Chapter 141

Shawna POV

We visited with Dawson and Ashlynn for about an hour. Then Michael looked at his watch and groaned. "We should probably head out, we have a long trip ahead. I'm planning to cover enough ground to get to Shawna's pack before nightfall." This surprised me. It was easily ten hours by car, since we have to stay on main roads.

"You are planning to drive the whole way today?" Ashlynn asked, sounding as surprised as I felt.

"Yes, her parents are expecting us. I hadn't had a chance to tell Shawna, but I wanted to stay with them for a week. She hasn't seen them in over two years and they are excited to lay eyes on their daughter and make sure she is alive and healthy."

"Why didn't your parents come to the trial when it was happening?" Ashlynn asked.

"They didn't know," I replied quietly. "I never told them until it was all over. I was ashamed and didn't know what to say. It was Michael who convinced me to call them, once we arrived in Idaho," I squeezed my mates hand.

"Hadn't they been told you were alive?" Dawson asked. "Surely someone had told them something."

"No," Michael replied. "They were not told about it. As I recall, the council was worried they would wage war. If you recall, she wasn't the only one who had mysteriously disappeared during their war with the Godsend Pack." It was true. Prior to me, there had been at least three other she-wolves that had gone into the forest for something and never returned. Now we knew why. It was horrible to think what may have happened to them. Perhaps they are still alive, and perhaps not. I wasn't sure we would ever know.

"Oh wow," Ashlynn said quietly. "I'm truly sorry Shawna, but you will get to see them now. After all this time, it will be a nice coming home. Probably easier too, now that you are healthy again."

"Yes, I think so." I stood and Michael followed suit. "I do not look forward to this drive though. You could have warned me Michael," I teased. "I would have gotten more sleep last night." He looked at me with a mishcievious smile on his face.

"What fun would that have been?" He asked pulling me close and placing a soft kiss on my lips. "Anyway, we better hit the road. I mean it though, you two should come visit when you can. The invitation is always open."

"We'd love too visit," Ashlynn said. She stood as well, walked over and gave me a hug before she pressed a kiss to my cheek. "You take care, my friend" she whispered softly. "Call me anytime you need an ear. I will always be here for you."

"Thank you Ashlynn," I said as tear escaped my eye. I brushed it away and smiled. "I will call soon."

We finished our goodbyes and made our way outside, the sun peaking up from the East. Michael pulled me to him and the side of his truck and kissed me longingly. "I can't wait to start our lives for real," he said.

"Well we won't be starting anything any time soon if you don't stop kissing me and get to driving," I joked. Michael laughed and opened the truck door so I could climb in. I climbed up into the cab of his big quad cab and he shut the door, then ran around the hood and climbed in.

"You ready?" Michael asked as the trucks engine came to life.

"So ready," I said as we made our way down the long driveway of Lone Wolf Ranch.

Eight hours later and five stops to eat, get gas, use the bathroom and stretch our legs; we were crossing the Wyoming state line and heading up the long curving roads that would eventually find us in my packlands. It was extremely remote and difficult to get to in a car. One way in and one way out. Most of the time, my pack traveled in wolf form. It was just easier to get from place to place around the pack lands. We had vehicles parked at the bottom of the road, clothing packed into the trunks. This allowed us to move about freely in the Grand Tetons, then shift to human form, get dressed and drive into town. I wondered what Michael would think when he realized just where I came from. Half of our wolves were sometimes bordering on feral, they stayed in wolf form so much.

"Almost there," Michael said with a tired yawn. "How are you feeling about seeing your parents?" he asked.

"Umm good,"I said as I picked at a string on my jacket seam.

"That doesn't sound to convincing," Michael said with a chuckle.

Now seemed like a good time to just come out with what I was thinking. I turned in my seat so I was half facing Michael. "It's just that I don't want you to judge me or my family. They live differently, very off the grid so to speak. Visits to town are infrequent because the terrain is difficult." Michael looked at me with a quizzical look on his face.

"Okay," he finally said, sounding confused. "Not sure that matters much Shawna. These are your pack members, and I love you, so it doesn't matter much how they live." He pulled over so he could face me while we talked. "Should I be concerned about something? I am a big man and well trained, it's not like they are going to attack me. At least not win if they did," he chuckled.

Michael reached over and took my hand. "What's really bothering you?"

"I've been gone a long time. They were at war. There was a lot of loss. I just don't know what to expect. I don't want you judge us, them, me....." I waved my hand in the air. "You know what I mean."

"Shawna, you know me better than that. There's nothing to worry about," he said, stroking his thumb over my hand.

"They are poor Michael, they live simple lives." I gazed at him and waited for his response. He didn't seem at all concerned.

"I think you are making more out of this then there needs to be," he said. "I honestly don't care how much money they have, or anyone for that matter. Now," he turned back in his seat and put the truck in drive, "Let's get moving."