Chapter 76

Amelie

"I love you. Enjoy the run, don't overdo it, and wear out the new pups." I give Gideon a wink. He seems off, a little distant, not cold or dismissive, but like something is on his mind lately, and he doesn't want to share.

He smiles back. "I have to see what they are made of, don't I." It all feels forced, and he rushes away to shift. I'll have to get him to spill it later. For now, I needed to focus on finishing up prep for our pack celebration.

Tonight we are doing a big outdoor party in what is usually the training field. We don't have much today since the Packhouse staff has taken care of everything. I'll have to give Becky a bonus. She's doing an excellent job of managing the staff. I'm so glad she was mated to Benjamin.

It's extra special because the non-affiliated wolves all decided to join our pack. This is their first-pack event. Bailey is slowly transitioning into her role as a Delta-Female, and I couldn't be prouder of her. She is not letting the horrors she faced stop her from being happy. Matt adores her, and the mate bond is helping her heal. Two of the males wolve also found their mates here as well. Faris, who drew the picture of the tattoo, found his mate at the hospital; she was a nurse. Now he's studying to become one as well. It was a blessing I got to witness it all firsthand as well.

We are watching the children run around and play we I turn to Shay and Jordan, "I've never heard how you both meet your mates?"

They both smile and look at each other. Shay answers, "We met them at the same time during our Durit Guard interviews, actually."

"Oh wow. I didn't know you both had applied to the Druit Guard before meeting our mates. Why did you both want to join?" I knew a lot about them both, but I didn't realize this.

"Well, as you know, I am an Alpha's daughter. What most don't know is I am adopted. My mother found me on the edge of our territory when I was two years old, just wandering around by myself." Her expression changes. She looks a bit sad.

She continues. "They could never find my birth parents, so my mother, the Luna of the Clear Lake Pack near Houston, TX, took me in as hers. She had always wanted a daughter and said the goddess blessed her with me. I was raised as an Alpha's daughter; our pack is small but loving. When my older brother took over, I found myself wanting to find my purpose as well. I trained our warriors, but I wanted more. I talked to my family about it, and they suggested I join the Druit Guard for a few years. My father always felt I held a bigger destiny and didn't want to hold me back. I applied and came here for my interview with Alpha Gideon. When I walked into the room, Tyson was with him, and I stopped in my tracks. He jumped the table losing his cowboy hat in the process. He took me in his arms and gave me the most passionate kiss I had ever been given in my life. That was six years ago, and I still never had my interview." We all laughed; I could see Tyson doing that.

Shay has the biggest smile on her face. "You know it's funny this city girl from Texas came all the way north to find her a cowboy!" We erupt in laughter again. "My family was more than excited to find out I was mated to such a powerful Beta and pack. Easten is the greatest blessing I could ever ask for, and he will be a strong Beta one day. My father was right; I had a greater destiny to be the Beta-Female of the Druit Guard is an honor. I'm so thankful my family encouraged me to find my purpose."

"I'm so thankful they did too. I don't know what I would do without you here." I hug Shay. We have become friends and a team in the short time of my being here. I can honestly say I trust her.

I turn to Jordan, "So what brought you to Druit Guard?" I regret my question as soon as I ask. I see the pain in Jordan's eyes. I know it has to do with her father. "I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to relive it."

"No, it's OK. Knowing what I know now. I'm thankful for the sacrifice my father made for me; otherwise, Ryan wouldn't be here because I would probably have been killed along with him." Her eyes are glassy, and she tries to blink them away.

"We are here for you. If it helps to talk about it, we will lessen." I take her hand and claps it in both of mine.

Jordan takes a deep breath. "Six years ago, when Alpha Lars Sibley took over as Alpha, he forced my father to step down as Beta and appointed Gavin Bryant as his Beta. I was an only child. My mother died in a car accident when I was four, and my father would not take a chosen mate. Alpha Lars refused to acknowledge me as his Beta because I was female and my father was older, so I guess it was bound to happen. My father blindsided me one day. He had filled out the application for me for the Druit Guard and set up my interview." A single tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away and straightened her back, and continued. "We argued over it, but I gave in when he broke down crying that it was the only place he knew I would be safe."

I watch as her eyes wander over to Ryan playing with Rose. A small smile comes across her lips but doesn't reflect in her eyes. "I'm just glad he got to hold his grandson before he was murdered. Knowing what I know now, I would have forced him to come with me. The day I met Marcus saved my life. I was ready to tell Alpha Gideon that I didn't want to join the Druit Guard and walk away, go back to the Death Vally Pack. When I walked into that interview room and felt the mate pull, there was no going back." A laugh and a tear escape from Jordan at the same time.

Finally, her smile reaches her eyes. "Marcus picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and carried me out of the interview room like a caveman. I was in complete shock, but I didn't even fight him. Once outside, he set me down and cupped my face in his hands, and just stared at me for what felt like hours, but it was only minutes. The first words out of his mouth were 'you're real.' Then we kissed for the first time. I have never felt more at peace than I do when I'm with him. Marcus gave me a home again."

I'm launching myself at Jordan, pulling her into the best hug I can give with my belly getting in the way. I'm sobbing, hormones going into overdrive when all of a sudden I feel it! The pack-bond alert. It's something only the Alpha and Luna have. It's one of the pups newly shifted.

I try to bond-link Gideon, "What's going on?"

"One of the new pups got injured. I'll tell you more later." He cut off the link.

I turn to my team, "A pup got hurt on the run."

"Oh no! Who was it? Are they OK?" Shay asks.

"I don't know the details, but Gideon is handling it, so it should be fine. We better finish everything up. They will be back soon." I try not to worry but knowing a child was hurt weighs heavy on my heart.

From the treeline, I see a man carrying a young boy and a woman following right behind. I look closer, and I see it's Mary and her son William, the man holding him must be her mate. I haven't met him yet. Mary was one of the few I would let watch the twins. I get Shay and Jordan's attention, and they sprint over. I'm not moving fast these days, so I stay near the pups.

"How is he?" I mind-link Shay.

"He's got a broken arm. Brendon said he got caught in a hunter's trap." She links me back, and I'm floored. How did a hunter's trap get out there?

"Escotre them to the hospital and let me know how they are doing." I drop my head and pinch my brow. What is going on? We can't even celebrate in peace.

I can't take it. I need to know how this happened. How dare someone harms one of my pack! "Gideon, what is going on? How did a hunter's trap get into our territory?" I'm screaming through the mate-link; Inari is growling. If I could shift, I would have to fight Inari for control not to. It's not recommended to shift while pregnant. While shifting, your whole body changes, and it can induce labor or miscarriage. Nothing happens sometimes; it doesn't matter as Inari is sealed, but I know she wants out more than ever.

I know Gideon can feel all that I'm going through, "Am, I'm heading back. I will tell you everything after you calm down. You are going to make the new pack members cry. Inari, pull it in!"

I close my eyes and breath deep in and out, "Inari, we can do this. I know you want to shift, but we couldn't. Anyways we are pregnant. We need to get our aura under control."

"Ulv is angry. I can feel it. This is not a simple hunter's trap in the woods. I know it. He's in a rage; he wants blood." Inari snarls, and I can feel her uneasiness, then I feel his too. She's right. It's not just Ulv in a rage, Gideon too.

"I'm heading to our wing. You are angry, and I'm feeding off it and cannot calm down. Meet me there. We can join the party after." I bond-link Gideon. This is pointless. If we are both this upset, we will have the whole pack on its knees instead of celebrating.

"I'll meet you there." He cut the link.

I mind-link my team, "Watch the twins Gideon and I need to have a private talk."