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  “Excuse me, sir…” I started.

  “Please call me Damon.”

  “Damon,” I continued, bowing my head in respect. “I thought we were going to be staying at a guest house?”

  “My pack and I are so honored and excited to have you visit with us, that we wanted to honor you with rooms in the main house. We want you to not worry for any expense while you are here. Everything is on us.”

  It was considered an honor for anyone less than a Beta to be housed in the pack house of any pack. I was very surprised and flattered that they would afford us the privilege of staying there. I heard the surprised and awed gasps coming from the party that had traveled with me.

  “Thank you, Damon.” I turned to Billy and Becca to see what they wanted to do. We conferred with everyone else and decided to go on to the party.

  “I figured that I would let all of you young single wolves mingle to meet each other comfortably instead of the receiving line that is customary.” Damon said to me as we walked through the massive house to the back yard. “I believe Jeffery told me you are not fond of a lot of attention, and you don’t do well in crowds?”

  “Yes, sir, that is correct. I am trained now, but for years I was wary of groups because if I was sad everyone else was; if I was nervous, everyone would try to find the threat that was making me that way.” I shook my head. “I didn’t fully realize why until later on, but I got used to being off by myself, so even when I did learn to control my feelings, I preferred to be in the background watching and not in the thick of things. I am very blessed to have the pack I do. They make it easy to be happy and content.” Which was the truth. It was my own fault, and no one else’s, that I was lacking for anything.

  “Jeffery told me how peaceful it was there.” He said wistfully. “Some of us smaller packs have started talking about combining with his pack. We already broke with tradition and combined our elder and our generation packs. A pack like yours that stays together is rare.”

  “Yes, my father told me.”

  “We would keep Jeffery as Alpha. My mate has never been too comfortable being Alpha female. There are so many territorial disputes and infighting for position and rank that we dream of peace, though our pack is better than most because of my mate. She had such a unique upbringing that everyone is very protective over her and there is not so much of the fighting.” He looked down at me as we walked. “I understand that you don’t want to separate from your family and friends, so instead of making you choose another pack, we would come to you. An unhappy Omega is of no use to a pack, and could potentially destroy it. That’s why all wolves, at least the ones in packs that actually give a damn, would do anything to make an Omega wolf happy.” We had reached the party by that time, so Damon led us to the back patio. He bent to whisper to me. “I apologize for the serious talk. This is supposed to be a party, so I won’t burden you with anymore.”

  “It’s fine Damon, I assure you that I am used to it. Feel free to talk to me anytime.” I told him politely. “I’m quite used to people coming to me to speak on different things. I’m alright with one on one conversations, and I’m a very good listener.”

  He smiled and nodded as he went to the center of the patio. “Friends and family, I would like you all to welcome the young ones of the MoonBeam Pack, who we all know are here pack hopping.” There were cheers that went up around the yard. There really weren’t that many people here, just around forty. This was a small pack compared to our own that consisted of one hundred twenty seven men, women and children. “Instead of the traditional receiving line, I figured I’d shake it up a bit and let intros and meets be done through mingling and dancing, so show our visitors some Starlight hospitality.” More cheers erupted, and Damon came back to where we were standing. He introduced me and the others to his mate, Zoe.

  “You may call me Yip.” She said politely. “It’s the name I’m most used to.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you Yip. I thank you for allowing us to stay in your home.”

  She laughed and it sounded like a tinkling sound. “Just wait until you meet our children. I’m not so sure you’ll still be saying that.”

  “Okay, so why don’t all of you head over to the grill to pick up some meat and we can get the party started.” Damon said and led us over where others were grilling the different meats they were offering for the cook-out.

  I talked with Yip for a while and fund her story to be amazing. She had spent almost two decades as a wolf; actually living in a wolf pack. She had no idea she could turn into a human. After Damon moved the generation pack to the area, they discovered each other and spoke mind to mind; not understanding they were mates since they both thought she was a natural wolf. It hadn’t been until Damon called his third in command and his family to meet her that they found out the truth.

  Damon had caught the similar scent between Yip and his third Zac, and wanted to figure out why. They found out that when Zac and Yip – Zoe – were young, Zoe got separated from the pack during a migration movement. She had an accident that left her with amnesia and sent her into wolf form way earlier than normal without the knowledge of how to turn back. Her memory returned upon seeing her family, and the rest was history now, Yip had said.

  I knew that when the merge was over that she, Becca, and I would be great friends.

  I was extremely nervous. Billy and Ryan were with me so the other guards could meet the singles of the pack and try to find their mates. I had already met four men that were very good looking and extremely nice. I felt bad that they were wasting their time on me, but I danced once with each of them.

  Becca was over with the mated families, everyone fawning over Jazzy. I really wanted to go join them, but had to play my part for this. Gary found his mate within the first half hour and I couldn’t have been happier for him. After about twenty minutes, they disappeared into the house and I looked at Billy, smiling because I knew we wouldn’t see him for a while. He was the only single out us to find their mate here.

  “Alpha Parker gave us permission to join another pack or have a person join ours if one of us found their mate.” Billy said. “I really hope she will be willing to join us. I’d hate to lose Gary.” Billy and Gary had been friends for a long time, though Gary was older by two years.

  “Yes, but this pack is so small, they could use good men like Gary.” I answered softly. “I would miss him, but I just want them both to be happy. Of course, if they do merge with MoonBeam, it won’t matter.”

  “That’s why you are so special,” A deep voice spoke from behind me, making me jump as I turned to see who it was. “I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you would have heard me.”

  “That’s alright; it was my fault for not paying attention.” I wouldn’t have heard him even if I had been. Wolves are naturally stealthy, but a normal were could have heard him. I didn’t since I was no longer a normal were.

  “Hello, my name is Bolton.” He held his hand out to me, and I took it, my cheeks heating under his gaze. He was very handsome; taller than me by about eight inches, dirty blond hair, and eyes that were such a deep blue color, they almost looked purple. He looked to be my age or a little older.

  He kissed my hand and I snapped out of whatever trance I had been in looking at him, and introduced myself.

  “Well, Crystie, You are special because most people would want to be selfish and not think about what the other person wanted.” He said, finishing what he’d started saying before scaring me.

  “Well, I could do that, but then I’d feel guilty. My happiness seems to stem from others.” I explained as we started strolling around the garden to the side of the house. I knew Billy and Ryan would not be too far behind me; watching and making sure I didn’t go too far from everyone. “What people don’t understand about me is that when I’m happy, though it spreads to you, it’s actually coming from you.” I laughed a little and peeked up at him. “I know that doesn’t make sense, does it.”

  He chu
ckled at me. “I think I might have actually understood that; which scares me a little.” He looked down at me. “If I understand correctly, when you are happy, it’s only after having seen someone else happy.”

  “Close enough.” I said.

  “What about when you feel other things, like when I scared you or something makes you sad? Does that reflect back on everyone else?”

  “Well, sometimes something I see can affect me, but I’ve learned to control it to where nobody else will be affected as I am. It comes in handy at times when someone sneaks up behind me. I don’t think we’d we want a yard full of scared wolves on the defensive.”

  We walked and talked for a while. It was very nice. and even though we weren’t mates; he was very easy to talk to. I found out he was not a born were, but had been attacked by rogues. Alpha Burgess had found him roaming his land and had shown mercy on him after hearing his story; accepting him into his pack about two months ago. He was having a lot of control issues and still had to be locked in a silver reinforced room when he had temper flares. They were natural and easily avoided for born weres that had learned how to deal with intense and extreme at an early age, but could drive a changed were crazy.

  “Would you like me to petition the Alphas to see if you can transfer packs?” I asked him. “There is both my father and I in our pack and maybe with our help you could learn to control it, and you wouldn’t have to wait for the pack merger.”

  “Do you think they would allow that? I know normally wolves like me are put out of their misery.”

  “Please don’t say it like that; you are not a dog to be put down.” I told him, grabbing his hand. “And I think Alpha Parker will agree. He is every bit as honorable as what I know of Alpha Burgess. They are related after all. I will speak with my father tonight and see about it on that end. Why don’t we go talk to Alpha Burgess right now?”

  “Can I speak with you for a moment Crys?” Billy came up to me grabbing my hand and pulling me out of hearing range of Bolton, whom Ryan was currently talking to.

  “What’s wrong, Billy?”

  “Are you sure it’s a good idea to invite an ex-rogue to come with us? Especially with everything happening?” He asked, clearly concerned.

  “He seems very nice and sincere. I don’t get any malicious vibes from him, and I don’t think Alpha Burgess would allow him to continue being a part of his pack if there had been any major problems. It’s not his fault he was attacked, and for him to be killed because he doesn’t understand were culture, physicality, and psyche is not humane. We should be helping him as Damon is obviously trying to do.”

  He looked at me for a minute, and then looked over to Bolton. “You’re right. I’m sorry, but please understand that as an unknown, he’ll have to be watched at all times.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.” I told him and held his arm as we walked back over.

  “As I was saying,” I continued as if we’d not been interrupted. “I’ll be talking to my father tonight, but seeing as how Alpha Burgess is enjoying his family tonight,” We looked over to where he was playing football with his three sons and some other boys as his mate and the other mothers looked on. “I will speak with him on it in the morning during our meeting. That is if you do want to change packs?” I questioned to make sure.

  “From what I have heard, and then spending time with you tonight, I would love being in the same pack as the Omegas.”

  “Wonderful.” I smiled at them all. “Now, I would like to introduce you to my favorite little angel; currently being hogged by my best friend.”

  “Well, it’s not like she’s our daughter or anything.” Billy grumbled, good naturedly.

  Chapter 6

  I was sitting with the families, were Becca and Jazzy had made themselves at home, and I noticed the reserve that was shown around Bolton. Looking at him, I saw his eyes wistfully watching the children play. From talking to him, I had gathered that he was normally a people person, but being attacked had changed that for him.

  With him not being able to control the rages, it was only natural for parents to keep their children away from him as a precaution, but since I was here, I wanted him to be able to maybe feel like his old self for a while.

  Becca was sitting beside me with Jazzy, and had just finished feeding her, so she was cooing and smiling at everything.

  “Can I hold Jazzy? I want to introduce her to someone.” I asked Becca.

  I guess that maybe she had already heard warnings about Bolton because she immediately looked to Billy to see what he thought. After a minute, she smiled and turned; handing me her precious bundle.

  “This, Bolton, no matter what those two tell you,” I said pointing to Billy and Becca. “Is my angel. She is my bundle of sunshine.”

  “Come on! I’m the one who went through ten hours of labor.” Becca countered. “I earned the title of mother.”

  “You can be her mother, but make no mistakes woman; this child is mine.” I answered back. “I earned it by listening to your screaming and complaining for those ten hours, which I believe was more torturous than the labor was.” Everyone laughed. It had been a standing argument that we’d had since the day Jazzy was born.

  “As I was saying,” I turned Jazzy around to where she was facing Bolton. “This little angel is Jasmine Eleanor Palmer. Jazzy for short.”

  She grabbed Bolton’s finger in her baby death grip, and smiled her charm at him. It was just too precious. Even the other mothers were awwwing at the sight, and when she giggled all of our hearts melted. Bolton looked close to tears himself, but the smile on his face made it seem as if he’d just won the lottery.

  “Would you like to hold her?” I asked him. I knew I should have asked Becca first, but I figured she knew me well enough to know what I was doing. I kept my hand on Bolton’s back, projecting the calmness and the feeling of family that was around us in the yard. Though everyone would be able to feel it, touch made it stronger, so I knew there was no possibility of him losing control at that moment.

  He nodded, not taking his eyes off of Jazzy, and held her like a father would. I knew then that this man had been through a lot more than just a rogue attack. It was a unique and special moment to watch. Bolton was cooing at her and talking the baby babble that she would soon learn to speak for herself.

  I looked at the group seated and the other parents were all whispering, and I could feel the regret coming from them for not giving Bolton more of a chance. I looked back at my two best friends, a little nervous of what they thought of the scene and me letting him handle Jazzy.

  Becca was cradled in Billy’s arms, just watching with a smile on her face. I knew there was a reason these two people were my best friends.

  A little boy ran up to Bolton and started rubbing Jazzy’s hair. “She’d pretty.” He said.

  “Hello there, Scott, and yes she is very pretty. What are you boys up to?” Bolton asked him.

  “We were playing soccer, but Daddy got tired.” He said, pointing to his father who had just sat down in our little circle with his mate.

  “Why don’t you ask Bolton to play? I think I’ve seen him playing with some of the older kids before.” Scott’s dad, I think his name was Tony, told him.

  A look of shock and delight passed over Bolton’s face as the little boy didn’t bother asking, but just grabbed his hand and started pulling. He carefully handed Jazzy back to me and then followed Scott to where the kids were playing soccer.

  At little while later I started feeling tired. My body just felt worn out, and I barely had the energy to get up and head to my room. I said my goodbyes to both packs and Bolton showed the guards and me to my room. I had Ryan and Jerry still with me; Billy having gone off to be with Becca.

  “Thank you so much for tonight.” He said as we stopped in front of my door.

  “I didn’t do anything but talk to you.”

  “Whether you know it or not, you did a lot more than just talk to me; though I think you have
an inkling.” He smiled down at me. “If it is alright with you, can I please escort you to breakfast in the morning?”

  “I would be honored, thank you.” Bolton smiled like he was happy with my answer. He said goodnight to Jerry and Ryan, and headed back down to the party.

  I opened the door and the three of us headed in, though Ryan held me back so Jerry could check out the different parts of the suite. When he gave the all clear, I walked in and was awed by the sight. This room was more of an apartment than a suite. The first place you were in was the sitting room which doubled as the entertainment room, with a TV and a couple of game consoles. Walking past all of that, I could see two doors to my right, and a kitchenette and third door to my left. On inspection, the door beside the kitchenette led to a bedroom with a small bathroom attached. One of the other doors led to a second bedroom, and the last one led to another bathroom.

  “Wow.” I don’t know who said it, but it matched my sentiments exactly.

  “Alright, Ms. Lake…” I stopped Ryan from finishing with a mock glare. “Sorry, I mean Crystie, I think you should take the master room, and Jerry and I will take turns between the other bed and the couch.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked. I was concerned about whoever would be sleeping on the couch. “I could request another bed be pulled in here.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Crystie. The couch is a pullout.”

  “Alright, good. Now Jerry, Why don’t you go on back to the party, I saw a few females looking your way, and you didn’t get through with the introductions. I don’t want any possibility of you missing out. Ryan can stay with me and call to check on Eddie while I call my dad.”

  “I’ll lock you two in. I checked the fridge, and it’s fully stocked. Billy has the only key besides Alpha Burgess, so there shouldn’t be any problems.” He seemed reluctant to leave. I thought it was probably so he wouldn’t be disappointed again. I figured I could talk with him the next day about it.

  I knew Ryan was like me and didn’t like parties or crowds, so I figured he would be fine staying in the room. Looking at him; he did seem relieved.