Chapter 41

Claudia’s POV
“Tracey, your parents are awesome” I exclaim, as we take Sophia and Jasper to the nursery. “They are, aren’t they?” she smiles, remembering the dinner we had last night. “I don’t know why I was so worried about coming back here” she adds, as we get to the door of the nursery.
“It was understandable. You didn’t know, what you know now. I can see how much Joyce and Isaac love you and the pranks you pulled on Connor. I have to watch my back” I giggle; giving Sophia a kiss and handing her to Carer Michelle. “I’ve just fed her; she should be right for a few hours” I tell Michelle.
“My prank days are over” Tracey says, kissing Jasper and handing him to Carer Lois “Same goes for Jasper. He should sleep for a few hours too” She adds to Lois.
“Don’t say that, I want to get Danny and Jason” I chime as we head back out the door and over to Oliver’s office. “I don’t remember much about the castle. I’m glad Oliver took us on a tour of his kingdom yesterday. I didn’t come here much after ‘the incident’” Tracey tells me, using her fingers to emphasize the incident.
“The castle grounds are very beautiful. I wish we came here under better circumstances. Trying to work out a plan to lure Michael, James and Callum into revealing what they are up to has put a dampener on our experience here; this time around” I voice, frowning as we reach Oliver’s office. Oliver, Danny, Dad, Jason, Simon, Sariah and Leon are already inside.
“Where’s Tim, Rick and Cynthia?” I ask sitting down next to Danny. “Tim and Rick like to show up fashionably late. Cynthia has asked to sit out on this meeting to spend some quality time with Brett” Dad says smirking. “What do you…Oh” I was about to ask, before it came to me. “When?” Tracey asks.
“After dinner last night. I could smell she was going into heat before anyone else picked up on it. I told the two of them to stay in their room for a few days” Oliver informs us; laughing. “What did we miss;” Rick calls out, coming into the office as Danny let’s off a nervous chuckle.
“Not much, the rest of the ladies have decided to go shopping and let us get on with what we need to do” Simon chuckles, looking at Tracey and I smiling as Tim and Rick take a seat. “Down to business” Oliver adds, looking at all us from across his desk. “May I?” Tim asks.
“Rick and myself have talked about it” he begins; looking towards Rick, who nods; encouraging him. “Due to Rick’s bluntness toward Todd; he really can’t go back. I should be the one to go back to Todd. Todd and James think I left to be with Mum and Dad. Danny; I want you to chase me into the River Pack territory until we see James or Todd and then I will get a sword and come for you; where you push me away with the light thing you produce with your hand and I will have the sword disappear” he informs us, looking at Danny.
“Tim will convince Todd and James it is you with the abilities; not Claudia and you gave Tim the ability to get weapons at will, only to have him betray you” Rick includes to the conversation. “Chelsea wanted to come with me but I convinced her not to, for hers and Jacob’s safety” Tim concludes.
“Won’t they question why Chelsea isn’t with you?” Tracey asks Tim. “Probably; I will tell them she is too blinded by Danny and his special powers” he chuckles.
“Baby wolf; you will need to tell Goddess Selene what we are planning so she doesn’t think Tim is betraying her as well” Dad says, looking at me; **“I have to tell them what our Goddess said”** she tells me.
I let Amanda come forward; “I have already spoken with our Goddess. She knows of our problem and agrees to have Tim or Rick go back to them. She also said when we have Tim come back to the sanctuary to see Chelsea, to have Carter stay behind so they don’t know he is gone. I will bring Carter over separately for him and Lesley to have time together” she answers; coming back into my mind.
“What do we do from there?” Sariah asks, narrowing her eyes around the room. “We wait. Hopefully James and Todd trust Tim enough to tell them what is happening and we can work out what to do next; when we know” Danny tells her. “In the meantime; I would like to invite you all to a ceremony” Dad announces.
“What ceremony?” Oliver and Sariah ask in unison. “An Alpha Ceremony. I am passing the Alpha roll onto Danny” he tells us; as we look at Danny, smiling. “I still don’t think I am ready; even with all the knowledge I’ve just received” Danny says unconvincingly.
“I was going to suggest, we invite James to the ceremony. He won’t be able to do anything with all of us around. I do like your suggestion, Tim” Dad exclaims; letting out a breath. “We can do both” Rick chimes in. “If we invite James to the ceremony; can we invite Todd?” Jason asks us. Tracey gasps at the possibility as Dad and Danny open their mouths to object. “I know it’s not the most ideal thing, considering what he put us through; please hear me out” Jason adds putting his hand up to stop them from objecting.
“This better be good” Danny huffs. “I think I know where Jason is coming from” I pipe in, looking towards Tim. “Tell me if I am wrong Jace? You want Tim not to become an enforcer at the ceremony. He is to work on going back to the River Moon Pack with Todd. Am I right?” “Yes. Tim, can you act like you are pissed off with Rick for being chosen as enforcer over you?” Jason asks “Who needs to act; I am constantly pissed off with Rick” he mockingly nudges Rick; who fakes being hurt.
“I don’t want either of them there. But will put away my anger towards them and allow it, to set up an opportunity for Tim. One wrong move by either of them…” “I will throw them out” Dad says finishing Danny’s sentence.
I stand up to head out of the room; “where are you going?” Sariah asks me; from her chair. “I wanted to go for a walk, now we have worked out a plan. Did you want to join me?” I answer her. “Sure” she says as Tracey gets up also; “I might come too” she informs us as the three of us head out of the office.
“These grounds are absolutely beautiful. I love the smell of Jacaranda” Sariah smiles; as we come to the old Jacaranda tree in the centre of the castle compound. “I wouldn’t mind going to see Mum and Dad at the Sapphire Moon Pack. Do you want to join me?” Tracey announces; “I’d be happy to, what about you, Sariah?” “Fine with me” she answers as the three of us head down the road.
“Tracey, stop” and out of breath Connor calls out to us, running up from behind. “I’m human and not as fast as you” he pants with fear in his voice; catching up to us. “What’s the matter?” Sariah asks him.
“An Alpha Michael and Callum are waiting for you to leave the territory to grab you” he half screams. “Mum and the others” I scream; turning to run back toward the castle. “They are at the castle; they alerted us to their presence. Michael tried to take them at the mall” he yells after me.
I calm down slightly; “where are they now?” I ask him. “In with King Oliver, Alpha Henry and Danny” he states as the four of us walk back to the castle. “What about Mum and Dad?” Tracey asks with fear in her voice. “I called them, Alpha Matthew is on high alert but neither have stepped foot into his territory” Connor informs her.
“How do they know we are here?” Sariah asks Connor, who shrugs his shoulders “Don’t know.”
“Snow Blossom” Danny yells, running down the front stairs of the castle. “I’m ok” I tell him as Jason and Leon run up from behind him, wrapping their arms around Tracey and Sariah. “How do they know we are here?” Tracey asks the three gentlemen as we all head back into the castle. “We’re not sure. Oliver is pissed, he threw a snow globe that was sitting on his desk and smashed it against the back wall” Leon tells us.
“He has Jeffery looking into who could be informing him from the castle” Danny includes as we reach Oliver’s office. “Thank you for cleaning up my mess, Lillian. I should learn to control my temper” he chuckles as Lillian walks out the door with the broken pieces of snow globe.
“Mum; what happened?” I scream coming into the room and giving her a hug. “Relax; we are fine. Michael came up to our table at the food court and luckily for us, Chelsea went to the bathroom” she explains. “I don’t understand” I murmur, looking at the four ladies.
“Michael told Jade to relax and no-one will get hurt. They only want to speak with the pretty little blonde. Jade said she went to the toilet and will be back shortly. As her and I assume Callum, as he was a vampire were talking; they weren’t looking at me. I mind linked Chelsea to slip away. After 5 minutes of waiting for her to come back, Jade pretended to mind link her and told them; Chelsea told her she wasn’t feeling well and went back to the castle. They wouldn’t let us leave so we had to think smart; we ditched them in the Black Friday sales” Lorraine exclaims; “they couldn’t make a scene in front of all those humans” Mum laughs.
“What did they want with Chelsea?” Tim snarls, looking at his mate. “Think about it, Tim. I am the only original mate, other than Tracey” Chelsea yells at him. “I don’t understand, first Callum goes after Tracey and now he is going after Chelsea. Why doesn’t he just come after us?” I question to everyone. “My honest opinion; he probably figures he can get the mates more than the rest of you” Oliver pipes in.
“My question is, how did they know we were here? We never told anyone where we were going. Only mention we had pack business to do” Dad exclaims. “If I may speak freely sir?” Jeffery asks Dad, “Of course, Jeffery” “King Oliver and myself have believed there is a mole in our midst for a while now. We believe it is the work of whomever this person is” he tells us.
“Oliver; I’m sorry. I know we have another 3 days here but we will have to leave. I can’t risk any of the ladies” Danny says, frowning. “I understand; if I was in your shoes, I would do the same” “I know you have your cars, but it will be safer for me to teleport you back to your pack house” Sariah pipes in. “What about Cynthia? She can’t leave yet” I announce to everyone.
“You will need your cars to be driven back and there is a ceremony in; when was it again?” Oliver points out. “A week” Dad answers. “A ceremony we have been invited to in a week. I will have your cars driven back then. Brett and Cynthia will be my honoured guests until then” Oliver finishes.
“We should start packing” Lorraine tells us, getting out of her chair. “We can stay for dinner and leave first thing in the morning” Dad injects, heading out the door to his room “I will be ready and waiting” Sariah calls out behind us.