “Welcome, beautiful, to Pacific.”

Michele blushed and Josh breathed her in deep.

Tracy bustled off to gather everyone for the official Joining, and Michelle turned to Josh. “So I get on my knees and say what to them?”

“We’ll both do it, side by side. All you’ll need to do is agree to swear fealty. You’re not a wolf, but through me, you share my rank. By swearing fealty, you’re agreeing to shepherd the wolves in Pacific, to keep them safe and keep their best interests foremost in your words and deeds.”

She nodded and took the glass of champagne Tracy handed her.

Tracy whistled loud and everyone gave her their attention.

“Tonight we give witness to the Joining of Michelle Slattery, mate to Josh Neelan, to Pacific.”

There were hoots and applause as Michelle looked over the room. So amazing to be welcomed like this. So many faces, openly friendly, smiling, pleased to welcome her.

Josh put a little pressure on her arm so she knew to kneel with him in front of the Alpha trio. “Michelle, do you swear fealty to Pacific and its wolves?”

“I do.”

And then her magick rose, swirled around and seemed to mix with theirs. Knitting, in a sense, her essence to the energy of the pack.

Josh looked over at her with a smile. She felt his pleasure through the link. His happiness and love.

Nick helped her up and turned her to face the group. “Welcome, Michelle, to Pacific and best wishes on your bond to Josh.”

More raised glasses and cheers as people came forward to introduce themselves, kiss her cheek or rub their faces along her jaw.

“It’s a gesture of affection and respect,” Akio murmured, as he appeared at her side, explaining the cheek-rubbing thing.

“Ah, gotcha. Thanks.”

He inclined his head.

After what seemed like forever with the cheek rubs and the kisses and welcomes, they headed into a huge dining room where a buffet dinner had been laid out. They filled plates and milled around until Gina approached them.

She pointed to a couch in a far corner where Damon sat. “We saved you guys a place.”

They all followed her over and put their drinks down on the nearby coffee table. Josh grinned at Damon. “It’s out of the way of traffic but near enough to the food.”

Akio was already sitting with them, and Jack came over and sat next to Akio as they all chatted about Enforcer-type stuff. Michelle had expected to feel excluded or bored, but the stuff they talked about was a lot like cop work and she found herself offering suggestions and asking questions.

Feeling like she could belong after all.

She and Gina had escaped outside to stand on the huge back deck watching a large group of kids play with Milton, Tracy’s ridiculously sweet and goofy lab. He looked as if he might just pass out with the joy of all the giggles and pets he was getting.

They’d chatted about every day things, about the next get-together with the Owen witches in Portland and how it would now be a welcome dinner for Michelle. Gina helped her understand the current politics within Clan Owen, the clash of old world and the rules which had kept witches safe for the last century or so, and the decidedly more modern views held by Meriel Owen, who wanted to come out to the humans before something bad happened and they were outed anyway.

Michelle tended to agree with Meriel’s perspective.

She appreciated all Gina’s help and advice, and it was nice to have the beginnings of a new friendship as well. She had a lot to learn. A lot to understand, and people seemed to be going out of their way to help her. It made things better. A little less confusing.

They talked about the threat the mages posed. Gina filled her in on how a group of them had worked with Dominic Bright’s mother, who was a turned witch. They’d ambushed Dominic, who was Meriel’s husband, and led the Owen Clan at her side, and had tried to kill and drain them. It had been the start of all this madness with missing witches and had been getting increasingly worse.

They had no answers. Michelle had spoken with Lark earlier about finding Allie. They suspected a very bad something was at work, but there were so many unanswered questions and the unsettled nature of it left Michelle uneasy.

Sometimes cases just went unsolved. She knew that. But this was more than a usual case. Others would keep on disappearing until they figured it out. Allie had been a casualty, but there were others who needed to be avenged and she’d do all she could to help that happen.

Josh came out as Gina went in. He kissed Michelle’s temple and she leaned into him. “You all right, beautiful?”

“Yes. It’s been a lovely evening. I just needed the air and some quiet.” It had gotten louder and louder inside until she’d had to escape it out there in the dark.

He laughed quietly. “Wolves can be a raucous bunch. I can’t tell you how many people have stopped to tell me how much they enjoyed meeting you tonight. You’re making friends right and left.”

“Even Esme.”

He cringed, and she laughed, poking his side. “She was nice. Apologized for the situation the other day at Tracy’s house. It’s fine. She knows you’re mine, and as long as it stays that way, things are great. I’d hate to have to kill her.”

He squeezed her to his side. “It only makes me hot when you talk that way.”

“You’re weird.”

“I am. Listen, so about the anchor thing…I don’t want to rush you, but time is getting short. The longer you go without one, the harder it will be for you to manage everything. All the stuff between us, all the emotion traveling through the link is incredibly intense and it can swamp you, make it hard to think and get through. Your anchor will settle down the background noise.”