Unbreakable

Welcome Home

    The milkweeds and tiger lilies that would abound across Crescent Rain territory were out of sight before I knew it. The lines of Maple and Oak trees grew thinner as we traveled up the narrow winding highway. I just kept holding my breathe waiting for the moment we officially crossed the boarder, I mind linked my parents one last time. I heard nothing from my father and got a final "I love you, you'll be fine honey" from my mother. After about 2 hours of driving I felt it, like a slight smack in the head and the chest, we have left our home, the territory we have known and protected all of our lives. I guess it's just bittersweet since I planned to leave for college anyway, but its harder to leave knowing that if I fail, I won't be welcomed back home if I Clear Mountain. College happens all of the time with the permission of the Alpha in Crescent Rain. I guess I just have to hope that Ryan values education

        As the sun moved across the sky the road began to climb upwards and I could see all of the wildlife flourishing. These trees are foreign to me but so tall and thin that they are still magnificent. They don't have leaves but spikes. The birds are fluffier an the air seems a little too thin for comfort. The sun is high in the sky but the temperature seems to be dropping as the day passes rather than rising. I caught myself guessing at which car up ahead was Ryan's and almost missed a sharp curve in the midst of my lolligagging. I quickly recovered but this trip was just dragging on. Questions raced through my head, "why didn't he want me to ride with him?" "Aren't alphas extra clingy/protective of their mates? Isn't it a bad sign he won't say more than 2 words to me?". As I continued to question my mate, my wolf(?), and pile up my self-doubt in my head It was as if the trees just disappeared. The road became so open and clear that miles ahead could be seen, and that's when I saw it. A huge grey, snowcapped mountain and what looked like a big city thriving near the base. You could see another settlement and the treeline that was sparse across the base of the mountain. It was so beautiful I released a breathe I didn't realize I was holding. 

            After about 20 more minutes we pulled into a long winding drive  that stretched into the territory leading to a massive grey building with black and gold trim on the window sills and the lining of the roof. It looked almost like a giant historical library, but I knew that a place this big and extravagant had to be the packhouse. Along the road there were quaint little cottages that were built into the rocks. I had never seen people build homes this way. I linked Tate, "These cottages are so pretty, how did they build them to look like nothing more than a gorgeous door encased by stone and trees?"

    "If you look closely Tess you will see the trees actually are disguising the rooves. These are pine trees, they offer few leaves but in contrast with the stone its the perfect camo."

    "Tate, are you saying the houses are meant to be hidden in plain site? Why does that thought make me uneasy?" 

    "Well they aren't swimming in forest or other means of territorial protection, that's most likely why the trade included a warrior swap." Tate's voice rung through my mindlink and I froze. CRAP. I am so gonna die here. 

    The closer we got to the packhouse the more my nerves began to skyrocket. There was a huge black gate at the entry to the packhouse and Alpha Ryan must have mind linked his guards to open the gate as he approached it without even slowing. All I can think in my head is how he must be reckless or arrogant and I can't decide which at this point. We all pull around the left side of the building and follow the drive to a parking garage connected to the rear of the packhouse. Excited to get out and find some bladder relief we all piled out of our vehicles waiting for direction. 

    Alpha Ryan began to speak, "Welcome to Clear Mountain, you are all valued additions to our pack. With your help we will reinforce our territory boundaries, lend protection to your former pack, and find new strength in unity. Tomorrow you will all be inducted int--...." He was cut off by a high pitch squeal and the sound of flip flops hitting the concrete fast. Before I could realize what was happening a petite but very curvy blonde girl in a short denim skirt and a black low-cut shirt with bedazzling around the area showing her cleavage had thrown her arms around Ryan's neck and greeted him with a kiss on the cheek giggling almost hysterically. I couldn't help the growl that had escaped my lips and all eyes turned to me. Tate's face was pale and eyes were wide as he elbowed me and I immediately look down.

    "As I was saying," Ryan began, I glanced up and saw look of disapproval from him and pure anger from the blonde. "you will all be inducted into the pack tomorrow night following our welcome feast. You will all be expected to attend and clothing will be provided in your sizes in the pack colors, as is tradition for new members. Halie here has all of your housing assignments. You will follow them without hesitation and adhere to our training schedules and events calendar strictly. Follow her and she will get you all settled. You are dismissed". He gave me one last disapproving glance and shook his head before kissing Halie on top of her head and walking away. I could hear my wolf go back and forth between whining and growls. "I'm sorry" I tell her internally but I can't handle this feeling. Tate put his hand on my back and rubbed small circles, the turmoil in my chest must have been apparent on my face. My heart feels so heavy. I feel like I could explode at any moment. 

    Halie is sauntering around handing out maps with rooms circled. My gut turns as she grows closer so I reach into my car and pretend to be looking for something in one of my bags. I linked Tate to ask her for my sheet so I wouldn't have to face her. I'm such a coward, but how do I deal with all of this within 10 minutes of being at the place I have no choice but to call home now. 

        "Tess? Beta Female?" I hear her irritated voice close behind me and freeze. I take a deep breathe and glue a fake smile to my face and chime, "present". She looks at me and tears my map in 2 letting it fall to the ground with a smile and a smirk in her eyes and then walks away definitely over swaying her hips as if to enunciate the fact she has curves that my body probably never will. I look at Tate who just has his hand resting against his lips as if he's thinking but knowing him he's probably trying not to laugh. I hear muffled laughter start to break through the mind link and give him a glare. He chimed "She had a wedgie ANNNND a camel toe going on" and I couldn't help but break out in laughter. The warriors looked over to me and I was almost in tears laughing hysterically and Tate had joined in and laughed out loud with me. Halie had made it to the elevator across the parking garage and stopped to c**k an eyebrow before rolling her eyes and sauntering off. OMG thank goodness for mindlink. I wiped the tears from my eyes as I caught my breathe and they started to turn into tears of frustration but I kept the smile glued to my face so that I could at least make it to my new room, wherever that was. 

        I go to pick up the halves of the map and one had drifted under my car when it had fallen. Fack. I get down and retrieve it and hold the two pieces together. Wait. This shows us each getting a cottage of our own. Right. At. The. Entrance.

    Usually new members would have to work to earn and build their own homes back at Crescent Rain. Only those of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma families would reside in the packhouse suites. Occasionally those too old to care for themselves or the younger generations that haven't yet mated will move in to achieve independence from their parents but they were always in a separate wing or floor. There was a dormitory area for any new members and times when extra shelter was needed. The homes that opened up due to age or marriage were all passed on within the families. It was rare that one would have a home ready. I was excited at the idea of a whole cottage until I remembered and analyzed the layout of the cottages and saw mine circled right at the entrance.  "Tate, do you realize that we are essentially living on the front line, these homes, this is how they protect the packhouse...."

    Some of the warriors must have overheard me as their eyes dart back to their maps. The cottages we are all designated to live in are along the border on the outside of the packhouse gate, at least 200 yards apart. These cottages are empty, because the warriors that used to fill them have served their purpose and did not live to see the next day. It was silent for a moment but it was as if everyone had the same thought and decided to accept it and pull of towards their new homes, "not much of a choice in the matter". Tate patted me on the back and I hopped into my beat up little Taurus followed him to his cottage first to help him unpack. The tears apparently hadn't stopped and I didn't know how much longer I could hold myself together.