The Prophecy Fulfilled

1.5

My shift is finally over. I head to the little grocery/general store that is next to the diner. I need to restock my pantry. I hate grocery shopping, but I love to cook so I must do one to accomplish the other.

I step through the doors and give a wave to Hank. An older guy that looks just how you would imagine with a day’s worth of salt and pepper scruff on his sun-tanned leather face. He is wearing a nice pair of jeans and a plaid shirt over his scrappy wiry frame. He isn’t very tall. Just slightly taller than my 5’7 height.

I take a cart and begin my rounds through the produce and vegetable aisles. I slow my pace as I smell it. Lost in the scent yet again. Autumn leaves and fall wood fires. It's faint, like it’s fading in a breeze. I wander the aisles hypnotized putting who knows what into my cart. I make my way to the check out where Hank is waiting to spill his gossip.

“Hi, Hank. What’s the local news today?” I query.

“Hey, Adara. First, those blueberry muffins of yours are yet again the talk of the town.” I laugh at the twinkle in Hanks’ eyes. “Let me guess, you were the start of the talk, weren’t you Hank?”

“Maybe so but they're worth the talk.”

“Ok, Hank what else you got, this town isn’t that boring that the biggest news of the day is muffins. You told me of Kat’s drunken miss hap last Friday night, so who made a fool of themselves last night?”

“The storm had most people in their houses so nothing as far as I can tell happened last night. At least out in public.” He claims with a boisterous laugh.

I wait as I can see he is dying for me to ask what really happened over the night. I give in making it easy on him as he loves a captive audience, “So, what did happen then last night during or just after the storm then Hank?”

He chuckles, “I can’t pull one over on you. Kirsty, the inn keeper said some dangerous sorts checked into the inn last night. Large and muscular guys that gave her the creeps. Saw one myself today just a little bit ago. Looks like they are the types that will bring trouble if you ask me. Although after he left here, Kirsty came running over and said that two of the three headed out of town and left the third, the one that appeared to be in charge behind.”

That last statement gave me a lot to think about and not in a good way. My past is still too fresh in my memory.

************************************************

The deal's finally complete. I hold the deeds to the acquired territories which encompasses both Washington State and Oregon. I quickly plot our travel route to inspect what now belongs to Silver Wood Pack. We're not the largest pack in Northern America, but we're growing. I need to travel to the newly acquired territories to meet the three occupying packs, Tycho Crater Pack, Blue Moon Oasis Pack, and Humboldt Lunar Pack. These three packs that now occupy the newly acquired Silver Wood territory will be given a choice. The choice to join our pack and be protected and learn to defend themselves under the direction of our warriors or move from our lands. From past experience, most will join us. They have invested their lives where they are and know the land and people and will not want to try and find and integrate into a new pack, essentially starting over.

I check the caller ID to see if I want to talk to whoever is interrupting my travel plans. I cringe as I see my mother’s name. I'm supposed to meet my parents and the council to talk to death, again, the fact that I don't have a Luna and mate. It's the last thing I want to think about. I need to focus on the plans to make our pack more secure.

“Mom, Hi. What’s this call about?” I ask feigning ignorance.

“Caelan Murphy, you know very well what this is regarding.” Mom scolds.

Sighing, “Mom this isn't a good time for me. I just got the deeds to the new territory and I need to get this trip planned out so I can get the three packs inserted and acclimated into Silver Wood. This's something that I can’t brush off for the next week. There're rumblings that some of the border packs to the new territory aren't happy that we acquired the territory and packs. I need to leave tomorrow evening at the latest. We’ll need to postpone this meeting until I return next month.”

“Caelan, you know a Luna will help you with strengthening our pack. She'll give you not only physical strength but the special leadership that comes with having a mate and Luna by your side. You've yet to find your destined mate, if that ever happens. You're getting older, not younger. We need to move forward on this.”

“MOM, not right now. I have time yet. I’m losing faith that I'll find my destined mate and when I return we'll move forward on a chosen mate. Just not this week. Give me one month to tend to the new territory and a brief rest before we move on. How about you start plans for a grand ball to see if my destined shows up. If not, I'll announce a chosen mate. Send invitations to all the packs within our territory and a few of our closer allies. Make it six weeks from now. That'll give you time to plan. Pass on my decision to the council for me. Will that work?”

“Oh Caelan, I know how you hate dancing but if this is what you want then I’ll make the plans. What about the new packs you'll be visiting? Will you invite them?”

“Make up a quick three invitations. I'll take them with me. Once I get those that wish to join our pack, I'll issue the invitation.” I pause as I have a thought, “Mom?”

“Yes, Caelan?”

“How about we make it for the Autumn Equinox? Give it a fall theme with the reds, golds, oranges, and yellows. Decorate the back garden with fall decorations with a scattering of fire pits? What do you think?”

“I think that's one hell of an idea son. I'll make you up a quick three invitations and drop them off to you later tonight so you can tell me if I am on the right track of your theme.”

After saying goodbye, I make another three calls, the first to my Beta and second in command, Zane; then to my Gamma, head of training and security, Kade; and finally, my pack lawyer, Drake. Within ten minutes they’re in my home office. I fill them in on my phone call with my mother.

“For f**k’s sake Caelan, when will they lay off you finding your Luna? The council is obsessed with your s*x life.” Zane, who's not only my beta but best friend cries.

I smile at his indignation on my behalf, “Well, I gave my mother a compromise. Hopefully it'll be enough for them to lay off.”

With an eyebrow raised Kade jumps into the conversation, “Oh great and mighty Alpha what sort of compromise could you possibly offer that would get them off your back with this?”

Scratching the back of my neck, I mumble “a grand ball to be given at the autumn equinox with a fall-based theme.”

Silence.

I look at the three men in front of me. Kade and Zane have comical looks of terror on their faces, Drake, the only one of us that is mated and who apparently likes to dance just sits there with a small smile on his face.

“Okay, Okay, we have six weeks till that debacle. In the meantime, here's what I am planning for the new territories.”

Relief washes over their faces realizing that they will not be needed for the planning of this ball.

I continue, “So we will leave Orofino Creek Point, where our main Pack House, training grounds and basically headquarters are located and travel along the lower half of our territory through Oregon. I believe that here, near the small town of Brownsville, deeper into the woods one of these paths from Cochran Creek Drive leads to Humboldt Lunar Pack. There's an Inn in Brownsville that I've made reservations for Kade, Drake and myself.”

I hear Zane make a noise as if to stop himself from talking so I look over at him to indicate he should speak his mind.

“Alpha, you normally have me tend to these territory inductions, why the change this time?” He asks with a hint of hurt.

“There's one particular reason. I don't want to go to the council meeting with my parents to discuss making a chosen mate decision as of yet.” Understanding dawns in his eyes with a twinkle then quickly fades. “s**t. That means I’m on planning duty doesn’t it.”

The three of us laugh then I continue, “You, Zane will remain here and handle business, which includes party planning, while I'm away tending to the new territories and hopefully adding new pack members.”

“Well, I certainly can’t blame you for wanting to get away for a few weeks from the nagging.” He chuckles.

“Zane, you should know that I trust your judgement and heart that guides you to make the right decisions for the good of the pack. Which is why I know I can comfortably leave the pack and my mother in party planning mode, in your capable hands for a few weeks at least.” I sigh in my head knowing I need to reassure my Beta when I make new decisions when the decision made usually has something to do with my own personal life. We haven’t had a need to battle and I'm concerned that the addition of this new territory will stir up trouble. “In addition, Zane, while we are away, I will need you to contact the other packs and step up our training in all of our villages scattered across the territory.”

The Silver Wood Pack territory stretches from parts of the Dakota’s, Wyoming, Montana, the upper part of Utah, the Northeast corner of Nevada, Idaho, where our pack HQ and Manor is located and now Oregon and Washington.

“Back to the travel plans. Once we meet with the current Alpha of Humboldt Lunar Pack, I will extend the invitation to join us. If they don't, I'll be lenient and give them thirty days to find a new pack and move off territory. If they wish to join, we'll conduct the joining ceremony that binds them to us. The following day, Zane, you will send two warriors to each pack to start up a training and protection program with the current pack trainers. Once complete with the Humboldt Pack, which will be no more, we'll travel up to Bruceport, Washington and meet with the Blue Moon Oasis Alpha. The same proceedings as with Brownsville. Then down to Walla Walla, Washington and the border of Oregon and Milton-Freewater, the largest of the three packs, Tycho Crater Pack. We may need to spend most of the time there as wolves will need time to travel for the announcement. As we leave each new village, I will make a call ahead to the Alpha of the next pack to let them know we're on the way.”