Page 24 of Ascendant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #6)
Meanwhile, at Ben and Evan’s home
Evan and Sergio sat side by side on the couch, hands clasped together and eyes closed.
Teaching dreams required uninterrupted quiet time, and because it left the True Elders vulnerable, extra protection.
Both entry doors were being guarded by security personnel, and Ben used the time to instruct Dante on the fine art of Alpha leadership.
They were ensconced in his packhouse office, which also prevented Ben from getting too worked up over someone touching Evan for an extended period.
The impulse to reclaim his mate following these sessions remained strong, and to a point, he’d gradually attained better control.
Today, Evan was sharing memories of his own experiences as a pack True Elder.
Sergio needed to know the various ways to serve, help, and protect his people wherever Luna might lead them.
Through dreams and experience on the ground, it was obvious that increased interaction with humans meant an even greater role for True Elders.
Luna had responded by revealing those who were lost, hiding, or confused so that they could take their places in shifter society.
Even the number and frequency of True Elder births had surged, breaking all the old rules and ensuring that future packs would be well-equipped.
With the recent addition of the Calhoun triplets, Gladstone itself was now home to five specially gifted brothers.
Evan assumed there would be more down the road, but no one yet knew the effects of multiple True Elders in a single pack.
Near the end of their two-hour session, Evan stopped the memory transfers and answered Sergio’s questions.
He was a quick study with a sharp mind, though his isolation in León left him unprepared for shifter society at large.
He and Jack were determined to bring him up to speed before Luna led him and his friends elsewhere.
Given the small size of their group, Sergio should be able to grow and mature along with his future pack.
After an informative Q&A, Sergio asked if he could share a memory of his own.
“I had an interesting dream last night, and need your advice.”
Evan readily agreed, and the dream unfolded in three distinct scenes. They reviewed it a second time before the discussion began.
“I think what I’m seeing is our little pack’s future, but I don’t know where or when. Should I tell Dante, Nick, and Gray about it?”
Intrigued and excited, Evan shared his impression of the dream.
“Yes, I think those were snapshots of your future. Luna rarely gives us everything we want to know with a single dream, so you can expect more in the days ahead. Meanwhile, there were obvious hints as to where and when. I’m going to make an educated guess here, but Luna went to a lot of trouble bringing the four of you together here at Gladstone—specifically Nick and Gray.
“So far, nobody thinks your future is in Mexico, and since Gray lives in Arizona, I believe that’s what Luna was showing you.
If I’m not mistaken, raising goats and sheep is a common occupation for the Navajo.
You must have also noticed the desert-like conditions, and that matches much of Arizona.
As for the other people at the table, I’d say it’s a given that you and Dante will soon find mates and start families of your own. ”
Sergio’s scent reflected the joy and excitement of hearing Evan confirm his own interpretation of the dream. Now, what was he supposed to do with it?
“So should I tell them? How do I know how much to share and when?”
Evan knew he’d ask, as he should, but he had an additional suggestion for the man to consider.
“My advice is not to say anything yet. If your future is intertwined with the Navajo, you need information about their life and culture. See if what you learn matches the dream. I suspect Nick and Gray’s mating week is just about over, so you don’t have a lot of time.
When we’re done here, take a nap, get something to eat, and then do some research.
I have a laptop you can borrow, and if you need help, I’ll ask Jonah to do some digging for you. ”
Evan let go of Sergio’s hand and they both opened their eyes.
With a brain freshly stuffed full of memories, Sergio was little lightheaded and stayed put on the couch.
Meanwhile, Evan went to fetch the laptop and opened the mind-link to let Ben know they were done.
Moments later, he and Dante arrived in a cloud of angsty Alpha pheromones.
Evan called out instructions for Dante as Ben hauled him to their bedroom amid possessive growls.
“Nap, food, and homework for Sergio…”
Dante just shook his head and escorted his dizzy friend to Quad three. Whoever Sergio mated someday would have to accept the aftereffects of teaching dreams. Fun for them, blue balls for everybody else.
############
Wednesday morning, September 1 st
Walking past the Quads, Jack sampled the air, confirming that the mating week frenzy had finally eased.
Nick and Gray would soon emerge to rejoin the pack, and a disruptive announcement was sure to follow.
He’d almost waited too long to call a meeting meant to contain, or at least divert, the potential damage.
Jack was the last to arrive at the packhouse conference room and closed the door behind him.
Ben, Evan, Donna, Caleb Vogel, Sergio, and Dante were already seated, wondering exactly why they were here.
Jack sat down, and with a nod from Ben, began speaking.
“Thank you for coming. What I am about to reveal is no secret to our friends from León, but it will soon become known when Gray announces his intention to be turned.”
Ben’s rumbling growl could be clearly heard above exclamations of disbelief and protest—though not from Sergio and Dante.
They were simply confused by the reactions of their new friends and wondered what all the fuss was about.
Ben sent a burst of Alpha power through the group that quieted everyone down, and then gave Jack a look that could peel paint.
“Explain! Gray can’t be serious. Why would he even suggest such a thing?”
Unperturbed, Jack told them what he’d known for some time.
“It was first revealed to me in my dreams, and like you, I was repulsed by the very thought.
After consulting with Hezekiah and Hector Alvarez, I discovered that we have believed a falsehood for nearly two centuries.
A few True Elders propagated an untrue story to protect shifters during the purge.
While their goal was to limit our exposure to humans, they have done us a great disservice that shocks me even more than the lies themselves.
“Fortunately, the lost pack’s original True Elder knew the truth and passed on the information to his successors.
Our friends at León have been safely turning human mates for generations without a single death or case of madness.
Most likely, Nick and his new mate have already discussed this, and I expect Gray to announce it shortly.
I wanted to warn all of you beforehand so that we may avoid any unnecessary tension. ”
Donna, shocked and angry, spoke up before anyone else had the chance.
“Now wait just a damn minute! No one is being turned under my watch until I understand exactly how this works. Gray knows almost nothing about shifters, and not only is he our guest here, but by default he represents the Navajo Nation! How would we ever explain his death if something went wrong?”
Quiet until now, and blindsided by Jack’s announcement, Evan had something to add to the discussion.
“I don’t blame you for being skeptical, Doctor, but you know Jack would never endorse a practice without making certain it was true.
How many times in the recent past have we learned of something that no one else knew about?
Hezekiah’s journals come to mind, and look at all the things we discovered from them. ”
Ben nodded in agreement, and now that the initial shock had worn off, he was thinking more clearly.
“Jack, does Alpha Sheppard or anyone else know about this? Maybe Luna chose to reveal it now because we’ll need to use the practice, but in the wrong hands, it could endanger us all.”
As usual, Jack came prepared with answers.
“I have not yet informed Alpha Sheppard, but Alpha Cruz in Chihuahua is aware of it. He agrees that it should be used very selectively and will eventually educate the Mexico packs. I intend to wait until after Gray is turned in order to give our esteemed president a full report.”
Donna winced, hands spread across her enormous belly, and added another thought.
“Forgive my earlier outburst, but it’s never wise to surprise a pregnant woman.”
Laughter broke the tension in the room, and everyone relaxed. She gave them a wry smile, turning toward Dante and Sergio.
“Assuming that Gray hasn’t been overly influenced by his hormones, what would Nick have told him? How was this handled in León?”
Sergio took this one, keeping Dante in reserve if he needed more firepower.
“Traditionally, the human was informed during the mating week and given a choice to remain as they were or be turned. The process isn’t complicated or dangerous if done correctly, and we always assumed that other packs were doing the same thing.
As our Omega, Nick has had plenty of practice with turnings, and personally helped care for those involved.
Gray couldn’t have asked for anyone better to explain things and answer questions.
“As I understand it, both Jack and Evan influenced Nick’s wolf to slow down the mating process.
He won’t realize that anything is different, but it was done to give Gray more time to accept Nick on his own.
Both my dreams and Jack’s show them happily mated as Lobo shifters, so it’s a matter of when, not if. ”
Now more curious than angry, Donna’s medical mind wanted answers.
“Can you explain how this works? I need to know everything about it if I’m expected to oversee the practice in the future.”
Dante agreed with the good doctor, and after a request to keep the process secret, began a concise summary.
“It all begins with a bite to the leg or lower arm that draws blood—never the neck or torso, since the body will try to change too quickly. Whatever type of shifter performs the bite is what the human will become, whether it’s an Alpha, Beta, Delta, or Omega.
The same goes for the wolf species—Gray, Lobo, or Arctic.
The process takes three to four days, and while there’s little pain, the one being turned will be weak, feverish, and sleep through most of it.
“Nightly exposure to the moon is important, and it’s helpful to have an Omega or the person’s mate nearby the rest of the time.
Also, try to keep the fever down, but when it breaks the transformation will be complete.
The person will be very hungry, so it’s best to feed them before taking the next step.
We always have an Alpha command the first shift, but after that, they shouldn’t have any trouble doing it on their own.
Helping them adapt to their new senses and abilities is the responsibility of their mate. ”
The room was unusually quiet now that the procedure had been explained. While Donna pondered it from a medical perspective and made a mental checklist of questions, Evan’s mind took a different bunny trail.
“I’m afraid Nick will have another surprise to consider when he learns that if Gray is turned, he can carry their pups. I’m beginning to see what Luna might have in mind for those two.”
Perplexed, Dante glanced at Sergio and got nothing but a raised brow.
“What are you talking about, Evan?”
Jack interjected his own thoughts before Evan could respond.
“Just as we were unaware that humans could be safely turned, your pack did not know that male Omegas can bear children by becoming a Change Mate. I informed Hector before leaving León, but neither Evan nor I have shared this information with Sergio. Forgive us, friends, as the last few days have been rather chaotic. Allow me to explain.”
Jack slipped into teaching mode with a bare-bones description of Change, Honor, and Triad Mates, and the family choices it gave to same-sex couples.
Male Omegas had the additional option of having pups sired by their own mate.
Dante and Sergio were awed by the new knowledge, and delighted for Nick and Gray.
When the two began chuckling, Dante let them in on the private joke.
“Nick is an independent sort and kind of feisty. I seriously doubt he’s ever imagined himself pregnant. If Gray told him about it, that would have been an interesting conversation!”