Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
“Next, I have applied for this pack to become official. Alphas Rik, Liam and Anders supported our claim, and we should know in the next couple of days if the application was approved.” The room erupts in loud cheering and foot stomping. “Once the application is approved, we will have an official ceremony naming all of your ranked pack members and when everyone has pledged their loyalty to us and this pack, we will have a pack link.” More cheers.
I wait for the cheering to die down again. “I had to choose a name for our pack. Your Luna and I chose together, and we hope that you all agree, that while it isn’t traditional, it is exactly what our pack is. Our pack’s name will be Safe Haven.” There is a moment of utter silence before the room erupts into applause, howls and cheers.
I smile. “I’m guessing that means you all agree.” I say and receive several chuckles.
“My next announcement is related to our pack becoming official. While I was away, I also applied for our new pack to participate in the Tournament of the Moon Goddess this year. The tournament will take place in three months’ time. If you are interested in participating, Carlos and I will be having additional training sessions to get pack members ready to participate.” There is a lot of chatter and quiet discussion at this announcement.
“I know that this might be scary for some of you. Most of you here ran from your previous pack. But remember, we will have an official pack and you will be part of that pack. Your previous Alpha or ranked members cannot take you from our pack.” I say but stop as I hear Grace growl beside me.
“And if they try, they will have to go through me.” Grace snarls with Maia overlaying in her voice. “We do not live in fear. And you do not have to cower away from those that have mistreated you in the past. So, do not let that be a factor in your choice to participate in the tournament.”
I can see that this has significantly impacted the pack members, but I still have possibly the most important announcement left.
“Finally,” and I receive a lot of laughter since this ‘announcement’ has gone on for nearly 30 minutes. “Alpha Liam and Alpha Rik have offered to loan this pack the money needed to rebuild our homes and buildings. Alpha Liam owns his own company, and that company has a construction business. He is willing to hire as many of our pack members as would like to work. He will pay us for rebuilding our pack. The repayment of the loan will come from the salaries that are you paid to build. Carlos, Noah and I have agreed that 50% of the salaries of everyone who works will go back into the loan. The rest belongs to you. It may sound like a lot of money taken from your pay, but remember, right now, you are not getting paid anything to rebuild, and it will take a lot longer to finish everything that needs to be done in this pack. Also, when the construction is complete, everyone will have their own home. Also, anyone who wants to continue working for Alpha Liam will have the opportunity to apply after our work here is complete.”
I turn and look at the omegas. “I also confirmed that anyone that may not be strong enough to help with the actual construction can also be hired to do things like painting, trimming, adding gutters, things like that. So, everyone is eligible to participate if you would like. Please think about it and let me, Beta Carlos or Gamma Noah know if you would like to participate. I told Alpha Liam I would have a list for him by Wednesday. Any questions?”
I answer a couple of questions, but mostly everyone looks like I did at first, overwhelmed and needing to take time to think about everything that I’ve told them.
Grace and I sit back down and begin eating, listening to the happy chatter goin on around us.
It looks like Safe Haven will become an official pack soon
The announcements went as well as expected over dinner. Afterward, I took a much-needed soak, mentally thanking Cara for the muscle soak. The rest of the week became a whirlwind.
I began training with Eli and Carlos in the morning and again in the afternoon. Afternoons are now three hours of training, the first two are required for warriors in the pack and the last hour is for those that want to participate in the tournament. We found out that the packs can only take their top 20 individuals, so our members will have to battle for their right to represent our pack. Eli and I are both pleasantly surprised at the number of individuals that are vying for those positions. It seems our pack members are proud of their pack, officially named Safe Haven.
That’s right. On Tuesday after we returned to our pack, Eli received a verbal notification from Alpha Anders that our pack was approved. We are official. Then on Wednesday, Eli informed Liam that 250 of our nearly 300 pack members want to be hired to rebuild our pack. I was stunned by the numbers. Basically, everyone that isn’t a pup will be helping at some level to rebuild. Eli wasn’t surprised at all. “Our people come from nothing Grace, the same as you and I. They left their packs with only the clothes on their backs in many instances. They understand the value of creating something for themselves and if they can make money for their family or future family in the process? Well, it’s the best opportunity that they’ve ever been given.”
Liam said he would bring his job superintendent over on Friday afternoon, since he and Angel will be staying for our ranked member ceremony on Saturday.. We’ve also invited Rik, Cara, Anders and Calista to participate and witness our pack becoming official since they have helped us to make it happen.
We sent another group out hunting for meat in preparation for the festivities on Saturday. The packhouse is bustling with the anticipation of having three visiting Alphas and Lunas. Summer has been making sure that the rooms are cleaned and cleared, with fresh linens. Autumn and Amber are working to create new work schedules starting on Monday since nearly every omega working in the kitchens and packhouse requested to assist at some level with the rebuilding effort.
Our hunters caught three wild hogs, allowing us to plan for a large barbeque with pork butts, loins and ribs. Because we have so many potatoes, we’ll be making potato salad and since I had purchased pounds of macaroni when I went shopping a week ago, we have what we need to make a macaroni salad. We’ll round that out with some baked beans, cooked slow with some bacon slices from the hogs and some freshly made rolls.
On Friday morning, I’m approached by a couple of my pack members as I am finalizing everything for Saturday. As one woman approaches, everyone in the kitchen goes quiet.
“Luna.” I turn, looking at her, as my eyes take in the room. Everyone has stopped what they are doing to watch our interaction.
My name is Anna, I am Jeremy’s mate.”
“Anna, it’s nice to meet you.” I say, having no idea what is going on or why everyone is watching us.
“Luna, you may not know this, but I was a seamstress in my previous pack and we were able to find a sewing machine that my husband and I have restored.
“That’s wonderful. I know many people here need new clothes and as a pack we still don’t have the money to pay for store bought clothes. Your skills will be very helpful to the pack members.”
“Yes, well, that brings me to the reason I wanted to speak with you. Me and most of the females in this pack really appreciate what you and Alpha Eli are doing to give us a place to live where we can be happy and are treated with respect. And, we know that you don’t have the money to purchase a gown for your Luna ceremony.”
“That’s correct, but that’s okay. It’s about creating the pack, not about what I am wearing that’s important.”
She smiles at me, looking around the room. “Well, we disagree Luna. We wanted our Luna to stand in front of our neighboring packs’ Alphas and Lunas dressed as you should be for your inauguration. So, we all pitched in and found material that I have used to create a gown for you. I hope you don’t mind that Summer went to your room to get your measurements, but we wanted to surprise you with a gift from us, your pack, for your inauguration.”
I can feel my eyes burning and my throat constricting from the sudden flood of emotions I am feeling. As I stand there trying to get my emotions under control, another woman comes up carrying a beautiful rose gold dress with a V-neck, flared sleeves that will come to my elbows and a slit that will come up to mid- thigh. It’s beautiful and the sequins which adorn the entire dress make it feel elegant in its simplicity.
“I don’t know what to say.” I whisper as I reach out to touch the gown. “It’s beautiful. I love it. Thank you all. Thank you all so much.” I say, and I fight hard, but a single tear escapes as the women all start to come up and hug me.
“Grace?” Eli walks in, concern etched in his voice. He must have felt my emotional turmoil.
“Eli. Look what the pack has gifted me for our ceremony tomorrow night.” I point to the dress, watching as a proud smile spreads across his face. He walks to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing the side of my head.
“This is beautiful. Thank you all for doing this for your Luna. It’s very generous.”
They all look at each other before turning back to us. “We were able to create dresses for Beta Amber and Gamma Sirona as well, but we wanted to give Luna hers before Alpha Liam arrives and we lost our chance. We’re all very proud to become members of this pack.”
“Would you like me to hang it in your closet, Luna?” Summer asks me.
“No, thank you, I’ll take it.” I reach out, holding the dress up before turning to face the room again. “I cannot tell you all what this means to me. Thank you.”
I take the dress to my room, careful to hang it so the bottom doesn’t touch the floor. As I step back, looking at what must have cost my pack members every last penny they have, my heart is so full I feel like it might explode.
Next up, ranked member ceremonies!
I’m so proud of my pack. The gift that they are giving their ranked females speaks volumes about their feelings toward our pack. It’s a good thing and reinforces what we are doing here, creating this place for those that have nowhere else to go.
Liam, Angel and Liam’s foreman, Perry, arrive just before lunch. Grace and I meet them out front as they arrive and lead them to a table on the back patio we had set up for lunch. Noah and Sirona join us.
“Dr. Phillips, how have you settled in?” Liam asks her.
“Sirona please, Alpha. And very well. It’s very exciting what we are planning to create here. I’m glad to be a part of it.” She tells him.
“If you decide you want to come back to the easy life, our pack is always open to you.” He says and Angel smacks him with the back of her hand. He rubs his chest, pretending she hit him hard, as he smiles down at her.
“What are your plans, Sirona?” Angel asks her and she launches into her ideas of how to rebuild the pack hospital. Perry is paying attention and making notes on his clipboard.
After lunch, Noah and I take Perry and Liam on a tour of the pack lands and the buildings that need to be built. We start with the pack hospital, and I can see the wheels turning in Perry’s head. From there, we go around to the houses that are in various stages of completion, the ones that are being torn down for refurbishment and the areas where we are keeping the reusable materials.
Perry walks up to the materials, lifting some of the pieces and looking them over with a critical eye. “You’ve done a great job here. These are good materials and if we use them, it will reduce the overall cost of rebuilding, lowering the materials we will need to buy.” He says, nodding his head, making a note on his clipboard as we walk along.
When we’re done, we meet Carlos in his office and sit down to discuss the plan. We get an anticipated cost, which makes my stomach twist into a knot.
“I know a lot, but remember, you’re rebuilding an entire pack. If it sounds like you break it down into a price per house, including the pack hospital and the packhouse, it’s really not that much. You and your pack members will more than be able to repay that loan through this process.” Liam says to me.