Chapter 5.1

"Coffee."

It was the first thing Serena said when she stepped inside the kitchen past ten in the morning. 

Megan was fixing some meat sandwiches and greeted her. Rena just nodded and headed straight for the coffee pot. She grabbed a tall mug from the shelf and poured the life brew together with several spoonfuls of sugar and cream. After giving a quick stir, she took a long drink and sighed happily. 

"Baby, if you will be like that every morning, I can give you something better than coffee," Rooka said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Rena stopped drinking, and Megan stopped slicing tomatoes. Both looked at him and said,

"Is it more creamy than creamer?" From Megan.

"Oh, gosh Roo! Too early! Too early!" Rena said, shaking her head as she continued to drink her coffee.

Rooka stood up, his empty plate in hand. The sink was near the coffee pot so after putting the dirty dish, he caged Rena between him and the counter behind her. There was still room, but Rena could feel the heat coming out from his tall frame. He looked at her, slowly tracing every inch of her face. Unable to withstand his scrutiny she dropped her eyes and continued to drink her coffee.

He felt the change and sighed. He knew that he should not push her, but damn, she looked so beautiful in the morning sunlight. There was an air of innocence around her that made his wolf more protective of her. 

"Did you sleep well?" All he got was a nod. "No nightmares?" A shake of her head. " Were you warm enough last night?" Another nod. "Do you want me to sleep with you again?" That made her look up to him, and glared. He just chuckled and kissed her forehead.

"Where are the others?" Serena asked. 

"Kaz is on the phone, talking to the pilots, we leave once you are done with your task. The twins are sparing. All the Sparks are with them. Wayne is outside, doing what he does best."

"What?"

"Scouting."

"Bhe," Rena called her BFF, "do you know anyone that can take care of the inn while you are away?"

"What do you mean while I'm away? Where will I go?"

"With us." She grabbed a sandwich and cut it into two, unconsciously giving the other half to Rooka. While he, in turn, filled her cup with more coffee and added some cream and sugar too. She smiled at him and he just brushed his lips against hers. Both of them standing near the sink, observing Megan expertly making the sandwiches they were going to pack. 

"I can't leave, bhe. Other than the inn, I have other obligations. I can just say my dad is part of the Were Council? Do you think they will leave me alone?" Putting the knife down, she closed her eyes to stop her racing heart.

Megan knew this was going to happen. She felt it, tried to deny it, but still, it was there. It took years for her to understand what her father was going through, and now this. She felt Rena hug her.

"I'm sorry, bhe. I don't want you to be hauled halfway across the globe, but, I'm pretty sure, telling those men who your father is will not help."

"She's right." Interjected Wayne, who suddenly popped in the kitchen. With Kaz behind him.

"Twins?"

"Mind link," Kaz replied. 

The two women looked at each other and just shrugged. 

“How am I right?” Rena asked.

“Those men who attacked you the other day, they call themselves the Black Weres,”

Is it because they are wearing black? Nuru was the one who asked the question in their mind link. Ouch was the next. Okay, okay, sorry. Should we be worried?

"We shouldn't, but with the rate they are growing, the Council should be informed. Not just Lupine, but also the Ursine, and the Pantera too." Kaz said. He looked at the two Alpha before continuing, "they are made up of all manners of Weres. So far, from the intel I have gathered, no Alter has joined their ranks."

"Because after the offspring were being killed, they had to hide," it was Lem who answered the question, he was perched near the open skylight. "Alter Beings are difficult to recognize. Unlike the normal Weres, they go by scents, for them, a drop of blood must be spilled."

"Blood?" Megan said, her face was pale with the mention of blood. 

Rena nodded. "I remember my dad always had this, diabetic thing. I asked him, and he launched a full explanation about us being an Alter. When I started asking if I should do the same, he was so upset that mom had to drag him to a yarn store to calm him down."

"But both are Weres, right? How can one species be so different from each other?" 

Rena took a deep breath and let it out. "Alter Beings are not created. They were part of the first humans that evolved. Some of the scientists we had theorized that our ancestors were actually wolves, to begin with. The ability to shift? That is the whole mystery. I don't know the whole story. Apparently, from what Alter legends have, each of the most powerful creatures had changed to human along the way."

"That's…" 

"I know," Rena sighed. "As for Uncle Mido, I don't know what happened to him, so we might as well ask him when we see him." She looked at Megan. "It's hard, I know, but you need to be with us. Leaving you is not an opinion. Even if we did leave Wayne and the twins here, they might bring more people and I can't lose you too."

"Rena…"

"If you are thinking about the expenses, you don't have to worry. We don't follow the same rules as humans." It was Rooka, who answered her invoice question. "Alpha Daire is the alpha of the whole Asian region except for the Middle East. I am the Alpha of the Middle East and Africa. As the sole heir of Alpha Daire, Rena is the automatic Alpha, even without being formally acknowledged by the Council."

Lem flew down and bowed to Rena, "And as the new Alpha of the Asian Region, you need to visit India."

"India?" Rena asked in a confused tone. 

"You need to visit Kedarnath Temple, during the months when the statue of the deity is not inside, all the lieutenants’ Weres and the Alter Beings of all kinds gather at that place for a meeting. Your father is their alpha and they answer to him. They felt the transfer of power so you need to establish yourself as their leader."

"It's too early for me to give orders. I haven't even buried my parents, and you want me to address a group of beings I do not know about?!"

"Baby," Rooka pulled her into his embrace. He can feel the anger, frustration, and fear rolling all over her. He understands where everything is coming from, but all the emotions she is feeling should not be directed to a Spark who only wants to help. "Be calm, baby. Breathe."

"How can I be calm? I don't know anything about this world. What I know is nothing compared to what dad knows. They are older than me, wiser than me, stronger than me, and I have to be their leader?"

"Baby, that is why I'm here. That's why Kaz is here. And the twins and my Beta. To help you. To protect you. The Sparks are also here to share what they know. And Megan too. Baby, you are not alone."

"I know, Roo. But it's too much. I can't handle it in a day. "

"Alpha," Kaz started, "if you may, once we fly, My Alpha will give a very quick and easy run down to the do and don'ts to our world. Although, as a Royalty, there is no do and don't. What you say is law, and even at a young age, Alter Beings are highly respected. I will be telling you about the lieutenants in all the regions so you know which is which."

"Alpha Serena, Kaz is good at what he does. He is older than us, and being Dad's beta also helps." Wayne added. 

"Old?" Asked Megan.

"Yes, I am older than Alpha Rooka."

"You old? You don't look like an old person, you look like what, 30 years old."

"My dear, I am 270 years old," Kaz replied. 

Megan's eyes widened. She looked at the other Weres in the room. 

"170," both Rooka and Wayne said.

"The twins?" Serena asked.

"100," Rooka answered. 

"OMG, we are surrounded by old people," Megan realized. It caused Serena to laugh. Breaking the tension. 

"See, baby, you are in good hands."

"Good hands, yep...you are in really really, good hands," Megan said, the glint was back and Rena tensed. Rooka was caressing her hip again. She looked at him, eyes narrowing. He just smiled.

"Wayne, make sure everything is in order before we leave. Kaz, try to find out the lieutenants in this region. Layla, Nuru, make sure that the perimeter around the house is good. Since the three Sparks with you, ask them for anything that can help," Rooka commanded. He looked at the woman in his arms. "It's your freedom, Serena. We can stay here, or face your future together." 

Serena looked at the people in the room. It was the moment of truth. Whatever she decides will be the next step. Forward? Or stay?

You are who you are. As your parents, we can guide you, protect you, but in every step that you make, will be your own free will. If you are in a pinch and you don't know what to do, close your eyes, and ask God. What should I do? Guide me, give me a sign…

"We leave in two hours," she said, as three cardinals flew up the morning sky.