Chapter 62 - Plans and decisions

**Jack** -

We make our way slowly through our territory, enjoying knowing we are all home and safe, knowing we were successful in our mission, in large part thanks to Dr Thorne and this girl Tara who has tagged along. Cassie is still in my arms, chattering away to Daisy over my shoulder, about all the things they will need to buy for Dr Thorne and Tara. Tara holds herself back, keeping to herself, but I can sense that she is excited by what the girls are discussing. I plan to get Tara alone to hear her story, I get the sense it isn't a pleasant tale and I don't want her to feel conscious, if the others knowing makes her uncomfortable, then they need not know, as her Luna, Cassie will need to know but nobody else will unless Tara decides to tell them herself. Alpha Sven is sleeping again, laid out on the stretcher between Dave and Dr Thorne, and Dr Thorne is in deep discussion with Dave about something but, always the doctor, I see he is keeping a very close eye on his patient throughout his discussion. Everything in my world is right. So long as Cassie is with me, happy and healthy, all is well, I am happy and can breathe easily. I can't wait to formally introduce her to the pack, to mate and mark her, to have her mark on me, after initiating Tara and Thorne into the pack, that will be my next priority. Something in Cassie's tone pulls me from my musings and I tune in to what she is talking about. She is asking Daisy to help her train, her eyes light up brilliantly when Daisy agrees she needs some training and tells her they will begin as soon as possible, a small voice carries over the giggling and planning coming from my precious cargo, Tara is asking if it would be possible for her to train as well and if it were possible Cassie's eyes get even brighter. I agree that training would be beneficial, not only does it increase strength and the ability to defend one's self, it also boosts confidence, something both my mate and Tara seem to lack. Mulling over the options I decide they will both have private lessons with Daisy and Jason, no other man will be touching my mate and I know the Gamma/Luna bond will prevent Jason from causing Cassie harm. Tara and Thorne will need somewhere to sleep, Dr Thorne can use the rooms provided for medical staff at the hospital, there is an empty suite as we have been looking for a new doctor so that works out perfectly, Tara, she may need to stay in the pack house, on the lower levels with the other unmated wolves, I believe there is an empty room on the female floor, I will have to check with Brian, he knows that sort of thing. I plan to call a meeting in the morning with my Beta Gamma and Delta to go over everything that has happened and how we plan to prevent a repeat, these subjects will also be added to the agenda.

**Cassie** -

Daisy and I are making plans, plans for shopping, plans for me to begin training, and via a private mindlink, which we will discuss later, ways to help Tara out of her shell, we saw the longing in her eyes when we were discussing going on shopping trips and the interest she tried to quell when we talked about training. Neither of us missed the look in her eyes when we first saw her, pain and loss, add the fading bruise like marks on her skin and I'm sure that equals a very sad and intriguing tale. I am hoping by talking about shopping we can convince her to join us and by spending time with us our duo becomes a trio, I get the sense she will compliment us perfectly.

Now back to the mind link, Daisy told me all about her visit from the moon goddess, how she, Dave and Jack have the same gifts as me, and what the goddess told them about her plans to grant it to all who are worthy. Knowing Jack has the link and the connection to his wolf I decide to link with him, hey handsome I whisper in his mind and his eyes shoot to mine.

*Hi beautiful, Daisy told you?

Yeah, now we can talk privately while in a crowd.

Pretty cool, and practical too, now you can tell me if anything happens and I can react even if we aren't together, quicker than phones.

That's definitely one good thing about this. I reply slyly, but I can think of another much more important benefit.

What are you up to minx?* He asks smirking at me, I blush a little before telling him what I really want to have happen between us as soon as we get home. Jack almost drops me when I start going into detail about what I plan to do to him once we are alone and it takes him a minute to answer. Gulping hard he takes a breath and lets it out slowly, *GROSS GUYS! urgh we all need more practice with this link thing before y'all start talking dirty sh!t!* Daisy's voice rings in my mind while Dave chuckles somewhere behind me. Blushing furiously now I mutter an apology and decide she is right, those words were meant for Jack but I sent them to the others as well, so embarrassing. I don't speak again after that, too embarrassed and too nervous to try again for now.

**Alpha Sven - **

They all think I am sleeping and I let them, I probably should be, what is to come will no doubt be exhausting, however in reality I am thinking of Lily, I am always thinking of her, wishing to join her has become a part of my core, something that I cannot and would not shake from my being. I've been watching Jack and Cassie and I see the same deep seated love that comes from more than just the bond, the love I had for my beautiful mate. I plan to join her soon, I just have to make sure my pack is safe first and I think I know just what to do. On the journey back from my pack to theirs I dreamt of someone I had not seen for many years, I found myself in the same field of daffodils with her, her welcoming smile, that of an old friend greeting me. I met her, as I said, many years ago, she visited me twice, once to encourage me to follow me heart in a decision I was fighting my mother over, I wanted to travel the packs, actively search for my mate, my mother thought I should wait, be patient, but the goddess agreed with me, she knew that Lily was in danger and needed me, the second time was after we had discovered Lily had been poisoned and could not bear children. The goddess assured me that one day I would find a girl that would lead me to the person I could trust with my pack, I had thought it was Cassie until I found out Ace was her mate, then I dismissed the idea for a moment but Lily had set her heart on Cassie and I trusted Lily implicitly so I decided to wait, and as I got to know her I began to love her like a daughter. Now I know my mate was right, Cassie is the answer to our problems, she has led me to Twin Lake's new Alpha, I can finally join Lily in peace. All I have to do is declare my intention to Alpha Jack and pass along my title formally and I can finally let go, I can be released from this pain and join her once more. When the goddess appears to me this time she tells me I am close, she looks over her shoulder and whispers conspiratorially "make sure you make the right choice, you will have plenty" then she vanishes like a wisp of smoke. I wonder who she means, but I think I have an idea, I think I need to decide between 2 men, both remarkable from what I have seen and heard.