Chapter 100: Fledgling Fire

In front of Sylvia's house, Sam arranged wood in the fire pit and Graeme added paper tinder and small twigs for kindling.

"What did you want to talk about?" Sam asked, straightening as he watched the kindling glow and lick the larger logs.

Graeme waited to answer until his friend turned to meet his gaze. They had spent so many nights around this same fire as kids. Sam always had the most honest, kind eyes that would dance with mirth as easily as soften in comfort. There wasn't a better male for his sister, Graeme was positive of that.

"I left you, Sam. I didn't just leave the pack. I left you. I left the future for this pack that we had imagined together. The one we dreamt about as kids," Graeme sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry."

Sam's arms were crossed when he received this sudden apology, and he didn't appear to react—it was as if he hadn't heard it. But then his eyebrows dipped, and he shook his head.

"You didn't leave me," he replied with a chuckle.

"I know what Beta meant to you. Growing up, we always talked about taking our father's places. I left without thinking about what that would mean for you, and…"

"Graeme, no apology is necessary," he interrupted.

"Please hear me," Graeme insisted and paused, holding Sam's gaze. "I am sorry, brother."

The two men stared at each other as the fire crackled beneath them.

"I hear you," Sam said quietly after some time. "If what you need is my forgiveness, you had it long ago."

"You are too understanding, Samuel," Graeme replied.

"I am your twin sister's mate. Her emotions are sister to my own. How can I not understand you?" he chuckled. "I may not know exactly what you went through, but I don't fault you for leaving. Not after what they put you through."

"They?" Graeme repeated, his eyebrows pinching together.

"The elders," Sam scoffed.

"Oh," Graeme grunted. "It was their job."

"No," Sam shook his head. "They looked down their noses at a pup who had been kicked into the dirt by circumstance, and then they proceeded to trample over you in pursuit of their own interests. They were meant to build you up and make you stronger. They were meant to raise you up on their shoulders and support you. That was their job, and they certainly did not do it."

An edge of anger had threaded its way through Sam's words, and Graeme squinted in surprise. The only other times he had witnessed the turbulence below Sam's calm demeanor was when it had something to do with Greta.

They both looked into the small, fledgling fire as their thoughts of the past swept in and out like Maine's tumultuous tides. Maybe Sam was right.

"We're taking it back," Graeme's deep voice finally sliced through the silent reverie. He looked over at Sam, flames dancing in his eyes. "We're taking back the pack, Samuel. Are you with me?"

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"Hell yeah, I'm with you," he replied, a large smile spreading across his face as he slapped Graeme on the back. "Of course I'm with you, brother. I thought you would never ask."

"Great, because I couldn't do it without you," Graeme said, relief washing over him. He knew Sam would back him, but it didn't stop a small measure of doubt from niggling at this mind that maybe he would be alone in this.

"There is something I should probably tell you, though," Sam added. "We were going to wait, because we lost one before. And with everything going on…"

"What is it?" Graeme interrupted.

Sam paused and turned to look back at the house where he could see the girls through the loft window. "Greta is pregnant."

Graeme's worry broke into a large grin, and this time we was slapping his friend on the back. "Goddess, congratulations. That's wonderful news!" He pulled Sam into a hug, and they both began laughing.

"Thank you. We just found out, and it's early. We lost the last one at 12 weeks, so I guess you could say that we are cautiously excited."

"I'm sorry," Graeme's eyebrows threaded together. "I didn't know."

"Yeah, it wasn't easy for her to talk about. Anyway, I'm telling you now because it may change the terrain I have to navigate in the future. I just," he paused and looked at his feet. "I can't put the pack ahead of my mate like my dad did. I can't do that to her. She'll always be first. You need to know that."

"The fact that anyone here would feel they had to choose between their mate or their family and the pack is just more proof that things need to change. The pack used to be a family," Graeme's jaw clenched. "Regardless, you don't need to worry about it. I will never ask more of you than you and Greta can give. I need my niece or nephew healthy and happy and safe," he smiled again and squeezed Sam's shoulder.

"No one else knows yet," Sam whispered as Sylvia came walking out the front door with the tray of ingredients for s'mores.

"You have to tell your mom," Graeme mumbled.

"The fire is looking good. You boys haven't lost your touch," Sylvia smiled as she approached. "So have you figured out a plot to take over the pack yet? Because I have some ideas about that, too."

"What?" Graeme laughed. How did she know that was what they were talking about? "Were you listening to our conversation?"

"No, of course not," she waved her hand at him. "It's just time, is it not?"

"You are certainly right about that," Graeme agreed, rocking on the balls of his feet now with his arms crossed as he peered up into the loft window at the silhouettes of his pregnant sister and his mate. "So can your underground council help with that as well?"

Sylvia's face lit up. "Let me ask you this: who in that pack house do you foresee staying with you and supporting you when you take Alpha?"

"It would be very difficult to say," Graeme answered. "It would likely be a difficult transition for many of them."

"As long as the elders are still in place, they will find every way they can to undermine you. They have enjoyed a power that is not rightfully theirs for far too long," Sylvia said.. "The elders must go."

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