Page 26 of Ascendant Moon
“I suggest the three of you resign your jobs first thing tomorrow and begin packing up your things. I’m sure the other details can be seen to whether you’re here or not, so let the planners take care of it. I only wish I could go with you!”
Chapter 14
Meanwhile, at Gladstone (Wednesday evening)
Less than an hour after their arrival, Gray found himself at Ben and Evan’s supper table, along with William and the twins. Assuming this group was a microcosm of the pack, he was not prepared for the plethora of differences between Diné and shifters. Walter and William had both warned him in advance, but the noise, energy, and physical contact these people thrived on left him off balance.
His people were quite comfortable with silence, and casual touch was reserved for friends or relatives, and never in public. He’d also found that the Blair children were fascinated with his long straight hair and couldn’t resist touching it—another thing Diné only selectively allowed. In addition, nothing seemed to qualify as an off-limits topic for discussion, and even the children were endlessly curious. Gray didn’t quite know what to make of it all, though he found Ben’s family warm, open, honest, and often very funny.
Evidently, William had informed the Blairs’ chef, Cody, of his peculiar (to shifters) food preferences and restrictions. If he’d understood correctly, shifter meals were normally heavy on animal protein, light on vegetables, and always followed by sugar-filled desserts. This meal of seasoned lamb chops, garlic-buttered mixed veggies, and rosemary potato wedges was about the best thing Gray had ever tasted. And instead of an overly sweet dessert, Cody had served poached apple slices, topped with a honey and cinnamon glaze. Perfect.
Following the meal, they gathered in the large living room to visit. As soon as Gray sat down, William’s twins parkedthemselves on either side, while Evie Rae crawled right up in his lap holding a book.
“Read us a story, Gray! We’ll do the sounds, okay?”
There was something about Evie’s scent that calmed Gray, and he remembered William’s explanation about the odd power shared by all Omega shifters. Whatever it was, he appreciated the soothing effect since he was now the center of attention. The book was about a little boy who couldn’t stop hiccupping, and the kids howled with laughter while supplying all the sounds at the appropriate moments. Kiah managed to give himself the real deal, hiccupping at the wrong times which only increased the giggles.
When he finished, the kids thanked him and ran off to play so the adults could talk for a while. Evie surprised Gray with a hug before she got down and then raced after the others. He wasn’t certain, but he had the impression that he’d passed some sort of test. William must have known what he was thinking and volunteered an explanation as he joined Gray on the now-empty couch.
“Congratulations! Like Walter, you’re now an official uncle and an approved story reader. I hope they haven’t scarred you for life.”
The Blairs chuckled and then Ben asked about Walter’s condition.
“Do they know if the treatment has helped?”
Gray shook his head and the nagging worry about his grandfather resumed its normal place at the forefront of his mind.
“The cancer is under control, which is a good sign, but he still has another two months of chemo before they’ll try the T-cell therapy. He’s often tired, though the doctors say that’s normal. My grandparents miss being in their own home, but they really appreciate the cards and messages.”
Evan turned to William with a different inquiry.
“What’s happening in León? Any idea when Jack will come home?”
William’s expression and scent showed how much their separation cost him, and he let go of a frustrated growl, startling Gray.
“No definite date yet, but he’s hoping to be home this weekend. He’s planning to bring three pack members back with him, but they don’t have passports. When I spoke to him earlier, Jack was just about to call Alpha Sheppard and see if he could make some other arrangements. I have a feeling that my mate’s ability to influence minds will be needed no matter what plans they agree on.”
Before ending the evening, Evan told Gray that RJ would collect him for breakfast and then provide a quick tour of the central packlands.
“At the moment, he’s the only human among us, and is mated to Ben’s Omega brother, Jonah. RJ should be able to answer most of your questions and help you understand how we live. Just remember, you’re here to learnandhave some fun. If you’re not sure about something you’ve seen or heard, Ben and I are always available to explain things.”
Shortly after, Gray thanked his hosts for a wonderful meal, said goodnight to William and the twins, and returned to the lovelyquarters he’d been given in Quad four. Walter had told him to keep his mind and heart open, and Gray looked forward to meeting more of the pack and making new discoveries.
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Thursday, Hector’s apartment, León
Jack understood that time with Hector, León’s senior True Elder, was very limited, and they had agreed to share at least some teaching dreams before parting. They sat side by side, eyes closed and holding hands, among the disarray of his impending move. Boxes and packing materials lay strewn about; walls stripped bare and cupboard doors hanging open to reveal empty shelves. Elsewhere in the city, Dante, Sergio, and Nicolas were doing the same after abruptly resigning their respective jobs due to a “family emergency” that required a move north.
Hector was younger than Jack by several decades, and had served as the Lost Pack’s True Elder for over a hundred years. They had agreed to limit their lessons to practical matters rather than personal ones, but even so, Jack found that Hector was missing an astonishing array of knowledge, including the Afterworld, Change, Honor, and Triad Mates, and the ability of male Omegas to bear children. There was one crucial piece of knowledge that was of intense and immediate interest to Jack, however, and he asked Hector about it.
“Luna has alerted me that a human will be turned at Gladstone after I return home. Just a few days ago, I visited my mentor in the Afterworld to see what he could tell me. Until then, the very idea was horrifying, though I did not realize that my knowledge was based on false information.”
Jack shared just enough with Hector so he could understand his fear and loathing, and what Hezekiah had revealed. Hectorunderstood and sympathized, but his own experiences with the process were nothing like Jack had assumed to be true.
“There were two different views circulating at the same time; the truth, and the lie you were taught by others. When our packs began to scatter during the purge of natural wolves, True Elders at the time deemed it too dangerous to continue the practice. They concocted a false narrative that trying to turn a human would cause madness or death. This teaching spread and was eventually accepted by the few True Elders still left after the purge was complete.
“Here in León, we have been turning humans from the very beginning. It was necessary, for there were no Lobo shifters to mate with us, and we would have died out quickly. The process is actually quite simple, and we have never lost or harmed anyone. Allow me to share it with you.”
