New In The Territories (Book 1) COMPLETED

Chapter 73 Sam

Second and third thoughts flew through my head. Was this barbeque a good idea? Having the wolves and lions together? They have lived in harmony for years, but they really didn't socialize amongst each other. Wolves stayed in their territory and the lions in theirs, leaving downtown neutral. When I brought up the idea of having a barbeque, Jack, the Pack Alpha and, Lawrence, the Lion's Leader were willing to give it a go and thought it was long overdue. With me being the very rare Tlazolteotl things had changed drastically. Leaving me smack in the middle, they believed now is the best time to become allies. Not that they were enemies before. Even Mady was excited, but with caution of course. Dmitri and Nickoli had already come to an understanding among themselves, so for them this was the next logical step. I had heard through the grapevine that some of the others were not happy about this and wished things would just stay the way they were.

I suggested that maybe it should be just the shifters and keep the human family members at bay, but as Jack and Lawrence put it, "This is the beginning to show our trust so we should have some of our human family there." So we met in the middle, no children under the age of 16 would be attending, just in case things got a little tense.

My house was right on the territory line between the pack and pride, and with it being my idea; it only made sense to have the barbeque at my house. Getting up early, cleaning my house then started to set up the tables out back that the guys brought by yesterday. Everything was almost done by the time Mason arrived, the first to arrive.

Since my last episode, when I found out my friends were either a wolf or lion shifters and being Tlazolteotl and not taking it as well as I could of, Mason and Mady had a key to my house. Back in July I locked myself in the house, and with all the worrying they did, and with one of my abilities to feel their emotions due to being the very rare Tlazolteotl, I took a very negative reaction to it. Body shutting down, my natural blocking ability to keep what I felt lowered and in turn some of my close friends including Dmitri, Nickoli, Mason and Matt felt some of my pain. Jack and Lawrence found me laid out unconscious on the floor in time to help before, what they believe my body shutting down, and dying in the result.

Since that experience, I had been working on keeping my shields up from them and them from me. I had finally gained enough control now to lower my shields just enough to feel their presence. That was how I knew when Mason arrived even before he walked into the house, and with their connection to me, he knew I was in the backyard. It was not an exact science, and the people closest to me had a larger range on how far they could sense where I was, and that was about a mile before they could no longer sense me. Oh they could feel me but just not where I was.

"You should have called me. I would have helped you with all this," Mason said, walking out the kitchen doors.

I shrugged, "I was up early and had lots of time." I woke up at four in the morning, tossing and turning. My worries getting the best of me.

Greeting each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, like every time we saw each other. Mason had become one of my best friends and has seen me at my worst. There was always sexual tension between them, well at least on my part, but he was more like a younger protective brother. The sexual tension was a part of my everyday life these days. Not dating for years was Ok with me and I didn't miss the physical contact, but since moving here the need to be with someone was growing greater and was getting to the point that I woke up every morning in sweat soaked sheets due to one of many erotic dreams I would have. Mr.-I-Don't-Talk-Back, the name for my vibrator, was going through batteries like there was no tomorrow.

This morning Mason was the main act. No longer getting embarrassed when I saw the men that shared my dreams with. I just enjoyed the familiar scent, and his warm loving, rock hard body against mine. Mason was leaving tomorrow on his monthly business trip. Like every time he left we seemed to need the extra time together before he was gone for a week. We quickly got into a routine that whenever Mason had to leave we spent the last three days together nonstop. Wherever Mason was so was I and vice versa. Nobody had said anything and seemed to accept it, not that it mattered to me or Mason, it was just how it was. Mady had made some small comments that the reason they "needed" the extra time together was because of who we were and the connection I had with the shifters and they with me. Of course I left the topic alone, not ready to find out all the details. I strongly believed sometimes ignorance was bliss. So I just made it clear that he was one of my best friends and no one could say anything to tear them apart.

"When are you leaving tomorrow?" I asked trying to keep out the despair out of my voice. I hated not seeing him for that long.

"First thing, if everything goes well I should be back by Wednesday," he said, wrapping his arms around me again. Mason too had a hard time leaving, but this was his job. He was one of the main consultants that would go and check security systems they have installed with large companies and test them a few times a year to make sure everything was up and running without flaws and update them when needed.

With his short strawberry blonde hair, violet eyes, and his innocent but professional looks, Mason was the perfect consultant. He had a way with people that made them feel comfortable and trust him almost immediately. He was amazing at his job, cared for people, and wanted them to be safe and have the best product they had to offer. If you really looked you could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. He loved life and loved living it.

"One of these days you may find me beside you on that plane," I spoke without thinking. Leaving the others behind would be harder I thought, but I was starting to get the traveling bug and wanted to see other places.

"Really?" Mason was surprised, "It would be fun. Maybe even put you to work," he teased.

Smiling up at him I patted his chest. "I'm going to put you to work right now. Did you bring the ice?" He nodded. "Great. Can you bring it back here and I will get all the coolers," I asked.

"How bout I get the ice and the coolers and you sit that pretty ass of yours down," Mason countered.

I rolled my eyes. If the men in my life had their way, I would do nothing, but sit and look pretty. "Go get the ice, Mason." I needed a few more minutes to get some surprises in place, one I will most likely regret, but in a fun way. I hoped they had a sense of humour if not things could go wrong fast. Doing as he was told, Mason left to get the ice.