Page 39 of Abundant Moon
“You did it!”
“Congratulations Scooter!”
“Way to go!”
Ben made his way towards him, followed by Evan, Caleb, and Lou – all smiling. Ben slapped a mortar board on his head, tassel dangling to the left to indicate he’d successfully completed his GED. Surprised and embarrassed, Scooter’s face burned hot as he became the focus of attention. While accomplishing his goal meant a lot to him, he didn’t realize his packmates were following his progress so closely. Choked up, he was glad the others were doing the talking.
Evan handed him an official-looking diploma in a decorative frame; something to hang on his wall instead of the simple letter he received from the state.
“Of all the people I’ve tutored, you’ve been my favorite. Determined, eager, and a joy to teach. You’ve worked hard for this, and I’m proud of you!”
Scooter wanted to sink into the floor as his packmates clapped and cheered, but the speeches continued. Next came Caleb, praising his dedication and sacrifice in learning new skills and protecting the pack. Then Lou, always a man of few words, stepped forward to make an announcement.
“I’m happy to report Scooter begins his formal law enforcement classes this summer, and if all goes well, will be joining me as a deputy Sheriff sometime next year!”
The crowd roared their approval, and Scooter felt his face flush even hotter than before. Finally, Ben raised his hand to quiet the crowd.
“You’ve come a long way, Scoot, and we knew you could do it. More importantly,youbelieved it. There’s no stopping you now, my friend, and we’ll be here to cheer you on every step of the way. Congratulations.”
Ben reached out to shake his hand, only to pull Scooter into a hug as the others applauded. The celebration continued with cake and ice cream as Scooter’s packmates circled through to share cards, gifts, more hugs, and lots of encouragement. He’d never experienced anything like it, making him even more grateful Luna guided him to Gladstone after escaping his former pack.
When the excitement wound down, people made their way to the great room for the meeting. The newest members, especially Perry, Holly, and Noel, enjoyed plenty of attention. Curious from birth, shifter babies loved being passed around as it gave them an opportunity to scent their packmates, hear new voices, and experience new sensations. The pups were growing fast; their parents adjusting well to family life and all the pursuant changes.
As the newest member, Robert shyly clung to Ash, unused to close quarters with other shifters. It would take time for him to be truly comfortable, but he found his communication skills worked just as well here as out in the world. People came by to introduce themselves, welcome him to the pack, and then blend back into the swirling crowd. Before long, Lance approached, wanting only to congratulate the newly-mated couple. Robert’s wolf, lacking any social graces and on alert for the scent of his rival, decided to attack.
Amid the sound of shredded clothing and startled packmates, Ash lunged to restrain his snapping, growling mate before he could knock Lance to the floor. Ben intervened, putting a stop to the challenge with a wave of Alpha power. Forced to submit, Robert’s wolf whined and yipped in discomfort before giving up his need to rend and tear. The onlookers watched calmly, having anticipated the confrontation at some point. Ben stepped in front of Lance and gave Ash an understanding nod.
“Take your mate to the conference room to dress. We’ll wait for you.”
Ash picked up the backpack, stuffed with extra clothing, and led a submissive wolf to the other room to change. Chagrinned, Robert emerged in wrinkled sweat pants and t-shirt, feeling foolish. Hand in hand with Ash, he headed directly towards Lance. He knew they’d all be watching, but he needed to set this to rights with all of his new packmates. Lance stood his ground, hyper-alert and ready to shift if necessary. It wasn’t.
“I apologize, Lance. My wolf and I are still learning how to behave and he surprised me. I’ll be honest – I don’t like that you’ve been intimate with my mate, but you weren’t doing anything wrong. I’m going to need a little more time to get used to the power of the bond. I hope some day we can become friends.”
Robert extended his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, Lance took it with a wry smile.
“You have nothing to fear from me, and I only wanted to congratulate the two of you. Luna’s given you a good man. Take care of him, Robert.”
Ash nodded at his former lover, grateful for his words and willingness to overlook Robert’s faux pas. Lance abruptly turned away, heading for a far corner of the room to put some distance between them. Gratified at the outcome, conversations resumed as people found comfortable spots from which to watch and listen. Ben and Evan, along with Jack and his mates, took their places on the couch nearest the fireplace. The Alpha’s little ones, along with most of the other children, sat on the floor nearby where their parents could keep an eye on them. Ben stood to speak.
“I want to start by welcoming our newest member, Robert Atherton. He and Ash are settling in now and he’s eager to get to know his new packmates – well, almost all of them!”
Laughter filled the room, breaking the last of the tension. They all knew something about his difficult past, near-disastrous mating day, and his ongoing struggle to adjust to things they took for granted. They were all relieved things turned out so well. Ben continued.
“In the last few weeks, our True Elders have experienced some troubling dreams. Luna seems to be warning us about humans discovering who we really are, maybe from within packland borders. Interaction with humans is always tricky, and I’m counting on each of you to watch what you say and do if you are anywhere near them, whether in town or right here at home. Parents - discuss this again with your children and make sure they understand. If you need help with what to say, let me know.”
The low murmurings of whispered discussion filled the room, along with the sour scent of concern. Zane Metcalf lifted his hand to speak and Ben acknowledged him.
“Is there something going on we should know about? Are we the only pack affected?”
Ben shook his head.
“We can’t be more specific until Luna chooses to reveal details. In the meantime let me remind you all to be careful. All the U.S., Mexico, and Canada packs have been placed on alert, so it isn’t only Gladstone. However, in about a month we’ll begin more housing construction and there will be humans on and off the property clear through until fall. Caleb is working on additional safety measures, and we’ll let you know before they’re implemented. I don’t want to worry anyone unnecessarily, but it’s especially important in light of my next announcement.”
Eager to lighten the mood, Ben pressed on.
“As you know, employment opportunities are limited in this region of Michigan, and Natural Homes isn’t big enough to employ everyone in a pack this size. To give you more options, I’m excited to announce a new opportunity for those of you who want to start your own business. With the help of my real estate agent, I’ve collected a list of local possibilities you may want to take advantage of and posted it on the conference room door.
“In addition, I have funds available for starter loans to help get things off the ground. Zane Metcalf has volunteered to answer finance-related questions and assist with the filing of paperwork. You can also speak with Jonah, Doctor Follett, or Katrine and Mandy to get an idea of how their businesses are run. If this sounds like something you want to pursue, please stop in and see me.”
