JESSIE: “But that has nothing to do with us.” I say. “In a way it does, because it happened here, and every pack here could be construed as aiding and abetting or guilt by association.” He says. “But how is that fair?” I ask, “I mean, just because it was here, it’s not our pack that she is mated into.” “Correct, but we are the host of the ball, therefore it’s our fault that such a thing happened at all, even though it all happened off of pack territory, and she was found in the human town, we are still responsible, because we are holding the ball. We don’t know what they will do, they have been known to go to war over less offences.” Daddy says. “That is why I have been having these meetings, so that every pack can be made aware and be ready in case trouble comes to them, and that we can offer aid in whatever form we can.” He says. I nod my head.
JAMES: I listen to Jessie’s and dad’s conversation, then a thought hits me. “We need to continue to train the females of the pack.” I say. Dad looks at me like I just grew a second head. “Look I’m not saying every one of them, but the ones that want to become warriors, we should let them, it will help make us stronger, and help the pack be better protected, mom was a warrior, warrior’s daughter, Nana is a warrior, Kes is training with Nana, and she has been taking Aikido, to be a better fighter, I think we need to embrace that and let the women of the pack choose for themselves.” I say. “He has a point dear.” Mom says. “I love the fact that you have always protected me, but I know that if it comes down to it, I can defend myself and do it relatively well.” She tells dad. “What do you mean Kes is taking Aikido, and what the heck is Aikido?” Jessie asked. “Aikido is a form of oriental martial arts.” Dad tells her. “And you let her take it?” “No, she just went and did that on her own, and don’t cause a scene about it now.” He tells her in a hushed voice. I can see she is fuming about it. I just shake my head. “Let’s eat please, I’m starving, we can pick this conversation back up at the table.” I state as I move to get in line for dinner.
LIAM: After we get our plates I ask the girls, “Do you want to meet the princes?” “Sure.” They both say. So, I direct us to where they are sitting. “Hi, can we sit with you?” I asked them. “Sure.” We take our seats with them, and I reintroduce the girls. “This is my twin Lissa, and third born gamma Demi. Lissa, Demi, this is prince Barrett, his mate, Alisha, prince Trent, and you both know Rachel from Burning Ember.” I say as I point to each person as I say their names. “Hi” the girls say. “Where is Trever and Dutch?” I ask. “Don’t have a clue, the last any of us saw them they were helping reset the marquee and then they headed out.” Barrett says. “So, you’re Mackinzie’s little sister?” Trent asked Demi. “Yes I am.” She says, like she’s proud of the fact that he even asked her. Inside I’m just shaking my head, because they treat Mackie the same as our family treats Kes. “So, are you ready for your next challenge Trever?” I ask him “I’m always ready. Who do I get?” “Delta elite Thorne, and Alpha Vance is taking on Delta elite Max, then the winners go on to take on each other and that will conclude the pool tournament.” I tell them. And they all nod. “What about the Darts?” Rachel asked. “I already made the announcement that if they wanted to get in on the darts they had to register before the end of the pool tournament, I will have Lissa at the score table with me so she can register any late commers. I tell them.
TREVER: We get back to the cabin and shift back, we redress and head in. Just as we were going to sit down my phone rings. “Hello?” I answer. “Hello Prince Trever, this is Dr. Grant, are you with Kes?” “Yes.” “May I speak to her?” “Ok.” I hand my phone to Keska. She just looks at me questioningly. “It’s Dr. Grant, he wants to speak to you.” She shrugs her shoulders and takes the phone. (“Hello?” “Hello Keska, how are you feeling?” “Fine, Why?” “No anxiety? No slight rise in body temperature?” “I was a little antsy a bit earlier, but I shifted and went for a run.” “Ok, good.” “What’s going on?” “Put me on speaker dear, if you are ok with the others knowing your medical stuff.”) I watch as she takes the phone away from her ear and puts the call through the speaker. “Ok doc., you’re on speaker, mind telling me what’s going on?” “Some one has been feeding you aphrodisiacs, not just in food form but in herbal form as well, I don’t believe that you got enough in your system to do any great harm, not that they can really do harm, except make you more susceptible to wanting to have sex.” “What!?” “Don’t worry it isn’t going to harm you in any way.” “Thank you Doctor.” “Your welcome Kes. Hope that answers your questions prince Trever.” “Not completely, how much did she get?” “That’s hard to say, but as I said before it’s not going to hurt her any, they are all good foods and they are very nutritious for you, other than being aphrodisiacs.” “Ok thank you doctor.” “welcome. Is there anything else?” “No, I don’t think so.” “Then I will let you go and have your dinner. Goodbye.” “Goodbye.” Kes hand’s me back my phone, and I hang it up. “So, is some one going to tell me what that was all about?” Kes asked as she was warming up the dinner that she had made.
MACKIE: “Jessie was feeding you aphrodisiacs.” I tell her. “What?” “Yeah, that salad that you kept getting, and the smoothie. Both aphrodisiacs. If she put anything else in them we don’t know, but I doubt it, or the doc., would have said something.” “There are other herbs that can also enhance the effects of those foods.” Kes says, and shakes her head. “What did I ever do to Jessie to make her hate me so much?” “It’s not on you Kes, it’s on Jessie, it’s Jessie’s problem to figure out, you can only do so much to help her, but if she doesn’t want to have an amazing sister as good as you that is on her, not on you.” I tell her, and give her a hug. “Thanks.” She hugs me back. “Now sit and eat, you guys will have to go back after dinner, and be seen and to continue to do the things that you’ve been doing.” She says, “Oh but before you head back Mackie, can you get me into a design site, one that simple and easy to use?” She asked me. I just have to chuckle at her sometimes. “Yes.” I tell her.
TREVER: “What are you up to?” I ask Kes. “I am trying to come up with a better reconfiguration of the cabin, to add a washer, drier, dish washer, put the shower in the main part of the cabin with the bathroom, all while not enhancing the footprint to much, but still keeping it cozy and comfortable.” She tells me. I just can’t help myself. I just wrap her up in my arms, I just need to touch her, hold her close to me. Take in her scent. “Trever, you need to sit down and eat. I know it’s not much, but you can get more when you get back to the pack house.” She says. “I hate that you can’t be there.” I tell her. “Hopefully it will only be for two more days.” She says. “Two days too long.” I say to her, as I kiss her ear and watch the shiver run through her, I just hold her tighter.
