Emmett nodded, “We will take the help. If he’s already got their scents, it would speed up the process. My Trackers need to smell them.” I linked Liam, “Get three more Trackers out here and assign Warriors to go with them.” He nodded.
Our pack members showed up and got their scents. I told Bradford, “You’re in charge of our people. Make sure everyone comes home safely.” What was the world coming to? I’m over here giving Bradford control. Bradford?? Phil was laughing with Gage. Probably over the look on my face.
They left with Emmett to meet up with the Yellow Hills Trackers. They took some clothing from the group we had custody of. EJ ordered them taken to the dungeons. Once they left, I rubbed my face. I said, “We need the Trackers to go through our area. We might not have made the changes fast enough to catch everyone chasing the rumors.” I was furious.
Our lead Trackers entered the area, and both shifted back. Ingrid was our Lead Female Tracker and Kirk was our Lead Male Tracker. Ingrid announced, “We are having the Trackers sweep the area. They are out with Warriors. It seems a bit overly cautious, but we assigned four Warriors per tracking group.”
I shook my head, “No, it’s not overly cautious. There could other groups of Warriors out there.” I told EJ, “I want the name of the pack they came from.” EJ assured me, “And we will get it. We are going to the gym though.” I frowned but popped there.
EJ and I got into the ring and we fought for an hour before going to the dungeons. I did feel a little better. When we got there Cory told us, “They are from Louisiana.” I growled. EJ asked, “Where in Louisiana?” Phil answered, “Alpha Boudreaux’s pack.” I rolled my eyes.
I knew Chase Daniels had problems with that Alpha. Apparently, the problems were continuing with his son. EJ and I popped into our office with Phil, Toby, Genevieve, and Gage. Toby called and got a hold of the Beta who got Alpha Boudreaux on the phone.
EJ announced, “We have your men.” Alpha Boudreaux asked, “What do you mean?” Toby snorted, “Can we just call you, Alpha Darrell? Your dad was Alpha Boudreaux.” Alpha Boudreaux sounded annoyed, “Whichever is fine.”
I snarled, “Your men were here setting up surveillance and traps to catch a rumor.” Alpha Darrell paused, then said, “I have no idea what you mean.” LIAR! I glared at EJ. EJ linked me, “We don’t have proof he knew.”
I snarled, “One is already dead, and I don’t intend to return the rest.” Alpha Darrell argued, “That’s a harsh stance.” I disagreed, “Not really. They came uninvited and wanted to set up traps and surveillance in the territory of ourselves and our allies. Without a request, and certainly without permission. They could’ve gotten innocent people hurt.”
Alpha Darrell reasoned, “I’m sure they are just curious.” EJ pointed out, “If they were curious, they could’ve asked us for permission. They tried to get in without detection, and they set up traps. Traps are not something one lays out of curiosity. It’s called hunting my damn pack ON MY LANDS!”
Alpha Darrell huffed, “Surely you know people will come. The rumors….” I snarled, cutting him off, “Anyone who DARES to not show us respect dies. Rumors are rumors, Alpha Darrell. I would remind your people of that.”
Alpha Darrell said, “Punish them if you must, but let them return home.” EJ said, “You and our Beta’s can continue discussions on that. If ONE person is harmed hunting down these traps, they will never leave here alive.”
I linked EJ, “They aren’t leaving alive anyway.” EJ shrugged, “Maybe just one.” Nope. Not even one. Toby said, “Your Beta and I will continue talking once I’ve spoken with my counterparts in our allied packs. Our allies in this area are now searching for these traps. The more they find, the worse it is for those Warriors.”
Phil added, “That you apparently had no idea what they were doing out of state is concerning. It was a large group even.” Alpha Darrell growled, “I can’t keep track of everyone.” Phil snorted, “How odd considering we do. Especially groups that large.”
“Particularly when they go out of town because they represent us. Our pack is MUCH larger than yours, but hey what do we know? We’ve found our leadership style is VASTLY different from those we are not allied with. We also don’t get calls about behavior like this from other Alpha’s, so we might know a thing or two.”
I was trying not to laugh. Alpha Darrell sighed, “Our Beta’s will be in touch with each other.” He hung up. I looked at EJ, “He’s not even fighting that hard for his own people. If he’s not one of the forgotten packs, I’ll dress up in a tutu and do a ballet dance.”
Toby snorted, “I wish I didn’t agree with Alexander because that would be hilarious. Can you do ballet?” I gave him a look while saying, “Of course I can.” Gage chimed in, “He can. Isaw him working with Angela once.” I rolled my eyes. Oden grumbled, “We have Fairy blood. Of course we can dance.
Toby said, “I’ll find another way to see this.” Phil snorted, “Get Melanie to ask him. He’ll do it with bells on.” I blew out my breath at them. Phil and Toby quickly compiled a list of Alpha Darrell Boudreaux and his allies. They were on our short list of packs to watch.
Phil sent that to Caleb so the Werewolf Council could look into them too. I said, “I want the patrol for our run afterwards tripled.” EJ nodded, “We can do that.” The last thing we needed was someone outside the pack, and our allies, to see Melanie shift into her wolf.
My Aunt Molly walked in saying, “You all are going to miss the Luna Ceremony if you don’t hurry up. Which would send the wrong impression.” Jason spoke from behind her, “They won’t miss it.” I stood agreeing, “We won’t.”
Jason snorted, “I know. One, because that’s my little sister. Two, all these guys have to do is snap, pop outside, then they are ready. It’s somewhat annoying and unfair on occasion.” I rolled my eyes. EJ said, “Well.” He snapped us ready and then we both popped with Phil, Gage, Genevieve and Toby outside.
Phil said, “I can portal, but everyone seems to forget that around you two.” Toby laughed, “Aww it’s ok, little cousin.” I said, “I remember that you can portal.” Phil rolled his eyes, “Of course you do.” He went off to sit with his family. Gage said, “Again, I’m just happy a Gamma is included.”
I followed EJ up onto the platform. The second I saw my mate in her dress; I barely managed to not take her here and now. It was a tight and fitted red and white dress. Her boobs. My god her boobs. Oden purred, “You should think that three times. It’s worth repeating.”
EJ linked me, “Focus.” I replied, “I am.” EJ snorted, “On the ceremony.” I sighed, “But my mate’s boobs are so muchbetter.” My brother sent me his humor and annoyance in the bond, because he couldn’t laugh mid-ceremony. We both made it through though.
Melanie and I just stared into each other’s eyes. Afterwards we all shifted and went for our run. Oden linked me, “I want to play with mate. We haven’t really got to enjoy ourselves on a run in our territory.” That was true.
EJ linked me, “If you could manage it, don’t have sex outside. We can’t miss our meeting tomorrow, and everyone being in heat would mess that up.” I snorted, “I’ll make sure to pop us inside. Oden wants to play with Freya anyway.”
EJ replied, “That’s understandable. The border patrols have not reported anything suspicious.” Good. My older brother continued, “Who would’ve thought I’d ever say this, but Bradford found the traps the fastest. He’s only been to a few Tracking classes and suddenly he’s a superstar. Allister even asked if he could come help their Trackers. He found three they hadn’t found yet. Bradford has got quite the nose.”
I snorted, “No one besides Melanie would’ve thought that. So, I think you get a pass.” EJ sighed, “Reading the report where she highlighted that he caught on to something being wrong makes it seem so obvious now.”
I replied, “Everything seems obvious once it’s pointed out after the fact.” EJ snorted, “You have a point.” I laughed, “Of course I do.” I watched as Oden and Freya played together. It was nice to see. It was also interesting because I could tell when Freya fully had control.
