Dear readers, in my werewolf tale, the existence of werewolves is known by human. In fact my heroine, Juliana Macon, who we met in 'You Can't Deny Your Wolf', grew up in the human world, outside of a pack.
After a series of events, she discovered her birthright as heir to the Alpha-ship of her late father's pack.
Now she has to learn how to be a Werewolf, and then learn how to be an Alpha, as attempts to revive the Gum Swamp Creek Pack.
In this episode she submits her application to become an Alpha; to the National 'Were' Council.
Also, Julie and Lacy become closer.
~~~
Approximately six weeks after her self-discovery, Julie had decided to re-invent her father's Gum Swamp Creek Pack:
She and Lacy had traded ideas many times about changes that could be made to the Alpha's mansion to make it more modern, and changes that could be made to the landscaping that would make the whole thing pop.
The construction workers who were adding rooms onto the Alpha's mansion were scurrying about. A local landscaping company was busy selecting the exact locations, to install all sorts of greenery in the huge yard.
~
We find Julie and Lacy chatting while standing on the front porch of the Alpha's mansion, at Gum Swamp Creek Acres.
Julie was speaking excitedly saying, "I can't wait until spring to see the new flower gardens in full bloom. It's going to be awesome.
"And now that I can actually see what it's going to look like, I'm glad you talked me into leaving the main house as is, and adding two wings to it.
"That was a brilliant idea wasn't it?" said Lacy, laughing. "Wait until you see the courtyard between the new wings, and once the pool is built in the center of it, the backside of the house is going to be as picturesque as the front." Then she pretended to gloat.
Julie smirked at her playfully and then said, "I've decided to have half dozen one bedroom apartments in the east wing, and a penthouse for me on the second floor of the west wing, with a business center on the first floor."
~
A few minutes before climbing the steps to the front porch, the two women had been walking around the Alpha's mansion, among the beehive of activity when Lacy said, "Girl it's hot out here, my panties are soaked, and sweat is running down between my thighs."
Julie laughed and said, "I'm sweating down there too. The male 'Were' in the construction crew most likely have caught a whiff of our scent by now. I think it's time to go inside before they're all over us." Then she giggled.
~
When they stepped into the main house, the conditioned air made them shiver for a few seconds. Neither Lacy's tight white linen shorts and loose fitting top, nor Julie's little white sundress offered much protection from the cool air.
Lacy hugged herself for a moment while glancing at Julie, and then she said, "It's amazing how much hotter the sun feels here, than it does at Panola Mountain, even though we're only a two hour drive further south.
"You've even gotten a shade darker than you used to be,"
"Have I really?" asked Julie excitedly, while inspecting both her bare arms.
Just then they heard a voice before they saw the person. "Would madam Alpha and Miss Lacy like a glass of lemonade?" asked the housekeeper named Wilma, who is a solidly constructed, mature wolf who looked to be around 50 in human years. She along with her mate Fred Flinston had remained in their home in the Pack's territory when the pack disbanded.
"Thank you, Wilma," said Julie.
"That would be nice." Then she motioned Lacy toward the parlor, as they continued to chat.
~
"So how big is your little pack now?" asked Lacy. "Will you have eight members by the deadline set by the 'Were' Council?"
Julie looked at her cell phone to check her email before she responded saying, "If everyone I've been talking to were to come, I would have thirteen. As it is, I will definitely be able to show the 'Were' Council that I have nine pack members.
"I'm waiting to hear from a couple of ladies from Dub Steppe's pack, that I felt a bond with when we visited the Ocmulgee River Estate.
"One of them is named Darby Spring Rain; she's the daughter of the Native American healer who was in the old Gum Swamp Creek pack. She inherited his powers, and now she thinks she's learned enough from him to strike out on her own."
"The other one is named Barbara Baron; she's a sweet country girl, with the sexiest bedroom eyes I've ever seen. Oh my Luna."
"She's tired of waiting for her longtime boyfriend to make an honest woman of her. He says he's waiting for his true mate, even though he says he loves her.
"So she's ready to make a fresh start."
"They would be the first two to bond with me, based on the qualities they see in me."
"Another Alpha told me, the National 'Were' Council has sent Dub a letter, telling him his pack has too many members. Some of them will need to go to other packs soon. If that's true, he won't be able to block the two women from leaving if they want to. I'm sure he won't be happy about it though."
"Too bad for him, "said Lacy dismissively."He's got the largest pack in the southeastern states by far. The other packs don't feel safe with one pack having twice as many members as the average pack.
"He's really going to be ticked," said Julie grinning widely. "I can't wait to rub it in."
Then there are the wolves that were in my father's pack, Amanda, Del and Marta, Wilma and Fred, Betty and Barney. They will be in my pack, but I won't see myself as their true Alpha, know what I mean?"
"This place has always been their home. They were bonded with my father, not with me. They're just here because it's their original territory is all."
"I don't have any idea what's happening with Del and Marta's two sons though."
Julie then sighed heavily before she said, "My parents who raised me decided not to move onto pack property. My dad is still worried that someone is gonna put a root on us." Then she laughed before frowning briefly.
Lacy squeezed her hand for a second and then Julie continued, "I think Rover would join me here if Spike would too, but I know Spike likes the lifestyle at Panola Mountain too much to ever leave. He'd be a great beta though."
"I hear ya girl," said Lacy. "We'll have to work on Spike.
"Yes we Will," responded Julie.
~
"How soon will some of the houses be ready for people to move in?" asked Lacy.
After thinking for a second, Julie responded saying, "It takes about a month to get one ready. So Amanda, Del, and Marta should be able to move in soon.
"For now the unmated wolves will live in the east wing of the mansion."
Lacy listened patiently before advising Julie to take it one day at a time. Then she asked her, "Are you getting more comfortable with the responsibilities that come with being an Alpha?"
After taking a deep breath and sighing, Julie said, "I don't know really. All of this is still surreal to me. I've been reading the 'How to be an Alpha' handbook, and 'How to be a Werewolf for Dummies'." Then she stood up while both women were laughing out loud.
Taking Lacy's hand in hers, Julie said, "Let me show you something." Moments later they were standing in front of Moses and Julia's portraits. "The more I look at them, the stronger I feel the Alpha connection with my pack, and my instincts and behavior are changing."
Lacy looked at her friend with understanding, and then asked, "How do you feel about giving a speech at the upcoming annual meeting of the southeastern states Alphas?"
Narrator's note:
The Southeastern States Alpha Summit is the gathering of the most powerful Werewolves, Werecats, Weredogs, and Werebears in this part of the United States.
"You're going to be there with me, right?" asked Julie."I mean I know you're attending, but I hope you stay close to me."
Lacy pressed her lips together and then said, "I was with you when your application to form a pack was approved by the 'Were' Council. I come here to visit with you once a week. Do you think I'd let you go to that conference by yourself?
"You know, pretty soon people are going to start thinking we're lovers." Then she smiled while raising an eyebrow.
"So what, let em think whatever they want," smirked Julie.
Then she looked at her mother Julia's portrait hanging above the mantle, before she said, "Speaking of us spending time together, are you going back home tonight?"
Lacy responded saying, "Of course," then she paused for effect before saying, "Not." Then she winked.
"Good," said Julie, biting her bottom lip. "I have an old movie I'd like for you to watch with me."
Lacy smiled and said, "OK, but we can't stay up most of the night. I have to get up at 5 am to get to my office by 8."
~~~
Two weeks later the Southeastern States Alpha Summit was underway:
Lacy had just walked into Julie's hotel room from her adjoining room, wearing only her bra and panties. She was carrying a bottle of wine in one hand and a glass in the other.
Julie was wrapped in only a towel, and sitting on her balcony. "What a lovely view from this side of the river," said Julie. "I prefer to be on the other side with the regular people though."
"Is it so bad to be sitting on the balcony outside your suite, at the Westin Savannah Golf Resort, watching the twinkling lights along River Street?" asked Lacy, smiling. "This is the life of an Alpha."