Page 70 of Ascendant Moon
“Some humans are psychologically unstable or simply cannot keep our secret, making them unsuitable candidates—even if they are mated to a shifter. Some may wish to force their chosen mate to be turned against their will, or change someone for other reasons. Militarily, the process could assemble armies of Alphas as super soldiers for pack or human warfare. Dictators could create their own loyal followers—something Lyle Wilburn managed to dowithoutthe turning process. Criminal activity, gangs, or political assassins could easily become commonplace. Rogue shifters might create stables of Omegas as breeders or sex slaves.
“It pains me to even speak of such possibilities, yet we must understand the dangers and how to mitigate them before making a unified policy. To that end, I have formed a list of guidelines that may be used to reintroduce the practice safely.”
Everet surreptitiously probed the minds around the table to see where the Alpha leadership stood. Some were frightened, others intrigued, but all were eager to hear what Jack had to say. He began with the “why,” followed by his recommendations.
“My visit to the Afterworld revealed several reasons for turning a human, yet the most common by far was to provide mates when candidates were in short supply. Due to our need for secrecy, modern packs have become insular, and intimate involvement with humans has been discouraged. That has left us with the same problem our ancestors faced, and yet nothing is being done to solve it.
“One way is to encourage more socialization among packs within a geographic region. In the spring, Gladstone will be hosting its first Mingle & Mate gathering to help address this need. In addition, the idea of taking humans as mates becomes less dangerous if they can be turned—a possibility we did not know existed until now.
“The key is to leave specific knowledge of the turning with True Elders, shrouded in mystery. By doing so, others will not be so inclined to try it themselves, and we will retain a measure of control. Eventually, word will spread that humans are being turned, but the process will remain a secret. Information leaks can be addressed as they become known, and some couples may need to be relocated to hide the change.
“At first, pack Alphas alone will be told that any member with a human mate is free to seek relationship guidance from the nearest adult True Elder who has completed their training. Turning will not be mentioned as a possibility at this point.
“One of our brothers will then meet with the couple to determine if the human is a good candidate. They must be mentallyand emotionally stable, and physically able to undergo the transformation. If there are issues, turning will not be offered or discussed, and memories of the visit may need to be removed or altered. If the human partner is having difficulty keeping shifters a secret, the problem can be addressed at that time.
“Once the turning is deemed safe, the True Elder will stay with the couple during the process, and remain afterward to counsel them on adjusting to new life as a shifter. The memories of anyone directly involved, including attending Omegas or Alphas, will be erased.”
Animated discussion followed, with benefits and dangers being tossed back and forth, along with future damage control when the secret eventually became known. Jack and Evan remained on standby for questions, listening to the debate and discussion when not actively participating. The first encouraging sign was a commitment from all three nations that whatever was decided would be followed to the letter by all. Everyone realized that a united front was the only way to make this work and reduce the likelihood of serious problems.
Some were concerned about the low number of adult, fully trained True Elders and their availability to respond when called upon. Jack understood and agreed that this was a potential weakness in the plan.
“First, there is no pressing need to reveal this change to our people immediately, and very few shifters with human mates exist at present—giving all of us more time. Secondly, as more of our newly found True Elders mature and receive their training, there will be additional brothers available to take on the duty.”
With that settled, the council representatives voted to accept Jack’s guidelines and agreed to discuss the subject again at nextyear’s annual meeting. In the meantime, any issues or requests would be handled on a case by case basis. Once the meeting itself ended, Jack and Evan bade the group farewell. One more thing remained, however—some necessary clean-up approved by Adam Sheppard but not shared with all attendees.
Everet Kern made a point to speak with each of the Alphas present, gently probing their minds for any disagreements regarding the new policy. Fortunately, he found nothing of concern and gave Sheppard a surreptitious nod. Meanwhile, Harold Armstrong was busy wiping memories from the four Omegas, and then went to help Marshall Cuthbert do the same with the security guards. All would remember being there, but would have no recollection of the subject matter.
Once all the True Elders were free of other duties, Juan Ortega gathered them together for a quick teaching dream. Thanks to Hector Alvarez from the lost pack, Juan possessed actual memories of the turning process. They joined hands for the brief transfer, and then Juan gave them one further bit of advice before they parted.
“I encourage you to contact Jack or Evan, since Gladstone included some new elements that you might want to incorporate. I believe our work here is done, but we must keep a tight lid on this information moving forward. If you need advice or support, call.”
Before the attendees caught their outgoing flights, the Missoula contingent served a hearty meal at the nearby packhouse. No mention was made of the day’s business amid overlapping conversations, and Alpha Sheppard thanked the group before everyone piled into the waiting vans for a trip to the airport.
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Saturday afternoon, Albuquerque NM
After what felt like the longest three days of their lives, the four-pack arrived in Albuquerque and headed to the Southwest Inn. Gray had stayed at the lovely B&B last month, and it was conveniently located near the Harrison House where Walter and Tayen were living during his treatment. The owners, Myke and Scott, were delighted to see Gray again, especially with an attractive new man on his arm. Three blessedly private rooms awaited them on the second floor—an absolute requirement after several days in close quarters.
Their takeout meal arrived just as they finished showers and donned fresh clothes. After eating, Gray called his grandfather to see if they were still up for a visit, and the group decided to walk the short distance instead of driving. What they really needed was to get into their fur and run, but that would have to wait until they reached the ranch. On the way, Gray spoke to Sergio about the things his grandmother would undoubtedly notice regarding his appearance.
“Maybe someday she’ll know about shifters, but everybody agrees that now isn’t the time. I don’t really understand how True Elders influence someone’s mind, but my grandmother is smart and doesn’t miss a thing.”
Sergio reached over to give his shoulder a squeeze.
“Don’t worry, my friend. I learned from Jack, and he’s been doing it for almost two centuries! I’ll have to alter her memories a little so that what she sees now matches what she remembers. If she has any problem with Nick, I’ll smooth that over too.”
Gray remained quiet, still worried they would miss something important. Of course, when his mother arrived tomorrow, Sergio would have to do it all over again. She’d be an even tougher nutto crack, though no longer sharing a home with her would make hiding his true self easier.
Just inside the building, the group gasped in dismay. Though Gray had been here many times before, it was as a human. Like the others, he could now detect the malodorous scent of cancer. It would be even stronger in Walter’s presence, and Gray tried to steel himself for the assault, gripping Nick’s hand tighter. Outside door number seven, they stopped to knock and wait. Walter himself answered with a huge smile, waving them quickly inside.
“It’s wonderful to see you! Tayen is visiting a friend down the hall. What do I need to know?”
Sergio gave him a quick summary of what he intended to do and how Walter should conduct himself. The man seemed quite relieved.
“I’m glad you’re here. Very little escapes Tayen’s attention, so your gifts will be needed. You look amazing, Gray, and I am so happy to meet your mate. Watch your growling, boys, or I will never hear the end of it! Come sit down.”
Just as they settled, Tayen returned to the room and greeted Gray with a hug. As he pulled back, she gave him a curious look and was about to question him when he introduced Dante, Sergio, and finally, his mate.
