Chapter Nineteen

Amatis filled Luke in on the status of his shop. When Magnus first arranged for the werewolves to work there, he told Amatis, but they didn't ask Luke about it, figuring he had enough to deal with. She needed help running it full time, and Magnus liked the opportunity to help out the wolf pack. He also liked the pack owing him a favor. Magnus told them he owned it, and Amatis' brother ran it normally, but he was on extended leave. They had to say that because Luke and Amatis looked enough alike that regulars wondered if they were brother and sister. Amatis said they were, assuring them Luke was fine.

When Luke returned, they let him decide whether or not he wanted to reveal himself to the pack. Magnus filled him in on what he knew; The alpha, Gabriel; The second, a small fierce woman named Gretel; The third, a strong silent type named Alaric. Their headquarters were in an abandoned police station hidden behind a nonfunctioning Chinese restaurant – The Jade Wolf. They ran a bar called The Hunter's Moon.

Amatis told him about the two employees – teen girls Maia and Malarie. "Maia's a bit rough around the edges. She's got her reasons. She was turned by her ex-boyfriend. Her brother was a piece of work. But, you should have seen her face when I gave her some old books to take home with her. It was like she saw another future for herself.

"It's good she's got Malarie, she balances her out. She came from a loving family, she's still got her heart with her. She acts like a ditz sometimes, but I think it's a shield. That's where Maia helps her out, tells her that's not her."

"Working at the shop has given them so much confidence. I hope you give them a chance, darling. I'm sweet on them, but I think you will be too, once you get to know them."

"They're alright, with you being Nephilim?"

"Magnus put in a good word for me, and of course he would do the same for you. That man has a lot of influence, for all his nonchalance. Are you worried, was that a problem for you in the past?"

"Yes, but I'm also worried about how the alpha- Gabriel will receive me. I was the leader of another pack. Two alphas makes wolves nervous."

"Oh," Amatis' face fell. "I hadn't thought of that, but I met him, he's friendly. If he's smart, he'll be begging you to join.

"You think I should?"

"I think you'll want to, once you get to know these kids. And they could really use someone like you; You're calm, gentle. They don't get a lot of that. And, there's room for improvement; their headquarters doesn't sound like it's in great shape."

When Luke agreed to meet them, Amatis was smugly pleased. "You won't regret this. You'll see!"

Luke also tested if he could change into a werewolf on demand and return to his human body. He was successful with all three of his attempts, though they tired him out. After a week of so far so good, Amatis and Luke moved out of Magnus'. "I'm going to miss you two." Magnus said fondly, after they packed and were ready to leave.

"No, you won't. You'll have more time with your beau now." said Amatis, teasingly.

"Thank you again, Magnus." said Luke sincerely.

"Good luck to you, Luke."

"We'll see you soon, Magnus." said Amatis.

The siblings walked out with a couple of bags. Luke didn't have much at Magnus': his crossbow, the Morgenstern blade, some clothes, toiletries and books. Early on, he had asked Amatis what became of the clothes he'd been wearing originally.

"I burned them. They were ghastly, darling. Especially your jeans. Never do that again."

Magnus took it upon himself to retrieve Luke's pick up truck, after Luke explained what he'd done with it. "I just switched it out with another one. No harm done!" announced Magnus as he presented it to Luke. That did inspire some questions, but Luke was content to leave it alone. He was truly happy to have it back, and he now took the driver's seat as Amatis stowed his luggage.

Returning to his house and shop was surreal. Everything looked fine. Amatis kept everything well maintained.

"What do you want for dinner? I'll cook something. How about some soup?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Go lay down. You're tired. I'll get you when dinner's ready."

"Alright. Thank you."

Amatis kissed him on the cheek, then pushed him in the direction of his room.

"Rest now."

Then next day Luke met with Gabriel and the girls. He was grateful Amatis was there. She could make friends with anyone. She and Stephen had been quite the pair, as he was the same way. She set up the meeting, told them her brother was actually Lucian Graymark. His name spread around the Downworld after the Accords battle. Gabriel knew of him.

The girls were a bit shy with him, which surprised him, as Amatis told him how tough Maia could be. Gabriel gave him a glance over, but then smiled and reached out his hand. He was friendly, just as Amatis said.

He and Gabriel went into the back to talk, leaving Amatis and the girls running the shop. Gabriel thanked him for employing them. Luke thought of having employees before, but was always too afraid of someone finding out he was a werewolf. He could tell the young ones felt the same. Gabriel echoed Amatis, that working here had done them a world of good, and asked him to consider letting them stay on.

He told Luke how he came to be the pack leader, some history of the pack members. He also asked Luke to meet his second and third, and maybe after that, the rest of the pack. Gabriel left it unsaid, but Luke knew he was being asked to consider joining.

Luke agreed to meet Gretel and Alaric. He was impressed by Gabriel, and he did think he would grow fond of Maia and Malarie. It would be easier if he was part of the pack, but he did want to meet the others, get his own feel for the pack before joining.

So much had changed so quickly. Jocelyn and Clary were back in Idris. He briefly considered joining the Brocelind Forest pack again to be closer to them, and to Amatis. But, he couldn't do it. That had been the darkest time in his life, leading that pack. He also didn't think being closer would necessarily let him see Jocelyn and Clary often. He would not be allowed into the capital unless he had special permission and that pack lived nomadically, roaming the woods, hunting for food, living in tents.

Seeing the girls here, and knowing that Amatis and Magnus encouraged him to do this, he wanted to see where this would go. Also, he didn't want to leave Simon. Magnus told him not to worry about his earlier predicament. If he ever had trouble, to come to him again.

His one remaining concern was Valentine. How would the wolf pack react if they found out he'd been in contact with him? Magnus didn't seem to care that he too had seen him, and certainly wolves were not the Clave.

He would take things slowly for now.