Chapter 2: The Next Day

**ELAINA**

-The next day-

The pack members thanked us all night for helping them. We let them choose what to do with Williams’s body. They all decided to burn it. The way you get rid of violent rogues that are harming your pack or child molesters. They figured that would be the only correct way to go. They didn’t even want to feed his body to any animals. Said they didn’t want those poor animals to taste that kind of sh*t.

I am waiting on the call from Morris and Erica. Dane is mapping the pump system to each house and pricing on who we should go through to get the plumbing fixed. Some houses can be salvaged but others will have to be torn down and rebuilt. The pack members actually put William within the old packhouse and torched it.

We explained to them the things we were going to do with the pack and honestly they were all really excited about it. We told them they could just relax and rest while we got the plans figured out but everyone wanted to help. Everyone was pitching in cleaning the back grounds. they all started to tear down some of the non salvageable houses.

The guard we stopped yesterday, Jonny, is asking a few of the other guards for the records they kept in the training hall about their training routines. We are going to put together a new training routine for anyone who wants to do it. I asked that all the pack members attend 3 basic training sessions a week. Self defense and some offense. And anyone else who wanted further training like the guards would attend classes 5 days a week with an added hour of advanced training. I want them to be strong in case anyone tries to hurt them again.

I was lost in my train of thought when a text came through.

Erica: 'We are here, can Morris and I come through the gate.'

Me: 'Yes I'll have everyone gather around.'

"Hey everyone, I told you yesterday we would have guests today. They just arrived. The first two people you will meet are very dear to me. They are good and kind leaders and I don't want you to be afraid of them, okay?"

Everyone nods and waits. Erica and Morris walk into view. And everyone is automatically a little skeptical of a Male Alpha. Lewis has brought his aura in a lot so he doesn't scare anyone.

"Hello everyone. I am Alpha Morris of the Swift River Pack. My Luna and I are very good friends to your new Alpha and Dane. We come only to help you rebuild and offer any supplies that are needed. " Morris spoke first. Some seem to relax a bit.

"We are only here to help, and to let you know that we are here to help protect you also. Whatever we can do we are here. Your Alpha is like a daughter to us. And we are very proud of her heart and doing what couldn't be done by us or the other Alpha's and Luna's. We hope you will accept ours and our warriors help."

Erica's Luna aura has always been abundantly soothing. She's a genuine person. And she doesn't lie either. Everyone started to relax.

The older woman that called me Alpha first yesterday, Anna, stepped forward.

"We are grateful for Alpha Elaina for stepping forward and helping relieve us from this cruel monster. So if you are someone she and our ranked members trust, then we will trust you too." She said with a smile.

'They really believe in us, Athena. It's so crazy.'

'I know, I can't believe they really trust us. It's nice to have strangers fully trust you.'

***Ring Ring Ring***

"Hello?" I said as I answered an unknown number I've never seen before.

"Is this Alpha Elaina?" The man asked.

"Yes it is. Who am I speaking with?" I replied. And how the hell did he get my number?

"This is Nolan from the council. I wanted to congratulate you on your new title."

"I appreciate that. But there is no reason to congratulate me. The people who have decided to follow me need rebuilding. Physically and mentally. And until that is done there is no need to congratulate."

"That's very nice to hear Alpha Elaina. Is there anything we can help with? "

"At this time Nolan, no. Unless you can swing a hammer?" I said jokingly. I know Morris and Erica trust him. But honestly I don't trust anyone that can CLEARLY see what this packs’ Alpha was doing and not step in. But I will not be rude. YET.

"Hahaha. I'm no good at building anything. But if you need supplies I'd be happy to assist."

"I appreciate that Nolan, let me see how things go this week and if we need anything I'll let you know."

"Very well, Alpha. I will be in touch. Again congratulations on helping those wolves. I believe you'll make a great Alpha."

"Thank you Nolan, Goodbye."

***click***

I have worked for quite a few Alpha's over the years protecting the forest from creatures, humans, or anything that would do any harm to innocents. And I don't trust very quickly. I may be nice or civil, but I'll never be a pushover. I'm going to have to have Morris and Erica get me a list of council members and their histories.

No one knows but Morris and Erica aren't just smart, they are hackers. Very tech savvy. That's why they will be the perfect partners in the Security company. They know so much about things like that.

I pull Morris and Erica aside to let them know what I need and why. I walk back to where a few of Morris’ warriors are listening to Dane about what they need to be doing. Erica and Anna are helping ease pack members that are still a bit frightened by the Big Alpha Male.. I start blasting a soothing aura, and everyone who is tense from my pack or Morris' starts to relax. Tense warriors, scared pups, trembling young women, all start to breathe easily.

"Hey, what is your name?" I asked a warrior who is snarling while looking at a few of my pack members.

He straightens up when he sees me. And pulls his wolf back in.

" Colby Michael, Alpha." He says with a bow and a VERY thick southern accent.

"Where are you from originally Colby?" I say, eyeing him .

"North Central Florida, Alpha."

"Nice. Let me ask you something. Why are you snarling at my wolves? My wolf, Athena, is having a hard time trying NOT to rip you to complete shreds for what you are doing..." I say as calmly as I can.

"I mean no disrespect Alpha, but you have the wrong idea. I'm not snarling at them. I'm snarling because of their condition. My wolf, Torsten, is losing his mind at the fact that these people have been through so much. " He says, breathing heavily.

Athena and I breathe a deep calming breath.

"I see. That's nice to know we weren't the only wolves appalled by this situation. Say, do you want to maybe help more than what you are now?"

I have this inkling in my body that I need Colby in my pack. He's a good looking wolf but not for that reason. There's something about his spirit and aura of his wolf that is drawing me to get him to agree to be here.

"What do you mean Alpha? I'd love to be of assistance in any way I can!"

"How do you feel about joining my pack? I don't know your expertise, but there's something about you that is telling me you need to be here."

He's looking at me shocked. Morris is just smiling. He knows this about me and my "gut feelings" about others. He knows it's almost always right. Actually it's always been right. I only say almost because I don't like to gloat.

"Can I do that? Alpha Morris?" He says looking to Morris, who standing next to me with a smirk. "Would you release me to be here in this new pack?"

"Colby, ever since you came to my pack you have been a big influence in a lot of changes. From security to benefits for working pack members. You're also one of the best trackers I've ever seen. I'd be sad to see you go, but if Alpha Elaina thinks you'd be of better service here I won't argue. I trust her intuition. But it'll all be your choice. " He says smoothly. 

Colby looks at Morris and me. "I'd be absolutely honored to join your pack Alpha Elaina. If you believe that I can help you and these wolves, I'd like to go ahead and do that now. " He says with a huge smile.

Morris releases him and I say the crew to my pack. Suddenly Athena speaks up.

'He's special, Elaina. And he doesn't even know it. I know his wolf, Torsten. Torsten has ALWAYS been special but every few hundred years the Moon Goddess pairs him with an amazing human. He's going to be such a great addition to the pack.'

"Alright y'all, let's go get some stuff knocked down, cleaned up and marked off so the builders can come and set everything up. I'd like to have all the houses done in a month. Morris, can your company handle that?" I said with a quirked eyebrow. Morris has a huge construction company. It's mainly for huge facilities or skyscrapers. But he does houses and mansions too.

"Are you doubting our capabilities darling? " He said with a chuckle.

"I guess we'll just have to see. "

- 4 months later -

It's been 4 months since I defeated the Alpha of the Red Night pack. And we've turned it into the Moon Forest Pack.

Dane, Colby and I have been running the security company. You'd think that with it only being 4 months we wouldn't have made it that far.

We have 5 major contracts. 2 in two human towns for big multi-billion dollar companies. And 3 of them are for 3 of the packs we used to help protect.

They all have the best security and monitor system that Erica partly runs. She's the partner/ department head for the tech parts. She LOVES being Luna, but she loves working and contributing to the safety of the world. Plus she only keeps half of her earnings, she donates a 4th to the members of our pack and then donates to werewolf orphanages.

 Colby and I have been working closely with our pack, expanding the borders into the forest, and Colby has started training bodyguards for the company. Of course being a founder I try to run most of the business stuff so others don't have to worry. But Colby, has also been helpful in that aspect.

Dane is working with Jonny in training all the warriors in our pack. Dane is one of the best fighters I have ever seen. He is the one I would trust the most to be the trainer.

Jeremy likes having his freedom. He came to check everything out, once the word got out that we were now in charge of a pack.

 He likes to be a warrior and just be a regular pack member without a lot of responsibility but he always pitches in when he can.

All the houses are built for our pack and the amount of tears that were shed when we packed away the last few tents and air mattresses for families to move into their homes could've filled Lake Okeechobee.

We still have a long way to go but the progress that has been made so far is something to be proud of. All my pack members are smiling, well fed and dressed. Living in the sunshine and soaking up the good times.

I can't wait to see where we are in a year or two. We are still working on a packhouse design and we can't decide how we want it built. I think all the girls in the pack want a farmhouse type of design but the guys think we should have a castle built.

I never eye rolled so hard in my life until Jeremy said we needed a windowless castle with a moat and a drawbridge. F*cking children.

Nothing could be more perfect or come together better.

Even in the 4 months we have been taking care of this back, all the darkness you felt here is now gone. 

The grass is growing. The trees are swaying and wind filters through all of our wolves and bear fur on our once a week run. 

We make it a habit that as often as we can we go out for a packwide run to let our animals bond with the land and with each other as a family.

I can’t wait to see where we go from here.