“It’s not a wedding ceremony. There’s no handing off the bride like you’re loaning out or giving away an unwanted hunting dog.” Becky, Jane Ann, Jon, and Rob sat at a dining table, and they’d just started working out the plans for a joint mating ceremony. “Wow. That’s a new way to look at a wedding ceremony.” Jane Ann couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Historically speaking, they were using a religious blessing to make it okay to pass a woman from one man to another as an object. Though when humans talk about things like this, they use cattle instead of hunting dogs. It’s weird sounding, but true.” Becky had been after all married before and her father had given her away. “I understand how the hand off at the beginning of the ceremony is representative of handing over an object rather than a human being. They could be anything really at that point. Heck, it’s called giving the bride away and my father said he was proud and honoured to do it back then.”
Bart thought he’d be nervous, but his nervousness didn’t hold a candle to Grace’s. She was absolutely scared that the Lycans would take one look at her and judge her unqualified to lead them because she was human. She had feared that they’d think she was completely unqualified to do her job. Nothing anyone said could change her mind right now. Bart had been poring over files on these Lycan. Speaking to them over video chat and doing his due diligence. But nothing beat working face to face with another to know what they were made of and what they could handle. “Grace, love. Stop, please. You are fine. Right now, I doubt anyone will have a problem with you as my mate. Think about it. I’m not a Lycan, I’m a wolf shifter. There are things I will never quite understand, either. You are my fated mate, and I can’t do this without you. We’ll have assistance from those who will lead under us. You’ve shown more interest in Lycan than most Lycan. The things you say and
Rob and Jon took to the centre of a raised platform, the Council of Elders sat on the other side of the room at a table, to the right and left seated that wasn’t raised for pack members to use when they came to witness the Council of Elders meeting. This time, both galleries on either side were full of the pack. Becky and Jane Ann stood in the shadows behind Rob and Jon as they confronted the Council of Elders. Becky noticed how there were so many female wolves in the pack, while older male wolves only populated the Council of Elders. There wasn’t any representation for the females of the pack. Becky didn’t think she was comfortable with that and knew she’d have to bring up why that was. The Council of Elders should represent the pack’s interests so that it can advise to the alpha the best course of action. Clearly, Becky could see that wasn’t happening here. “Rob, before you start, may I have a quick word with you?” Becky asked after her hand came to rest o
Becky and Rob were both pleasantly surprised by the response his speech received from the pack. Rob learned quickly that he’d been wrong. His pack was with him, and not the Council of Elders. He couldn’t believe the support he received with people volunteering to help set up the mating ceremonies for both couples. “Yes, I’ll let everyone know when we have a planning meeting, and we can make all the decisions then.” Rob assured them over and over until he had to stop the crowd forming. “I’d like to thank everyone who’s offering or offered to help right now. I’ll set up a meeting for everyone who’s interested in offering their services or volunteering. We’ll take a few hours and decide, organize who’s doing what. Just set things up so we don’t miss anything, or have too many people doing one thing. We’ll make this a success.” A murmur of approval went through the small crowd of people, and they talked among themselves. “Look, I’ll put a clipboard out tonight in the pac
“Okay, now I have a list of all your names here, and packages with the information you’ll need to know to settle in here. These packages contain everything from what room you’ll have here for now to the house that will be yours. Contact numbers are pre-programmed into the phone inside each package, so when you get your package, don’t drop it. Yes, your new position is within the package, along with a list of your duties. There are several maps, so you can get around here on your own. Your phones have an app that, if you get close to one of the current borders, it will beep. No one is coming to get you if this happens. But if you’re lost, please call. I’ve seen the land out there and it’s a mess. The humans messed with the terrain extensively. So try going for a run in pairs or small groups until you are familiar with the location. Or at least tell someone you’re going and about when you’ll be back. One of the lynx stone masons found a rather steep hillside one evening and wen
The next day, Rob took his brother and their mates to see the local seer. She wouldn’t accept membership within his pack, but she didn’t have to. All she needed to do was provide guidance when some came looking for it. They well paid the seer for that. They hoped she wouldn’t respond like the Council of Elders had. If she did, they’d have to delay the mating ceremony until he would repopulate the Council of Elders with a better representation of the pack. This wasn’t something Rod discussed with anyone else. It was a silent worry that nagged on his mind as they travelled the distance to get to the Seer’s small home, which she’d built in a quiet corner of the county district. “How are we going to approach this one? A little more information would go down more nicely this time, because what you did yesterday, Rob, was a shocking revelation, and it doesn’t look good when the people backing you up have to pick up their jaws off the floor. We should k
The seer sat last, and she smiled nervously between her guests. “Now, let me guess. You’re here because you want your lives to go on as the Moon Goddess planned them, but you’re encountering obstacles. Am I right?” She looked expectantly at Rob and Becky as if they had the answer she sought. They looked among themselves to see who would be the first to say anything, but the seer carried on as if there wasn’t an awkward silence. Her friendly voice prattled on as she tried to entertain her guests. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t anything mystical or magical that gave me that information. My phone and messages have been lighting up like a Christmas tree mid season with calls from many people who are angry one way or the other. Heck, one elder called me to find out if I, a seer, could put a curse on you, like I was a mage, druid, or witch. When I told him I couldn’t and wouldn’t he threatened to harm me. You really must get those old wolves under control, Alpha Northgate.”
Everyone in the First Lycan Pack territory was trying their best to adjust to the changes. Even Bart found he had difficulty adjusting to the new routines. Half his problem, he found, was that he needed to write the routines so he could refer to them again and again. The week went by far too fast. Bart learned quickly that the rules and routines he introduced were a strong suggestion. Those rules and routines right now needed to be written in wet cement rather than be set in stone. Grace’s day was insanely busy with her forced to travel between the packs for her job with the Ruling Council. Once the rest of the pack was here, they’d find people to train for the jobs she’d need help with, and then they’d move everything over to their territory. Rob right now was being nice to them and more than generous to let them use the space they were using. Today, the plan to bring the rest of the pack here was in full swing. There was an excitement in