The Black Hills: Trials and Tribulations

Talia POV “I want everyone on the front steps of the packhouse in 10 minutes!” Luna Sarah commands loud and clear for all of us to hear. I roll my eyes as I finish packing my suitcase.  My dear cousin has become quite bossy these past few months. I smile as I think about the growth we’ve all accomplished. A year ago, Sarah was a reserved human girl, unsure of what she wanted to do with her life, now she’s the Luna to one of the largest and most fear werewolf packs in the entire country.  “Seriously can she get any bossier.” Jenni says from the doorway of my room, before she stomps off. Oh and Jenni, the wild wanderer who has finally settled down into a life of mate and motherhood.  Then there’s me, still recovering from my trauma, but I’m still standing and fighting on. You see, I spent years being terrorized and abused by my ex-fiancé, Leopold, who turned out to be a warlock. After I finally escaped from him and traveled to Black Hills, I met Matthew, my werewolf mate. It took months and a lot of struggle for me to begin to open up to him, but the final turning point was the night that Leo tried to take down the Black Hills pack, and instead ended up gutted with the help of my Goddess given gifts.  Yep, you heard that right, I’m a blessed native, along with my mother Diane, and my cousins Sarah and Jenni, the Luna and Beta-Female of Black Hills, as well as our newfound cousin Jaden, a male werewolf who showed up as a rogue during one of Leo’s planned attacks. As soon as Jaden realized who we were to him, he sold out Leo and joined our pack. Having been orphaned young, and fighting for survival most of his life, all Jaden ever wanted was a family. Now that he’s been accepted into our pack, he’s has been thriving and was even promoted to warrior status.  “You have 5 minutes!” Sarah shouts down the staircase.  Matt walks by me with his suitcase fully loaded, “Are you all packed up, doll face?” He asks lovingly while stopping to kiss my cheek.  “Yeah, I think so. Let me just grab my toiletry bag and I believe I’m ready to go.” I tell him before I walk into our bathroom, double check my supplies, and return to our room. Matt grabs up all of our bags, while looking like some Herculean God, and I shake the naughty thoughts which fill my brain as I follow him out of our room and down the staircase.  This weekend is the annual Alpha Summit, which is being held just outside Las Vegas, so with the help of our Gamma Female, Serena, it has been arranged as a family trip for a large group of us. Alpha Tyler Cross of Crystal Lake has been generous in lending us a vacant, furnished duplex so we can tour Sin City before and during the men’s gathering. Serena’s sister lives in Crystal Lake and suffered for a long time with Post-Partum Depression which kept Serena away from our pack, and more importantly her mate. Alpha Cross said that lending the duplex is the least he could do to repay her for her presence during her sister’s time of need. Serena’s sister is one of the packhouse Omegas, and vital to the operation of the entire packhouse to my understanding. Anyway, here we are, loading up into Tahoes which will take us to the airport, where we will board the private jet which will take us to Las Vegas. I didn’t even realize Black Hills had a private jet before now.  Matt helps me climb into the back seat of the Tahoe, where Sarah is already seated, before he gets into the passenger seat. Alpha Travis, Sarah’s mate is in the drivers seat. The other Tahoe is being driven by Chad, with Tom, Serena, Jenni and Jaden riding along. Travis takes the lead and guides the Tahoe out of the territory of the Black Hills Pack, before leaving the Black Hills altogether.   Once we hit the Highway, it’s only a short drive to Rapid City where we will transfer to the private jet.  “I’ve never flown before, I’m feeling a little nervous but a whole lot of excitement.” Sarah confides in me. “I’ve flown several times, there’s nothing to worry about, as long as our pilot is competent.” I add. “Jacques is more than competent.” Travis says while looking back in the rear view mirror. “He’s a retired french airman, with decades of experience.” He finishes.  “See, nothing to be worried about.” I tell Sarah who raises her eyebrow before she turns to stare out the window.  We pull into the airport, and are directed into the “Private Ownership” lot, which is a very short distance from the tarmac. The men unload the Tahoes and head off towards the bay, with us girls following behind. As soon as we round the bay, there is a collective gasp from Sarah, Jenni and I as this is our first time seeing the impressive elegance of the sleek silver jet, owned by the Black Hills pack. The men go around to the luggage port, while Serena leads us up the stairwell to board the jet. If the outside was impressive, the inside was enough to render you completely mindless. As we stepped onto the jet, I took in the plush, almond leather recliners, to a full bar with a mini kitchen, a card table surrounded with four leather, swivel armchairs, private sleeping compartments in the back with a full sized bathroom complete with shower, and our own stewardess who happens to be the wife of our pilot Jacques, Serena explained.  I settled into one of the recliners of the third row, with Serena sitting behind me in the 4th row, Jenni taking the second and Sarah in the first row. Our mates quickly join us, and as Matt sits down beside me, he leans over and kisses my temple. Jaden takes a seat in the third row on the opposite side of the jet.  “Ready doll face?” He smiles at me. “Let’s do this.” I grin back. Our stewardess, Anabelle, steps to the front of the jet, and instructs us to buckle our seat belts before she goes over the emergency landing protocol, informing us of the proper application and use of the oxygen face masks, as well as the location of floatation devices should we crash into a body of water. Well, I’m sure that really calmed our Luna’s nerves. Anabelle takes her seat, buckling her own seatbelt as a male voice comes over the speakers. “This is your Captain Jacques speaking, we have nothing but clear skies from here to Nevada, so this should make for a smooth trip. Buckle up, we are about to take flight.”  There is a ping as the buckle sign lights up, and Anabelle comes over the speakers, “Please remain seated until we reach the proper altitude, at which time we will alert you and you will be free to roam about the cabin.”  The engines roar to life as the jet makes its way down the tarmac. I settle back into my seat as we take off and begin to rise into the air, higher and higher. After a short while the jet levels out, and another ping sounds as the buckle light goes off.  Serena is first to unbuckle as she stands and announces, “It’s about time, I’m about to pee my pants.”  Collective laughter fills the jet, as everyone eventually unbuckles and moves about. Jaden heads over to the card table, where Chad and Jenni join him. I follow Matt to the bar, where I order a tequila sunrise, while he sets his eyes on a bottle of scotch. Sarah and Travis join us, however Sarah orders a Shirley Temple due to her early stage of pregnancy. She and Serena both just found out they were expecting.  We chat for awhile, before I catch myself yawning. Matt was on guard duty last night so I didn’t sleep well. Matt also takes note of my fatigue, because he asks, “Do you want to go lie down, doll face?”  I roll my eyes at his pet name before answering, “Yes please.”  Matt nods to Travis, passing him the bottle of scotch, and stands from the bar, taking my hand he leads me to one of the sleeping compartments in the back. When he slides open the compartment door, I see that a queen-sized mattress fills the entire compartment, so I crawl into the bed. Matt slides in behind me before he closes the compartment door. We curl up together before I quickly begin to drift off to sleep.