Page 17 of Ascendant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #6)

Early Friday morning, Duluth MN

With a secure and untraceable phone pressed to his ear, Adam Sheppard jotted down the simple instructions he’d been given.

After repeating them back, his caller confirmed the information and abruptly ended the conversation.

Making clandestine arrangements was nothing new to the President of the American Shifter Council, and this particular favor involved stealth, the violation of numerous laws, and a healthy dose of intrigue.

Fortunately, he had a shifter contact with connections and a willingness to break the rules when Sheppard needed something out of the ordinary.

Moving people from Mexico to the United States without passports wasn’t something easily done, especially by air.

The main worry in Adam’s mind was not the legal ramifications, but that precious True Elders were involved, and he was utterly reliant on strangers to deliver them safely.

On the other hand, Jack and Sergio had the ability to influence minds—a handy talent they might need to use in this multi-national game of aeronautic chess.

It all came down to trust, and Adam would never have taken such risks if he hadn’t known and trusted his contact.

Since Jack and the others were waiting to hear from him, Sheppard used a different secured phone to call Eby. As expected, it rang several times before the man answered.

“Greetings, Alpha Sheppard.”

“Hello, Jack. Your travel plans are all set, so listen carefully.”

Given Jack’s memory, he wouldn’t have any difficulty recalling the uncomplicated instructions, including the code phrase required to confirm the group’s identity.

Sheppard also promised to call Ben and explain the plans.

Whatever Luna was planning to do at Gladstone must be significant, though even Jack didn’t know all the details.

These were interesting days indeed, and Adam wondered what was in store for his Michigan friends.

############

Gladstone, after breakfast

Gray couldn’t stop smiling.

Not only had the meal been delicious, but RJ’s tour of the packlands amazed him with beautiful buildings, green forest, and abundant water and wildlife.

The difference between Navajo land and upper Michigan couldn’t have been more complete, and this place made the perfect home for wolf shifters.

Gray had already met quite a number of people, all friendly, welcoming, and concerned for his grandfather.

Walter’s effusive praise for Gladstone now made more sense, and seeing it for himself brought his stories to life.

While they walked, RJ shared his story of meeting Jonah and the early struggles they’d faced.

Being the first human mate of a pack member made him unique, though no one treated him differently.

He’d also noticed that RJ seemed to share some shifter traits and asked him about it. The man gave him an awkward grin.

“Humans undergo some changes when they mate with a shifter: enhanced senses, longer life, intense sex, altered scent, and a different outlook. Jonah happens to be an Omega, so my experience would be somewhat different if I’d mated with another shifter type.

You haven’t met him yet, but he’s absolutely amazing, and I get to spend the rest of my life with him. ”

Full of questions, Gray pondered RJ’s words for a moment.

“Are Omegas special in some way, other than their scent?”

RJ let slip a small rumbling growl, surprising Gray.

“Sorry. It took several months before I could do that, and I have to be careful when I’m around other humans.

Anyway, to answer your question, I think Omegas are special for several reasons.

Their calming scent and people skills give them an important role in pack life, and Jack tells me that Luna originally intended for them to mate with Alphas to balance their more aggressive traits.

Unlike other types, Omegas are born bisexual and undergo heats in the fall.

We only found out recently that they can also carry children by becoming a Change Mate. ”

Stunned, Gray first thought that RJ was joking.

“You can’t be serious. How is that possible?”

RJ’s face held a shadow of sadness, though he didn’t hesitate to answer Gray’s question.

“I don’t know the how of it, only that Luna makes it possible.

You met Ben and his family last night, right?

Besides Omegas, only Alpha mates can become Change Mates.

Evan carried their pups for three months, locked in wolf form, and all you have to do is look at the kids to know who their parents are.

The process only works for two shifters, which is why Jonah and I don’t have any pups together. ”

Gray picked up RJ’s melancholy and heard the sadness in his voice. Unwilling to make things worse, he chose to ask about something else.

“So, based on what you said earlier, shifters mate for life just like wolves do?”

RJ was relieved by the change of subject, fairly certain Gray had done it on purpose.

“That’s right. During mating week, they mark each other with a bite and it seals the deal. If you’re parted by death, it’s still possible to find someone else. Take Jack for instance—William is his third mate, and they’re deliriously happy.”

Gray knew that was true, as he’d witnessed the love and commitment in their words, gestures, and body language.

By this time, they had circled Schaawe Lake and were heading back towards the central compound.

RJ pointed out the Westside homes, Jack and William’s house, the school and daycare building, and The Village before RJ ended the tour at the packhouse and made another suggestion.

“There are some great paths through the woods I think you’ll like, and then I’m going to take you downtown to meet Jonah and see the LRC office. Afterwards, we’ll have lunch together at a really cool fifties diner called the Dewdrop. Sound good?”

############

Packhouse conference room

Ben, Nolan, and Tom Kilburn sat clustered at one end of the large table, examining Ben’s rough drawings on a nearby easel.

He’d returned from the annual meeting in Missoula with some exciting ideas about creating Gladstone’s very own conference center.

With the first Mingle & Mate event coming up in the spring, Natural Homes needed to get moving on the project.

Realistically, they should have started months ago, leaving them in something of a bind.

“I realize we can’t get everything done by next April.

What I’m hoping for is to complete the basics and then add the rest in phases.

First is the social center that will include the kitchen, dining room, meeting spaces, restrooms, and bathing facilities—all under one roof.

Then we need someplace for people to bunk down, whether it’s camping spots or a lodge with individual rooms. How much do you think we can get done in the next six months, accounting for available personnel and winter weather? ”

Nolan and Tom accepted the challenge and came up with a preliminary plan.

Since the construction site was two miles east, they’d be able to use human employees and contractors.

That alone would enable them to get twice the work done in half the time, and prevent the human workers from seeing anything they shouldn’t.

Aside from needed road improvements and grading projects, most of their energy would be focused on the social center—a stick-built affair due to the site’s unsuitability for underground structures. Still, Tom was confident they could do it.

“If we get the building enclosed before the snow flies, the crew can finish the interior over the winter. Our real problem is housing. Spring can be both cold and wet, so expecting guests to camp out in those conditions would be asking a lot.”

Nolan had an idea that might work for temporary shelter.

“We’re going to need a building for yard equipment and storage, right?

Quonset huts go up fast and we have a local contact who can do the work.

It’s not the look we want, but we can cover it with a matching facade later on.

As long as it has heat and power it’s better than staying in a tent, and our first event only lasts two days. ”

Ben had wanted something much nicer than that, but time wasn’t on their side.

“At this point, I’ll consider it as our fallback option. It’s not ideal, but it may be the best we can manage. If anything else comes to mind, let me know.”

Ben sent them out to inspect the site and returned to his office. By the time he sat down, a crazy idea popped into his head, and he dialed Carol Jo Dowling. If things worked out, he could kill two birds with one stone and add another pack-owned property to the growing list.

############

Meanwhile, at the sheriff’s office

Scooter sat nervously in a hard plastic chair, waiting for his interview.

He’d already taken and passed the civil service examination, and now came the hard part.

He’d done practice interviews with Lou and Caleb, but this was the real thing and he’d never met Roy Tucker before.

He’d been the sheriff of Delta County for over thirty years, tough but well-liked, and given his support to Lou as his replacement.

That didn’t mean he’d like Scooter, though, and his wolf paced in his head as the clock slowly ticked.

At ten minutes after the hour, Scooter heard an unseen door open and the strong scent of a confident human male reached his nose. A few footsteps brought a gray-haired man into the waiting area, and Scooter stood to his feet. Tucker gave him the once-over and reached out to shake his hand.

“Nate Scoon? I’m Roy Tucker. Why don’t you come on back to my office and we’ll get this show on the road?”

Scooter was unused to hearing his given name, and other than his uniform, Tucker looked more like somebody’s grandpa than a seasoned lawman.

Most likely he was both, but that didn’t matter at the moment.

Tucker waved him into a seat and then sat down behind his desk, hands resting on the arms of a squeaky chair.

Fortunately, he didn’t waste any time getting started.

“Well now, son, your application and school records look just fine, and Lou Harmon thinks you’d make a good deputy.

I will say you’re a bit younger than the recruits I’ve hired in the past, but that isn’t necessarily bad.

Lots of young bucks think that they’d make a good officer, but often for the wrong reasons. ”

Tucker stopped talking and reached above his head to pull down a book entitled “On Combat” by Lt. Col. David Grossman. He laid it on the desk facing Scooter and asked a question.

“This fella says that there are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. Which are you?”

Scooter’s heart raced. He’d read that book because Lou recommended it, and for a human, the author had some good things to say. Personally, it irked him that wolves were labeled as the bad guys and dogs as the heroes.

“I have a lot of respect for real wolves, Sir, but going by the book, I’m a sheepdog. I want to help those who are unable to protect themselves.”

Tucker’s scent revealed his surprise a moment before he slapped the desktop with a meaty hand and shook his head.

“Damn, son! That’s pretty heavy reading for someone your age, but I like your answer.

Tell you what—if you pass the medical and psychological exams, the job is yours.

I’ll get those set up today and email the details to you.

I have a feeling you’re going to be a real asset to the department, and you can tell officer Harmon I said so. ”

Smiles and handshakes followed, and Scooter drove home feeling like a million bucks.

############

That same day, León

Shortly after Alpha Sheppard’s phone call, Jack met with Sergio, Nick, and Dante to tell them what he’d learned.

Time was the most pressing problem, since their flight to the U.S.

left early Sunday morning from Chihuahua instead of León.

Jack handed that issue to Alpha Cruz, who deftly scheduled a Saturday flight for himself, Juan, and Jack’s group of six.

His two council members had things well in hand, and would remain in León to oversee the transition.

Meanwhile, Cruz and Ortega were needed back at the ranch to prepare for a large influx of new people, and to communicate with the other northern packs.

Applying for a passport in Mexico took at least eight weeks—time they didn’t have.

Sheppard’s plan also called for a cooperative effort between his staff and Alpha Cruz to create bogus passports or other needed documents to use in the interim, enabling all three men to move freely between countries as necessary.

Hopefully, the doctored items would be ready before their visit to Gladstone came to an end.

Jack and his bodyguards spent most of the day assisting Sergio, Nick, and Dante in packing up their apartments.

Furnishings or other household goods were either given away or sold, leaving only the essentials to be shipped to Chihuahua for temporary storage.

Jack assured them that they could purchase what they needed when they arrived at their new home—wherever Luna intended to send them.

All agreed that travel would be much easier if they only brought along a bag or two.

As for the rest of the pack, most would be transported by bus over the weekend, while the shipping crates with their belongings followed.

A few would remain behind until homes and businesses were sold, and then they would join the others up north.

At this point, most of the people wanted to remain together, either melding with the Chihuahua pack, or forming a new one of their own.

That option would depend on how quickly they could find jobs and an available piece of property.

Once word got out that Sergio, Nick, and Dante might never join the rest of the pack in Chihuahua, an evening farewell party was hastily organized at the Navarro home.

There were tears, some confusion, and lots of questions for the True Elders—particularly since Luna had not yet revealed where the trio would end up.

There wasn’t time to prepare food or even provide chairs, but no one cared about that.

Parting ways without a chance to say goodbye would have made the abrupt separation even more difficult, and the pack certainly didn’t need any additional angst or sorrow on the eve of their great migration.