Chapter 1 ~ Fuck ‘Em
Althea walks into Roman’s office “Sweet girl? Did you get the portal set in place?” Amber raised her head out of the closet Roman had designed especially for the portal.
Elf technology will maintain it, at all times. That way it will remain stable and only the family can traverse the portals.. unless they bring a guest.
Amber said “Yeah. I think so. I just came back from Golden Moon getting it set in place in the safe room.. the one in Grandpa’s old office.”
Althea nodded “Daddy and I tried to make sure the pack house and outbuildings were brought up to code. It wasn’t as bad as we thought.. but I couldn’t be sure how much damage had been done over the years.”
Amber smiled “Don’t worry, Momma. If we come across anything that needs doing, we’ll handle it. You and Daddy have been more than generous. I didn’t expect you would turn all Gold assets and resources over to me.”
Althea laughed “That was a decision your father and I made while you three were still in the womb. Whichever one of you wanted Golden Moon got all the blessings that entails.
If you had met your mate and wanted to go to his pack.. then Jonathan or Jaqueline could decide if they wanted it.”
Amber laughed “Then you and Daddy couldn’t retire for another five years. They’re only thirteen.” Althea laughed “And that’s why you’re currently our favorite child, for now.”
They went down to join the family for dinner. As soon as Amber sat down, Roman started firing questions “When is that boy from Crimson Moon joining as your Beta?”
Amber smiled “Dad, you know his name is Matthew. He will be here in the morning. His sister was my best friend in school and Mattie was my sparring partner.”
Roman asked “I don’t have anything to worry about there? No hanky panky?” She giggled and Althea looked pointedly at Roman “What? What do I know? She’s my kid. Genes will out.. right? Caleb.. tell her.”
Caleb mumbles “Fuck off.” And Amber groans “For Goddess sake, Mattie is gay. And mated! Damn!” Althea giggled and asked Roman “How’s that foot taste?” He pinched her on the ass and she squealed.
Amber smiled at their antics. They were her relationship goals. It’s like they moved in sync. Knowing what each other is thinking.
After dinner, Amber moved the last of her things through the portal. When she left tomorrow, they would be driving. Some of her pack members left after dinner.. they would be stopping overnight. Amber wants to drive the twelve hours straight through.
She slipped her jeans off and climbed into bed. She wanted to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a busy one.
She woke up refreshed and excited. She grabbed a quick shower and hurried downstairs.. where Mattie had already arrived. His mate Paul, as well his sister Annie, were with him.
Amber ran straight to Annie and hugged her. “I expected Mattie and Paul.. but you’re a great surprise!” She giggled and bounced up and down a couple times “Mattie said I could come with him. I could join your pack?”
Two voices in unison said “No. You can join this one.” Alexander and Alistair walked straight to Annie and growled ‘Mate’. Matthew and Paul clapped and Paul snapped “Damn, little sister, you got two for the price of one. Mattie, why don’t we have any BoGo’s happening?”
Amber cracked up, realizing Annie was in shock. The guys hadn’t ever met any of Amber’s friends because their high school years were spent at the Alpha Academy.
Amber snapped her fingers in front of Annie’s face “Girl! You went all catatonic! Accept them already! We’re sisters for real now!”
Annie did just that.. the boys accepted her, in return. Amber swore Mattie and Paul into Golden Moon, and told everyone she would call them tonight.
She wanted to get the rest of her people on the road and headed home. As it was, it would be after dark when they arrived.
She walked around to get in the driver’s seat of the first SUV and as she rounded the bumper, she was in a bubble, floating back to her brothers.
“Alistair! Not funny. Damn! Now I have to walk all the way back over there?” He grinned.. setting her down and removing the bubble “One more hug, Amb.. that’s all.”
She hugged them all again. Starting with Alexander and finishing with Jaqueline. She smiled and waved and trotted off again.
Once they were on the road, Mattie said “The two little ones? Those the twins you talked about?” Amber nodded “Mm. I introduced you and Paul both. We were five when Mom got pregnant with the twins. It was a bad pregnancy. She struggled the last couple months and we almost lost her. My dad said Jonny was bigger then they thought and he was literally choking Jackie to death. My Aunt Dee had to do an emergency c-section.”
Paul shivered “Damn! What a little brute. How big was he?” Amber laughed “He was like nine pounds something. I remember seeing them lying side by side. It was a hilarious. Jaqueline was only six pounds.. and here Jonathan was like King Kong.”
Amber stopped at the halfway point to fuel up and let everyone stretch. It was past lunchtime but not quite dinner time. They just grabbed some fast food. Burgers and fries will hold them over til dinner.
Mattie took over driving and Amber took the back seat. She stretched out across the seat, pulling her tablet out and checking emails. She said “The Alpha from the pack directly northwest of us wants a meeting to discuss an alliance. According to this topographical pic, he butts right up against our north border.”
Mattie chuckles “Fuck. We better sign the alliance.. fucker lives in our back yard.” Amber shook her head “Mm. You did background on all our nearest neighbors?”
He got offended “Of course! That was the first task you assigned me. The Alpha to the northwest is Alpha Weston.. the pack is Dark Mountain. We have two packs south of us. Alpha Harris of Desert Moon and Alpha Peters of Clay River. The three packs east of us are a little sketchy. They didn’t respond to the email about attending the Alpha dinner next week, at all.”
Amber shrugged “Okay. I’m not going out of my way to kiss anybody’s ass. They don’t want us as allies. Fuck em!”
