Chapter 18

Starting in the Eastern border made sense since it was where some of the rogues came from. Once we arrived there all seemed calm. The men were training in the camp. The air fresh and crisp with a sweetness in the air. We walked up to the camp and were greeted immediately by the men. “Good day Alpha! What brings you to the Eastern border today?” “Since the rogue attack the other day, I wanted to make sure security is working tightly. As I see it is and the men are still training hard.” I smiled and nodded with approval as I said this.

The men in the Eastern border looked stronger, healthier, and ready as always. “Keep up the good work out here. Make sure you are keeping close guard on the edges and let me know if anything. I mean anything seems out of place. Even if it seems inconsequential. Understand?” “Yes Alpha. Is everything ok on the other borders?” he said, concerned that there was an issue elsewhere.

“We have had a rogue sighting in the North and your new Luna, whom you will meet soon, was attacked a few days ago.” “A new Luna?” He questioned with confusion and awe of his Alpha being given another mate.

“Yes. I have been given a second chance mate.” Smiling at the thought of Timber. “Congratulations Alpha.” Jonathon just nodded and smiled with gratitude that his pack was happy there was a new Luna.

When Alpha Johnathon’s first Luna had died, it was not only hard on Johnathon but the whole pack as a collective. The Luna is like the warmth in a cookie. The glue on a shelf. She makes everything make sense and hold together. She is the Alpha’s half that makes him complete as a leader and person.

The pack remembered when she died. It almost destroyed the entire pack with her passing. Alpha Johnathon, no matter how hard he tried couldn’t keep his mind. Neighboring packs thought him as weak with his indecisiveness. Then when his anger came out. All hell broke loose, and no one was safe until he calmed himself through a bottle and passed out.

It took a lot of time for his mind to settle and his heart's grief to subside enough for him to lead the pack again. When he did. He was merciless. Ruthless. Like the reasoning part of him left. The pack grew in strength and numbers as he would take young men from territories he conquered and make them join the pack and fight as warriors or die right then and there if they did not comply. All others would die immediately. Especially if he thought they were a threat.

After spending some time in the Eastern border, Andrew and Johnathon started the longest part of the journey down to the Southern border. It takes a couple days to get there since that’s the deepest part of the territory. Everything seemed well enough when they arrived and were greeted by security as they approached. ‘Good. They are on guard’ Johnathon thought to himself.

“How are things going in the Southern border? Where are the men?” I said as I looked around and couldn’t find them training. “Good day Alpha. Everything has been relatively quiet here. The men are on the new training grounds.” “Wonderful. How are the grounds working out? Good I hope.” “Yes Alpha. Better than good actually. We have been able to train more men in hand-to-hand weaponry combat since you started it.” “That’s great news. Bring us to it. I want to see the trainings myself. That is if you don’t mind? Do you?” “Oh, no Alpha. I can take you there right now.” We smiled and nodded at each other. Me wanting to see the new progress and him wanting to share their success with it.

The new training ground took up almost half of the Southern borders’ territory. It was complete with obstacle courses, a weapon, healing, and hand to hand combat rooms.” The building itself was large and kept under guard so no one who did not belong could enter. It was very impressive. “Are the men being transferred to other territory borders once their training is completed?” I was assured they were already. But still wanted to ask.

“Yes Alpha. Once the men have completed their training skills, they are sent to the Eastern Border mostly.”

“I want the men split between all the borders. Start sending them up the Western border on their way to the North. Have half of them stay there and the rest move up to the Northern. I want men spread out as they are coming out of the training grounds.” That makes sense why the Eastern border was so equipped when we went through there. Excellent!!

“Yes Alpha. There is a unit of men already to be reassigned throughout the territories’ borders. Would you like to see them in action?” He said smiling proudly about himself. “Of course. Andrew and I will also take them with us as we travel up the Western border to the North.” “Yes Alpha. They will be ready.”

After spending a few hours watching the men practice and show their fighting skills I was more than impressed. The new training grounds have by far exceeded my expectations. We ate. Spoke a little while longer with the megestanis in charge of the Southern border we left with 50 extra men in tow headed for the Western border.

“Good evening Alpha.” My other megestanis said as we came into the Western territory. “Good evening. So, what’s going on at the Western border? Have you seen any suspicious activity here?” Johnathon asked him.

“No Alpha. There has not been much activity here. We did notice a new scent we cannot seem to place though. Mostly over… there.” He said, pointing to the outskirts of the North West border where the forest came through.

“Have you sent men to investigate it?” Knowing they did but feeling the need to question it. “Yes Alpha. But they always come back empty. That is until yesterday. They found some sort of dwelling. It was not there last week. It's as if it just showed up overnight. You got here before we could send word to you Alpha.” Nervously hoping that he wouldn’t be punished for holding vitally harmful information.

He nodded in approval of this comment and decided it wasn’t a deliberate confinement of a possible threat. “I want a 24-hour extra surveillance. Have men patrol the area in groups of no less than four and send word if anything changes.”

“Yes Alpha. We could use more men in this area Alpha to aid in this increase of security.”

“That’s not a problem. We brought fifty new men just trained in the Southern territory. They are strong and well-equipped men. I will leave thirty here with you and take the other twenty with me to the North. Will this be enough extra help?”

“Yes Alpha! More than enough” smiling and nodding with great approval as if he didn’t expect this many more men. “Good. It’s settled then. Make sure they get lodging and whatever they need until they can make lodging for themselves.”

“Yes Alpha. Thank you Alpha. Alpha may I ask you something?!” “Yes. What is it?” Wondering what he could possibly be wanting now.

“Are the rumors true that there’s a new Luna?” He said cautiously not wanting to anger him. “Yes, it is true. I have been given a second chance mate. And she will be introduced to the pack shortly as your new Luna.” I said smiling and reassuring him all was well.

“Yes Alpha.” He said smiling and nodding congratulatory like and shook his hand.

It took Andrew and me a couple of days to arrive at the Northern border. Mostly because I wanted to investigate my territory. Normally I should take only a half a day to get there from the Western border because of the territory’s markings.

“Good day Alpha. What brings you back to the Northern Border?” I was met by the megestanis there.

“I’m here to check the perimeters that’s all. I know I was here a week ago but needed to verify all is still quiet.”

“Yes sir. All is still quiet. We haven’t seen anything since the last rogue attack.” Reassuring me that no new developments have arisen. “Have you smelled any new scents around?” I asked in disbelief.

“No sir nothing.” Looking a little puzzled from the questioning. “Well, I want security rounds increased to 24 hour four men surveillances just to make sure.” “Yes sir.” He said standing a little bit taller and at attention.

“I want to be notified if anything... I mean anything changes at all. Even the slightest. If a mouse runs through here, I want to know about it. Understood?” not wanting anything to sneak up on them again. “Yes Alpha. Understood.”

Johnathon was thinking about Timber the whole way back to the house. It had been almost a week since he had seen her while visiting the territory borders. I missed her scent. Her laugh. Her touch. Andrew and Johnathon shifted into their wolves and started to run back quickly to the house when they picked up another scent.