He took a slow, deep breath. It wasn’t impatience or frustration, it was a stall as he made up his mind.
“Grey will be out there to keep the peace. If the peace breaks, he can bring you in here first before trying to help calm things out there. Stay by Grey,” Thomas said, looking at me.
I nodded and moved to stand by Grey. In a staged whisper, I said, “If the peace breaks, stand at least five feet back so I don’t accidently hurt you.” I knew whispering did no good when in the same room with any of them.
“It’s a deal,” Grey said, earning a scowl from both Winifred and Thomas.
“Lead the way,” I said, motioning Thomas to the door.
He walked out. I followed, with Grey right behind me.
The yard wasn’t as crowded as it was the day before. The original malcontents were there at the front. Several of them looked smug. There were at least thirty more behind them.
“If there are any who would like to leave the pack, step forward now,” Thomas said, surprising me. It made sense though. Wheedle down the numbers before adding to them.
“I formally request to withdraw from the pack,” a man said, stepping forward. “I mean your future Mate no harm, nor do I want to break apart your pack.” His gaze shifted to me. “I bare you no ill will.”
I nodded. “You will always be welcome to stay here whether you are part of Thomas’ pack or not.”
He bobbed his head, turned, then left.
I glanced at Thomas as another man stepped forward.
“Is it true there was an unClaimed female here?”
“She was only a month old,” Winifred said. “Before they left, her parents told me they liked it here. They said they wouldn’t mind raising the girl here once this business settles, and it returns to the peaceful place it was. We hope this place can turn into a community where all our young are safe and where any of our kind can come and stay. However, any female here will be protected by the presence of an Elder, and Mated couples at all times.”
The man nodded. Another stepped forward and asked to leave. Within five minutes, three left the pack. Thomas asked again and no one else moved.
“Any who would like to join the pack, please step forward,” he said.
Fifteen stepped forward. The number worried me, and I wished I knew how many wanted to join just to break the pack. If I divided my will to touch them all, they would know, just as they’d known last time. Only this time, Grey and Winifred would know, too. And with the Elders’ ability to split their wills, I was afraid they would be able to connect with others that I couldn’t and tell them the truth before I could make everyone forget.
“Thomas has the largest pack we can recall, going back at least one thousand years,” Grey said. “You are making history today.”
While Grey spoke, I tried touching the wills of the fifteen the old way. As I expected, each will slipped from my grasp. However, since I wasn’t focused on trying to control them but read them instead, I was able to find that two wanted to join for the right reason.
Grey looked to Thomas. Before Thomas could speak, I stepped forward. I met the gaze of one of the men who didn’t want to join.
“Mary told me she grew up learning the history of your kind. As Grey said, you are making history. When you step forward, please state your name and why you want to join so future generations will remember you.”
While I spoke, I attempted a dangerous thing. I focused my will on the leader and two others. I don’t want to be remembered this way. I gently tapped their hearts with my will as I finished speaking then stepped back beside Grey. The three suddenly frowned and looked at the ground. I struggled to maintain a sense of calm as I prayed the subtle tap had gone unnoticed.
Thomas looked to the man furthest to the right. The man stated his name and said simply that he was here to make history. Thomas nodded, and the man stepped back. There was no noticeable change in either of them. I glanced at the line. Four to go until he reached one of the men I’d influenced.
By the third man, Thomas frowned, and I could feel a twinge of discomfort coming from him.
Thomas finally addressed the first man who I’d connected with. The man still looked troubled.
“I don’t want to be remembered as one of the men who broke the largest pack in history,” he said, without giving his name. The man nodded to Grey and me then left.
I glanced at Grey. He gave me a slight smile before turning his attention back to the men.
The next man hesitated before he gave his name and said he wanted to make history, too. Thomas nodded. Then it was the lead malcontent’s turn. Sweat beaded the man’s upper lip and for the longest time he said nothing. My pulse slowly increased and anxiety filled me. Did he suspect something? I’d hoped by only changing the hearts of a few, my influence would go unnoticed yet still sway the majority.
The man glanced up at Grey. I stopped breathing. Did he know?