Chapter 51

I was getting sleepy.I think the change and everything after was catching up with me. I rested my head on Bredon's shoulder.

"They are near."

"How do you know?" Would I be able to do that? Sense them?

"My wolf can sense Sig. We've fought many battles. Our wolves are in tune."

That made sense. Or, now that I was a Lycan, I accepted the skills they possessed.

Talia, followed by Sig, approached us in their human forms. Both looked relaxed.

"How was your run?" I asked.

"Good," Sig answered.

"I didn't see any alligators," Talia told me.

"Good." I grinned, feeling relief.

"Bredon, a word." The Packleader approached.

Bredon loosened his hold on my hand and rose from the bench.

Talia took his spot as Sig followed him to the Packleader's position, a little distance from the food setup.

"What's that about?' Talia asked in a whisper.

"Me." Something inside of me knew that was true.

We watched the males talk.

"They won't look over here," Talia complained.

"Bredon wants to," I said.

Talia quit watching the males and turned to me. "How do you feel?"

"Fine. I don't itch anymore."

"I've never heard of changing forms making you itch."

I shrugged. "I think The Lady did something so that I could change. Maybe that makes my experience different."

"You know, some die during their first change." Talia was still studying me. "I'm glad that you are fine."

Me, too.

The males approached with Bredon in the lead.

Whatever had transpired, he was not happy about it. "Sage, the Packleader has offered to house you. You can be safe there." Bredon's voice was almost monotone.

"Safe from what?"

The Packleader took over. "A newly changed wolf can be uncontrollable. They can be a slave to their urges."

I had to look down because I wanted to laugh as the others studied me.

"We have a facility where you can be housed and kept safe," he continued. "You will be under surveillance so that if there is a problem, you can be helped."

"Many packs have these accommodations," Bredon told me.

I also gathered from something I felt that the Redds did not subscribe to this way of thinking.

"Okay. How long?" I asked.

"You agree?" The Packleader seemed surprised by my acceptance.

"Darling…" Bredon started, but I cut him off by holding up a hand.

"What I did is uncommon," I said, listing my reasons for complying. "Plus, I don't know what I'm capable of."

"But you are still the mate to the Second of the Redds," Sig said, a scowl darkening his face.

"I don't want to hurt anyone." I looked at the others. "I need to learn about what I am, and it would be prudent if I did that in a controlled environment."

Talia got up, and Bredon sat beside me.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek. "You are very smart."

"I thank you for your…understanding," The Packleader told me.

"It is important that I quickly learn how to be a Lycan." It was a feeling, but my wolf felt that it was correct.

"How long you will be housed depends on your self-control." The Packleader pulled out his phone.

"I will be with you," Bredon promised.

"Will you be safe?" I asked Bredon and then looked at Sig. I knew there was much to worry about.

"Of course," Bredon told me smoothly. "The Gulf Pack has assured our safety."

The Packleader finished his phone call and then gave me a solemn nod. "It is arranged."

"Will Bernice visit me?"

With a crooked smile, he said, "I don't think I could keep her away."

Three hours later, we stood inside our room. "We will need a mattress." Bredon was looking at our room, which currently had a metal bunk with only a blanket provided.

The male assigned to us as a guide in this facility typed on his phone. "I will put in an order right now."

I looked at the room warily. It was stark, which was expected. I neared the small, barred window meant to prevent me from climbing out.

"The Packleader said she is not exhibiting the usual behavior." Rick, who seemed to be high-ranking here at this prison, was still typing on his phone.

The facility went by a different name, but it was a prison. There were multiple locked doors one needed to travel through to get in or out. The exterior was surrounded by a tall electric fence with four rows of barbed wire at the top. The door to our room was heavy and locked from the outside.

"As you can see, she is calm and in control of her faculties." Bredon frowned as he looked around. "How many others are housed here?"

Rick barely raised his eyes from his phone. "Seventeen. Nine males and eight females."

The muscle at the hinge of Bredon's jaw pulsed.

"She can be introduced to the others in a day or so," Rick said.

I knew that I wouldn't like that by the way Bredon's eyes flashed and his mouth tightened.

"I will accompany her when you introduce her to the others," Bredon declared.

"We'll see," Rick responded vaguely.

"Where or how can I get something to drink?" I asked. "I've been extremely thirsty since everything happened."

"I have ordered supplies. They should arrive in twenty or thirty minutes." Rick continued typing on his phone.

"Thank you." I moved so that I stood beside Bredon.

Rick looked up from his phone. "Anything else? Although, I'm hesitant to furnish your room with much until it is shown that she is in control."

"That is understandable." Bredon did not look pleased. "I think the water is a priority."

"I'll be back with your supplies." Rick left us.

Bredon held his finger to my lips, signaling I should be quiet.

I started to examine the room, searching for cameras in the corners.

Bingo. I rested my palm on Bredon's forearm and waited until he looked at me, and then I turned my head toward the camera.

"So smart." He leaned closer to nuzzle my neck. Instead, he whispered against my skin, "There may be microphones."

I understood that I would have to be careful about what I said.

From somewhere far away, there was a clanging sound of metal hitting metal, and I cringed, covering my ears. "Too loud." I squeezed my eyes closed as if that would silence the noise.

Bredon's arms came around me, hugging me close. "You'll learn to deal with your increased sensitivities."

When I was sure there would be no more of the racket, I removed my hands. "How can you stand that noise?" I was flustered and shaking, but he appeared calm and collected.

"You'll learn to modulate your hearing."

Adrenaline still traveled throughout my body. "You make it sound easy."

"It is…relatively. You have the disadvantage that you were not prepared for your change. You don't know what to expect."

I frowned. I was tired of constantly feeling like I had to play catch-up so that I understood all that was happening.

"However, you have the advantage of being mature and intelligent. You are not a slave to your urges. You already show great control."

I replayed his words and tried to decide if he was complimenting me. "I don't think I would want to be a slave to my urges. That sounds terrifying."

"Many packs have places like this where new wolves can adjust safely. Nobody wants a newly changed wolf rampaging among the masses."

"How does your Pack handle a newly changed that becomes violent?"

He frowned and looked away. "It is up to their families. If they turn feral, most opt to hunt and eradicate them."

My body shuddered, suddenly chilled. "I guess we're lucky that this happened here?"

"I hope so," he muttered.

My eyes widened, and something woke deep inside me, becoming aware.

"You will find…" He ran his hand through his hair. "Although Lycans can live forever, we do not always accept differences. Some believe that a changed wolf is not as strong as the Lycan born, that they are inferior. I know this is not true. However, there are always those who feel that way."

"Thanks for the warning."

"We will need to create a learning schedule to include Lycan history, etiquette, and fight training."

"Fight Training?"

"In case of attack. Those occasions are fewer than in the past, but they can happen. Now, the Lycan Council encourages diplomacy in place of battles."

Footsteps approached, and we quieted.

After unlocking the door, Rick entered carrying two cases of bottled water.

"Oh, good. Thank you." I tore open the plastic, keeping the bottles in place, and grabbed one. I drank the entire thing.

"The rest of your supplies should be here within the hour."

"Thank you," I told the male.

Once he was gone, I drank two more bottles.

"Feeling better?" Bredon seemed amused by my thirst.

"Yes." I felt stronger as if energy was pulsing through my body. I felt like I could run for days.

"It has been many years since my first change." He leaned back on the bunk. "My father secured me in the dungeon."

"Dungeon?"

"I terrorized the other prisoners." A deep sound came from his chest. "It was one of the few times my father saw me as doing something helpful. And I enjoyed it."

"I can't believe that is true." Bredon was smart and kind.

"Anton takes after my father. He spends time and money on combatting progress. During my father's rule, travel took months, and communications were always delayed. When he traveled to a Gathering with other Packleaders, it was six months of preparation, travel, and meetings."

"A very different time?"

"Yes and no." His mouth tightened. "Anton holds us back. He appreciates the old ways."

"I noticed," I told him dryly. "The weird thing is that people will pay thousands to vacation in locations that time and technology have missed. He could be making so much money just by offering a few nights" stay in the manor." I giggled.

"It is very dangerous to laugh at Anton and his ideals," he cautioned.

"Breed, it is difficult to exist in this world without internet access."

"I know." He began to pace. "The packs that embrace change are thriving. The Redds are not, but Anton is stubborn."

I frowned. "I can think of few other S-words that describe him, too."

"Sage." He stopped in front of me. "Saying things like that can get you killed. If Anton is enraged, I cannot save you."

"Do we have to go back?" I lifted one shoulder in a half-hearted shrug. "This place seems okay, except for the alligator thing."

He returned to the bunk and slumped against the wall. "I will have to return, even if I decide to resign officially. Being Second isn't a job you leave by giving your notice. Agreements and stipulations must be made about my role after my resignation."

"You are unhappy there. I picked up on that right away. You, Sig, and Talia must walk around on eggshells."

"You grew up with freedom." He paused to meet my gaze. "I always knew my duty was to the Pack."

"You told me the Pack might be cursed because of something Anton did. What if we don't go back for…for years?"

"I will have to return." He turned somber. "I may be able to house you with the nearest Pack. That way, you would be safe but somewhat near."

"Away from you?" I cried. "No."

He pulled me to his chest. "I feel guilty for what I have done to you, Sage. I have tied you to the anchor of a sinking ship."

Do not panic.

I think the caution came from my wolf. I'd solved many problems throughout my life. I'd managed to sneak Judith out of the hotels when we'd had no money to pay the bill. I'd calmed many an outraged artist while saving the gallery's reputation on opening night. At my last job, the manager would get angry when co-workers approached me with their grievances because they knew I would seek a solution.

There had to be a way to fix this. We would stick together even if things were as bleak as Bredon stated.

I believed the Goddess wouldn't have gone to all this trouble to let us wither away under Anton's rule.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"I guess I'll need lessons in Lycan government to understand how this Packleader and Second thing works." I trusted what Bredon had shared, but I was the type who fought for my happiness.

"You can't save us, Sage."

"I don't know about that." I flashed a strained grin. "I just became a superhero. Who knows what else I can do?"

"Sage." He shook his head and hugged me.