Chapter 108

Maya POV

The next week was full of pack meetings to allow the families to speak to me about any concerns they were having and to update me on any work still needing to be done to get the pack back and running. It seemed that there was a good number of fertile fields along the limits of our pack lands. If we were able to start growing produce in these fields it would go a long way to making the pack more self-sufficient. As of now our pack was not bringing in any sort of income and having something of value to sell would help pay for the materials we would need to build new housing.

The main pack house was among the first building we worked on and with so many hands to help we were able to almost fully repair it. Unfortunately, the small house I was currently staying in was only big enough for our little family otherwise we would try to house a few pack members as well. Isaiah has been so excited to help as much as he can in the rebuilding process and the pack has doted on him since we arrived.
Seeing him with the pack brought another startling thing to my attention. There were no pups under his age around. I decided to check the few records I found, and my theory was confirmed. Pups over the last ten years had been few. We had a new problem on our hands, and unlike rebuilding homes, it would not be a quick or easy fix.



Tommy POV

My mother’s words were rolling in my head since the moment we spoke, and I wanted to find out what I could about the effect the pack was having on the alpha. I found records of my father and most alphas before him, and the proof was clear. The last three generations had alphas who died young from a weakened state. Not many know that a united strong pack gives strength to their alpha just as a strong alpha pair gives strength to the pack. Our pack had created an early death for their alphas because of their ego.

How could this have gone on for so long? Anger bubbled up in my chest when it hit me that the alphas had been weak. Too weak to use their strength of position to steer the pack in the right direction. It angered me more that I had fallen into this mind set so easily. I sighed and ran a hand down my face. I needed to talk to Maya and soon, because she was right, and I didn’t want to lose her. I had been so stupid and not let myself see all she could have done to help me figure all this out.

Before I could talk myself out of it I took out my phone and called Maya. The line rang a couple of times and then I heard her voice.

“Hello? Tommy?” Her voice was light, and it sounded like she was happy to hear from me.

“Yeah, baby it’s me.” I say with a sigh of relief.

“Hey.” She says sweetly.

“Goddess, Maya I am so sorry. I was so stupid!” I start to say but she interrupts me.

“Tommy stop. I know. Do you really think a little fight is going to tear us apart?” She says and I can imagine the smile on her face.

I laughed. “I am glad you think so. I miss you”

“I miss you too, but Tommy these people really did need me. The pack is in ruins! I just can’t believe it.” She says with a sigh.

“It’s that bad?” I ask her.

“Almost the whole pack was destroyed, and the people were confused and lost. Something was pulling me here and now I know why. But Tommy something worse is happening…the pack’s numbers have been decreasing. Fewer and fewer pups are being born. The last one born was about five years ago and none since. I am not sure what’s happening but if this keeps up the pack will die out.” She says her words laced with fear and worry.

“My mom mentioned something like that too…that our pack is slowly dying. Now that I have considered it, we have not had as many pups born either. In fact, almost all of our mated pairs have chosen mates within the pack weakening our pack bonds.” I explain to her.

“What does that mean?” She asks, and I forget that she still doesn’t know everything about the underline bond within packs.

“The pack is bound to their alpha and each other by blood. When a new pack member officially joins the pack there is a ceremony where their blood is mixed with the alpha’s blood and their power connects to him and through him to the rest of the pack. Fated mate pairs carry an intense amount of power and it strengthens the packs overall health and power. If new blood is not joined into the pack because no one is traveling and meeting their fated mate, then the strength of the pack dwindles. It seems like that is what is happening here.” I explain further.

“And the closest pack to your pack is mine.” She concludes.

“Yeah. That means there is a high chance that there are several mated pairs between our packs that have never met.” I say.

“We need to fix this Tommy, and if this is happening between our two packs then the chances are they are happening to others as well. We need to call a meeting of the alphas and see if other alphas are dealing with similar situations.” I smile at her resolved tone, she sounded so strong, and my heart filled with pride.

“I agree, but it won’t be easy. Like I said, packs haven’t intermingled in a long time so this will not be easy.” I warn her.
She laughs. “Nothing about this life has been easy, at least not that I have experienced. That makes it more worth the fight though don’t you think?”

“Definitely.”

“So, what do we do now? I can’t leave my pack and you can’t leave yours. Where does that leave us?” She asks.

I sigh. “I’m not sure, but we have been through worse and still found a way back to each other. You aren’t too far away, so I can come see you any time!”

“I will come back for the ceremony Tommy; you deserve to have your Luna standing beside you. I wish I could be there more to help, but I have a plan for that too. That is if we can get this mess figured out.” She says confidently.

“You really want to come back for the ceremony…even with how you were treated by the pack a-and me?” I ask her.

“Tommy you are my mate and even though all this is new to me I can understand how important it is for an alpha to have his mate by his side when he takes on his new role. If we plan things out well enough hopefully, we can both help our packs and keep our bond strong. It won’t be easy but…”

“Nothing ever is.” I say finishing her thought.

“Exactly.” She says with a small laugh. “When will the ceremony be? Thomas can stay behind and keep the pack running so I can be there for a little while. Plus, I don’t think I will ever be able to take Isaiah away from this place, he loves it.”

“How is he?” I ask genuinely curious.

“He is a great kid. The pack loves him and spoil him already. He is the youngest pup here, so the others are teaching him a lot.” She says just like a proud parent.

“I am glad to hear it. I-I can’t wait to see all of you. I was stupid to try and take such a gift from you. I hope you can forgive me; you are such a great mom already.”

“Thanks Tommy. Oh man I have to go but call me soon!” She says quickly.

“I will! I love you!”

“I love you too. Bye!”

Maya wasn’t angry with me and she was willing to stand beside me the day I become alpha and work with me to figure out how to help the very pack that chased her away.

I was so scared I had really lost her this time, but she just proved to me that nothing could break us apart. I had been stupid, but my sweet angel had acted like it was water off her back and forgave me without an ounce of resentment.

I now had to prove myself worthy of her, and I would every day for the rest of my life. She deserved nothing less.