6. Ain't That Just The Way.

The kitchen felt warm and homely as it effortlessly accommodated our group of 30 people. Although there was a large table where everyone could sit, as usual, no one sat next to me except Damon. He made sure there were three or four empty seats on my other side, with me seated to his right.

While we usually sat at the end of the table as the alpha pair, this time, only Damon was at the end, not me. My plate this time was light blue with an animal pattern, a reminder of when Charles had picked it up at a fair we had attended together before Mariella joined us. I used to frequent fairs a lot back then, and perhaps I would do so again someday. 

We were eating, and I wasn't thinking much about what had happened. Instead, I was focused on my meal. I was hungry, and having a warm meal was a rewarding experience. My little snacks hadn't tasted bad, but they didn't really fill my ten-liter stomach. It was satisfying to finally fill up on hot, succulent meat, ice-cold coke, and hot coffee - just perfect.

Damon was eating while Mariella was all over him. I wasn't sure if their interaction would lead anywhere beyond them ending up in bed. Upon closer observation, it seemed Damon was not as engaged as Mariella. She was persistent, but Damon seemed to be cooling her off repeatedly.

I was feeling tired and uncertain about our next steps. I wondered what I should be prepared to accept next in my life. Perhaps we would ride some more, but the details of when, what kind of terrain, and for how long were solely Damon's decision. He wasn't ready to disclose his plans just yet. I assumed he was waiting for the perfect moment to reveal everything.

Meanwhile, Mariella's persistent attempts at seduction left me wondering how Damon would respond. Would her actions potentially disrupt our trip? I tried not to overanalyze the situation and focused on my meal, trusting Damon to inform us when the time was right.

I could tell that others were also curious, and it was evident that not even the other Salvatores were aware of his plan yet. This surprise was for the entire group to discover.

I was almost done with my fourth plate when Damon suggested, "After food, let's head to the living room to discuss what's next. I'll explain, and you just need to accept it. It's something new for all of us."

His tone was firm and smug, which I could sense through our bond.

Telepathically, Damon added, "I'm sorry about the bathroom incident, babe. I didn't think before acting. However, this place needs Max's renovation crew, including our bedroom. It will be perfect for Ken and Barbie, but we can deal with it later."

He sounded somewhat smug as he apologized, surprising me since he had learned to apologize from me.

I replied, "Well, I'm not sure if my bedroom needs renovation. It's pretty perfect."

Suddenly, Damon's vampire claws dug into my thigh, causing me pain as he wiggled them.

In a dangerous tone, he reminded me, "It's our bedroom, baby, not just yours. You need to use the correct pronouns. Remember, we are a team now."

I nodded as he kept his claws on my thigh for a few more minutes; the pain shooting down my leg. Number two smirked at me too, pretty damn intensely. The scent of my blood in the air seemed to excite him. It appeared he had received a warning about my behavior.

To make amends, my husband, Damon number one. He was just one of my multiple husbands, who brought us dessert, feeding me while restraining my hands behind my back. I had implanted cuffs on my wrists, which enabled him to restrain my hands effortlessly. 

I maintained a neutral expression, sensing his edgy mood. I wasn't sure what was next, but he seemed prepared for something intense, not necessarily physical. This was a side of him that enjoyed testing me, not to extract my power but to teach me a lesson, which would be done with knives and other sharp instruments while keeping me drugged and helpless.

So, I behaved and enjoyed the strawberry whipped cream cake we shared. I kept my irritation in check, hoping he would soon relax. I was not in the mood for a night full of fear and terror, stabbing while my husband unloaded himself.

Even I could take it, and it would not traumatize me in any way. I was an alpha female, resilient, and strong, and this was something he had done to me for decades or centuries. 

We finished our dessert, and he finally released my wrists with a tense smile as we headed to the living room or lounge. Two walls greeted us with dark red paint, while the other two had large windows adorned with golden curtains. Dark purple rugs covered the almost black floor, faded in places. I noticed some walls needed renovation, and Damon was probably right about the place needing sprucing up.

I sighed to myself, rolling my eyes, thinking about how our pack and houses had kept Max busy for years to come. It was all good - at least he would be busy, and our castle would be fancier than ever. The reality was that things wore down over time, and not every house had been renovated in a long time, or at all since they were purchased. It was time to let Max and his excellent crew work their magic here, too.

In the room, there were large sinking sofas, dark purple leather ones, and high-backed soft-looking chairs in a light flower-patterned fabric arranged around the fireplace. Several small tables were scattered around.

I smirked as I remembered one Christmas when Damon and I had fun on many of those small tables. It was probably a Christmas of lust, but I doubted we would have a fuck marathon anytime soon.

I chose to sit in one of the big chairs, curling up as Damon walked to a table with a few boxes. He brought them closer and then addressed all of us.

"Well, we are going on a survival/horse riding trip across Australia that will last 6 to 8 months," he announced.

His words were met with stunned silence.

He continued, "We will have limited resources and won't be staying in any castles or houses during this time, but out there."

Mariella muttered something under her breath as Damon opened one of the boxes containing bracelets. He picked one, approached Mariella, took her right hand, and snapped the bracelet in place.

"We will rely on our wits and muscles, not magic. Each magic bearer will be limited to ten spells per day, which won't accumulate. The bracelet also prevents us from using our energy for personal gain," Damon explained as he walked around, snapping bracelets on everyone, including Wulfe, who raised a brow.

He then came to me, fastening a bracelet on my wrist, and said, "For you, there is now a limit on your energy exploitation. This prevents you from overloading on things. I am leveling the playing field. This bracelet also suppresses telepathy, so we will have to use the hive more for communication. We will learn many new things during this time."

I was somewhat surprised by all of this, but at the same time, I could think of ten distinct problems, most of which were about me being a special snowflake due to my feeding habits and sensitivity. Nevertheless, I was ready to give it a try.

Damon glanced around as he fastened his bracelet and spoke, "We are learning from you, baby. This is about using everything at our disposal and then some. But there's more. Since this will take time, we need supplies. Each of you will be able to take limited items with you."

He then picked up a set of saddlebags and explained, "These are enchanted. They can hold more than they seem, but I won't reveal how much. Fill them with whatever you think you'll need, whether it's clothes or personal items. But remember your assigned role."

I furrowed my brow, hugging myself as I observed the others' reactions. Damon sat down, crossing one leg over the other, while number two folded his arms. Wulfe was perched on my armrest, Colin sat nearby on a couch, and Mariella was deep in thought, her lips pursed. Mimosa, Shadow, and the girls appeared relaxed, Elena a little apprehensive while Katherine seemed excited.

The wizards seemed displeased with their limited magic abilities. Magnum smirked at me, fully onboard. I took a deep breath, eager to hear more about our roles and wondering about the role-play aspect, all the while mentally noting what to pack.

Damon smirked at me, hinting at something in my expression. "About our roles," he continued, "each of us will be assigned a role, either individually or in a group. It will be your responsibility to fulfill that role, fostering teamwork. If you require help and someone is available, you can ask for help, but it's their choice to lend a hand."

Taking a pause, he turned to me and announced, "First off, we need hunters for red meat. Mimi and Mimosa, you two will hunt for our meat."

I was astonished, not because I couldn't do it, but because it was a huge responsibility. As meat eaters, we required a lot of meat, and luckily, Australia was abundant with kangaroos and rabbits.

Damon then addressed the girls next. "Mariella, Elena, Katherine, and Shadow, your task is to gather fruits, berries, mushrooms, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and herbs."

Mariella looked displeased, hoping for an easier job than wandering in the bush for hours collecting food, but Damon showed no leniency.

He smiled arrogantly at Mariella and continued, "Adam, Charles, Lepard, Demon, Tim, and Taylor, you are in charge of fishing and gathering seafood. Pack your fishing gear and catch clams, crabs, fish, and water snakes."

Adam was thrilled, as he enjoyed fishing.

Damon went on, "Dresden, Constantine, Wulfe, Colin, your duty is to find firewood and set up our campsite. When the time comes, locate the camp, gather firewood, and take care of the horses."

Dresden looked displeased as he knew it wouldn't be easy, and Wulfe was excited for the adventure. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the situation. 

Damon sat very relaxed as he spoke, "Magnum, Murdock, Dexter, you are the bird catchers. No guns on this trip, so find other ways to catch your prey."

Murdock grumbled quietly. Magnum smiled and whispered something to Dexter, who glanced at me.

Damon noticed and said, "No using our fangs or poisons. Remember, this is about survival. If you want to waste your resources on substances, go ahead. As Mimi's protector, her fangs are off-limits. Other protectors can decide for themselves."

In a calm voice, I replied, "You can keep your fangs. I won't make it easy for you. It's your responsibility."

Damon smiled, nodded, and continued, "Me and Numbers two, four, and five will process meat. Baby and Mimosa, you catch; we'll chop. Salvatores six, seven, and eight, handle fruits, nuts, fishes, and other prey. Three, nine, and ten, you're the cooks. We provide, you cook and serve."

I was surprised but impressed by Damon's decision to put Salvatores to work alongside himself.

He said, "Now cooks will have cookware with them, one extra bag for that. Number four, you are also a medic, so you get to have your bag. But reserve there stuff for others too, not just for Mimi. So you can get to have an extra bag too. The rest of you, pack your stuff into your saddlebags. Remember, this will take at least six months, but most likely longer, so clothes are needed and other items as well. Now, to make this interesting, next, each of us will pack our bags alone. No talking, no asking for help. You have five minutes to talk with your group about what you need for your assignments, and then it's up to packing."

I could see people talking excitedly to each other. I knew I didn't need anything for hunting other than my other forms. Oh yeah, I had a long list of supplies to take with me, just in case. I was more than ready to do this. I had no idea how well this would go, but it was truly something new and challenging. Maybe this would be perfect for our pack. Who knows what this would yield in the future? 

The first of many unforgettable adventures, these excursions have become a cherished tradition for us. Our little survival holidays are always filled with challenges, and predictability is a distant concept — we never know what awaits us or where we might end up. Each journey takes various forms, with purposes that range from exploration to sheer endurance. Our experiences aren't limited to horseback riding treks; instead, we often find ourselves embracing our inner felines, or simply embarking on extensive hikes as humans, traversing diverse terrains.

What makes these outings truly special is the absence of modern comforts — we find ourselves perpetually outside, rarely sheltered within the confines of a house. There's a unique joy in returning home after spending months in the relentless embrace of nature. I can assure you, that nature can be unforgiving; though there is an innate rhyme and reason to its harsh realities, it's certainly not enjoyable to spend nights amidst a rainy season without a decent tent or cover. Nonetheless, these holidays teach us a wealth of new skills, each experience crafting us into better-prepared adventurers, ready to face the wild once more.