Raised Among Alphas

16 - Getting Closer

Alora POV

"How are you feeling?" Leila asked me as she sat beside me for lunch at the main diner.

"Great! Your obnoxious mate finally allowed me to go on my border run." I answered. Jathred had been extra cautious since we found out about the bounty on my head.

He made me wait a whole week after all my bones healed to let me train with him. After that, we had another week of one-on-one training sessions working on my defensive moves. It wasn't until yesterday's practice that he finally allowed me to return to my patrol runs.

"Obnoxious, that's for sure. He better be back here soon. My nausea is killing me, and only his scent makes it go away." Poor Leila was having terrible morning sickness, more accurately, all-day sickness.

We believe it is the pup complaining about not having his dad around. In that way, I can relate to the feeling. I miss Kasthor, too. I can feel Thana's growing unrest whenever he's not around. Kasthor and Jathred had been doing special excursions outside our borders, securing the area for the wolves coming from other packs.

After my latest attack, we had very important and low-key awkward conversations during our days off. Kasthor and Jathred had a theory for what they call 'Thana's unrest and disobedience'. They believe Thana needs her mate, someone who can keep her in line. We have always known that she is a powerful wolf, but it wasn't until recently that she has proven herself in a real battle. Now, she feels unstoppable.

The problem with great power is that it becomes addictive. Kasthor is afraid we could go down a dark path if we start blurring the lines of our limits. I promised Kasthor I would try my best to contain our impulses, which has been easy thanks to him and Jathred being away most of the day. In the moments I spend with Jathred, we are in training mode, leaving little room for disagreements.

"How do you know when your wolf is testing Jathred?" I asked my Luna. 

"Most of the time, I don't even notice until after it happens. During our trip, before I realized I was pregnant, I ran away one night just because I thought it would be fun for him to chase me. He found me almost immediately, enraged. My wolf wasn't even a little bit scared. Instead, she was overjoyed. I couldn't understand it at first, but it was a sweet satisfaction to see what he was capable of and how my actions could affect his wolf." She confessed with a smile, obviously entertained by the memory of her story.

"Did any of this happen to you before you met him?"

"I mean, I used to tease my brothers all the time and make my dad's life impossible, but I am pretty sure that was just me, not my wolf." She laughed.

"We have to leave soon. The rest of the White Sand warriors are on their way." I told Leila, ready to change the subject and get our day started.

Jathred had me on temporary guard duty of our Luna. I am entrusted with preparing her own squad, the Luna Squad, and he wanted five warriors in it. For the last couple of days, I have been recruiting outstanding members of our pack to test them and have them ready for our Luna. Jathred appointed one of his squad members as the head of the Luna Squad. As for the other four, finding the most qualified warriors was my job. In the meantime, I was glued to her.

Jathred decided to give her a strong and small squad that would serve as her guards only. Their goal is never to engage in combat, only to protect her and keep her safe. In case of things going awry, their mission was to get her away to safety. So she would need strong, sneaky, and fast wolves. I have several wolves in mind already, I just have to test them together as a group to find the ones who fit best together.

However, that would have to wait until after we have received our newest guests.

Part of Leila's new duties as our Luna was to receive our guests, guide them to their rooms, and give them a tour around the pack grounds. Because their Alpha isn't coming with them, Jathred wasn't technically expected to receive them. Just one of our leaders would suffice.