Chapter 119

Danny’s POV
**“What part do these people not understand? If everyone comes with us, the castle grounds will be left defenceless”** I complain to Jesse, looking over the crowd of men and women standing at the front of the castle; getting ready to go to the Cedar River territories.
**“Everyone is getting cabin fever, by the looks of it. We will have to figure out who comes and who stays”** Jesse replies as we head towards where everyone was situated.
Word had gotten around we were taking a group down there to check on it and we had people coming up to us, hoping they would go. Not only from the two packs, but from the Sapphire Moon pack and the Castle as well.
“Connor, I don’t think you should be coming. It could be very dangerous for you” I hear Jason telling his human brother-in-law. “I want to go. For Tracey, more than anything” he responds as Jason gives me a shrug.
Oliver was in a similar conversation with his sons, Hunter and Rodney; while Matthew and Dave were in a conversation of their own with Barnaby, Eli, Lewis and someone I didn’t know.
Matthew looks up as I approach them, “Danny, this is Rhiannon, Brenda’s mate. She wants to be apart of our team” he says with a sigh.
“Nice to meet you” I respond, offering my hand. “I’m sorry for your loss” I add, shaking her hand as we hear a shriek running out of the castle and turn to see what is happening.
“How could you tell him, he could go?” Sariah screams racing after Leon and Cody. “Mum, I want to help. I’m of age and it is my responsibility to help. You can’t keep me locked up forever” Cody yells back to her.
“You may be of age, but you are still too young…” “Will you stop treating me like a child. I can look after myself” Cody injects cutting off Sariah’s complaints as she stares him down.
*“What are we going to do?”* I mind link Dad and Todd *“Joslyn is bringing me a bingo ball rotary. We will get everyone to choose a number”* dad replies as Isabella comes around the corner with Jacob. *“Great idea”* Todd adds, closing down the link.
**“I’m glad Dad has thought of what to do”** I tell Jesse. **“That’s why we love him”** he replies, sitting down in my head to look on.
“Jacob would like to ask you, how he can help” Isabella says, walking up to me. I bend down to talk with him.
“Jacob, I need you to stay here with all your friends and protect the school” “That’s what the teachers are for” he sniffs, cutting me off. “True, the teachers will be helping you and your friends to protect the school. We need strong young ones, like yourself to be on guard too” I say to him with a smile. “I also need you to be your mummy’s protector again. She is very important to me and the rest of the pack. We need her to be protected” I add with confidence.
“I can’t go with you?” Jacob asks, his young eyes looking disappointed.
“I would love you to come; but I need my best protectors to stay here and look after the school and your mum” I tell him as his face lights up at me telling him he was one of my best people. He must have been happy with my response because he ran back to the packhouse with a small ‘okay’ back to me.
“Thank you again” Isabella says with a smile. “When you get back, I want to meet with you. It has been a while and we can catch up.”
I know this was her way of saying she wants to make sure I am mentally ok. “That sounds like a plan” I smile before she turns to chase after her son and I head towards Dad, Simon and Oliver.
“If everyone can settle down” Oliver calls out to the crowd. A few murmurs were still heard; however, the crowd begins to silence and wait for Oliver to continue. “We are thrilled with the response of those who would like to come and help. There is only so many we can take with us because we need to have people here to protect the castle and Sapphire Moon territory.”
“And the Silver Pride territory” Winston says, moving forward from the crowd. “I would like to volunteer my services as Sally sets up the new pride” he adds as I give him a nod.
“It may be rudimentary, but we have some bingo numbers here. I want each of you to choose a number. Those that get numbers 1-50 will be coming with us. Those who get 51 and upwards, please see your Gamma’s for further instructions about guarding the territories” Simon continues as the group of men and women head towards him.
Tim heads towards his father; “you don’t need one. You are automatically coming with us” Todd laughs at him.
“Worth a shot” he chuckles with a shrug as he comes to stand by us.
Connor spins the sphere and pulls number 23 out; “yes!” He exclaims as Jason purses his lips together. Rodney and Hunter also choose numbers to come along, with Rhiannon, Cody, Eli and Barnaby. Lewis got number 69 and will be left to help patrol the Sapphire Moon territory.
To our surprise; Cynthia walks up to Simon with Sariah, Joanna, Chelsea, Denise, Lorraine, Mum, Amelia and Claudia, pushing the children in strollers. “Cyndy, you are to stay behind as Gamma” I remark to her. “Stay behind; that’s all I have been doing. Dad said he will look after the twins and do the Gamma job” she spits, pulling out number 12.
“You ladies are staying to help look after the children” Oliver states, stomping his foot for affect.
“Not likely” Amelia chimes, pulling out number 43. Denise also gets a go-ahead number with Chelsea, Claudia, Sariah and Joanna. Lorraine and Mum get numbers 58 and 73. Looks like we are looking after all the little ones. Joanna, is mum still ok to look after Cameron?” Mum questions.
“Yes” Joanna replies to her with a smile.
**“Why do they have to be so stubborn”** I huff at Jesse. **“They knew we didn’t want them to come and still they are coming. We even worked it all out with Mandy what we were going to do.”**
**“They probably had it all planned out”** Jesse snarls back to me.
“Tim; you, Jeremy and Brett will take a team over to the west territory and clear the safeguards. I will follow with Rick and a team to clear the safeguards on the east territory. Give us an hour and the rest of you will come over” Simon explains, bringing me out of my conversation with Jesse.
“You’re no fun” Rick chimes, giving a small laugh; while Cody and Leon start to conjure the portholes.
“Stay with your father, myself or Danny” Sariah remarks, trying to give Cody a kiss and a hug. “Mum; I’m working here. I will be fine” he snaps back, trying to duck away from her; blushing with embarrassment.
“Just give me a hug and I will leave you alone” she smirks as he quickly puts an arm around her and drops it just as fast before restarting his spell.
“Wait for me” we hear Alexis call out, running from the castle gates.
“Alexis; we spoke about this. It’s too risky for you to come with us” Winston reprimands the young panther. “I know” she whispers, looking at her shuffling feet and steeling a few glances at Cody who blushes again as he continues his spell for the porthole.
Dad, Oliver and Simon all raise an eyebrow at the pair. “What?” Todd exclaims loudly as Cody and Alexis blush even more.
Leon stops what he is doing and narrows his eyes at his son; the porthole disappearing. “Whe…. Wha… How long have you known?” he stammers to him with Sariah’s mouth also gaping open. “How long has he known what?” Todd exclaims as Joanna rolls her eyes before they glaze over to talk to him.
“Um…” Cody mumbles as we all look at him for an answer. *“Neither of them are 18 yet”* I say to dad through a mind link. *“Both witches and cat shifters come of age at 17”* he replies, giving them both a smile.
“When… Um… When we were trying to talk with…Um” “Is that why you were distracted when we went to the Sapphire Moon dungeon? Did you know then as well, Alexis?” Leon asks her as Cody’s porthole closes too.
“No. I only knew when he came to see me in Phyllis and Belinda’s room” she whispers, turning a shade of pink again. “I wanted to wait to talk to you and mum first before we made it known” Cody adds, walking over to put an arm around Alexis.
“Welcome to the family” Leon says, moving over to restart his spell.
“Stay close by. I don’t want anything to happen to you” Winston says to Alexis while Cody redoes his porthole and we head to the Cedar River Moon territories.