Page 65 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
“Okay, Adira. I’ve held two pack meetings. Placed all the information out for the pack to discuss in the first one. They had three days to get any questions together, anything they were worried about. When the pack came for the second meeting I answered questions, and any worries, and then had a general idea of how many were going to go for the new territory and who were still a little hesitant.” James leans forward with his elbows resting on his knees, “I spoke to those individually, and after that the pack as a whole agreed it was an excellent deal for ourpack. We gained more from it than yourselves. The only thing some didn’t like was losing the packhouse. But the Strongbow packhouse is still standing, and it’s a beautiful building. It needs people to care for it, bring it back to how it should be.”
“When we walked around it, I loved it. But I couldn’t see myself living in it. If you come across any important pack papers or a secret safe remember that those will always belong to me and I would like them where they belong, which is with me,” Adira states firmly.
“Of course. That goes without saying, Adira.” James looks at the door with a gleam in his eye when Robbie walks into the office with a large tray of refreshments.
“We can do the swap once the legalities of the new territory boundaries are established and we have new deeds in place. It’s got to be done legally so future generations will know it was not any kind of hostile takeover.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on the desk, “Any offspring we have will be related and I can’t see that happening, but it’s not unheard that siblings hate each other.”
James laughs. “Well, we all know about the Silver Birch Pack twins. Goddess, they ripped each other apart. They hated each other so much.”
We all groan because that was a terrible thing and everyone knew what had happened. Thankfully, the twins had a younger brother who didn’t have a twin, and he has the pack thriving and well respected.
The visit went well, and Adira is loving having a brother in James. He teases her mercilessly, but she takes it and gives it back just as much. We decide to get legalities dealt with, and if necessary to wait for the Elder Council business to be concludedbefore we make the move. We can only control one thing at a time, and the council could cause trouble!
Later in the afternoon, I stand watching the shifter children's training. Some are vicious and Talon has to keep putting them under orders. It’s going to give us tough warriors in the future, and I can see them giving it their all if trouble brewed.
Rom steps up beside me. “Alpha Barrik, have you seen Blossom?”
“No, why?”
“Well, she’s the one with the mud all over her. She said every warrior needs camouflage. She is tough, and all that sweetness she has disappears if you mention a fight. A tiger cub at the fiercest and Ramo loves her. I never thought my tiger would love someone else's offspring, but he sees her as ours and he’d die to protect her.” Rom folds his arms and puffs out his chest with pride as we both watch Blossom fight like her life depended on it. Talon has had to walk over and calm her. I give Rom a pat on his shoulder as I walk back to the farmhouse, chuckling to myself at the fierce nature of those children.
Walking into the kitchen, I overhear Mavis telling Adira she’s going on a date with Alan Letterman the estate agent. Now, romantic liaisons are not my thing, so I sneak past and head to the office. I’ll let Adira handle that discussion.
Chapter 34
*Adira*
Working with Mavis is easy. Our new system saves time and improves efficiency. We are checking files, folders, and even odd pieces of paper that we are coming across while organize the filing cabinet, and cabinets in the office here at the town hall office.
“They were half organized, I’ll give them that,” Mavis says as she piles another folder on ourto checklist.
“How was your date with Alann?” I’m so curious because I never imagined those two being together.
“Actually, it was nice. We went for a walk along the river, sat with a picnic and talked. It was peaceful, and we learned much about each other. It’s funny how you think you know someone, yet you only touch the surface of who they really are.”
“That’s true.” I think of my time away learning luna duties and even though there were many females you never made a friend. It was always about achieving the best you could be, rather than who you are.
“When do you want the first sit-and-greet to happen?” Mavis asks.
“Sit-and-greet?” Now that’s the first I’ve heard it called that.
Mavis smiles, “Well, it’s a nice way to describe it, and I thought would keep it on a friendly basis, rather than Alpha versus Pack Member.”
“Well, I agree that is not how I want it to be. I want people to come and speak with us, unafraid and open. So, I think your sit-and-greet sounds nice.”
Mavis takes a seat at the computer, and I continue rifling through papers. A few, I have to tell you, are twenty years old. Not relevant to anything today. Receipts for work done when the hall was built hardly needed anymore. The costs are all in the accounts book and registered in the town’s history too. The pile to be shredded or burned is building, and I sigh because this is going to take all day.
Going back to our conversation, I ask, “So, Mavis, are you going on a second date?”
Mavis looks up from the computer and smiles. “We sure are. This time, we are going for a movie and a meal.”
“Nice…so…did you kiss him?” Spluttering before she answers, I notice the flush on her face. “Oh, you did…tell me…was it good?”
“Shush, now, I’m not a girl who kisses and tells.”
“Well, I can tell you Barrik is a great kisser. He can pucker up and…”
“And what Adira dear?”
