Chapter 14~ We’re Home
Damien’s POV~
Ever feel like you have been punched in the teeth and kicked in the balls…at the same time? That is me this morning! I will spend the rest of my life making this up to my love! I haven’t slept. I couldn’t sleep! I just laid there…holding her close..and watching her. All night! I have now caused myself new fear…because, apparently, I don’t have enough.. But this new one… it is my biggest fear! My fear of her leaving me. I wouldn’t…couldn’t..survive it!
Lyn is back in the library…determined to solve this shit. Me…well.. I am standing on the stage… getting ready to address my pack. I look out over their expectant faces. And I pray. For strength. For guidance. I don’t know…for absolution? I should be so lucky!
“BlueRidge! I come before you today because I need your help! Your opinions. Your support! As you know, my ascension ceremony is in five days! As I have met my mate… There will be a Luna ceremony, as well! I want to tell you about your Luna. She is the mantled daughter of an Alpha in Louisiana. Her mother is a witch. Our Luna is a very powerful woman! Now…here is the reason for this impromptu meeting! Our Luna is the granddaughter of the late Aldopho Baronski…the last surviving male of the Royal Family. Meaning…our Luna will be Queen…and I…the King. We would become the Royal Pack! That would mean we would all have to move to the kingdom.
It is not a demand. It is a request. I am allowing you to decide! If you do not wish to leave here and become a part of the Royal Pack…an Alpha would be appointed to lead you! Be advised…my family will no longer be here. My father will become Senior Counsel to the royal council…with Aaron as his Beta.. my brother Liam is my Beta and Blaze my gamma. As was always planned!
The ceremony is in 5 days. I will allow you 72 hours to make up your mind.. there will be two boxes in the dining hall..one for stay and one for go. You are not being forced…one way or another. And my family and I will continue to love you..no matter your decision! I open the floor to questions!”
An older man asks “will we have the same rights there..as we do here?” Absolutely!
A woman asks “Where is the kingdom?” In Northern Wyoming …butted up against the Rockies
Another man “My family stand with yours, Alpha. Where you go, we go!
Alpha, I believe we will have an answer tonight! Those of us that want to keep our pack together want to get home and pack! And I laughed! I told them I love you all! Meeting adjourned!
My dad winks “That went better than you thought…didn’t it!” I nodded and ran to the library. I just need to see her!!
I stand in the doorway…watching her.. She said “Come sit down. I found something. Well Liam found something..and I think we have an idea. I went to her… lifted her and sat down with her in my lap!
She smiled at me…and I want to melt! “So… okay… once we are marked..and then mate…we will fall into a deep sleep. for the 72 hours..In that time… the strength of my mantle will split.. and you will grow in size…as well as strength. I will have an increase in strength..and all my powers will come in. My earth wind fire and water powers will increase… I will not have to cast spells..just think it and it will happen. We will need to get to the kingdom as soon as we wake up.. the world will feel our power roll.. and our pack will be stronger…faster..heal almost immediately..
Now…this is the part I wanted you to hear.. there is a great evil.. coming to destroy all wolves.. not just the kingdom..this time… and the only way to do that…they have to stop us from getting to the kingdom. And I’m worried!”
I kissed her head…rubbing her back..I looked at my dad.. then Liam.. “Get the plane fueled. I want us to be wheels up by noon. We are going to open the gates of the kingdom. Right now…I believe a coronation is more imperative than an ascension ceremony. Whoever this ‘evil’ is…must know more than we think! We can’t mate and mark until Lyn’s 18th birthday or her mantle is useless. These are thoughts for another day.. I want 30 of our best to come with us. There is no place for speculation! We have to move fast…once our power joins..the real fun begins! I want our best tech guys with us, too. We are going to need the moms too!”
“I am going to address the pack again. Baby…can you pack us some warm clothes? It’s going to be colder in Wyoming!”
I stand on the dais in the dining hall…looking out over our pack and I began “ I feel like I am rushing all of you. Threatening details have been brought to my attention..and my mate and I are leaving to reopen the kingdom…today! The people who are threatening all wolves want to stop the kingdom from becoming reestablished and by doing this, as soon as possible. We want to keep them off guard.. I wanted you to be aware.”
Alvin..a pack elder, stepped forward.. “Alpha? We would greatly appreciate it, if you would check the boxes on the table now.. before you depart?” I nodded and walked to them. Lifting the lid off the “go” box…it is full…to the top..I grinned…opening the stay box…I find it empty! My heart swells with pride! “BlueRidge! Get to packing…Everything! I love you all!”
Lynette and the moms are walking towards Dad and us guys. I hugged Lyn and we climbed into SUVs and headed to the airport. Lyn asks “how are we going to know where to go?” I reply “GPS, baby! Then…you will have to open the gates.. Colette…I am going to need you and Lyn to ward the entire property…once it becomes visible!”
We boarded and were wheels up at 1:50…ten minutes to spare! Lyn crawled into my lap..and I wrapped my arms around her and breathed her spicy chocolate scent in! I whispered “I love you so very much!” She whispered back “ I love you! I’m worried! This is moving so much faster than we thought..” I replied “ I blame your mom for that… she was protecting you…as every mother should. And she planned on telling you on your 18th birthday..she said… but she should have told you when we met… It would have been better to have had that extra time…but there’s nothing to do about it now.. we take it as it comes!”
We landed in Cheyenne and loaded up in blacked out SUVs… I linked everyone to be alert! It will be dark when we arrive and will have to rely on Luna to provide light! We only had about 45 minutes travel time..after leaving the airfield.
Lyn sat straight up in the seat and looked at me with excitement!! She says “I feel it! I feel the land! Can you feel it baby? It’s like a vibration in my soul!” I smiled at her..I told her I can smell it …..but we probably need to be mated for me to feel what she does. I spotted the gates…they appeared to be literally set into the face of a mountain.. stopping the car..we stepped out. The excitement coming off Lynette was infectious! We were all feeling it…
She squeezes my hand and pulls me to the gate. To the side sat a flat panel with a hand carved into it..she asks “do I touch it? Do I lay my hand on it?” I smile and say “Lay your hand on top of the carved hand” She nods. Then she nods again and presses her hand to it. The gate groans and swing inward… everywhere is dark.. Colette stepped up and took Lynette’s hand…then she waved her free one and the place lit up like daytime.
I am speechless. There before us…is an entire kingdom! A castle! A real fucking castle in the distance. A village… an entire village! And cottages..cabins..stores.. and people! People are coming out of houses and staring! It’s amazing!
Lyn steps forward…she asks “Who’s in charge? Please?”” And older gentleman steps forward and says “We got no one to be in charge.. They’s a couple of thugs likes to push the limits…but I ain’t seeing them out here right now. Who’s you? And how you get in here?”
She raised her voice and said Proudly “I am the only grandchild of Adolpho Baronski” and every manjack of them hit their knee with their right fist over their heart…and what does my girl do? She walks to each person and hugs them! She hugs every one of them! And they wept.
She looked over at us and whispers “This feels like home” I pulled her into my arms and told our group to bring the vehicles to the castle…I looked at the elder who spoke first..asking his name and was the castle staffed.. He replied “Yes, sire! There are 20 caretakers. My name is Raymond.” I clapped him on his back and told him we are home now and things will improve!