Jessie finally returned from her day. Tomorrow was the New Year’s Eve event. Once that was over, it would move all available hands to get the cleanup done and everything as close to readiness as possible for the refugees. January third would see NARC workers coming in to help speed things up. There weren’t many because many of the supernatural factions were dealing with similar issues. However, it was the shifter and the vampire communities that were hit the hardest. Within the shifters, the worst hit was in fact not the Wolves, but the Beard. All over North America, the Bear Communities were choosing to change the fundamental way they lived. Choosing to leave the isolated family homesteads to live similarly to the Wolf Communities in enclaves could promote communication and provide better security.
Silver Ridge was lu
Jessie was focusing on the Refugees. How’re they to interact with the people themselves? How would they explain the history of the land? Those from Iron Hill wouldn’t return because of their memories. The land wasn’t bad. The new homes were going in closer to the Silver Ridge property line so they wouldn’t feel so isolated. They would form the old packhouse into a second hub. Specifically, for those who’d work there. They planned other building construction for the future. The pack would span two towns soon. This would open places inside the pack for those entering the pack. The miners would have needed services. The sheep and chickens would have workers and guardians. “We’ll tell them the truth. At least, the adults. We’ll add in the planned improvements, as well. Then they’ll h
Finally, the meeting ended with promises that they’d come back for the start of the celebrations at noon. “I’ll go finish up figuring out when we have time for any of this and attempt to prioritize it all.” Alrick closed the door behind the NARC investigators and looked at his mate. “I wish we knew something of the timeline of how events will play out. I’ll keep you company while you work. I’m tired but I don’t want to have another trip into the Dream Realm again.” Alrick frowned. “You might get more clarity.” “What if cl
The morning came to early Jessie woke up to music playing outside. Just as the music got started, it would stop and start again. Someone was setting up the sound system. A peek outside the window showed Jessie that the front lawn was bustling with people. The last steps for the New Year’s Eve Event. She couldn’t believe that things have come so far, so fast, yet there was so much more that need to be done. Jessie needed to remember that there was so much more they’d need to accomplish in the coming days. But today would be for the pack one last hurrah before their expansion would happen. Alrick Came out of the bathroom having just finished showering and stepped into his closet. She figured now was her turn to get her day sta
The two couples spent their time talking with each other as they waited for Rachel and entourage to arrive. It was an interesting time because Jessie learnt so much about Craig and Alrick as they talked about their combined past. Lily, too, seemed to learn things about them as well. The men needed to be pulled away from pack business when Craig brought up the idea of solar and wind generation for the pack. His idea was sound, but not today. If they controlled the electricity and pulled the pack off the human’s electrical grid, the pack would not need to explain the use of their electricity. Wind turbines and grasslands combined wouldn’t need more land and brush wouldn’t need to be cleared. It was a future project for a future that was still a ways away.&
The day slowly ended, and they left any thought of troublemakers and awkward scenes behind. As darkness fell, the pack withdrew to the audience chamber and the dining hall was both open for eating. Jessie had an idea for a better space, but again, it would have to wait until time allowed. There was growing, and they needed to expand to accommodate everyone. Jessie wandered through the audience chamber, smiling and chatting with people. Wishing them a happy New Year and ensuring that they’d everything they needed, we’re enjoying themselves. As dinner ended, they pushed the tables to the side, and everyone gathered again. Alrick took to the stage and paced there while he waited for everyone to assemble. He welcomed everyone to the next stage of the celebration. Introducing a DJ, a well-known Druid musician, who began by filling the room with a variety of dance music as the hours played
Alrick climbed into bedside Jessie and curled up to her. “When do you next see Doc. J.J.?” “In the morning, eight in the morning. He’s going into the office here to let me have some privacy for tests he wants to run. It won’t be an ultrasound or anything special like that. Why?” “I want to go with.” “Don’t you trust me?” Jessie sat up and looked at him through the darkness. “What do you think I’ll do?”
Rachel and Davie returned to their cabin. It’d been an enjoyable evening. It wasn’t their pack, but at least they were welcome, and the evening’s events were familiar. “Well, that was an evening of surprises.” “You can say that again. First, they discover a mine full of… What type of gem was it? To think the Iron Hill Pack failed and died out because of mismanagement and a lack of education about their choice of business. Gods, how many suffered and died in unnecessary poverty? Who can you blame now? Jessie didn’t know the pack was hers. Yet she did her job without the resources or knowing it was her job.” “I guess it proves that the job is more than a title. You can be an Alpha without the title and have
Jessie rambled around the packhouse with nothing much left to do with the cleanup. There was a surprising amount of compost to remove from the building, but by spring it would be well on its way to be useable in the gardens. She’d a chance earlier to see them, and an expansion would need to happen. But if upgrades were being made, she’d thought an additional greenhouse or two would be well worth the cost. But that would wait for spring. Alrick already confirmed with Rachel that they’d be able to question Hector at eleven this morning. She’d meet them and everyone would travel together. But with the winter months, many people volunteered on the cleanup, and Jessie’s pregnancy was the excuse used to exclude her from cleanup chores. It’d not taken long for someone to spill the beans to Bonnie about her pregnancy. Right now Bonnie was pouting because she’d m