Chapter 18

Supper was a success. The only leftover food that the two Alpha have prepared was coleslaw and garlic bread. The grilled meat and the rice were gone.

Nuru and Kaz were on dishwashing duty. Surprisingly, the jet had no dishwasher. When asked, Rooka said to remind passengers they do not have servants to do things for them.

"Why do you have bears as your pilots?" Serena asked. She was beside Rooka, who was talking on the phone. She was seated near the window, while the man was on the aisle side. She looked at the amount of paperwork he was reading. She shuddered, he must have seen her reaction because he raised his eyebrow. She shook her head and looked at Wayne for an answer to her question.

"Ed and Ted? Yes, laugh, but it was their mom who gave the names. Father adopted them when they were exiled."

"Heh?!" Both Rena and Megan said.

"They helped me. And with the Lupines and Ursa being different species, some clans are not allowed to interfere with other Weres."

"The test to become a Beta is something of a mystery. Each beta is tested like an alpha, but they have to do tasks that no one can predict," Rooka added. He closed his eyes after ending the call.

He hated being a CEO but, as the male heir and the one who enjoys sports in the family, he was the only one to do the job. The endless meetings and the amount of paperwork he had to read every day were astonishing. It was a blessing that his closest enforcers knew what to do and he only got to sign the most urgent ones.

Cooking with Serena was a new experience, and it made him relax enough to reassess his priorities. Namely to make sure his mate is safe.

"Kedarnath Temple is in the Northern part of India. Are we going to the temple in the city or the one in the mountains?" He asked, looking at Lem who was on the table, looking at the map laid out on the table.

"Mountain. The statue of Shiva is in the city this year. The main Temple is empty, except for some of the artifacts from long ago. Your father's lieutenants usually gather there each year to give him an overview of the things that have been happening," Lem explained. There was a pensive look about him that made Rooka look at the satellite image of the terrain. He winced when he saw the place.

"Well, we need to be prepared, too many hiding places, and little movement. Want to hire horses?" He asked Rena, she was looking at the map so intensely, he was about to pull her to his side when she suddenly spoke.

"Beware when traveling,

For Death is always near,

Trust your instincts,

To know what is real.

Deception has always been a part of their plan,

Trust the wolf inside for it is your guide;

Don't lose sight of the person you hold dear,

Remain vigilant, and do not fear."

Serena sucked in deep breaths, then blinked several times. She was suddenly pulled into Rooka's arms and a bottle of water was given to her. "Drink, baby. Slow and easy. That's it. Good girl." Rooka was shaken. To see her having a vision and saying random words about death and deception was not good. He pulled her closer, pacifying his wolf too.

"I'm okay, Rooka, I'm okay," she mumbled against his neck. She felt limp and weak. Other than the scene between her and Rooka, this vision drained her. Rena can feel everyone's emotions, worry, curiosity, and dread. "We should walk there. Megan needs a horse, but the rest should walk. Nuru, Layla, make sure you stick with Megan. Kaz, Wayne, take the rear, your alpha, and I will lead." Her voice was soft and sleepy, but everyone knew it was a command. She struggled to look at them, but her body was not responding. "Rooka."

He looked down and saw her trying to say something, so he leaned down, kissed her forehead whispering, "Sleep, your command will be done." She gave him a faint smile before surrendering herself to sleep.

"What had just happened?" Asked Megan, there was a slight tremble in her voice. She understood that Weres are different, but this is something far more complex.

It was Lem who answered, "She had a vision and a warning for everyone. Her mother passed the gift of precognition to her. I was hoping it wouldn't manifest this early, I guess I was wrong."

"Not your fault," Rooka said. "Tell the EnT to find a way for us to land near the main Temple. There are two helipads in that place. If we can rent -"

"That part is covered by alpha," Nuru said, "some of my crew have visited this part of the world, they will be meeting us at the private airstrip we have told the bear twins to land on."

"Good. Wayne, make sure everything is in order, you know what has to be done. Megan, I know you don't like to be told what to do, but for now, please listen," Rooka waited for her to nod, "thank you. Have you talked to your father?"

Megan closed her eyes and shook her head. To be honest, she hasn't called her father for more than a year. Ever since he accidentally slapped her, she hasn't reached out. Her father thought about her, the beach he bought was proof, but she was still uneasy.

"Call him. Tell him what happened to you. You are the only daughter of the liaison between humans and the Lupine Nation. He should be aware you were in danger," Rooka's voice was soft, there was still a hint of command, but in the few hours he had spent with his mate's best friend, asserting dominance is not good. "I need a few hours of sleep. Don't worry, Megan, we will make sure nothing will happen to you. And Serena."

Megan looked at her friend. Even in her sleep, she could see she trusts this man. A man she had never seen for a long time. When she looked at him, there was an aura of gentleness each time he would look at Rena. Desire, and love? No, that can't be right.

"Okay, I will trust your pack, but make sure she is protected."

"Oh, my pet," Wayne said. Rooka winced inwardly, looking at his Beta as he continued to talk to Megan. "Serena can take care of herself, what she is worried about is you. You are the most precious person in the world to her. If something happened to you…"

Megan glared at Wayne. "In one condition-"

"Non-negotiable."

"Wayne," Rooka said, a note of warning in his voice.

"Don't worry, brother. I know what I am doing," there was something in his voice, something he doesn't want to identify yet.

He gave a nod and headed to his bedroom. Something was going on with Wayne, and whatever it was, it will change him.