Shea: The Last Hope (6 page)

Cami stepped over to her, “Finding your site and buying stuff with the others has been something that has kept us, and our mates, happy during the time since the explosion.

You’ve given us much more than we deserve but there’s no way in hell we’re turning down your gift because I for one can’t wait to see and try on each and every piece you’ve given us.

I’m also sure that whatever you’ve designed for our mates; they'll love too. Now can we please open up some of these bags and boxes; I'm dying to see everything!” She finished, and everyone laughed.

They started unzipping and opening packages, showing off things to their friends. No two garments were precisely the same, each one unique and with a special design element for that woman’s mate triad. They were all making plans and deciding on what they wanted to wear first when Bama opened a box of men’s underwear tanks and in the package was a smaller box of small round fabric discs. She turned to Willow and asked,

“Willow, what are these disks for?”

Willow looked over at the disks and then Cami, who’d seen what she was holding, called everyone to attention again. She’d found a similar package and wondered what it was.

Willow gave a sultry smile, picked up a shirt and the fabric disk and explained. “Well, for example, Cami, if you look, you’ll see the disks have either a light blue or dark blue dot in the center. These are scent pads; just before your mate's dress for the day or the night before rub the scent pads, one of each color, under your breasts or over your mons. You don’t want to get it soaked with sweat or even damp, just embed your scent into it. Then take the dark-blue disk and put Quin’s scent on it and Jaden’s scent on the light-blue disk. Each of the tanks has a thin pocket near the neckline, slip the scent pad into the pocket. The dark-blue disk goes into Jaden’s tank and the light-blue disk into Quin’s. It’s my version of scratch and sniff.” And they all laughed. “Each time they scratch over where the pad is the mingled scents of their mates will be refreshed. It will keep them content when you’re separated from each other during the day.”

“What a great idea Willow, I know my guys will love this. They’ve been very supportive of me opening the store with Trinity and Bama but anxious to be away from me for long.

We’ve only been together for a short time and after what happened when I was, kidnapped Argus and Jacob really do get worried when they can’t touch me. Hopefully, this will help Argus with his growlyness. He’s been a Royal Mr. Grumpypants lately and even though Jacob hides it better I know he feels strained when we’re apart too.” Skye said, and they all agreed their mates would love Willow’s invention.

“Well I also added slits on the sides of your bra cups so if you want to you can add scent pads to your bras. Those pads are in your packages too and have a small pink dot.”

When she finished Jo went over and gave her a big hug. The others quickly followed.

Then always knowing when to lighten the mood, Cami spoke up again, “Okay people, remember we need to have a decadent love nest set up by lickety split. I’m sure the furniture van will be arriving at the compound within the hour, and we want to make sure Shane and Trace don’t see what we’re doing.”

As they all began putting their garments away, Willow walked over to Kira and the other pregnant ladies. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were all pregnant. I don’t know how I could have missed it. The lingerie may not fit properly. I’ll have new things made immediately okay?”

Kira turned to her with a look “Actually we were all wondering how you knew we were all pregnant when it was a secret until this morning. All the garments are the right sizes for us.”

Willow thought for a moment and then looked at Lacy. “It must have been your mom Lacy; Adele was here when I was filling out the final design and order list to send out to the manufacturing floor. How wonderful it was of her to think of it.”

“I’ll remember to call her and thank her for it. Did she buy any things Willow I’d love to choose something for her and my Dad as a gift?”

“She got a few things. I tell you what, come see me next week, and we’ll work on something special for the grandmother to be. I want to get her something that will make her feel young and sexy instead of grandmotherly.” She said with a smile.

“That sounds perfect, and she has a birthday coming up too.” Lacy answered.

They all finished wrapping their items and were ready to go. Cami called in three enforcers to load the bags and boxes into the storage areas of the SUV’s. They knew this was a shopping trip and had included an extra vehicle for storage room if they needed it.

One of the first things Casey had done upon taking over the pack's finances with her Twin Reggie was to negotiate a fleet rate with a dealer in Denver. They got low lease rates with the ability to get new vehicles every two years along with an excellent maintenance package. Then she negotiated for local pack members owned auto repair shops to be authorized dealer reps. The pack paid the dealer the lease, warranty, and maintenance fees and then the dealer paid the pack owned shops when the work was done. And Reggie helped negotiate for the local shops to make sure that when acting as reps for the dealer they got paid the highest percentages for their work. The dealer a percentage of the repairs and then had well maintained used vehicles to re-sell on his lot.

Cami gave one last look to make sure nothing; no one was skipped or missing and climbed into her assigned SUV, and the lead Enforcer gave the go-ahead to return to the compound.

Chapter 3

Bama planned for the group ceremony to happen in two months time, on the summer equinox. Even though the other triad mates completed their claims, they’d all caught wedding fever and wanted to participate in the ceremony.

Bama was excited for the weekend to come. First, they would have the luncheon with the author they loved, then a day of pampering followed by the next day she set for claiming; Trace and Shane planned the dinner, while she planned the entertainment, where they would finally officially make her theirs.

She converted one of the smaller bedrooms in the B&B into a temporary office. She stood back from the large board that she had put up in order to make sure that everyone had places for their families and friends to stand. They were building a huge gazebo out in the courtyard of the compound. It was surrounded by trees and was probably the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The mountains in the background and the flowers they were planting around would give it an air of mystical romance.

So many different shifters were going to be in town that she knew they would have to make sure the local law enforcement was going to be on their toes. Sometimes the shifters tended to get a little rowdy, and she didn't want anything to draw attention to their large gathering.

She looked at the map of Milliken and smiled. Some of the shifters bought property to make their own Prides, Packs, and Aries in the area. Argus moved his entire Pride from Texas to Milliken. They took up the eastern border of the compound. Bama really wanted to go over and see the different shifters that belonged to his Pride. Cami had been over and came back so excited to have met new shifters.

She laughed when she remembered a confrontation between Ryan the Northern Pride King and Argus. Every property and tract of land he was interested in Argus had already purchased or had a pending escrow on. Then Trace walked by and mediated an agreement between the two pride leaders.

The Council was just beginning to actually make headway on what they had been called to do. It was exciting to see all the Council members doing what their destiny called them for.

Quinn and Jaden set up their office once again in the Pack compound house. They hired a secretary to make appointments, and they once again were doing their Alpha duties for both the Denver Pack and the Council Pack. During all of this mess, the Denver Pack was kinda put on the back burner. None of the members seemed to mind because they knew what was going on, but still. They needed their leadership back. Many things in Denver had changed, and they needed to know they still belonged to the Pack.

Jaden made several trips to make some changes, and to get to know some of the new members. Jean Paul, Sarah, Charlie, and Judy became important people in the Denver Pack. Since joining, Jean-Paul and Charlie were Enforcers and soon to be named the head Enforcers of the Denver Pack. Devon and Darien were extremely impressed with them. Cami had called and asked the two women to take over her bookstore in Denver, and they were going to be at the luncheon with them tomorrow. Sarah had been working as a bank teller and would take over the bookkeeping tasks. Judy had been working in a marketing firm as an assistant in the art department. She would take over the front of the store. Both girls had a good eye and contacts throughout the community to keep people coming into the store.

Devon began getting the Enforcers training camp back up and running. Gregg, Quin's other brother, had moved to the training facility to take over the day-to-day operations.

Devon began searching for different shifters to join in the training. Ryan and the Cat Warriors were taking advantage of it, and so far; they sent thirty members to train.

Cloe and her mates were busy setting up their offices. Darien and Teagan were almost qualified to be PA's; they would be taking their tests in the next six months, but they were making Cloe take time off and stay in her office at their new home and work to organize and consult from there. She was ready to give birth anytime, and her men were sure that she was going to overdo something. Cloe was getting annoyed with their constant hovering.

Reggie and Casey got a handle on the Pack’s financial holdings and day-to-day operations. They had been given an office in the Pack compound house, and they were busy accounting for all the repairs and building expenses. Quinn and Jaden had given them the access to all the accounts; they had available. And since they had started, Reggie had taken over the packs investing so now the money was making money.

Blaine and his mates didn’t need an office per se since they had visions anywhere and everywhere. Bama and Trinity had been a little freaked out when they had done the whole 'woo woo' thing when they were trying to order dresses. Blaine had slammed into the changing room and surprised them all. Now they could laugh about it, but the men had not been happy that Blaine had seen their mates in their underwear.

Lacy and her mother Adele set up shop in Milliken, selling their potions and stuff. She had a consulting room at her shop, and she’d also set up her office in the Pack house, so she could see shifters that wanted to mate. She had been involved in only a few sessions, but so far, everything seemed to be going good. Those shifters that were a little intimidated about seeing her at the pack house came to the shop. Mostly, it was shifters that didn’t belong to the New Council pack, though she’d also had a few visits from her human pack mates.

She reminded herself to speak with Cami about that. With so many shifters coming into town, it was important that their human pack members still felt included. Her mates were taking the calls from reports of abuse and then helping to get resources to those in need. Luckily, there weren’t too many of those types of situations to worry about.

Jordan and her mates were always in their home office poring over the files of the Old Council. They had not made it through many but found a lot of important information.

And they were in the process of setting up a hard copy system and online library for this Council to record their laws and store important documents.

Lagon had begun working closer with the children; they loved him, and so far, he had identified some of their powers. As a Council, they knew they would have to hire a teacher for them all, but they were stumped with who they should get. Each of them had different powers that worked together. Until they had all had their kids, they didn’t know exactly what they were dealing with. Hope was definitely the leader though.

Trinity and Blaze set up an office to meet potential Packs, Prides, and other groups that were petitioning to become a formal community. They had appointments scheduled nearly back to back for the next few weeks.

Argus and his mates were slowly bringing out and updating his books. They had all been surprised at how many different shifters and magical beings, there were in the world. Skye was really good at making sure the lists were organized for the rest of them.

She would give histories and contact information for each of them. Cami was constantly bugging them about making sure she got her own personal list, so she could make sure she was up-to-date on everything.

Trace, of course, had been busy courting Bama with Shane, but in between that time, they had begun their search for members of the Old Council who were willing to come and help them. Of course, they had a few already, but Trace had gone as far as getting some of the elders from other shifter groups to also help. He was setting up meetings with each of them, hoping to bring together a group that could be an advisory board to them all. There were many bad feelings between shifters, and together they hoped to bridge the differences.

Bama was looking at the chart she had made and thought she was going to have to get the rest of the girls in here soon to help. She would hate to put someone next to someone they hated. With their luck, her beautiful commitment ceremony would turn into a brawl, and then she would be pissed.

Chapter 4

Lev walked into the restaurant and looked around, Griff should be here. Lev had been running a few minutes late because of a last minute call they had. Griff sat in the corner of the diner with his back to him, but Lev would have known him anywhere. His long, blonde, bushy hair hung messily around his shoulders. He smiled when he saw that he was wearing one of those tee shirts that were tye-dyed and had a smiley face on the front of it.

Lev walked around to the other side of the booth and smiled down at the man. Griff stood up and held out his hand to Lev. Lev felt the tingle of something when he took his hand into his. It was like a spark of something. Griff grinned wider and then motioned for him to sit down across from him.