As we boarded the plane, I call a meeting with my warriors to let them know that both Tamaska and I feel that something is going to happen after we make it to the bears’ den. They all wanted to postpone the trip, but I reminded them that we have trained for every situation and we will not be allowed these rebels to interfere with securing the kingdom and getting this much needed training. I also briefed them n Trevor traveling to meet us there and the project we will be helping him with. We will be putting surveillance equipment around the borders of the kingdom and the territories of our allies. I told them about the plan of building allies and securing the border with cameras and motion detectors. Everything will be high-tech using some form of satellite technology. Since I am not a tech person, I’ll let the bears explain that part. We will be providing security to the technician as they are putting out the equipment. We will be using the cover of training in the rough terrains as a cover for going in hard to reach places to place the equipment. We are going to be working as teams. Don’t worry, you all will be with me as part of my team. Trevor and Councilman Bari will brief us more when we arrive at the den. I just wanted you to be prepared. I have not told anyone other than you all about the feeling Tamaska and I have and I really don’t want to tell anyone else about it. I am confident that we can handle whatever is coming.
The warriors all express their concerns. They want me to tell the other of the possibility of something happening to me. I try to explain to them that it is just a feeling and that I don’t have any concrete evidence that something will happen. I did not have any type of vision or premonition. I just have that feeling of anticipation. That seemed to put them at ease a little, but they know that it is serious because I mentioned it to them. I can tell that they are going to be even more watchful than before. I know my alone time will be limited now. I can even foresee the mates guarding me in the bathroom. I know they mean well. It’s their job to protect me, so I will just grin and bear it no matter what. Besides, I can always teleport away if they really start getting on my nerves.
Well that took the first half-hour of the flight, we have over 3 hours left, so I suggested that we all relax for the rest of the flight. All of the warriors paired up with their mates and I hung out with Rose. Rose is excited about getting to hang out with Lacey. I can't wait for her to meet Alpha Clark. I know that they are going to get along well together. I’ll have most of my favorite people around me. I still hope that Rose will find her mate while she is traveling with me. A part of me hopes it is Alpha Clark. Rose would make a great luna for his pack and partner for him, but Tamaska has told me to stop trying to figure out the pairings of the moon goddess. They will meet their mate when the time is right and not before no matter how much I want it to happen.
You would think that I would be jealous of everyone being happy with mates when I was rejected, but I am genuinely happy for all of them. I gain more energy and strength from their happiness. The stronger their bond grows, the stronger they become and the stronger we are as a unit. The energy flows between all of us. Besides, with my life is about to be in turmoil, and the fact that I will have to put myself in dangerous situations will make it difficult for a mate to deal with. Mates are protective and possessive by nature and well, that won’t work for me.
“Our mate will know and understand that. Whoever he is will be hand-picked by the goddess herself. After the pan we went through from the rejection, the goddess is going to make sure that our second chance mate is all that we need and can ever hope for in a mate. We just have to be patient and have faith.”
“I know T. I do have faith. I know that everything happens for a reason. I will never understand why it was necessary for Trevor to reject me as his mate, but I do believe that both of us are better people and wolves because of the pain that we went through. We learned to be more forgiving and compassionate and Trevor grow up and is becoming the male that we knew he could be, At this point, it is like we never had a bond to begin with.”
“That’s the way it works for s. There is no residue. I broke the bond completely, so aside from our memories, there is nothing left from our bond.”
“I am glad for that. I truly let go and there is no lingering resentment. There is still a little sadness for what could have been, but a strong belief that what is ahead of us will be better than what is behind us.”
“You and Tamaska must be having a deep conversation. You look like you are concentrating hard.” Rose says.
“We were just talking about bonds and mates.”
“How are you really with the whole Trevor situation. You are about to be working closely with home.” Rose says.
“Honestly, I’m good with it. Like Tamaska and I were just saying, there is no residue from the bond left. It’s like it never happened. I honestly have no resentment left. We are back to being friends and part of the circle of 10. I want nothing more than for him to be happy and fulfill his true destiny. The more I work as the protector, the more I understand that this was not a journey that Trevor and I could have traveled together. Though I think he is a better wolf than he was, I believe that he needs a luna by his side. He would never be happy with the obligation of my life. I cannot dedicate myself to a single pack and he was raised to always put his pack above everything else. He would want me to do the same and I just can’t and won’t do that. I belong to all supernaturals. It is going to take a very special wolf to understand that and truly stand with me.”
“Wow Lettie, that is deep, but I understand what you are saying and I wholeheartedly agree. He will make someone a good mate, but he is not the one for you. Now that alpha that Talia keeps trying to get you to meet sounds more like your kind of man. I can’t believe how many near misses you all have had in the last few months. Do you know, they even went to Mystic Coven the day you left, you all missed each other by minutes. Talia didn’t tell you they had a mission in that area because she was hoping to surprise you and ended up missing you.”
“I take that as a sign that we are not meant to be,” I say. “I believe when the right one comes, things will flow easily for us. So I’m not looking or trying to rush it. I have enough on my plate right now.”
“Maybe he is the right person, but the timing has been wrong. Maybe neither one of you has been ready for the mate bond and that is why the goddess is keeping you two apart for now, Because when you do meet, you have no more time to prepare your hearts and minds. It will be go time. Talia said that he lost his first mate, so maybe the goddess is giving him time to heal so that he will be open to fully loving you and you need to be open to loving and trusting a mate. Up until recently, you were still angry with Trevor, so you would not have been open to loving someone.” Rose said.
“I hear your argument and it is logical, but I'm still going to wait and see what the goddess has for me. I am still young so there is plenty of time for me to get mated.” I say.
“Ok. I’ll drop it for now, but think about what I said. I like that you are so centered and ok with not looking for your mate. I on the other hand wish it would happen for me soon. You, me, and Trevor are the only ones left from our circle without a mate and I have been in lovey-dovey hell with Mona and Ben these past few months. Don’t get me wrong, I love that my brother and best friend are mates, but I hate seeing all the PDA and hearing them at times. I mean come on, that is my brother with my best friend.”
I can’t help but laugh. I completely agree with her. I would not want to witness all of that. It is bad enough with the warriors and their mates. Especially Warrior Peace and Yvette. Although it is funny watching alpha Clark’s face whenever he walks in on them with PDA. She is his baby sister after all. I tell Rose about alpha Clark walking in on Warrior Peace and Yvette. They can commiserate together since both of their siblings are newly mated and can’t keep their hands off their mates.
Rose and I laugh and talk for the rest of the flight, before we know it, we are landing and getting ready to head to the den. Rose and I are both excited about being with the bears. I have heard so many good things about their security measures and fighting skills. I have not had the opportunity to train with them. Their strength is like no other. Although I am mainly here for training on technology, I will not pass up the opportunity to train with their warriors. It’s a known fact that no one messes with the bears and all that have tried in the past, have not lived to tell the story. Alpha Keenai is the most powerful bear alpha in the world, not just the United States. Having the bears on our side almost guarantees our advantage in a physical and technological fight. Building alliances with the witches and warlocks will help us on the magical front. The vampires are our trunk cards.
The alpha bear is at the airfield to meet us with Councilman Bari. We divide not several SUVs. Rose, Councilman Bari, and I ride with Alpha Keenai and his mate Zozi. The warriors are a little upset that I am in a separate vehicle from them. I promised to keep a link ope with them and also pointed out that they will be able to keep an eye out for any threats around and since they are in the cover vehicles surrounding us, they are still protecting me from any danger. That seemed to put their minds at ease. I ensure them that I would never intentionally put myself in danger and make their jobs harder. Us coming out of this safely is paramount for the continuation of the kingdom. They continue to let me know by their actions that they are the right warriors for my team.
The trip to the den is beautiful, We were driving for more than an hour, but the views are amazing. We are traveling in a part of Utah that is sparsely populated. I don’t know what I was expecting to find as their den, but this place is incredible. The den is situated in the center of a canyon and practically blends in with the terrain. There is a stream that surrounds the den. There is a secret passage to get across the stream to the opening of the den. If you did not know where you were going, there would be no way to get inside. The entrance is hidden by holograms that look like rock formations. Alpha Zozi explains briefly how the technology works. Rose seems to get it, but it all goes over my head.
We make it to the den without any type of incident and decide to have a lunch meeting in the alpha Keenai’s private meeting room, which looks like a large conference room. Lunch is laid out by several of their den mates. I don’t know if bears have omegas as wolves do, but I guess they do have workers. Looking at them though, they look just as strong and deadly as all the other bears. I noticed that the den is a large expanded area of several spaces connected to the common area within the canyon. Alpha Keenai informed me that the den actually extends throughout the canyon. Bears are more solitary creatures, but also work as a tribe. They have their individual living areas, but they all train together and conduct business in the common area, then go to their private space with their immediate families. The alpha directs the overall operation of the tribe within the den, but the family units have a level of autonomy. That is so fascinating. I swear I must have been an anthropologist in a past life because I love learning about the culture of other species.
Alpha Keenai and Alpha Zozi continued to share details about bear culture with me as everyone ate their lunch. We decided to wait until everyone finished eating before talking business. It had been a long flight for us and we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. Alpha Zozi had one of the female bears show the warrior mates to their rooms to freshen up. I dismissed the warriors to go with them since they had already been briefed on our mission. They agreed to get their mates settled and come back for any updates and a more detailed mission briefing.
Now that everyone is refreshed and full, we start talking about our plan. My training trip has been adjusted a little. This will be a kind of on-the-job training. Rose and I will be trained on the security technology as we are out in the field putting up surveillance equipment. Rose and I will be on the team working in the mountains and canyons of Utah. Other teams will be sent to all of the regions to install equipment in the hard to reach, less populated areas around the country. The vampire royalty is currently working a deal with leaders in other countries for us to install equipment in strategic areas in other countries. For now, I will be staying stateside and within the bear territory. Once this is completed, the plan is for me to go to the council stronghold. I also asked Alpha Keenai about me training with his warriors while I am here. He was a little hesitant at first, but my warriors told him about my undefeated record, and he agreed. Alpha Zozi said that she is looking forward to me joining them on the training field. She likes that I’m a badass female warrior like herself. We plan to hand out some surprises while I’m here. I know the warriors are looking at me like a small female, but they forget, dynamite comes in small packages. They will see how explosive I can be.