Francis and I are finally on the way to visit our family. Francis was packed and ready to go when we returned from Mystic Coven. Councilman Bari was adamant about taking us back to my pack. There has been some chattery about my movements being monitored. My identity has not been discovered yet. Somehow word got out about me training with the vampires. This makes me wonder if there is a spy in our ranks or ranks just below us. Councilman Bari is sure that the leak is not with the council.
The word is that the rebels want to capture me and find out why I’m traveling to so many different places. I almost want to allow myself to be captured so we can get to the bottom of who is after me and fish out our spy. No one agrees with me being bait right now. So, for now, I will just focus on enjoying Thanksgiving with my family. My royal cousin decided to come to us instead of us traveling to the Royal Pack because of the situation.
“Hello everyone. Are we ready to load up and head out?” Councilman Bari asks.
“Yes, we are,” I say speaking for everyone.
“Ok. Let's get going. I will fly you all back to the airfield and the Beta and Gamma will meet you all there with additional warriors to escort you back to the pack from the airfield.”
“Doesn’t it draw more attention to me if we increase security?”
“That may be true Seleste, but we are not taking any chances right now.” Councilman Bari says.
“You all do know that I can take care of myself and if things get too complicated, I can always teleport myself away.”
“We know, but we don’t want to reveal your powers just yet. Although you are better trained than most, we still want to be strategic and want you to be able to move about without the enemy knowing your true identity just yet. You will be in the heart of the action after you leave the Bear’s Den.”
With that, we all load up and head to the jet. This trip like the last was fast and very comfortable. Within a couple of hours, we are landing in my home state, and I am running into my dad’s arms.
I do the introductions although my dad has spoken to Francis on the phone and on facetime, this is the first official meeting. After hugging everyone, we all get in the SUV and head home. I didn’t think this place would feel like home after everything that has happened but being with my dad and heading to my mom, I know that where ever they are will always feel like home to me.
“So Seleste, will you be showing us any new moves while you are here?” Beta Veren asks.
“Oh Beta, you know I can’t wait to put so many of you on your asses over the holidays. I have so many unexpected things to show you all. I hope you all are ready.” I say.
“Seleste, when it comes to you and training, we are always ready for the unexpected.” Beta Veren says.
“I think I have a move that will finally get my dad.”
“Now that, I can’t wait to see.” Beta Veren says.
“So, you think you can finally take your old man?” My dad asks. “Remember, I am your grandmother’s son, so I might have a few surprises you still haven’t seen.”
You know, I never thought about the fact that my dad may also have special skills that he hasn’t told me about. I look at my dad, he just looks at me and winks. Francis is looking at all of us and smiling. I can tell she is soaking it all in.
We all keep laughing and talking as we ride along. The airfield is not that far away from the pack, but it is at least a 30-minute drive away from pack lands. About halfway through the drive, I notice several wolves running in the woods. At first, I thought they were extra warriors from my pack, but as I kept looking and noticing their actions, they are trying not to be seen and I don’t recognize any of the ones I had a clear view of.
“Umm dad, Beta Veren, it looks like we have company.”
“Well, it's about time you noticed.” Beta Vereen said. “I thought you had lost your touch. They have been following us since we left the airfield.”
“I can’t believe I didn’t notice it back then, but I have been watching them for the past ten or more miles.”
“Do you think they will make a move before we get to our border?” My dad asked.
“They may be waiting for a spot to ambush us. I have already linked the pack warriors and Alpha has sent them to intercept. They should be reaching us in a couple of minutes. We will fight if we have to, but I’d rather let the warriors handle this one.” Beta Vereen says.
“Seleste, I linked your team and let them know what was going on as soon as we pulled out of the airfield. They have been watching and waiting as well. Don’t look like that, I told them to coordinate with me and not to link you. I didn’t want you to worry since we had it under control.” My dad said.
“But, Dad, it's my job to protect you all.”
“You have the rest of your life to perform that duty, but for right this minute, you are my pup and I will be doing the protecting. Got it?”
“Yes, daddy.”
“That’s my girl.”
“You two remind me of me and my dad,” Francis says. “Gamma, Beta, just know that you have an extra set of hands if you need them.”
“Thanks cousin, but you are my new found family, so I will be protecting you as well for now. You can show me how badass you are later.” My dad says.
I grab Francis's hand and just smile at her.
“You may as well relax. When daddy goes all poppa wolf, nobody can stop him. You and I are the safest wolves in the world at this moment with two big, bad wolves to cover us.” I say.
Francis sits back with me. We have been benched for this one, but I’m ok with it for now.
Not long after that conversation, our pack warriors intersect the wolves following us. They make quick work of them. I asked Beta Vereen to tell them to keep at least one alive for questioning. We need to know who or what they wanted. Although I have a clue that they are after me, we need to know if my identity has been exposed or if they are just fishing for now.
We make it to the packhouse and like the momma’s girl I am, I run directly into my momma’s arms as soon as we unload. The whole pack is present and waiting to greet us. All of my warriors and their mates are standing behind me. I can see anxious family members waiting to greet them.
“Ok guys, we are home now. I am safe with my family, go have fun with your families. I don’t want to see any of you for the next couple of days unless it is during mealtimes or social gatherings.”
The warriors wanted to protest, but I looked at the mates and gave them a wink. They will keep them occupied and off duty for a couple of days.
“Look, guys, I know you all take your roles seriously, but I am with my momma and poppa wolf. Trust me, no one wants to piss them off and mess with their pup. I am surrounded by the best-trained warriors in the kingdom. I will be safe, now go be with your families, and most of all, have fun.”
After that, the warriors all go to their families. I get several grateful nods and smiles from family members.
“Seleste it is so good to have you back.” Alpha Connor says. “I can’t wait to see what training is going to be like next week.”
“Really Connor. She just got home, let her relax before you all start talking about training.” Luna says and comes over and hugs mom and I. Mom has not let me go since I got out of the SUV.
“Dad, what happened to the wolves that the warriors captured on the way in?”
“They have been locked up. Don’t worry. We kept them mostly alive. We will question them later.”
“Dad, I want to be there when you question them. I need to know if my identity has been exposed before I go to the bear’s den. We may need to change our schedule or make other adjustments to security.”
“Ok baby girl, I don’t like it, but it does need to be done. You know the dungeons are not pretty.”
“Poppa wolf, you trained me and prepared me for just about anything. I can handle blood and torture. I am your daughter after all.”
My dad just smiles.
“Enough of this talk, let's go home. Mona and Rose are at the house waiting for you. Talia and the twins have not made it in yet. I asked the boys to let the girls come first and then you all can get together later.”
“Thanks, mom. As much as I like all of my crew, I’m glad it’s just the girls for now.”
I say bye to the pack members that came out to greet me, give my friends and extended family members hugs, and head home to peace and quiet with my mom, dad, cousins, and one of my best friends. Tomorrow will be another long day.
Last night was a good relaxing night. Francis got to know my parents and hang out with Mona and Rose. Mona was excited to have another cousin, especially one who doesn’t mind shopping. Of course, the two of them are now planning a day of shopping before we leave for the bears' den.
I can’t believe it is Thanksgiving already. My mom is in the packhouse kitchen with ranked females preparing a feast for us. They enjoy cooking the holiday meals for us and giving all the omegas time to enjoy their families. All meals for today will be set up buffet style so that we won’t need any servers. As much as I enjoyed the meals at Alpha Clark’s pack and the Coven, I am glad to be back eating my mom’s cooking. She is still the best there is.
Trevor and my cousin Royal Gamma Maurice came in last night. Trevor is serving as his assistant which gave him an excuse to travel with Trevor back to our pack. He met Francis last night and did a swab with her. The DNA kit was sent back to the royal pack via carrier and will be rushed. Our cousin said that he is sure that she is one of us. His wolf instantly connected with her wolf. The three of us share a close family connection. Maurice told us that he believes he knows what branch of the family Francis is connected to.
“Our great, great, grandfather had three sons,” Maurice said. “My grandfather was the oldest. Your grandfather was the second son and left with an alpha to start a pack. That story we all know. They never talked about the youngest son. The youngest son fell in love with a gamma from a distant pack. We don’t know if they were fated mates or not. Since he did not declare her as his mate to our ancestor, they forbade him from being with her and told him to wait for his fated mate. He said that he loved her and would not give her up. The family was concerned because her family was not well known, and they didn’t know if her family was trying to make a power play. Then one night our uncle and the gamma female disappeared. There were records of them being seen and possibly being the gamma of a pack in a different region, but we never reconnected with them. I believe that son was Francis’ patriarch.”
“Wow, Gamma. My grandparents never talked about where our family line originated from. They only told me that we were pure-blooded and that we were uniquely special and powerful. I never knew why. I asked my alpha once about what he knew, and he said that his family only passed down that our family was blessed and that we are some of the most powerful gammas alive. I guess I know why now.” Francis said.
“Francis, I am so glad that we found you and that you are back with your family where you belong. I only hate that your grandfather did not have this opportunity. The family would have never cut him off if he had reached out, but those were different times and I understand why he felt the need to disappear to stay with the one he loved. I’m assuming they ended up as fated mates after all or you wouldn’t be pure-blooded, and we would feel as connected to your wolf.” Maurice stated.
It was fascinating hearing about the family history and the lost branch of the family. Maurice let us know that one of the gammas he is personally training from a neighboring pack with ties to the royal pack will be hand delivering the results to him within the next day. Tamaska lifted her head up when Murices mentioned the gamma coming. Knowing her how I do, I’m guessing that the gamma will be Francis’ mate.
“Your guess would be right,” Tamaska said.
“I am so excited for Francis. She deserves this and so much more T.”
“Yes, she does Lettie. So don’t tell her and let her enjoy meeting him without knowing what is coming.”
“Ok T, I won’t say anything, but I am going to enjoy the look on her face when it happens.
We all just hung out and relaxed all day. According to my dad, we will be questioning the prisoner they caught after dinner. Alpha Connor wanted us to enjoy the holiday without thinking about the dangers lurking for a few hours. My dad and the alpha have strengthened the security around the pack. The sentinels and guards are doubled up and rotated every 4 hours to keep them fresh. We have a pack of over four thousand, so we have more than enough warriors to keep the rotation going for as long as we need.
Holiday dinners at the pack are amazing. Everyone that lives on the main pack land is present. We set up in the main meeting hall and just enjoy each other's company. All of my friends and I sit at our own table. Our parents sit at the head table. This is what a pack family is all about. It is good to be home.
I notice that Trevor seems much more relaxed. Maurice tells me that Trevor is excelling at the academy. I guess he has grown up. I feel myself releasing all of the pain and anger. I can see Trevor and me being friends again. This is the Trevor that I knew. This is the friend that I grew up with. Maurice told me that Trevor will be the liaison for the protector team, so I guess it is a good thing that I am putting the past behind me, but honestly, I think Trevor has earned my respect again.