Sorry it's been a while but I've been writing this one longhand before posting and it took a sudden turn on me. This chapter's a little longer to make up for it. Following chapter should come sooner.
KemMyst
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A light is seen at the back corner of Lyssa's house.
A police car driving by notes an F250 truck with a license plate of interest down the block from her house. The officer relays the information to the station and gets out of his car. He pounds on the door and receives no answer.
The house is dark, but for the flickering light at the back.
A dark form runs from the back of the house.
She lay in the small bed that night, covered in blankets, warm, but still awake. So many things were running through her head.
Thirty six hours and she was beginning to feel comfortable here. She liked Joanna, even though her mother acted like a royal bitch.
There were a lot of people here and they all seemed to be pretty close. Children running around. It really was like one big family.
She could find friends here.
The pack pulled together, care for, and protected each other.
Joanna had, with little tact, explained some important things to her tonight. She had to decide if she would formally join the pack, if she would submit to being changed to a werewolf. But the pack also had to accept her.
If she refused she had no protection at all, since she would not be a pack member. That was why Stephanie was assigned to watch over her. To protect her from the others, who were stronger than her, and to explain and allow for any unusual behavior on her part, until she had a better sense of how to act.
But, her entry to the pack would not be simple.
As a turned human and a new wolf, she would have no rank. She would be below even the Omegas.
Matings were generally between wolves of similar rank, as the rank of the couple, and their pups, depended on both. So, while a mating with Emmett would elevate her status, it would pull him down.
Joanna was right. Of course. He had a lot to lose with her. If status was that important to them and, apparently it was, why would he want her?
She could only think of one reason.
He had made her feel safe and secure when they were at her house, the last time she had felt that way had been before her family died.
This was one big family in the den, a family she could be a part of.
No one would hurt her here.
Warm, comfortable, she finally falls asleep.
Emmett returns to the den late, passing wolves engaged in various activities.
He trots to his room as a familiar voice touches his mind.
[You're gonna lose her if you wait much longer.]
[Go 'way, Jo.]
[OK, Mr. Miserable, be that way.]
That was it. No more prodding or cajoling, she just stopped 'speaking' to him.
Thomas looked hungrily at her the next morning but his own duties called him away. She felt a bit uncomfortable with the looks he gave her.
Stephanie took her to Joanna's room after the meal.
Joanna was almost vibrating with excitement. "What's going on?"
"Big party. The twins' naming ceremony is today."
"Which twins?"
"You saw them. Alison and Anthony's new pups. They're so cute. Today we get to find out their names and accept them into the pack."
"Isn't that automatic?"
"Pretty much, but it's still a good time. And we get to celebrate."
"So, who's invited?"
"Everyone. The whole pack. It'll happen just before dinner cuz we get to eat afterward."
"Oh. So it's a big deal then. Will I be keeping Stephanie from going?"
"I talked to Mom and Dad. As long as you stay on the outside, and don't do anything stupid, they think you should watch."
"OK, what's stupid?"
Joanna explains the ceremony to her and the activities that follow. Lyssa is a little shocked and a little appalled.
There's a huge bouquet of red roses on her bedside table when she returns to her room. She frowns. Emmett. It was too much.
Emmett finds something in the local news that keeps him away at lunch. He spends a lot of time reading and tracking down additional information.
He is both unnerved and saddened by what he's found.
Joanna, bouncing, leads Lyssa to the back of the hallway which is overlooked by a small balcony beside the grand staircase. Stephanie trails, as usual, and stands beside her.
As the hall begins to fill, Emmett approaches Lyssa, holding a single pale pink rose. As he offers it to her, he says, "Lyssa, there's something I need to tell you."
"This is a bit much, Emmett."
He looks confused and a small commotion attracts everyone's attention. [Emmett.]
"I've gotta go. I'll explain later."
She frowns as he heads up the stairs to take his place.
The proud parents present their twins as Tanya and Troy. Ariel and Randall examine the pups thoroughly, pronounce them sound, and accept them into the pack.
Emmett performs his own examination, getting a little growl from Troy which prompts laughter from the group. He concurs with the Alphas' assessment, and accepts the pups.
The rest of the pack adults, which Lyssa estimates to be about 40, then intone the line indicating their acceptance of the new pack members.
"We hereby accept Tanya and Troy as members of the Wyeth pack. All members are charged to teach them and keep them safe. We now celebrate these two new lives. Men, let us hunt!"
The men all strip down and change to wolves. Lyssa's familiar grey Emmett stands beside a very large dark brown wolf. Randall bolts down the stairs with Emmett at his heels. The rest of the males follow out the open front door.
Ariel and Alison bring the pups down the stairs. All the females touch or stroke the little ones as they pass.
A loose knot of women form around Alison and her pups, hugging, kissing, sniffing. After several more minutes of congratulations and admiration of the new pups, Ariel makes an announcement. "Ladies! Let us prepare for the successful return of our men!"
Almost as one, the women strip naked and change to wolf.
Ariel, a cream colored wolf with red across her back and haunches, leads female wolves of various sizes and colors out the open front door.
Stephanie looks longingly after them.
Lyssa looks at her. "You don't have to stay in here with me."
Stephanie looks back, considering. "I have orders to watch you."
"No, really." Stephanie plants her feet and crosses her arms over her chest. "OK, then, why don't we go outside?"
"You could be hurt."
"There's gotta be a place I can sit that's out of the way.
Stephanie chews her lip. "Alright, come with me. And, do not move from where I place you."
Lyssa nods.
Stephanie strips and changes to wolf.
She walks slowly out the front door, with Lyssa at her side, toward the stone circle Lyssa had noticed a couple of days prior.
Stephanie noses her to a little hummock off to one side and she sits. It was cool out here.
Stephanie sits beside her as they both watch two wolves fighting in the circle.
Lyssa gasped. There was snarling, circling, attacking. Teeth and claws out.
One wolf would be pinned, sometimes bleeding. Then those two would move off and another pair would take their place.
Stephanie stands and moves forward a couple of steps.
While Thomas has run out with the men, he circles back, called by the opportunity to get Lyssa alone.
Several howls go up in the distance.
