The Dream's In The Ditch

Oliver

The rapping on my door startled me out of my daze. I had things I needed to do, and absolutely no ability to focus. I was angry at myself for practically encouraging Lya to leave, and I had very little hope she would actually still be around at this point. That scared me more than I could put into words.

“Come in,” I called gruffly.

Trevor opened the door, but didn’t come inside. “I’m headed out,” he said.

I looked up at him. “You better not bail on me this time,” I reminded him.

“I’m not planning on it.” He paused, looking down on the ground. “I’m really sorry Lya heard everything last night. That wasn’t a very fair way for her to figure out.”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Realistically, she might have had the same reaction no matter when and how it was done. It is just part of the long list of reasons if people don’t know what they’re fighting for, they shouldn’t be involved in the fight.”

Trevor nodded.

“We could have come up with a plan together if you had told me,” I added. “I didn’t agree with the way our parents did things twelve years ago, so I certainly don’t appreciate you attempting to reenact it. It’s not safe, it didn’t work the way it was supposed to, and more lives were lost than necessary - which you should know more than anyone.”

Trevor walked in the room, closing the door behind him. He sat down in the chair across from the desk. “Why are you even letting me be Beta now?” he asked.

“You came clean before it was too late,” I told him. “Your ego and ulterior motives didn’t stand in the way of you doing what was best for another wolf.”

“How long do you think we have until they’ve found us?” Trevor mused. It wasn’t really a question; his guess was as good as mine.

“That’s something I’d like you to figure out while you’re back east river. Check in with the scouts, ask around with our connections out there,” I instructed.

Trevor nodded, and stood up. “I’ll give you a call when I get there. Putting in my two weeks tomorrow, so I should be back the last weekend in May.”

I looked over at the calendar. “Sure you don’t want to stay until Monday?” I asked. “You’re missing the full moon.

“It’s tempting,” Trevor sighed, “but if this pack has any hope of having a Luna, I think it’s best if I’m not here.”

Adair sat up to attention. He had been furious with me all day and said I was trying to push her out the door. “She’s still here?”

Trevor nodded slowly. “Good luck with that, by the way,” he chuckled as he left.

She was still here.

She hadn’t left.

'Tala,' Adair pointed out. Tala won’t let her leave.

I sighed. Why couldn’t I just have a normal mate who actually enjoyed my presence and being part of the pack? Most mates had mated and marked each other by this point of knowing each other, and she hadn’t even realized who I was to her yet. Had my life not been difficult enough? Adair was really trying to take over and go see her, and it took everything I had to keep us put.

'We still have work to do,' I insisted.

He huffed. 'It’s not as important.' I had to agree, but what little I knew of Lya made me think hovering over her was not a good idea.

I reached out to Gregory through the mindlink. 'You wanted to talk?'

'I’ll be right there,' he responded. I heard the door to his office beside me open and close, quickly followed by a knock on the door.

“Just come in,” I sighed. He opened the door, and bowed his head. I motioned to one of the chairs across from the desk. “You are so formal.”

“You are the Alpha,” he pointed out.

“You live in the same house as me,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Whatever.”

Gregory cleared his throat. “So do we have a Luna now?” he asked.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Yes and no,” I said. I filled him in on the story thus far, leaving out how Trevor was attempting to use her prior to bringing her here. I didn’t need pack members questioning my choice of a beta before he had even started.

Gregory rarely asked questions about things, which was one of the aspects that made him a good beta. He just followed orders.

“A leader who has not been among us from the beginning will bring in new perspectives,” he said solemnly, “which can be both good and bad.”

I nodded in agreement.

“But we cannot pretend to know fate’s plans. How may we help bring her around?” he asked.

“That’s a very good question,” I mumbled. “I have no idea. Her wolf seems to be on our side, but that’s only half of the equation.”

Gregory nodded gravely. “So this must become a home for her.”

“Sooner rather than later, seeing as we have war on the horizon. Speaking of,” I changed gears, “Trevor has finally decided he is going to take up his beta position.”
Gregory smiled. There had been no bones about the fact that after twelve years, he was ready to step down. He had very much enjoyed leading training for the pups at the school and being a warrior, and had only taken the roll out of duty to his pack. That was a fun fact I had never been told until a conversation with my grandmother, when I was bemoning being Alpha.

“But I would like you to stay on just until the end of summer,” I added. “Trevor has been away from the pack for a while, and I feel it would do us good to have as many hands on deck as we determine how to deal with our hunter situation.”

“Of course,” he agreed, “but Allyssa will be thankful to know our tenure is coming to an end.”

“How will your kids feel about moving out?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Anna hasn’t lived here really since she went off to college, and I believe Gavin may just elect to move into the warrior’s barracks a year early, if it could be allowed. George, however…” he sighed. “George isn’t very happy. We just found out we will be expecting another pup in the fall, and he has never handled change well.”
I smiled broadly. “Congratulations, Gregory. It seems this transition couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

Gregory agreed. “I’ll be able to handle George, in one way or another. It isn’t something you need to concern yourself with, given everything else on your plate.”

“George is a member of my pack, too,” I reminded him. “I’ll do what I can to look out for him.”

“Thank you, Alpha.” He stood up. “I’ll be on my way, then.”

I stood up and followed him out. “We can plan for an announcement of your pup this weekend,” I offered.

Gregory shook his head. “Allyssa wants to wait. She knows she is older, and would like to hold off until the last trimester.”

“Gotcha. Well, I need to wrangle a very angry she-wolf into going to the doctor, but make sure to pass my congratulations on to your mate.”

We went our separate ways, and I found myself standing outside Lya’s door without the courage to face her. I felt like a kid trying to woo a crush that was far out of their league. I had a huge amount of respect for those who had chosen mates. The mate bond with fated mates made things so much easier. Except this time, apparently. The bond was necessary - it was the best way to ensure both humans and both wolves synced, especially when it came to mating for life. It made sense that a wolf and human who hadn’t meshed yet would not acknowledge a mate.

I couldn’t wait for the day she could feel the mate bond, too. I wondered how long that would take.

'I could take over,' Adair offered.

'No.' He seemed a little dejected, but he was coming around to the importance of appeasing Lya’s human side.

Finally, I knocked. I heard some movement around the room, and then the door flung open. Lya looked defensive, which I couldn’t blame her for. I couldn’t keep my eyes from taking her in. She was shorter than I initially thought and petite, even to me. I’d be surprised if she passed 5’1”, which was exceptionally small for a werewolf, but she was half human. She certainly didn’t lack muscle, though. Her auburn hair was more akin to a deep red, and if it weren’t for her wolf being the same color, I would be convinced it was dyed.

“What?” she snapped, pulling me out of not so subtly checking her out.

I took a deep breath. “Dr. Whitledge wanted to see you once more today, and I’ve got some time to give you a ride over.”

“No thanks,” was her curt response.

I raised an eyebrow. “So how are you planning on getting over to the hospital, then?”

“I’ll walk,” she insisted.

“Oh? You were in a wheelchair whenever you needed to move around much on Tuesday,” I pointed out.

“I’ll ask Rose, then.”

“She’s training,” I reminded her.

Lya huffed. “Fine.” She marched out of her room, slammed the door closed, and led the way out of the packhouse.

I didn’t mind lagging behind and enjoying the view.