Chapter 14
Jessica’s POV
We reach the edge of the forest; Tyler is a few yards behind us and stops, sniffs the air; shakes his head, and starts walking again. Jonas nudges Vanessa and I and shifts. We follow his lead and shift back; we collect our clothes and get dressed. Alex places his arms around our shoulders, and whispers “the cats like to teach the youngsters how to stalk at night, anyone out here is fair game” pointing to something behind Tyler.
We both look in the direction Alex was pointing; there was an adolescent male lion, stalking Tyler. The hairs on Tyler’s back stand up, he stops and sniffs the air again. Olivia begins to look worried; “don’t worry Liv, he won’t hurt him” Alex tells her. We watch as the scene unfolds; Tyler starts walking again; the young lion stalks closer to him and leaps on Tyler’s back roaring. Tyler growls at the youngster as he jumps off, grinning into the forest.
We all burst out laughing when Jonathon shifts back, “It’s not funny.” “Yes, it is” Olivia calls out, laughing harder.
…………….
Tyler’s POV
After a great run, we all head back to the pack house, **“I’m starving”** Jonny tells me as we reach the forest edge. I stay a few yards back, admiring Vanessa’s ass. I can feel something is not right and stop to sniff the air.** “What’s wrong?”** Jonathon asks me, **“I’m not sure,”** shaking my head and walking forward. **“Where not changing back until I know what it is”** I tell him.
The hairs on my back start to spike, there is definitely something out here. I sniff the air again. Nothing. It feels as though something is stalking me. **“Can you see anything?”** Jonny asks. **“No,**” I keep walking; I hear a young roar and an adolescent lion pounces on my back from behind, I growl in disgust as the youngster gets off me grinning into the forest.
Alex, Jessica and Olivia are all laughing in my direction. Jonathon and I shift back, “It’s not funny” he grumbles, grabbing his clothes. “Yes, it is” Olivia sings out, I swear she’s laughing the most.
“Let’s go get something to eat” Jessica says; her stomach starting to rumble at the thought of food. The laughter coming from the crowd, gets louder.
…………..
Jessica’s POV
I think we will make a great team of Alphas and their Lunas. I need to talk with Olivia first, but me, I think we should do it. **“You and Olivia will be the best Lunas”** Celeste agreed. **“You really think so?”** **“I wouldn’t say it, if I didn’t.”**
Walking into the dining area; we grab our food from a selection of chicken, beef, fish and vegetables and head to a table near the front; mind linking Olivia, *“so tell me what happened.”* *"What happened with what?"* she asks. What happened with what? I know her better than that. She can't play the innocent card with me. *"How the fuck did you accidently electrocute your mate?"* I answer. *"Oh, that"* she moans. *"I wasn’t sure at first, it just happened. I ran to mum and dad’s room crying. I told mum what had happened and she just laughed at me."*
*"Why would she do that?"* Looking confused, *"well, apparently with some witches; when they feel nervous or threatened, their skin will let off a warning. In my case it was an electric shock, mum says she’s burnt dad a few times."* I stifle a giggle picturing Aunty Gilda burning Uncle Joseph. *"Why haven’t you done it before?" "Mum says she thinks it’s laid dormant ‘til now. Given we were scared every day for the last 4 years and the power it uses to manifest; I didn’t know I was able to do it until we were away from Emerald Moon"* she explains.
*"Are you going to try again?"* I enquire, *"I’ve been trying too, but Jonny is worried he’s going to get electrocuted again"* starting another giggle.
“Care to share what you ladies are talking about?” Alex asks, grinning to himself. “Nothing” Olivia and myself say in unison. I give him a kiss; “I’ll tell you later.”
We continue eating, a few giggles slipping out; Aunty Gil and Uncle Joe walk over; plates piled full of food in their hands, “Jessi, I’m so happy to see you” Joseph smiles, “I am glad to be back” I smile back at him. “When are you three going to join the pack officially?” he looks at Olivia, Jonathon and myself, “we haven’t spoken about that yet Joe, I wanted to get them settled in first before we do the informalities;” Alex informs Gilda and Joe as they sit down with their plates and starts eating.
I’ve been wondering why we couldn’t mind link anyone else here; I couldn’t even mind link Mum, Cath or Nathanial. Even though we are family; it must have something to do with not being a part of this pack.
**“Our mind link is connected to our pack mark or mate mark; you and Liv can mind link because you still have the Desert moon mark on your shoulder”** Celeste informs. It didn’t occur to me, everyone else has a different mark. What is the new pack anyway?
“Umm, Alex,” I call to get he’s attention, “Yes dear” he responds; smiling, he’s brown eyes twinkling at me. “You didn’t exactly tell Liv and me where here was. Nor did you tell us what our new pack is.” He scrunches he’s eyebrows realizing he didn’t, “My Bad?” “What is with that saying?" I could never really understand it, My Bad! Yes you are. "Are you going to tell us or do we have to guess?”
“We are the Gold Moon Pack. Each of the Packs here are named after a color. There is Gold Moon, Grey Moon, Yellow Moon, Red Moon, Bronze Moon and Blue Moon. The Werecats are in prides; they are Orange Pride and Green Pride, and the Werebears are in Clans. Brown Clan, Silver Clan and Black Clan. And there is the White Coven. If you look at the skirtings and trimmings on the floors and walls, it’s painted Gold. All the building are like this with the color of the Pack, Pride, Clan or Coven.”
“And we are 100 miles south of where Desert Moon used to be,” Gilda tells us; putting a piece of potato in her mouth. “Did they tell you how we all came to be here?” Joseph asked. “Luna Leanne said everyone had come across a rouge Alpha and was run out of their territories” Olivia answered. “In a manner of speaking, yes” Gilda replies. “That is the case for majority of species here, if not all. The Light Coven where I am from helped all of us here by placing safeguards around the territory so humans or other shifters can’t find us.”
“There have been some instances of humans accidently stumbling upon us at the falls but unless invited; other shifters can’t come here” Alex concludes.
**“What do you think, Cel?”** She was listening into the conversation, **“it should stop your fears now; Sebastian won’t be coming after you, Livvy and Jonny. I did tell you he is truly a ‘Dumbass’ if he tries. Not only does he have six wolf packs to contend with, but there are three bear clans, two cat prides and a witch coven”** she states. “**Alpha Sebastian and Betta Mark are two arrogant sons of bitches; I wouldn’t put it pass them to try.”** **“Try? Maybe. Succeed? They will be running away with their tails between their legs”** she says confidently.
I rejoin the conversation as Gilda and Joseph stand up from the table, holding their empty plates. “Liv, Jon, can you both pop over when you are done here? There is something I want to discuss with you both” Gilda asks. “Sure” they say in unison as the pair leave; taking their dirty plates and placing them on the trolley near the kitchen and walk out the door.
*‘Is everything ok?’* I ask Olivia. *‘Yeah, Mum just wants to talk about the electricity thing with Jonny. If all goes well, we will be marking each other tonight. Hey you and Alex should mark each other too. That would be so cool’* she adds as an afterthought. *‘Will see’* I say back to her.
Thoughts going through my mind how I can relax my nerves on the subject. **“How about you have a bath together.”** I look at her nervously, **“start in the bath; if all goes well, you can move it to the bed. Just let nature take its course”** she encourages. Hmm, yes, I think that’s a great idea; **"Eww Celeste; I don't need to see what you want to do with Jonas" "I'm just showing you nature at it's finest"** she laughs.