Josy I think I know why Alpha Lakota wants to talk to us; I am just not sure how to feel about it. I know she wants to eliminate the threat Jazzy's former Mate and his Alpha pose to our Pack. I agree with her that they need to be taken care of, and I know both Jazzy and Mano want to go with her when she takes this war to their Pack. Tychon will probably go with Jazzy because he understands that she needs closure. I know Mano doesn't want me to tag along, and I understand that perfectly, but I am not sure how I will feel when he leaves. What if something happens to him? What if I am left alone with Ivan and Malik, or if I find out I am pregnant and he is gone? My mind is running away with me, and I didn't realize I had stopped walking until Mano wraps his arms around me. "I will come home; I have too much to live for," he whispers in my ear as he holds me close. Hearing his words and his heartbeat helps me calm down.He kisses the top of my head before he makes me look at him. "I need to do this, my Little Angel. For Ivan and Malik, but most of all for you. I would go crazy worrying if they would one day come after you; this needs to end now," he says, and I can see in his eyes that the worry would drive him up the wall. I sigh before I say, "I understand that, but it doesn't make it easier for me. I just found you, and I know that it will kill me if I lose you. Just promise me that you will try to avoid getting hurt." He looks at me, and I see Torben push forward. "Little Angel, I will keep my Human safe. We will come back to you and the boys; we will live here for the rest of our lives, and we will watch our offspring grow up," Torben says, and I believe every word he has said. He will keep Mano safe to get back to us. I sit quietly in Mano's lap as Alpha Lakota explains to the entire Pack what is about to happen. She asks for volunteers because she refuses to order any of our Pack-members to fight this war. The Council has confirmed that Night Shade Pack usually gives up an assignment when whoever hired them dies; I just hope that will happen this time as well.Maybe they will keep pursuing this because they want to find the entrance as well, but then again, it could be that they have no knowledge of what was written down in those journals. I just hope that this will all be over soon, so we can start to live our lives without looking over our shoulders. "We will leave at nightfall, and when we get close, I will contact Alpha Mauro. He will help us in any way he can, but he understands that we want to take down the Alpha and the future Gamma. I want everyone to be ready before dinner," Alpha Lakota says, and after that, she dismisses us all. I didn't hear much of what was said during the meeting; I was too wrapped up in my own brain to pay attention, and I doubt it would have made me feel better if I had listened to what they had been discussing. Without giving it much thought, I walk towards the library; I need a distraction from my thoughts, and I know two little Bears that will do that. Opening the door, I nearly get knocked over by Ivan, who is chased by his Brother, and I smile as he tries to hide behind me. "Okay, ready for lunch?" I ask them, and both nod their heads as I grab their hands and lead them towards the dining room. I ask them about their morning in class, and I listen to them with a smile on my face. I am so focused on them that I don't realize that I am shutting Mano out; I don't even notice that he has left the Pack-house without a word. I take Ivan and Malik with me to help clear a new section of our territory; I found a foundation there and have permission from Alpha Lakota to rebuild the cottage. It is not far from the Warrior building, and it will make my journey to the diner a lot easier. It always takes me some time to leave the Pack-house; everyone always talking to me and wanting my opinion. I don't mind at all, but it means I either leave earlier or I am running late, and if I can prevent either from happening, I will. Ivan and Malik are talking about the cottage that will be built here. Peter made a design after he marked the entire foundation, and I have been trying to figure out which color to use for the outside. I even tried to decide on what kind of furniture I wanted, but I think I have to wait until the cottage is rebuilt to be able to visualize it. Malik is holding on to a small tree, trying to rip it out of the ground, and Ivan is watching him with his arms folded in front of his chest. Malik growls as he pulls back, and I know what is going to happen in a few seconds: the small tree slips from his hands, causing him to fall flat on his ass. Ivan helps him up, and this time it is the two of them that start pulling the small tree. I grab my phone to film their efforts, and of course, this time they both end up flat on their asses. Both of them are growling while I am laughing my ass off. "Need a hand, boys?" I hear Mano ask from behind me, and without saying a word to me, he grabs the small tree and rips it out of the ground. "Josy's cottage will be built here, that is after we have cleared the old foundation," Malik states as he starts pulling away more of the overgrowth, and even though Mano doesn't look at me, I can tell he is not too happy with it. This has been something I have wanted ever since we settled here, and I will be damned if my Mate is going to ruin that dream. "Ivan, Malik," I call out to them to get their attention. "Why don't you take your Uncle for a walk around the territory? Maybe the three of you can find him a cave to live in," I say before I walk away. I quickly make my way through the corridor and make a run for the small Pack-house. Romano I watch my Mate as she walks away from the meeting; I know she is worried about me, and I can tell her mind is coming up with a lot of things. I wish I could take her worries away from her; I wish I could make her stop worrying. She doesn't seem to realize that I am not following her, and I watch as she opens the doors to the library. "She will be fine," I hear a female voice behind me say, and I turn around to see Tychon with his arm around her shoulder; I know that this is Jazzy. "She is too caught up in her thoughts right now to notice anything, and she needs a distraction from it; something those two will give her," she continues, and I smile as I stare after my Mate. I talk with Tychon and Jazzy about the upcoming battle, the three of us agreeing that this needs to end and that it needs to happen soon. Before I realize it, two hours have passed and I go in search of my Mate. I find her with my Nephews clearing a section of the territory, and I chuckle when I see both of them fall flat on their asses. When Ivan tells me that Josy is going to live here, I want to object; I want to build our own home and I want us to find the perfect spot to settle down. Josy apparently felt I didn't agree with it, because when she asks the boys to show me around in hopes I can find a cave to live in, I know that I hurt her. I just don't get the chance to say anything because she rushes off fast. I want to run after her, but I don't want to leave the boys on their own either. Ivan pulls my hand as he walks away, and Malik tells me he has found a few caves not far from here; I follow them reluctantly. I want to go after my Little Angel; I want to hold her in my arms and talk to her about where we should live. By the time we get back to the Pack-house, it is time for dinner, and I look around to find my Mate, but she isn't here. I try to reach out to her, but I come up empty, and Torben is roaring in my head. Neither one of us can feel her or Chai, and I quickly tell the boys to get some food and to sit down, that I will be right back. The moment I walk into her Quarters, I know she hasn't been here since this morning; I start to feel uncomfortable as I walk down the stairs, and I still don't see my Mate in the dining room. I slowly make my way over to the table after I have grabbed some food; I don't feel like eating, but I know I need to before we leave. If anyone notices that I am quiet or that Josy isn't here, they aren't pointing it out, and the boys are talking enough to keep me occupied. I hope she will be there when we leave, but something tells me I shouldn't hold my breath. My Mate might be an Omega, but from what I have heard so far, she can put up a fight if she wants to.