Waking up slowly, Adam smiled. His wolf was feeling more relaxed than he had ever felt him.
**Why not? Our pack is content around us.** Wolf-Adam commented while sprawled on his back in his mind.
Snuggling Brook in his arms, he dozed off; the content feeling of his wolf lulled him back to sleep as he waited for the others to start moving.
*If we want to get them all bonded, we’re going to need to get up soon,* Brook commented softly, waking Adam up. *As much as I want to just stay here and revel in the content pack, we need them properly and fully bonded to us.*
Sighing, Adam opened his eyes and gave his mate a soft kiss before stretching and moving. Brook followed, as they got some nice shorts and t-shirts on, before moving to grab a quick bite to eat; they would be quite busy all day. While they were not going to be doing physical work, the mental energy to form the bonds was going to need the fuel.
Tapping Jess and Joshua on the shoulder as they got up, Brook motioned for them to follow, as they headed to the office on one side. Closing the door behind them, Adam held up a hand, “Before you say anything, we will need your help with organising the pack, so we can get everyone bonded. First, we want to transfer your bonds to us.”
Gareth stood up from the couch he was lounging on, unnoticed, “You cannot belong to two packs, but as Adam and Brook as still members of MacLaren, it makes the transfer both easier and harder. Easier, in you don’t have to break your pack bonds with me, and harder, because it takes not only Brook or Adam, but me or Maria as well.”
Both Jess and Joshua nodded, before Jess answered for them both, “We realised we would need to do it and want to stay with our parents.”
Gareth placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder and nodded.
“Since you are just about of age, Gareth agreed we can do your formal oath here as well, so we worked out a slightly modified oath.” Adam advised them.
Both smiled at them, “We are honoured.” Joshua answered.
“Jess, do you wish to transfer your allegiance to the new pack?” Adam asked, feeling a gathering of energy, as he intoned formally and clearly and held her by her shoulders. Gareth’s hand felt warm on his own shoulder.
Jess stood tall, “Yes, I do,” she answered.
“Will you uphold the Pack Laws?” Adam asked. They had been involved with the pack laws. They had a copy beside them, for if there were any issues, or they wanted to make sure they were following was the changed version.
“Yes, I will.”
“Will you protect all those who are weaker than you, even if it means laying down your life for them?” Adam asked. He really hoped they would not have to die for the pack.
“Yes, I will.”
“Will you guard the pack secrets which are entrusted to you with your life?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Will you obey those in the pack who are senior to you to the best of your abilities?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Will you help your packmates to the best of your ability, whenever possible?”
“Yes, I will.”
Adam smiled, “Then welcome to the Wild Valley Pack, Jess,” he told her, before touching his head to hers. He felt a rush of energy flow from Gareth’s hand through his head and into Jess. Pulling back slowly, both he and Jess would have staggered, if Brook wasn’t there to catch his arm and for Joshua to catch his sister.
“I can still feel the MacLaren Pack” Jess exclaimed as Joshua sat her down on a couch, expecting to have lost it and confused to feel two pack bonds.
“Your bond to MacLaren will seem to fade over the next few days, as if you are outside the pack territory. As long as Adam or Brook are considered and consider themselves part of my pack, it will still be there, although it will just be through them. Your own direct bond to me will fade completely.” Gareth told Jess.
Turning to Adam, “That was very well done. I fell down and was out of it for a half hour after my first bond. Don’t rush it. If it takes two or even three days to do them all, it is fine. Once we have your four pups, I will leave you to your pack. We can do the transfers of those who have already requested to join you, including Sam and Lea, and their parents, Lupita, and Chris, among others later.”
Adam grinned, still feeling shaky, “I’ll let Brook do the next one.” He said as he stood up.
Joshua nodded and stood in front of Brook with Gareth having a hand on her shoulder. Adam stood to her side.
“Joshua, do you wish to transfer your allegiance to the new pack?” Brook asked, starting his oath. Welcoming him to the new pack was a totally new feeling for her too, and she would have collapsed if Adam hadn’t wrapped an arm around her waist in time. He guided her to a chair, where she sat blinking. Joshua staggered but didn’t fall.
Joshua shook his head, “That is a weird feeling; having two pack bonds.”
Gareth handed Brook then Adam a cup of tea from a large teapot. “You will need to keep drinking this; it helps with the effects from the bondings, so you can continue.” Looking at Jess and Joshua, “This is an Alpha Secret, but I’m letting you in so you can care for them.” Both looked away and nodded when he met their eyes. “If you are doing one or two, you generally don’t need it, but if you are doing many, you will need it. It keeps the bonds from overwhelming you and from giving you a splitting headache.”
Adam and Brook choked down the small cup of very bitter brew, before putting the cups down. Both felt better as soon as it hit their stomach.
“What was in it?” Adam asked.
Gareth shook his head as he shuddered, “You don’t want to know; I wish I didn’t.” Turning to Jess and Joshua again, “Talk to Lupita, as she knows how to make it. Have her teach you.”
Jess nodded, mostly recovered. “I’ll go get Toby and Robin.” She said, before skipping out of the room. Some of the others were starting to wake up and ask where the Alphas were. “They are getting their pups transferred, then will be starting to get the formal bonds with you. My brother and I will come get you as you finish eating. Brook said not to worry about any order, so we will get whoever is free, and they will continue doing it till everyone is done.” She paused, “It may take a few days to get everyone.”
It satisfied most, but a few, wanting to be first, immediately got up and headed to eat, so they would be ready to go early.
Bending down, Jess shook the two awake, from where they had curled up with their girlfriends and the other pups around Charlie. *Time to change your pack membership.* She told them silently. Both nodded and looked eager. Stepping lightly, they moved past the still sleeping wolves, out of the room.
Adam and Brook had both recovered. They gave them a hug before moving to the reason why they were there.
“Toby, do you wish to transfer your allegiance to the new pack?” Brook asked, as Gareth put his hand on her shoulder.
“Yes, I do.”
Since he was much too young for doing the oath, that part was skipped. He was over ten, so needed to be asked about the transfer. Under that age, a guardian would have to stand in for them; since they were their own pups, they didn’t need to worry about it. They would give their formal oath on their twentieth birthday.
“Welcome to Wild Valley Pack, Toby.” She said cheerfully, before touching foreheads. This time, since she was expecting the energy drain, she only stumbled a little.
“Almost had it,” she complained under her breath.
Jess guided Toby to the couch, as Adam brought in Robin. He too stumbled just a little. Taking the cup of tea, he forced down another mouthful.
“I think you will need to round up some help.” Adam commented as Joshua helped Robin to sit down. “It will be a greater shock to the others. Maybe couches just outside the room for them to recover on?”
Jess nodded, “I’ll go see about that. Those who help will be the first to get bonded, too.” She said with a smirk. She liked Adam’s idea of rewarding those who worked hard, not just punishing the rule breakers. She had seen how it made for wolves who were eager to help, as they got something for doing so.
Adam smiled, “Go,” was all he said, before the two headed out. They were quickly back, “I have two couches now, and three more will be here shortly.”
Shooing the two younger ones out, now that they had recovered. Gareth followed them out as well, since his job was done for now.
Working steadily but slowly through the morning, they needed to take a break about every hour. Jess and Joshua and several of the former omegas were keeping them supplied with tea and finger foods.
When lunch came around, both needed a sit-down meal and talking with their helpers, they had one. Looking through the records they had been passed from the pack house, they worked out the facts of the stories for those labelled as omega, and none of them they felt deserved to be an omega. They had it completely removed from their records and returned them their dignity. Right now, they were not dealing with ranks, as the Spring Trials were just over a month away and would let them start off with ranks which made sense, rather than just what the Alpha had decided. While it might not be enough time for some to qualify at the right rank, they could give them a tentative promotion and let them try again over the next few years, while they performed the duties of the rank.
By the end of the lunch, Adam and Brook knew they had the undying loyalty of all of those who had been given the dishonour of being omega, first by giving them a new chance, then by believing in them. As they filed out of the room, they started to organise those who were giving their oaths that afternoon. Adam asked for volunteers to deal with their former alpha and the fake-mate’s bodies. All put up their hands, so they picked six to deal with them. Both were being buried deep in unmarked graves. Nobody would be told where they had been buried, and they would be quickly forgotten.
The first up was one of the females who was friends with the bimbo, “I have a couple questions before I give the oath.” She started, hesitantly.
Brook nodded, “Go ahead, Kelsey. What you say here is private and will not be shared with anyone.”
“Alpha Night had told us since we had to do what he said, he could do what he wanted to us.” She said before hesitating to go farther.
Adam snarled, “He raped you?” Living with humans, he connected the dots much faster. Most wolves would shift and take out the offender, so it was much less prevalent with wolves.
When Brook heard that, she started growling too. If the body hadn’t already been dealt with, she would have separated it and left it for the scavengers; an indignity they rarely did.
Kelsey just hung her head and barely nodded. Adam pulled out the laws and flipped through them to the page. All persons on the pack territory are entitled to the protection of their body from assault, including rape. The Alpha is not above this law, nor can he set it aside with the Law of the Alpha. Penalty is immediate death of the offender and burial. It went onto the part about attempted rape. Brook had demanded the penalty be the removal of their sexual parts. If they attempted to force themselves on someone, they didn’t deserve to pass on their genes. With how open and promiscuous a pack was, if someone asked, usually they could find another for some fun, even if it was just scratching the itch, and nothing more than that. Most had friends they shared the closeness with to be able to ask.
Kelsey blinked and read it a few times before sighing, tears in her eyes, “I missed that when we had the meeting. With that protection I will feel safe. I am willing to give my oath.” Mostly, she had missed the part where it couldn’t be set aside by the Alpha’s law, and how even the Alphas were subject to it.
The rest of the afternoon went fine, and at dinner, they had Kelsey join them. A couple others of the group who they realised had the same feeling were asked to join them. They all had a different feel to them, and they were no longer wearing what Adam thought of as hooker outfits, but general training clothes. They had been getting some self defence training after an off-hand comment as Kelsey left following her oath and bonding. They smiled and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Letting the past be the past, *I wonder how many other ‘damaged’ wolves we will find in this pack?* Adam wondered to Brook, as they joined the pack for an evening of relaxing. They had got just over half the pack done, and since they were exhausted, they were going to wait for the next day. They watched the pups play with his Charlie, Chris’s Mika, and several other of the dogs who had made their way up to the floor. They chatted with the others about light topics. Those who had been bonded could feel they were tired. Both curled up on the pile of mattresses when the pups were put to bed and were asleep fast enough, they didn’t notice the pups move to curl up around them.
*****
Just before supper the next day, Jess came in, “Just did a check and asked around, nobody seemed to know of anyone who had been missed in the oath and bonds. They are all done.” The pups had been brought in with their parents for the most part but finding two were being cared for by the rest of the pups but had lost both parents—in both cases, one parent had been gone for a while, they confirmed the parent of their friend who was caring for them as their guardians, which they recognised formally.
Adam flopped on the couch, “Finally! I really feel for the Alphas who accepted part of Sh— the Nameless Pack.” Not only was he exhausted, but the headache was also strong enough he didn’t want to do much.
Brook pulled her mate back up, “Well, we should eat with our pack and give them the news.”
Adam nodded, but held out his arms, “It isn’t quite dinner time. Come here, and we’ll think of what’s next for us.”
Brook smiled and sat in his lap and cuddled in, “Well, Chris and the others need to be transferred, Chis needs to be Turned, which means a week or two, then all the pack stuff.”
Adam smiled, “Add in the WereNet to that, as well.”
Brook shook her head, “That is a long-term project; it’s not something which needs to be done anytime soon. I suspect it will be done for many years to get it ready, and I think we will be supporting it for many, many more.” As they headed out to the dining area.
Walking in, there was a pause in the conversations before they went back to what they were doing. Giving a short howl, everyone was silent.
“We believe everyone has been bonded. Is there any who were missed?” Adam asked. Silence was his only response. “In that case, if any don’t have bonds, they will be considered Lone Wolves and be treated as such. Starting tomorrow, you all can go down to the Security and get your IDs updated. You have been passed out the details on the training which needs to be done for the ranking. We will be combining the trials with MacLaren. They start May first; it gives you a bit over a month to prepare. If you don’t get the rank which you feel you deserve, you can try again each year to get it.”
Taking a breath, at the sly look of some, he gave a warning, “Do not attempt to cheat. As I really don’t like the omega rank, and the lifetime stigma of it, I will have cheaters ranked as just above Omega and will be doing bathroom and garbage cleanup until we feel better about them and be stuck there for a decade after that.” Those who looked sly now looked very disappointed. He hoped he didn’t have to discipline anyone, as it would probably be years to feel better. He would also have a heavy course-load of retraining on top of the work, to make an example of them. “If I feel really bad about the attempt to cheat, I might even consider the Omega rank; it is how much I hate cheaters. I consider it a form of lying, as you didn’t actually complete the testing for the rank as it is done.”
“Also,” Adam started, “Starting tomorrow, you will be expected to eat with MacLaren Pack in the dining room. I want the two packs to mingle and get to know everyone. I will be using some of the pack to work on preparing for building the pack house, others will have duties here. What we need at first, is some for patrols, cleaning, and for the kitchen. Those who want to do it, instead of being scheduled to do other tasks which will be coming, come see us after dinner.”
“Last item before we get down to dinner,” Adam told his pack, “I will be bringing the completed plans for the property here. If you see issues or see something which could be done better, please let us know. This pack house is the source concept. It is over a hundred years old already. I am building for ours to last at least five centuries. The two packs will be doing the majority of the work to build it, so many of you will be leaving a legacy for the pack. We have a couple of other legacy items which will be surprises when we move in. Let’s eat!”
The pack howled and headed off to the buffet tables to get their food, or to start eating, for those who had got their food already. Already those who had pushed had stopped and were being considerate of the rest of the pack. It seemed many were much smarter than he had thought, and since they gave them an incentive to act how he wanted them, they were.
Chowing down on the food Adam and Brook chatted about some short-term plans. They had plenty of items which they needed to deal with. They had been sitting at different tables, and chatting with different wolves, to learn about their pack.
*I still can’t believe we are totally responsible for these wolves.* Adam commented to his mate. The feeling of being over his head was felt by his mate.
*I know what you mean,* Brook replied, *I totally feel over my head too, and I was born a wolf. You probably feel more out of place than me, since half a year ago, you didn’t even know we existed!*
Both felt their wolves nuzzle them and offer them reassurances. **We are here to help you.** They told their human halves, **We will support you, you just need to ask us,**
*Have we been doing the right thing?* Brook asked her wolf in a small voice.
**So far, yes. You want to listen to the Alphas and Elders,** Wolf-Brook replied, as both halves of Adam listened in, meaning Alphas Gareth and Maria and the Elders in their own pack, **They have been around for long enough to have some good experiences. If you need some help, they will at least help you weigh the options, but the decision has to be made by us.**
Their human-halves traded a smile, happy to have those reassurances.
Toby flopped into a seat beside them, with his plate. He had been working to get the information on their pack registered, so they could make their permanent IDs. *I had some free time, and looked in the history, the last time there was Alphas as young as you two. It was four hundred years ago. A pack war had decimated the pack, leaving the Alpha’s son and his mate to run the half of the pack which was left. That pack took nearly two hundred years to recover.*
Adam mock-glared at his son, *Thanks for the reassuring thoughts.* He replied, sarcastically. *Do you have any good news?*
*The sensors and parts for our pack’s territory is all in. You can start scheduling parties to start getting the lines and sensors installed. Chris has the layout of them mapped.* Came the reply.
Adam mentally groaned, *That’s another thing to add to our list of things to do!* he complained to his mate, before thinking of one thing. *Have Chris and the security who is transferring to see us tomorrow morning, after breakfast. We’ll get them transferred then immediately put to work.* With them having done MacLaren, they had many who would know how to do it, and what issues to watch out for. The plans Chris and the other had already worked out for the network layout to support the sensors was already approved, and they were working on what they could. Parts close to the pack house was waiting for the construction to be started in some areas and finished in others. They weren’t going to put fibre lines under where construction vehicles were going to be driving.
Having a thought, Adam got a slow feral grin as he looked at Toby, deciding to share the headache of the work he brought, *I am tasking you with setting up a schedule for our pack to get the sensors installed. Pair our pack with those from MacLaren who got them installed before, so they can learn.* He got a grumble but acceptance of it.
Robin bounced in and dropped a tube of the plans for the pack house, before heading off to get his own food. There had been some network changes, which they did during the dinner time for the pack, to minimize the impact to the pack. As he was learning the job of being the tech lead from Erin, he had to be there. Erin had brought in some special meal, but he wanted to eat with the pack, so left the food for those who had done the work. He had used the plotter to make a fresh copy of the latest changes to the plans, sending the job to the plotter before the network was taken offline, and the plotter just churned through it once the print server had downloaded the job to it.
Brook gathered their dishes, and took them off, as Adam co-opted the others from the table to help wipe it down then dry it, so they could lay them out when they were all done eating. Most of the pack came over to see how the pack would be laid out as they finished eating. Most came away grinning as they really liked the plans. Off to one side, he had put some paper for those who wanted the Patrol or Kitchen duties, instead of just having various ones assigned. A third sheet was there to have them put their preferences for any other duties. As much as they could, they would have them do what they liked doing.
“What’s the ‘Display Space’ that is along the balconies around the common room?” One asked.
Adam grinned and shook his head, “It is one of the legacy surprises. It will represent every single member. It will be announced when we move into the building.” Nobody could get him to say anything more. Those who knew about the paw-print plan were few but had been Alpha Ordered to not talk about it, even with hints. Several looked disappointed, but many speculated, and both Adam and Brook ignored the speculation, not giving any hints or even commenting if they were close or not.
Most of the pack were very interested and liked how it was going to be done. Many commented on the size and features of the gym and how well it blended into the natural environment.
Many stuck around all evening discussing it excitedly. Others came to give Brook and Adam hugs and thanks for a fresh start.
Just before they were heading off to bed down with the pack together for the last night, Elder Elise came up, “Well, it looks like Ralph’s ideal design updated for current construction abilities and location.” She looked younger than she had when they had first met her; the fact of the pack not being stressed, and all feeling safe and well fed did wonders. She barely needed the cane she had needed before.
Both were startled. “You knew Alpha Ralph?” Brook asked.
“I knew him when he was younger. Before the relations between the two packs really were strained and broken. That was the original MacLaren pack house, this one, and now the one you are planning, the three show a clear progression of the same ideas. Each with the same idea of blending in as best possible, and supporting the pack with comfort, but while also being as kind as possible to the environment. It looks to be a beautiful building.” The elder told them, sounding a little wistful, “I wish I could have made it for the memorial when he died, but we were nearly at war then.”
Brook nodded, “Night Depths was the last pack in this area to refuse to sign the Inter-Pack Treaty. Officially, we will be having an Alpha Conference this summer and be signing it then. As the laws are already in the pack laws, basically it is just a formality to ratify our membership. Alpha Gareth has let us know the Arctic Shadow and Longview Packs already acknowledge our pack and have agreed to treat us as provisionally signed on to the treaty.” There were other packs who had sent messages of welcome and if not outright stated it, both read between the lines that they would support them if attacked, so there were even more already supporting them.
Elise cackled, “Probably for the Arctic Shadow, they fear you. The accepting you on the treaty means they have protections and safeguards against you ever attacking. Rufus was always like that.”
Adam was surprised, but his wolf was very much liking this Elder. A thought was shared with Brook, and she confirmed it. While she had opinions and wasn’t shy of sharing them, she was willing to listen to them, and think about it, before making her thoughts known.
“We want to set up a weekly meeting with the Elders on Tuesday mornings, to start after breakfast, and last no longer than lunch.” Adam asked, rather than ordered.
Elise had a smile light up her face, “So you want to meet with us oldies?” She seemed to be needling them, to see how they reacted.
Adam grinned in reply and decided to not take offence, and just take it as her way of teasing them and was glad she was sure enough of them to tease, “You ‘Oldies’ have a unique view, and have been through much. The fact I have you is an honour. I would be negligent to not at least hear your views and ask for your advice. I can’t say we will follow it, as Brook and I are the Alphas, and we make the decisions for the pack, and we feel the way the local packs have been living will make them discovered, as it is majorly out of step with the way humans are, for the most part.”
Elise continued smiling, “With that sort of attitude, you may survive to become an Elder and be respected the way Ralph was known by the Norse meaning of his name, ‘Council Wolf’. Most of the packs went to him for advice, well, other than the last three Alphas for Night Depths. Those didn’t last even a century each.” Stopping for a moment, “You seem to have a similar presence he did when I first met him, just weaker, probably because you are so new to your power. We will be there for the meeting. I know I will be honoured to be consulted, unlike the last two Night Depths Alphas. Where is this meeting?”
“We have arranged for the conference room in the Alpha’s wing.” Brook told her; she had asked Maria where to meet, and that room had been offered. She was finding some nice side benefits of the change in status; in it seemed Gareth and Maria were willing to let them use their private meeting room.
Exchanging goodnight, they smiled and curled up with the rest of the pack. It seems less who needed it, as more were moving the mattresses. Through the bonds, their wolves were teaching them to sense the pack’s emotions, and they were settling down, and becoming more relaxed. The fear and stress they had felt when they first bonded to them was already draining away, being dissolved in the content feeling, hope for the future, and even happiness.
They were looking forward to their own bed the next night, as it had been a rocky time for their pack. Again, Adam’s wolf had to swamp his mind with sleep, as he kept thinking about too much to rest.
Once his human was asleep, Wolf-Adam prowled forward, and sniffing softly, smiled and relaxed. Their pack was here and was theirs to protect and nurture. If the old Night Depths Alpha was here, he’d kill them again, after shredding his body, as they had abused the trust given to them by the pack. Relaxing, he let their body rest; their human needed the strength to deal with the issues tomorrow.
![Wolf Tech 2: Finding Their Place [Sample]](https://va.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/4975/4975240_Wolphin_ch1_sample.jpg "Wolf Tech 2: Finding Their Place [Sample]")
