Lyssa meets later with Ariel for a discussion of approaching the other packs about the meeting of their unmated members at the Wyeth den. Each Alpha would submit a list of potential attendees and suggest something that they would contribute.
While this time hosted by the Wyeth pack, the others also stood to gain at such a gathering and, thus, would help with the expense in some manner.
Lyssa and Ariel would either accept the lists or might ask to have the numbers reduced. While wolves did mate young sometimes it was not unusual for it to take some time for them to find their mates. Occasionally, also, a wolf might find a second mate.
It wasn't an instantaneous recognition but there would be an attraction between two werewolves which would usually grow. Scent played a big role.
Lyssa would need to be introduced to all the Alphas to complete this task.
She decides against asking Ariel about Nathan Severn.
That evening, in their room, Lyssa is curled up with Emmett on the couch.
"Did you really hit him with everything?"
"Hmm? Oh. Alpha Ross' son? Well..."
"Held back a bit, huh?"
"I didn't want to hurt him." She frowns.
"What's that for?"
"Joanna didn't think it was a good idea."
"She didn't think what was a good idea?"
"That I knocked him down, especially with the other male around. 'Serious loss of macho points..' Me being a changed female and all."
"Hmm."
"How would you feel if I knocked you down?"
He grabs her wrists and pins her to the couch. "Sounds like it could be fun." He rubs himself against her and kisses her.
[Serious, here.]
Emmett breaks the kiss and sighs. "It would probably annoy me."
"Probably?" She looks up at him. Those chocolate brown eyes. He's grinning, looking at her, hungry. She moves her legs a bit and twists, rolling him off the couch. She lands on him then jumps up and leaps over the couch.
As he sits up she says, "I want more time sparring. With a couple of the males."
A growl starts in his chest at the thought. The word comes out clipped, "Why?"
Feeling the jealousy roll off him, she circles back around the couch, crouches, throws her arms around him and licks the corner of his mouth.
"I've only been sparring with the females. A lot of them are smaller than me. I want to learn to fight against someone bigger. I want to be able to defend myself."
The growl subsides and he pulls her onto his lap. "You'll never have to face a male. Have you learned all you can from fighting the other females?"
"No. But they've been fighting forever. I just think it would be a good idea. What would it hurt?"
"You." He squeezes her tightly. "They could hurt you, without meaning to."
"Please?"
"I'm not sure who we'd get to agree to it."
He flops backward, pulling her down with him and yawns hugely. "Time for bed."
They snuggle together in the bed, skin to skin. He's falling asleep.
"What do you know about Nathan Severn?"
He twists and looks at her. "Why?"
She traces circles in his chest hair. "We met him today. Joanna couldn't stop staring."
"Mmm. Nathan is nephew to the Alpha. Don't know too much about him. How did you happen to meet?"
"Jo was driving. I guess she got going a little fast."
Another huge yawn. "You need to be careful."
"I know. Is he mated?"
"Not sure. Don't think so. I'll check." He hugs her close, releases her. "Sleep."
"Yes, dear."
Lyssa goes the next morning to Wyeth Imports to check on the shipping logs. She wanted to see if any improvements could be made. Efficiencies to be gained. Transport changes to exploit. Savings to be earned. Things changed constantly.
Emmett broaches the subject with Erich. "So, Erich, Lyssa asked me something unusual last night."
Erich grins. "Oh, something kinky? Need a third?" Emmett growls and Erich backs away.
"No. It wasn't sex. Luna, you need a mate."
"OK, spoilsport, what was it?"
"She wants to do some sparring with a couple of males."
"Really. I find that odd... and kinda sexy."
Emmett backs Erich against the wall. "Keep it up and you get no chance of being one of the males."
"Seriously. You're actually considering it?"
"She does leave the den more often than a lot of the others. And a human male really isn't a threat to her anymore."
"Unless they're armed. Still, has she beaten all the females or something?"
"I doubt it. But she's right, she's larger than almost all of them. I guess she wants to learn to fight a larger opponent."
"But she's never gonna have to."
"That's what I told her."
"OK, but why me? Why not one of the younger males?"
"I need someone I can trust, someone who knows what they're doing. A younger male with less experience could really hurt her unintentionally."
"Alright. So you've decided then?"
"We'll see. I'm going to take her to the circle tonight and find out how serious she really is."
Joanna starts leaving Lyssa messages: music she'd like to have played, flowers she'd like to have, who she wanted at her table.
Lyssa notes some things and keeps others in the back of her mind. The Alphas had given her a strict budget for the entire event and she would need to balance the gathering of unmated wolves with Jo's party. She starts making several lists.
"What are they getting me?"
"I have no idea, Jo." Oh, god, present. This was a big birthday for her. She and Emmett would have to come up with something.
But, first, she needed a head count. The entire pack would be present for Joanna's party, as would the unmated wolves.
The days prior would be for the unmated wolves. But there would also be some males around to make sure nothing would get out of hand.
God. Where would they all stay?
Head count. Need a head count.
Ariel is putting together the list for Wyeth. Calvin Ross was assembling the list for his pack. Lyssa had to contact the others, which meant Ariel or Randall had to introduce her.
And so, via video feed on the computer, Lyssa is introduced to Aaron Severn. He gives a ballpark estimate of 15 with a promise of a complete list in two days.
Lyssa studies him during the brief conversation.
His hair was light brown, eyes hazel. Blue polo shirt. Hard to get an idea of his size but he seemed to be a bit larger than average. Age between Randall and Calvin, which really didn't narrow it down.
William Macy was darker. Black hair, brown eyes. Dark skin. Red button down shirt.
"Alpha Macy. Good day to you."
"Ariel. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You may have heard that we will be celebrating the maturation of our daughter. We intend to host a gathering of unmated werewolves in conjunction with this celebration."
"As you will be interacting with her I wanted to introduce you to the individual organizing the gathering. William, this is Lyssa, mate to Emmett Forester."
"Forester?" He looks at her closely. "So, this is the female my pack member died for?"
Lyssa looks shocked. "D, died? Um, sir?" [Not now, Lyssa. To business now.]
Lyssa takes a deep breath. "Alpha Macy. We invite your unmated wolves to the gathering we will be hosting in September. In order to prepare for this event, I request a listing of those who will be attending."
He waits, looks at her. She sits, breathing, beginning to get really uncomfortable when he says, "Of course. The number is six. I will forward their names to you."
"Thank you, Alpha Macy."
"Good day, William."
"Ariel. Lyssa." The screen goes black.
Lyssa turns to Ariel. "What the hell?"
"He's never told you?" Lyssa shakes her head. "He was injured when he lay on your doorstep."
"So that's... But, why?"
"Emmett had been watching you. One of the Macy males came by and, seeing what had caught his interest, challenged him for you. They fought for you. Emmett won."
"The matter was investigated by both sides and determined to be a legitimate challenge. Alpha Macy has accepted it, but he has not been happy about it."
"Why am I only finding out about this now?"
"Lyssa, this is something we would have expected Emmett to have told you. It was one of the things we investigated and dealt with upon his return, your return."
Lyssa stops, considering. His return. Then my return. Or was it our return? She wasn't one of them yet. Maybe she never would be, like those towns, no, those islands, where you'd always be an outsider because you weren't born there.
She really didn't think of herself as different from the others. She could change. She could mindspeak. She came into heat. They didn't seem to treat Anna any differently, but then Anna had mated an Omega. She was higher profile, being mated to the Beta.
And the way she was introduced, as mate to Emmett Forester. Not by her own name, like she was her own person.
"Lyssa?"
"Huh?"
"We're ready to contact Alpha Gates."
Henry Gates, the fourth Alpha whose unmated members would be invited. "Uh. Yeah."
The screen opens to a face that looks surprisingly like Emmett's.
"Madam Alpha."
"Good day, Cecil. Is Henry available?"
"I apologize, Madam Alpha. Alpha Gates has been called away on business. May I help you?"
"Our daughter is coming to maturation, Cecil." He nods. "The celebration is being organized and I wanted to introduce Henry to Lyssa, since she has been given this task. You, of course, may be interested in Emmett's mate."
"Indeed. This is the female?"
Ariel turns to Lyssa. "Lyssa, this is Cecil Madison, one of Emmett's cousins."
