Filed to story: Cara Nelson The Guardian: Werewolf Book PDF Free
“Okay, so what’s the plan?” I ask.
It’s Perry that answers my question. “We’ll start on Monday. I’d like to have two crews, one for demolition and one for rebuilding. Once the demolition is. complete, we’ll put that crew on rebuilding as well. We’ll focus on the houses that are in process first, get those knocked out quickly and then begin building the others.” He stops, looking over his notes.
“I do have one other suggestion, if you don’t mind me saying.” He says, looking up at me.
“Of course.”
He looks down at his notes again. “Other than the pack hospital and packhouse, you haven’t allotted any space or time for building other structures, such as restaurants, clothing stores, florists, anything that your pack would want or need to run a business on pack lands. It may not be something that you’ve thought of, but I’d suggest talking to your pack and seeing if any of them have skills that would warrant a storefront. You’re not so far from Canyon Ridge or Shadow Falls that those packs wouldn’t come to shop here or bring their mates and kids for a meal. Just a thought.”
It’s a good thought and one I had not considered. It’s been so long since either Grace or I have lived in a pack that we didn’t think about having a place for our pack members to work on the pack lands, but it’s how many other packs sustain themselves.
“I’ll speak to the pack about it. Thank you, Perry.”
After we finished, he said his goodbyes and left, promising to arrive first thing Monday morning.
We go in search of our mates, finding them outside, watching some of the pups running around the garden. I see Jeremy working on another structure not far from the garden.
“How did it go?” Grace asks as Liam pulls Angel into a hug.
“It’s good. Perry had some other ideas, and ways we can save money, but he’ll be back on Monday to get started.” I push my chin in the direction of Jeremy. ” What’s Jeremy building now? I thought he would be focusing on furniture or Hope’s crib.”
“Actually, while we were gone, Amber found a place that sells egg-laying hens. Autumn had a great idea about having our own hens of various ages and Amber searched for a place that has them. This way, we can have egg layers and allow some to mature so that we can start our own chicken coop. Then, eventually, we’ll have our own supply of eggs and chicken, making us more independently sustainable. But, before we can pick up the hens, we need a hen house. That’s where Jeremy comes in. He said he had what he needed to build it and it wouldn’t take more than a day.”
I look at my mate in wonder. “Hens?”
She smirks. “And maybe a rooster as well. We just needed to find a place away from where most people shift. Noah is taking Autumn and I on Sunday afternoon. to get them.”
“You continue to amaze me, baby.”
Rik and Cara arrive before dinner, and I introduce them to our pack. Anders and Calista will arrive tomorrow morning. Anders will be presiding over our ceremonies.
Nearly my entire pack comes up to thank Liam and Rik for loaning us the money to rebuild. They talk about their plans, and I take the opportunity to find out some of the storefronts that my pack would like to have. Since Noah will be taking the lead working with Perry during construction, I’ll give him my ideas of where we can put a ‘main street’ with rows of shops on either side.
Over dinner, Angel, Cara and Amber talk about) and pups. Amber didn’t really have a chance to enjoy her pregnancy, since she was in captivity, but she still seems to enjoy the conversation and is able to relate to the ‘pregnancy hormones’. Whatever that means. When I look at Grace, I can see and feel a little sadness in her. We haven’t had an opportunity to talk about having pups. We also haven’t had the money for condoms, so that conversation needs to happen sooner rather than later. If she wants to wait, maybe Sirona has some ideas for birth control options.
Later that night, when I’m curled around my mate, I ask her. “We’ve never had the pup conversation, baby. What are your thoughts? Do you want them?”
She’s quiet for a moment. “I do. I didn’t think I would, not with the direction my life was going. But with this life, with you, I definitely do.” She turns in my arms, putting her hand on my face. “But, would you be disappointed if I said I wanted to wait a bit? I’m young, so there’s no rush. But we have so much to do here, and I want to participate in the tournament, which I wouldn’t be able to do if I was pregnant. So, maybe we can start working on a pup after that?”
I rub my nose against my mate’s. “I think that’s a great idea. I definitely want to have pups with you, but now doesn’t feel like the right time. Would you be comfortable talking to Sirona to see if we have any options for birth control, at least until I can make some money to afford condoms?”
She chuckles, turning back around, pressing herself into me. Goddess, I love this
Woman.
“I’ll talk to her this weekend.”
The day of our inauguration ceremony starts exactly as I expected it to, chaotic. People are bustling around everywhere. Luna Calista and Alpha Anders arrive after breakfast. With them, they brought suits for the guys. I guess they heard about our dresses but knew the guys didn’t have anything to wear. While his pants fit fine, the shirt and jacket were very snug on my mate. I called Anna to see if she could think of anything and she was able to find seams that she would let out so that the clothes fit Eli better.
My hair was a simple affair. Since it’s short, I just slicked it to my head. With the dress, it gave the hairstyle an elegant feel. A stage had been set up on the lawns. behind the packhouse. Chairs for everyone were set out with the front row being reserved for Rik, Cara, Liam, Angel and Calista. Anders will be on stage with us, presiding over the event.
Eli and I meet Carlos, Amber, Noah and Sirona on the back patio. Amber’s dress is a beautiful teal, floor-length dress with spaghetti straps and a criss cross pattern in the bodice. Sirona’s dress is closer to mine in color but without the sequins. Hers is a dusty rose, the top collects at her throat with a strap that attaches. around her neck and a satin bow at her waist. The pack has made sure that we all look amazing for our ceremony.
There is a low murmuring chatter from the pack, the anticipation and excitement in the air are palpable. Eli turns to me, a smug look on his face.
“Is everyone here, Luna?” He asks me, indicating my ability to count numbers with my smell.
I lift my nose in the air and sniff. “Two hundred and ninety-eight pack members, and six traveling Alphas and Lunas.” I tell him with an answering smirk.
“What just happened?” Sirona asks, looking between me and Eli.
“Gifts of a being a Guardian.” Eli says before turning to walk outside.
We walk side by side, in three lines, Eli and I go first, followed by Carlos and Amber and Noah and Sirona bringing up the back. Everyone goes quiet as we walk to the stage, moving to stand in front of the table that has been set up. Anders walks over to us. “Ready?” He asks quietly.
“Ready.” We all say at once.
He turns to the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen of Safe Haven. Today we begin a new era for your pack. Today we make Safe Haven an official pack by inducting your ranked members into their positions. After your ranked members swear their allegiance and fealty to this pack, each of you will come forward and commit your loyalty and faithfulness to them and this pack. Is there anyone here today that is unwilling to officially become a member of Safe Haven?” He asks, his voice ringing out with the power of his Alpha aura.
When no one says anything, he turns back to Eli. “Then let us begin.”
“Alpha Eli, step forward. Do you swear by the power and strength that the Moon Goddess has provided to you that you will love, support and protect the members of your pack, even with your life if necessary?”
Eli turns to our pack. “I, Alpha Eli Gunnar, swear by the power and strength provided to me by the Moon Goddess that I will love, support and protect you, the members of my pack, even if it means giving my life for you.”
Alpha Anders takes his hand, slicing it down the palm and placing it over a chalice, letting Eli’s blood drip into the cup. I realize that someone must have brought the knife and chalice, since Eli and I certainly didn’t have anything this fancy for our ceremony.
When he’s done, Eli turns to me. As the Alpha, he will preside over the rest of the ceremony.
“Luna Grace, step forward.” He says and I take his hand in mine, stepping up to him.
“Do you, Grace Gunnar, swear by the power and strength provided to you by the Moon Goddess that you will love, honor, and protect the members of our pack even if it means giving your life?”
I repeat the words back, giving my oath. Eli then cuts his hand and mine, putting them together. I feel the power of our joined hands as our blood drips into the chalice. We are no longer ranked members in name only. The ceremony is solidifying our roles within the pack.
We go through each member, as they swear to love and support the pack, willing to give their lives to protect the pack if needed. Each time Eli cuts another hand, grasping it with his own, I feel the strength and power of our pack growing. Our mind link has opened up and now we can all speak to each other, including Carlos. I wasn’t sure if it would work for him, without a wolf, but he is able to mind link as well.
When we are done, Alpha Anders steps back up. “Now it is time for each of you to swear your love and commitment to your ranked members and your pack. One by one, you will come forward, swearing your allegiance to your ranked members before sipping from their blood. Once done, you will feel the mind link and you will officially be members of Safe Haven pack.
It takes hours, but gradually, every member comes forward, pledging their loyalty and commitment to the pack. Only the pups that do not yet have a wolf are excluded from the ceremony. They will officially join the pack when they get their wolf spirit.
As the last person sips from the chalice, opening the last mind link, a cheer goes up. Eli lifts his hands in the air to quiet everyone. “Members of Safe Haven pack. We will have a pack run before our barbeque. Let us all shift to our wolf form and run our pack lands together. Anyone that is unable to join the pack run, you can follow Carlos inside and begin the festivities with our guests from Canyon Ridge and Shadow Falls packs.”