My older brother laughed, “Damn. That girl was smart as a pup, but this? Melanie’s right, they can be paired with Warriors in a higher class by being able to fight plus track. That gives our border patrol quite the edge. The new layout she put together for Trackers who are Warriors.”
“Jesus. Toby, get this to our Tracker and Warrior trainers. I’ll send out a pack announcement. Those interested in Tracking and being a Warrior simultaneously will have that adjustmentmade. As long as they have a talent for both I have no problem with this.”
“Tracking isn’t something that can be learned, but the basic skills could help anyone. Those that will be considered both will have to be people that show an aptitude. I wish it was like being a Warrior, where training could get you there. It’s not though. You either have a better sense of smell, or you don’t.”
To my shock as soon as the announcement went out several of my cousins popped in. They wanted to sign up for the classes. This really should’ve been thought of sooner. Of course hybrids had different sides and skills.
EJ and I reviewed what other positions could be a hybrid role. My dad didn’t bother hiding his pride at the changes we made, and how quickly the pack adapted. We met with trainers weekly, and they were pleased with the progress.
Some did not have the aptitude for tracking, but most Trackers were showing great promise in their Warrior training. Those that weren’t as inherently good at it were already working out. The wolf less had seriously changed their intensity.
Oden hummed, “This is what we have been missing. Our mate has always been important because of these thoughts and changes.” My wolf was right. We’d needed Melanie here. Hell, I’d needed her, and my pack had definitely needed her. So had my brothers packs.
Melanie just had a different way of approaching and thinking about things. It’d always been considered too complicated to divide someone’s pack duties. Thinking one would suffer. There were obviously some positions where they complimented each other, and that’s what my mate brought out.
EJ and I were specifically interested in Bradford. To my complete shock, the trainers thought he could be the Male Lead Tracker in a year or two. He was actually that talented. The Warrior trainer said Bradford would be ready to move up levelssoon too. He’d shown an increased drive in his training that he’d been lacking.
Elise smiled saying, “We’ve really been missing Mel as our Luna.” She only voiced what I had just thought of myself. EJ agreed, “We sure did.” Wesley laughed, “Damn straight we were. This is brilliant. Our allies are watching how this goes. It will be implemented in other packs soon.” I knew that.
The days began to fly by. I had Phil coordinate a spa day for the girls the morning of Melanie and my mating ceremony. I knew he’d handle everything from that end. I wanted my mate to be pampered. Thank god, nothing else happened.
Not that I was certain what else could at this point, but Melanie’s Luna ceremony was finally here. EJ was relieved, “Thank god. We need her to be your Luna like yesterday. We obviously would’ve come at anyone really hard for trying to take her, but his just gives us all an extra layer of protection. Given how damn hard she is protect in the fucking first place.”
Gage snorted, “I keep the men guarding her in a constant supply of whiskey.” Buttercup snorted, “I don’t know if I’ve ever met someone more capable of taking care of herself than Melanie.” EJ reasoned, “I know that, but she is my brother’s mate. I’m the Lead Alpha here and protecting Melanie is my job. I should’ve done more for her before.”
I argued, “That’s not on you. I ignored my instincts.” Buttercup groaned, “You all are like a broken record. She’s here with us so let’s focus on that. Melanie is fierce and awesome. She may have that whole white wolf element to her, but she’s smart and cunning. We will obviously protect her as a family. Just don’t forget, she is perfectly capable.” With that, Buttercup left.
I felt Melanie’s brief surprise flicker, but then just as quickly she recovered. I told EJ, “Let’s go for a run.” EJ nodded. We were close to the border when Bradford linked, “Alphas, I smellothers here that shouldn’t be. They were obviously coming out after the patrol passed, and it’s not a pack I recognize.”
I ran to my pack member faster than I ever had and EJ popped to me. I shifted back. Liam, Cory, and other Warriors came back. I snarled, “Show yourself.” I linked Bradford, “Great job, Bradford.” I heard some wolves running up.
I raised an eyebrow when Mason and Hendrick showed up. Before I could ask what they were doing here a group of ten, what looked to be Warriors, stood before us. EJ asked, “What are you doing trying to sneak into our lands? If I were to call Alpha Emmett, would you have permission to be in his territory?”
One Warrior lied to us, “We are passing through.” I snorted, “In a group? Please. You were not passing through by coming through our lands, and our allies without permission. Should I call my sister out here? Or my mother?”
One offered, “We simply wanted to look for the white wolf. There are rumors that she fought with you and your allies.” I linked EJ, “Well, that’s just partial bullshit.” EJ pointed out, “You should’ve requested permission.” Bradford growled, “I smell the traps.”
I turned towards him in surprise. If that was true, then my mate was right. This guy did have quite the nose. Bradford said, “No offense meant Alphas, but they aren’t here to look. They are here to hunt, and they could hurt the pups in the Yellow Hills area with those traps. I smell silver. It’s faint, but I smell it.”
I took several steps towards the group and snarled because Bradford was right. The faintest scent of silver reached my nose. I told my brother, “EJ, I can smell it here too.” EJ growled, “You laid down traps in the woods where another pack lives? And intended to do that inmyterritory?!”
One wolf sighed, “It would’ve been fine if you didn’t run your patrols so differently than everyone else.” He was right. WithoutMelanie’s ideas, they might have gotten through. I looked at Mason and Hendrick. Then again, I wasn’t so sure about that. Those two might have somehow known that these guys were coming.
Mason shifted back. He commented, “You seem very certain you’d know who was caught in your traps. Traps don’t ensure the capture of a specific wolf. Unless you have surveillance equipment with you too.” They all paled.
EJ conjured his phone and called our ally and friend. “Emmett, you have some Warriors that just came through your lands. They are not from a pack, not from around here. I haven’t determined their pack name yet, but they set up traps on your lands.”
“Oh, not just that. They set up surveillance. They seem to have been studying our patrols. We just changed ours. I’ll explain. Yes, it was her idea. I know she’s a genius. Yeah, I’ll see you soon.” EJ hung up and snarled at the men.
Our dad showed up and shifted back. I snapped clothes on everyone that needed them. My dad asked, “What’s going on?” I snorted, ‘“They are studying our patterns and border patrols and setting up surveillance and traps for the white wolf because of the rumors.”
My dad growled, “Unless there is magic on those traps, you could hurt innocent pack members.” I grabbed one Warrior by the throat. I questioned, “What’s your answer for that?” The Warrior shook saying, “The white wolf might give herself up if innocent people are getting hurt. It would be obvious why the traps were set. We’ve left clues that lead to us, so she could come with us.”
I growled and snapped his neck. Gage said, “Well, that’s a reaction.” Phil snorted, “Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. You’re doing this over a rumor. You’re just out herethinking ‘let's hurt innocent people in hopes that a rumor turns itself over to you.’ Morons.”
Emmett ran up and grabbed one of the men. Emmett snarled, “My Trackers are out there now looking for these traps. How many are there?” Cory warned, “They’ll already be in Alpha Allister Thunders area too. They had to cross his borders to get through to your territory.”
Phil said, “I texted his Beta already and their Trackers are out looking.” I linked Bradford, “I can offer for you to assist them if you want. This was your catch.” Branford nodded. I said, “Emmett, Bradford here is the one who caught onto them. He could assist your trackers if you’d like.”
