Xander called. I linked, “FREYA! Why can our bond make him jittery? We don’t even have the Hackura bond yet!” Freya replied, “Our bond is stronger but mate is fine. Oden said they are using it to fight.” Well… I still felt bad that I’d forgotten that if I had a strong enough emotion, he’d feel it.
Ok… I had to counteract this. I could switch between decaf and real coffee… I could try that. I switched to decaf. Sierra snorted, “You’ve got to be kidding!” I told her, “I wasn’t trying to make Xander jittery. I just need fuel.”
Abigial came back in linking, “Mission accomplished. Gia went to the Hackura realm. Charity opened a portal for her and she’s going to find Cassie.” Good. Mike declared, “We won’t tell Patricia why we are meeting with you all tomorrow. I do appreciate the heads up.”
Bradford sighed, “I’m sorry about this. I didn’t know she would try to hurt you or the pack.” I shrugged, “It’s fine….since I did know. Plus, she’s your mom not mine. You want to see the best in her. Also… I read that report on the attack against you, Preston, and William and the other Warrior.”
Bradford asked, “What about it? Trust me, I know every detail of that file.” I asked, “So you know you’d be an excellent Tracker? You smelled something wrong before the Conners did… and they have an enhanced sense of smell. Your instincts and scenting abilities were on alert before theirs.”
Mike’s eyes quadrupled in size and Bradford looked like I’d slapped him. I hummed, “I can see it didn’t occur to you. Think about it. If your passion isn’t being a Warrior… you’d be an excellent Tracker… I could actually see you being the Male Lead Tracker.”
“Or if you don’t like being a Warrior at all… there’s no shame in following your own path. Doing what you want to do makes you happier and in turn, everyone else. Or doing a blend of both. I have your Warrior schedule done, but… if you want to take a few Tracking trainings… I can work that in.”
“Like I said, you could do both. I just don’t want you to think you have to be a Warrior if you don’t want to. A Tracker with Warrior skills would be highly coveted by both groups and packs actually… because you can do it all.”
Mike turned to his son saying, “Patricia always said being a Warrior is what you wanted to do.” Bradford shrugged, “Mom always said I was born to be a Warrior. So, I was one.” Mike groaned, “Do you even like it?”
Bradford nodded, “I do like it, but I don’t love it. Tracking though, I do think it’s interesting. It’s nothing I’ve ever considered though.” I told him, “There’s nothing wrong with exploring things to find your passion.”
“I’ll redo your schedule and send it to you. If you decide you’d rather be a Tracker… I’ll keep up your Warrior training with you outside your schedule, so you don’t lose your skills. I’ll repeat, there’s nothing that says you can’t be both a Tracker and a Warrior.”
Mike raised an eyebrow at me saying, “I don’t think Alpha Alexander would like you training Bradford one on one.” I snorted, “You do know I have access to my mate’s calendar? Xander has one on one sessions with both Male and Female Lead Warriors.”
“So…. he can’t be unhappy if I work with people in the same way he does. That’s not Bradford’s problem either. I want him to be happy and successful here. I think he has the capacity to do both positions if he wants.”
“I think the problem your son has been having in Warrior training is it’s not something he’s actually truly passionate about. No one puts their full effort behind something they were driven to do by someone else. As a Tracker who can fight, he’d be in a unique class all his own here.”
“I had people doing that in Black Path. They could go on border patrols and pick up things others didn’t. That’s actually how we were prepared for a few attacks. I’ll clear my plan with EJ and Xander… but I know they won’t care…. and if they did Elise would back me up.”
“So would Buttercup, Jane, and Micah. It’s our job as Luna’s and the Alpha Male, to see to the happiness of the pack. That includes Bradford and this pack is all about following your dreams. Not the dreams forced upon you by a parent.”
Bradford studied me before saying, “You’re different. It’s not bad though. You just see things a different way.” I shrugged, “I am aware. Should you have friends that were…pointed in a career direction…have them come see me. I’ll help them too.”
“I’m a schedule master. I can help them dabble in what they think they like. Even if they end up hating it… then they’ll know what they do and don’t like. Just like if you hate the Tracking training…. we will drop the classes.”
Sierra said, “That’s true. No one can make a schedule like Melanie can.” Mike asked, “Do you sleep?” I shrugged, “Sometimes.” Bradford snorted, “You’re serious.” I nodded, “Of course I am. Anyway… pass the word along. If anyone knows the people not doing what they love… it would be you. Like-minded people… find other like-minded people.”
Bradford laughed, “Good lord. I feel like my life has changed and I’ve been insulted.” I admitted, “I have no idea how I insulted you… but… I am sorry about the information I had to give you about your mom.” Sierra offered, “Mel really doesn’t know why you think you should be insulted.”
Abigial offered, “It was the like-minded people comment.” I replied, “Statistically speaking, they gather together. So… it’s not insulting… it’s just a fact.” Mike chuckled. Bradford sighed, “I’m going to the pack house because I need to think.”
Mike stood to leave with him. Bradford turned around saying, “Mom did this because of me.” I shook my head, “No, she did this for her. You’ve been an adult for a long time. Patricia wanted you under her thumb.”
“In her mind, this is all my fault. The facts remain the same. It’s neither of our fault that you want to grow up. I’m proud of you. Change is hard, but you’re trying. I think you’ll do great things here. It’s too bad she couldn’t see past her own vision for your life to notice.”
“Patricia made a lot of money doing this and… I’m not going to let her have it… but I would give it to you. You and your dad can decide.” Mike said, “Bradford can have it. I don’t want a thing to do with it.” Bradford nodded sadly, “I’ll think about it.” They both left.
I thought about Mike’s situation and knew I needed to talk to Duchess Luna Emmaline Lyons. I’d wanted to many times with the situations I’d faced, but for the first time it was an actual option I could explore. I found her number and dialed it.
Sierra asked, “What are you doing?” Dylan Frost answered to my surprise, “This is Emmaline’s phone. She’s frolicking in the lake, like the precious Water Fairy she is. Who is this? Because I answered since I saw the Black Mountain Pack number. I’m a giver. How can I help you?”
I laughed, “I’m surprised you don’t know my number.” Dylan shrieked, “MelAshley? I have your number in my phone, not Emmaline’s. Why are you calling my precious Water Fairy Luna? Color me oh so intrigued.”
I explained, “I need to talk to her about a power she has.” Dylan yelled, “OHHHH EMMALINE!!!!! Interesting things are happening. Pop yourself and the Sleep Tyrant out of the lake so we may uncover the secrets MelAshley holds.”
I told him, “It’s not really a secret.” Dylan pouted, “Phoo. You have so many, and I just want one. Don’t be selfish.” I heard a rustling. Emmaline’s voice came across the line, “This is Emmaline. How can I help you, Melanie?”
Dylan coughed, “It’s MelAshley.” I bit my lip then asked, “Can you pop here? Well… to me. It might be easier to explain in person.” Emmaline answered, “Of course.” In the next second a pop sounded. Emmaline, Lucas, Lacy, and Dylan were in the room.
