Book 3: Updating

Chapter 17

Rebecca’s Perspective

The reunion of the Lycan strike team with their families was heart warming. Jesse wasn’t able to come. He said he had to handle something at the hospital and couldn’t get away. Lucian proudly introduced me to his mate Alison. She was tall, blonde, with blue eyes. They also had two adorable boys ages six and eight.

I hugged them and welcomed them warmly.

We held a quick duel citizenship ceremony to allow families to use the mind link in their new home.

Lucian introduced his replacement for the next twenty four hours named Keith, and asked for directions to the pack day care. I smiled, he shrugged, and we all laughed.

We are all adults and missing your mate is natural. That’s why I reminded him about finding a replacement. Friends look out for each other.

I really wished I could share the joy of this moment with Jesse. I wondered what was so important it couldn’t wait an hour. He was walled off. He must be talking to Tiffany. He always has his armor up around her, and try as I might, I could not feel him at all.

Hey love? I tried to stuff down my jealousy.

Hey babe. He responded immediately.
I wish you could see this. It is so heartwarming. I said sadly.

I am here. Jesse wrapped his arms around me from the back.

“Sorry I am late.” He turned me around and kissed me gently.

I smiled at him, feeling a little better.

Why were you feeling jealous? All these mated pairs around and you felt lonely? He held me close to his side as we welcomed each family smiling widely and hugging them.

I will tell you later. It will ruin your mood,  and we are doing PR. I replied just glad he made it. In truth, he was right, I was feeling lonely.

Fair enough. Just don’t let it fester. Tell me when we are done. He pressed.

OK. I responded nervous.

Now I am morbidly curious. Jesse gave me a look like he was trying to read more before happily greeting a family before loading them up in a black van we rented to shuttle the families from the airport to their new housing.

There was neighborhood down a short road with a cul da sac. The houses were abandoned during the last unemployment surge. Families just moved and left their homes when they couldn’t sell them on the market. A real estate developer bought them in bulk and sold them to us at a price we could not refuse. We bought them and were able to rent them out to the Lycan families at a reasonable price point to recoup the money we spent over the next ten years. There was even room for soldiers with families to opt to rent to own homes as well. It was a great investment opportunity we couldn’t pass up.

It was also only a five minute drive from the Main Facility and a ten minute drive to the soldier housing and training grounds. I was very pleased with the business transaction. It all just made perfect sense.

I ignored Jesse’s look and kept welcoming and hugging the new Lycan families that were joining our pack as though an Alpha wolf wasn’t staring me down. It was driving him crazy.

Once everyone was safely loaded and the PR was complete, we followed the vans over to the new housing development. I had shown the Lycans the real estate the week prior, and based on family size we offered suitable homes for each family’s space requirements. They sign leases and employment contracts. Up until this point, they were provided military stipends to live on, but those could not support a family. We established a pay scale based on rank, but made sure their pay check could support their family size. If they fell short we signed them up for additional allowances to make sure their standard of living was high enough to live comfortably. With all the contracts completed, it was exciting to watch the families see their knew living quarters. The entire road was full of the excited squeals of children, and the passionate kisses of reunited mates.