Broken and Found

First New Begianing

As I finish packing my things in the tiny motel room, my father walks in with a hopeful expression. "Are you ready, Shortstop?" he asks, using my childhood nickname, which I guess I will never outgrow. "I just need my toothbrush," I reply as he hands it to me. "Got it."

"Are you looking forward to starting at the new pack school?" he asks. "I'm not sure, Dad. How about you?" My father was the Beta of our home pack, and as it happens, the Alaska pack needs a new Beta. "Well, the general duties of a Beta are the same from pack to pack, besides from pack rules. So, aside from getting acquainted with the Alpha and the pack itself, there shouldn't be any problems,"he says, side-eyeing me while he puts the last of our luggage in the rental SUV.

We arrived forty-five minutes before our flight was scheduled to board, which gave me plenty of time to grab some coffee and a donut from my favorite place. "Bet you're going to miss this place, huh, Shortstop?" I don't know why he asked me that; he knows I will. It was Momma's favorite place, too. "Of course, Dad. You know I would live at a Blue Star Donuts if I could. Plus, this is sort of my last goodbye to Momma." "Well then, lets get her favorites." We sat at a small table with two black coffees and two raspberry and rosemary donuts, enjoying them in silence. With my k****e fully charged and a copy of Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros downloaded, we walked to our terminal.

"I still think you are too young to be reading those books." My Dad always has an opion about what I read, but we've been having this conversation a lot lately. "Dad, I'm just three years younger than Violet, and I'm supposed to find my mate in a few weeks. What exactly is so inappropriate about the Empyrean series?" I was already on the second installment. Plus, I know exactly why Dad doesn't want me reading this series, and it has nothing to do with the s****l content, but I like to bring it up because it makes him squirm. I also believe he can't admit to himself why he feels this way. "Mating and doing what they do are two completely different things," he replies. I roll my eyes and ask, "And what would that be, Dad?" As fate would have it, we started to board before he could answer.

The flight from Portland, Oregon, to Fairbanks, Alaska, was four hours long. Once Dad fell asleep, I took the opportunity to read. I figured I'd better get in as much reading as I could since I knew settling down in a new place, especially in a new pack, would take some time, and i might not have any free time for a while. The moment the plane touched down, Dad's eyes popped open. Luckily, I had already put my k****e back in my backpack. As we deplaned, surprisingly enough, our new Alpha, Luna and their son were waiting for us. "Liam! So good to finally meet you! this is my mate, Alexandria, and our son Zayne." Alpha Night is a tall man with a narrow build for a wolf, with graying black hair and pale gray eyes. While his mate, Alexandria, has what some would call a thick figure with flowing golden, brown hair and bright blue eyes. As for Zayne, who was staring awkwardlly, he had jet-black hair and almost crystal-clear blue eyes, and board frame that towered over me. Luna Night chimes in, "Just call me Alexa. I hope you don't mind, but Alpha Night told me Rhea has her eighteenth birthday coming up, so I took it upon myself to throw her a little bash." I wanted to hug this woman so tight my arms would break; she has no idea how much this actually means to me. My own mother was already planning a party for my eighteenth, and I thought I was just going to to have to settle for a quite dinner with Dad. "I don't mind at all, Alexa. In fact, I think it's a great idea. I hate to admit it in front of Rhea, but I was truly at a loss as to what to do. I haven't even thought to ask her if she even wanted to celebrate." And with that confession, I gave my Dad a big hug and said, "It's alright, Dad, I honestly wasn't expecting anything more than a quite dinner with you. "Then it's settled! Rhea's birthday bash will be held on September 22nd at the Alpha house. Now you just had a long flight, I'm sure your tired and hungry, how about some lunch?" So far, Luna Night was my favorite. "I'm starving, how about you, Dad?" "Well, all we've had is coffee and donuts." Alpha Night pats Dad on the back and says,"Terrific, I know where we can get some good BBQ!"

The Rack Shack was not what I was expecting, as it was delicious. The guys got a pound of ribs, each, with fries and something that looked like a jalapeno stuffed with cream cheese and brisket, then wrapped in bacon. Dad love them so much he had three. The Luna and I had a smoke chicken sandwitch with fries, then we all had the bread pudding for dessert. As it happens, Alpha Night has a pilot's license and and was able to take us in a privet plane to Port Alexander. The plane itself was just big enough for the five of us and our carry-ons. Zayne took it upon himself to help buckle me in. "May I?" he asks as he grabs the straps. I nod as he snaps them in. Goddess, why does he smell so good? I shake out of it as I remember Amelia had said this is how the heat starts. Apparently, every male I come across will smell and seem attractive. Amelia is my best friend, she also just turned eighteen a year ago, and found her mate and went into heat for the first time. Knowing I'd start to freak out, and not having my own mother around, Amelia laid down the basics of what was to happen as my own heat was to start soon.

Ugh, Moon Goddess, why did it have to start now? With a six-hour flight ahead of me and my father preoccupied, I took the opportunity to do some reading. Zayne looks down at my k****e and says, "I have a k****e Scribe, you are welcome to have it. I'll be getting the new Scribe Colorsoft, anyway." I looked in shock and with my jaw basically on the floor. I recovered and politely said, "Thank you, that's very kind."Eh, consider it a birthday present. If it's alright with my Dad, I'll share my k****e Unlimited with you as well." "Thanks, I've been trying to save up for school, so I had to cancel my Unlimited and Audible." Before Zayne could ask why my Dad didn't just pay for it, he pipes up, "She's very independent, that one. Won't let me pay for anything but the basics. She handles her own school supplies, pays her own way when out with friends, and funds her reading habit." "Excuse me, Mr.Thompson, but why do refer to her reading as a habit? She could be someone's future Beta someday. I would think her being well-read would be a good thing." Before my Dad could come up with a response, I showed Zayne what I was reading, and as a grin cracked his strong features, I blushed. As if I was not embarressed enough, he chimes, "I'm guessing your favorite color is morally gray?"