Chapter 34 TRAVE
A few things happen when I step outside the mansion to meet the rest of the pack. One, there is a lot of growling coming from one specific person who is dangerously close to shifting. Two, everyone looks like they are about to attack him with teeth bared and in wolf form. And three, that same specific wolf stands tall, dark, and possessive with my best friend wrapped in his arms. It only takes me seconds to realize what is happening. I have seen this same scene before...with mates.
Samuel stands silently by me with an intense expression on his face. He seems to be communicating a message to the pack to back off because seconds later they all stand down without hesitation. Luka has really provoked them.
Doreen finally manages to smile at her mate after the surprise wares off that it is Luka who was holding her. With the pack calmed down, he looks at her with so much love the entire pack is able to feel it.
Their love is infinite and I am happy for them.
My free spirited friend is positively consumed by the presence of Luka no one dares interrupt them. They are inside their own little world for the next few minutes and finally they rejoin us in the real world again, Luka never releasing her once.
"You need to confirm," Samuel says.
Luka gazes at my mate before he gives him a quick nod then speaks. "Doreen is my mate and I will claim her by the full moon tomorrow night."
Every wolf in the pack bows their heads in respect at their pack member. All mates and matings are widely accepted and respected by all.
When everyone's heads rise back up, Samuel gives his next order. "Shift and prepare to leave. We're due at Grace's former pack by sundown."
As the pack quickly scatters and disappears into the woods to change back into their human forms Samuel leads me to the vehicle prepared for us. He climbs in after me. When the new mates linger behind staying rooted in their spots it puzzles me. aren't they coming with is? Luka is one of the best fighters in the pack.
I watch as Luka turns Doreen around and they walk towards the house, soon disappearing inside.
"You discharged Luka?"
Samuel nods. "I think it was necessary given the circumstances. He plans to mark and possibly mate your best friend by the next full moon and we won't be back by then. Seeing as the marking can be incredibly painful for some wolves I thought it would be better if they stayed here."
"But who will replace him?"
"I linked Charles and Dominic and recruited them when Luka and Doreen were confirmed mates. They, along with Kyle, will be with us the whole time we'll be away. Everyone else will scope out their territory and keep an eye on things for us."
I don't miss how curt he is being with me.
"You can talk to me, you know," I remind him. "If there's something's wrong-"
"Why would something be wrong?"
I shrug. "I don't know. You just seem different." I want to ask him if something has changed, but I already know the answer to that without asking. I wonder if that is what is bothering him. Luka is a good friend and fighter to Samuel. Maybe he feels like we are at a disadvantage now.
"I don't like when things change," he says. "When I make plans I intend them to be followed through with."
So I am right. He is worried. I can feel it in his words when he speaks. My tough Alpha mate is actually troubled for once.
"It takes two of my best fighters just to replace Luka. He's indispensable."
"But won't you feel better he's here looking out for the pack while we're gone? He's still an advantage even if he's not with us."
He seems to consider my words before visibly relaxing a little. His tough exterior begins to soften again.
"He is," he agrees. He wraps his harm around my back and pulls me into him. I rest my head on his shoulder. "And you're right. That's why you make such a great Luna. You always see the good in every situation."
His face drops down and his lips meet mine. They are warm and soft then become something more. Something that can only be finished when we are alone.
When the wolves return from the woods they pour into the vehicles. All of them are at maximum capacity. Samuel isn't taking any chances that something might go wrong. Though I believe his methods for our protection are a bit extreme, he is a good Alpha.
We disagree when it comes to my old pack. Even though I believe they won't attack us, he won't rule out any possibility. Ultimately it is his decision that matters and I trust it completely.
Our SUV rolls into The Highway Motel. It is the only place in my small town that an outside traveler can stay when passing through town. It isn't very new and somewhat run down, but it is a roof over our heads. Though, most of the pack will probably prefer to sleep in their wolf forms on the cold, hard ground. Any place nicer than this Motel is in the next town over.
Our town has a couple of nice hotels and even some cabins down by the lake. I had only stayed there once with Doreen for our high school graduation party. I don't remember most of our stay though, but it was the first and only time I ever drank alcohol.
Dominic goes inside the motel office to get us our rooms and returns with ten keys for the ten rooms they have. Our pack is filling their vacancy for the night and I'm sure they are appreciative of the business. I blush when he hands Samuel and I the key to the honeymoon suite. It is embarrassing knowing that Dominic assumes we'd want it. Maybe it is because it is the nicest room in the place.
"Thanks," I mutter as I accept the key and quickly head towards the motel. The moment is awkward enough though as always, Dominic showed no emotion. He is one closed book. I still don't know how Samuel expects us to be friends. It seems very unlikely.
When I open the door to our room Samuel joins me inside. He does a quick assessment of our environment and remains silent. No doubt he is used to staying in much nicer places. He just looks so out of place here.
My eyes begin to wander around the room studying all that it holds. It includes a king sized bed with a red comforter and matching pillows, One dresser and mirror, one picture on the pale yellow walls, a table with two chairs and a phone, one box T.V with a rabbit ear antenna, and a bathroom.
I pick up the remote turn on the T.V. Some missing persons report is on the news, but neither of us pay much attention to it as we settle into the room. After we finish Samuel goes over the plan for tomorrow and asks me to phone my former Alpha. There has to be some terms set before we step foot on the territory tomorrow.
When Samuel takes the phone from me to speak to him I grab the ice bucket from the dresser and go to find the ice machine.
Mostly everyone seems already inside their rooms besides the wolves that have been assigned to keep a watch over the night. No one notices me leave my room until I reach the machine at the end of the corridor. Dominic stands guard.
"Luna," he greets."Dominic."
He remains quiet as I begin filling the ice bucket with frozen chips. When the machine stops before it is full, I curse it and give it a swift kick.
After I return to the room with the bucket half full, Samuel is out of the bathroom, sitting in one of the wooden chairs by the window watching T.V.
I sit the bucket down in the dresser and grab one of the plastic wrapped cups beside it and empty some ice into my cup. I sit next to him and begin crunching on it. He slowly turns from the T.V and a grin begins to form on his face. It is the first time he has smiled since leaving our territory.
"Suzie loves ice chips too," he says.
"You must miss her."
"I worry. I don't know if my aunt and uncle can handle her while we're gone. They'd let her get away with murder."
I giggled and it feels nice. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
He reaches across the table and runs his hand through my hair, his eyes mirroring what I feel...love.
How are things with the pack? Did you call Dylan?" I ask him.
He yawns, removes his hand from my hair and nods. "He has things under control. He's been questioning the she wolf again."
Worry for my friend rises. If she was going to attack Samuel, an Alpha, she wouldn't think twice about attacking Dylan.
"Is that really safe?"
"It's his job. Someone has to do it."
I suppose he is right, but that doesn't make me feel any better about it. As far as I am concerned, she is still dangerous.
"I hope he's careful."
"He's dealt with the violent types before. He knows what he's doing."
Hm. I hope he is right.
Samuel and I soon go to bed. Then, before we know it, we are waking up and on our way to our destination.
When we pass by the cafe I used to work at, what used to be my life, I realize how much I have missed it. Not the work so much, but the customers and my co workers. Everything is just so different now than it was then. The feeling is the same when we pass by my former college. The memories.
We finally arrive at my parent's house where the Alpha is waiting to greet us a little after ten A.M. My mom and dad, along with other important wolves from the pack, are there to greet us as well.
Both the Alpha's bow their heads at each other in mutual respect as does the packs. There is a short silence between them until my mom smiles and says my name. She runs from the house and encloses me into a tight hug. It feels like I haven't seen her in ages. I have missed her.
From the house my dad smiles and waves to us. I can tell he misses me too, but he is trying to remain cool and reserved in front of his Alpha.
When mom releases me and bows her head to Samuel. "It's good to see you again, Samuel."
"You too, Mrs. Brooks."
My eyes drift over everyone gathered in front of my house as my mom strolls me past them with her arm around me and enters into the house. Once everyone is inside I notice that of all the people there Logan is not one among them. Strangely that doesn't seem to bother me. The mating has done its job.
Logan's father has a sad expression on his face as does his the other wolves.
My mom pats my shoulder softly giving us the floor. Dominic and Kyle keep a close distance to me and Samuel, being no further than arms length. They take their security detail very seriously.
"Thank you for coming." The silence inside the room is broken as Logan's father begins to speak. "You'll have to forgive me if I'm not in the best of spirits. There have been some things happening in the pack recently and we're all a little worried."
We remain silent as he continues to explain.
"As you already know Josephine and Logan are expecting their first pup in the fall," he reminds me.
I nod.
"Josephine nearly lost the baby early yesterday morning. She's been put on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. They don't know if the pup will survive."
I let out a breath of surprise. "I'm so sorry."
I look to Samuel in sadness and guilt. We both know the reason Josephine almost lost her baby. It is our fault. We caused it. We completed the mating process. They must have felt everything.
"I know I have no right to ask this of you, but I was hoping you could talk to him. He's not been the same since it happened."
I feel Samuel tense at this request and his wolf is dangerously close to surfacing. I reach out and touch his hand to calm him down and it works. He instantly calms.
"I'm not sure what I can do, but I'll try."
The words slip from my lips hesitantly. It isn't that I owe Logan anything anymore, but if consoling him after the near loss of his child is what is being asked of me, I can do that. I am not heartless, regardless of what he has done to me in the past. I am a better person than that.
"Thank you, he said you will know where to find him, he'll be waiting." The Alpha says.
Of course I know where to find Samuel, deep in the woods at his favorite spot.