Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Chapter 55 Planning Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
When they arrived home, Thea told the warriors working the gates to watch out for any wolves looking for asylum. Even ones that looked like rogues.
“There have been she-wolves leaving their packs because of abuse. They wouldn’t have gone rogue otherwise. If anyone says ‘let’s go to the bar,’ notify me immediately.”
“Yes, Luna.”
“Please inform all the guards who work the gates,” Thea said.
“Yes, Luna.”
“Thank you,” Thea said.
The triplets and Thea went to the Alpha’s office next and told him everything that happened at school.
“We’ll take in anyone who leaves their pack,” Alpha Ulric said. “You understand that their Alphas may want what they view as their property back?”
“Yes, sir,” they all said together.
“What are you willing to do to protect these wolves and she-wolves?”
“I think it may be time to call a meeting between like- minded Alphas,” Thea said.
“See who is willing to be an ally. If we have enough support, when the Alphas who have slaves come to demand them back, they’ll see they don’t have the power or numbers to take them back by force.”
“You’re willing to go to war?” Alpha Ulric said.
“I am. I know I don’t have a wolf to fight, but our pack is stronger, bigger, and better trained than any other. Once these wolves join the pack, we will teach them to fight too. They’ve been malnourished and haven’t had the chance to train.” Thea sighed.
“Should I ask the pack if they’re willing to fight to protect these wolves since I can’t?”
“No,” Alpha Ulric said. “We don’t live in democratic societies. Alphas are monarchs. We lead. Ideally, we lead with what we know is right. It may be a flawed system when evil people come to power, but when good people are in power, we can’t let evil have influence. That’s how packs develop slaves, omegas, and cultures of abuse. Soon, your word will be law. You will have to enforce that law from time to time. There will always be dissenters, people who want to rebel, take power, test limits. You can’t let them. You lead. You punish crimes, which includes insubordination. One of your greatest strengths is your compassion, Thea, but there’s a light and shadow side to every trait. Don’t let your compassion blind you to people who need sternness. I think now is a good time to practice being stern.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You have my support on this, but I’m putting it all in your hands,” Alpha Ulric said. “After all, you all will be their leaders soon, and you’ll be their leaders for the rest of their lives. It should be you they build their loyalty to.”
“We’ll still need you to accept them into the pack, officially,” Alaric said.
“No, you don’t,” Alpha Ulric said.
“What do you mean?” Conri said.
“Now that you’ve shifted,” Alpha Ulric said. “You have your Alpha powers. Your Alpha tone will get stronger when I pass the acting title to you, but you have the magic to accept people into the pack. Do you remember the words?”
“Yes,” the triplets said in unison.
“Then you’re good.”
“Sir, will you call the meeting of Alphas?” Thea said.
“Yes. I was planning something similar anyway,” Alpha Ulric said.
Thea smiled.
“I will expect all of you to attend,” Alpha Ulric said.
“Yes, sir,” they said.
“Anything else?”
The triplets and Thea shook their heads.
“Then go put things in motion,” Alpha Ulric said.
The triplets and Thea left the Alpha’s office.
“What’s first?” Kai said.
“We need to secure lodging and clothes for them. They’ll probably be coming with nothing,” Alaric said.
“They may need medical attention. To be safe, we should have everyone checked out anyway. We’ll need to notify the pack doctor. He’ll know what to prepare for.”
Thea nodded. “Good thinking. They may feel safer sharing rooms, but we can give them that option. Maybe we set up a Section in the pack house for the new members. Have a routine. Someone comes
in. They get a warm meal, shower, new clothes, and room. They see the pack doctor. Give them a little time to get a feel for the place, then accept them into the pack.”
“I’ll talk to the doctor then set up the rooms, clothes, and such,” Alaric said.
“Thank you,” Thea said.
“We’re going to need to build up their confidence. They were all small and weak. They’re probably malnourished. We’ll have to teach them how they’re going to be treated here. They eat with the pack. They train with the pack. Everyone needs to help them, befriend them, and go easy on them until they get meat on their bones and confidence in themselves.”
“I’ll talk to the pack, let them know what’s going on,” Conri said. “What’s expected of them.”
“We’ll need to let the patrol know to keep an eye out both for rogues seeking asylum and for people trying to get their slaves back,” Kai said. “Both groups should be easy to identify. I’ll talk with the warriors.”
“I want to make a stop at the apothecary,” Thea said. “I wonder if he could make a pepper spray for werewolves. I don’t like the idea of any of our people getting hurt or dying because of this. Maybe we can give them nonlethal weapons for crowd control in case the other packs attack.”
“I love that brain of yours,” Kai said. He kissed the top of her head.
“Maybe everyone should have pepper spray,” Thea said, thinking out loud.
Alaric went to secure the rooms, Kai went to talk to the patrol warriors, Conri went to afternoon training to speak to the pack members about what to expect and how to interact with any new members, and Thea went to the apothecary, trailed by four Delta team guards. “Mr. Garrity,” Thea said when she walked into the apothecary store.
“Luna, it’s a pleasure to see you,” he said with a bow.
“You too.”
“What can I get for you?”
“Nothing right now,” Thea said. “I want to talk to you about making something. I remember you made a concoction for masking scent. I was wondering if you could make something like pepper spray for werewolves. Maybe for witches and vampires too, but first, let’s focus on werewolves. I’d like to give our warriors nonlethal weapons for crowd control. Do you have any ideas on this front?”
Mr. Garrity nodded, thinking.
“I can see the wheels turning,” Thea said.
“Yes. I have some ideas. I’ll get started right away and come up with some initial mock-ups.”
“Excellent. If the warriors have any ideas or requests for delivery or form of weapon, could you work with them to make something functional?”
“Absolutely,” Mr. Garrity said.
“And if possible, maybe an antidote to the weapons. We don’t want to hinder our men, do we?” Thea said.
“No, Luna, we don’t. If we use wolfsbane, there is no antidote, but there are other things we can use to debilitate that have counter agents.”
“Thank you, Mr. Garrity.”
“My pleasure, Luna.”
Thea left and started toward the training field.
“Do you guys have any thoughts on weapons that could be useful for Delta team?” Thea said to her guards.
“I know you’re on duty. You don’t have to answer me now. Talk to the others. Let me or Mr. Garrity know what you want.”
“Yes, Luna.”
Thea came up behind Conri as he was talking to the training group. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him from behind. If anyone else had come up behind him, he would have assumed it was an enemy and attacked. He knew it was her because of the sparks he felt from her touch. Plus, he smelled her coming, and she was saying, “I love you, I love you,” in his mind.
He smiled and leaned into her touch as he spoke. His hands intertwined with hers. The crowd all smiled at their display of affection.
“Are we all clear?” Conri said.
The group nodded. “Yes, sir,” they said. Most of the kids who saw the scene at lunch weren’t surprised this was happening.
Thea waved to everyone, and they bowed their heads to her.
“We don’t know when we’ll start getting these newcomers, but it could be very soon,” Conri said. “Okay, carry on.”
The warriors who took over leading training when the triplets and Thea had to step down resumed the day’s itinerary.
Conri bent down, and Thea jumped on his back. He gave her a piggyback ride to the packhouse.
“Kai’s on his way,” Conri said. “Alaric is about finished.” “Do you guys want to go for a run?” Thea said. She thought it to Kai and Alaric.
“Kai and Alaric said yes, but are you up for it?” Conri said.
“Maybe if you kiss me real good first,” she said.
He whipped her around so she was straddling his front and kissed her on the steps in front of the pack house. After a few minutes of passionate kissing, Kai arrived and pulled Thea off Conri. He pushed her backward and pinned her against the wall.
“You’ve been driving me crazy all day,” Kai whispered against her ear.
“Mmm, I plan on keeping it up,” Thea said. She kissed his neck, and her hands ran over the rippling muscles of his back. He sucked on his mark, and she melted. She kissed up to his jaw, and he met her lips with his own.
“ Why don’t you go get a few condoms from our room?” she thought to him.
He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. “Are you up for that?”
The last time they were intimate was before the attack. They had cuddled and kissed, but nothing passionate since then. The doctor had forbidden it, and she hadn’t felt physically or emotionally well enough anyway.
She nodded. “I want to try.”
He was gone in a flash. Thea laughed.
“What was that about?” Conri said.
“He’s getting condoms,” Thea said in her mind.
Conri’s eyebrows shot up. He walked over and gathered her in his arms.
“There’s no rush, babe. We don’t expect anything from you. You know you don’t have to if you’re not up to it,” he said.
“I think I am. The doctor said it was okay. I feel better.” She ran her fingers through his hair and kissed him. “I miss you.”
“I miss you more, but tell us if you want to stop.”
“I will.”