Alexisâ POV~
Walking downstairs, I grab Helenaâs hand and taking her outside âWould you help me ward our borders? I realize it will require a shit ton of rocks we can spell⦠but I want to include the town, as well. Bad things are coming and we need⦠I needâ¦our people to be safe! I will not allow any part of my parentsâ sacrifice to be in vain! Apparently, my mate and I are responsible for saving our entire species.. so the best way to do that.. in my mind, is to begin with our pack!â
My aunt pulled me into her arms and whispered âYou never have to ask for my help! It is always freely given! I am so proud of you! Of the woman youâre becoming. I know your mother is! And it makes my heart happy you have forgiven both your parents.â
I laugh âTruly! There was nothing to forgive them for! Meeting Blake⦠there is nothing..absolutely nothing, I wouldnât give up, for just one night in his arms! I am struggling with Hecate.. and Selene. I understand the need for my safety! I resent my dad never knowing about me. It hurts. And now he knows.. I can only imagine his pain! And thatâs a shame!â
I went to the shed and pulled out a gardening wagon, so we could get to the river and collect the proper stones we will have to cut runes into. This is going to take all day! I let Blake know where we are going to be, so he doesnât worry. But I know he is busy with the other Alphas.. arranging for the packs to arrive.
I have had our people erecting our military tents.. forming separate encampments for each pack. Every Alpha needed to be in control of their people..and they need their own space to do that. A bunch of bossy, dominant Alphas in one place is a recipe for disaster! I let our people know to tell me when theyâve completed that, so Helena and I can swing through each camp and arrange power and water.
Reaching the river, I took my shoes off.. grabbing my net.. I started sifting through the rocks. We need only smooth ones..at least two inches in diameter. I prefer white quartz.. some pinks.. while my aunt.. being the ever traditional witch likes black and gray slate or granite. Itâs a thing with us. She calls me Glenda⦠and I call her Wendy.. you know.. Good witch.. Glenda⦠Wicked witch.. Wendy! Yeah.. weird! Sheâs the one on Halloween.. pointed hat.. cauldron of candy.. the kids love it!
Three hours. We have been collecting rocks for three hours. It would have been a lot less time.. but my crazy aunt keeps trying to separate the freaking rocks! Because apparently my good colors will taint her dark ones⦠keeping them from being as strong! It is so obvious sheâs only eight years older than me! Tugging on the wagon handle, I realize itâs a lot heavier than I anticipated.. Thinking small rocks equals less weight. But a ton of feathers weighs the same as a ton of bricks.
I arranged for Cody to get our stones up to the studio. I pulled my etching and carving tools out to set about carving the runes we needed. Helena decided her task would be carving her dark rocks with a shield runeâ¦and mine will have protection rune. We should be ready to place them tomorrow. Deciding to intersperse every other one so that we can doubly protect the pack.
It was getting dark when Blake walked into my studio âBabe, our first winter storm will be moving in around 4 tomorrow.. You will need to get your ward stones planted early. I have arranged thirty pack members to help you, so it should go pretty quick, yeah?! Also.. Matthew and Damon will be arriving sometime tonight with refugees from Thomas and Albertâs packs. Thomas surrendered, but Albert tried to kamikazi attack Matthew and his men.. sacrificing nearly a dozen of his men! Asshole! So.. heâs dead!â
I asked âHow bad is this storm going to be? I mean.. Georgia girl hereâ¦our idea of a snow storm is four hours of a few white flakes that barely have time to land before they melt..once or twice a winter.â And they both laughed.. Okay.. didnât seem that funny.. but okayâ¦
Blake pulls me into his arms, kissing my head âWe will have six inches by midnight..possibly four more by daybreak. But this storm is set to last three days. Thatâs a harsh one for the first of the season.. and I have a feeling itâs going to set the tone for our winter! One good thing, wolves donât usually attack in the winter. Itâs dangerous and having a white wolf makes it even more difficult for them! I doubt they would risk it. Our first packs will start arriving tomorrow. And Caroline is on her way with Ianâs pack. Could one of you possibly check her out?! Ian says sheâs complaining of severe back pain and light cramping.â
Eeeeeep! *Poof* Helena laughs âPups excite her â âGoddess Damnit LEXI! Thatâs hotâ and I poofed right into Cody with a whole tray of hot chocolate! Fuck! âIs that a favorite hoodie?â Walking back into the studio, Blake and Helena are chuckling.. âShut Up and fix it! He likes that hoodie!â And I went back to finishing my runes.
Blake pulls me around and hugs me close âYou poofing in and out is one of your most endearing qualities and I donât want it changed for anything or anyone, sweetheart!â And kissed me. Cody grumbles â Sure.. itâs all fun and games until somebody loses an eye! Just sayin â and then we all laugh.
We kept at it for two more hours.. breaking only long enough to eat a sandwich and some chips, until we were finally completely finished. We spelled 300 stones. Just as I stepped from our room, after a long relaxing shower, Blake linked that Caroline was arriving and would I meet them at the infirmary.
I open the door to a screaming Caroline, âGet them OUT! This shit hurts! You are so lucky you get two in one shot! I sure as fucking hell will Never do this again! I will cut your dick off, Ian! Swear to the Goddess! You will be known as the dickless wonder!â And I bit back my laugh as I watched all the color drain out of their faces.. and Blake shaking his head âBaby⦠baby.. I want to apologize right fucking now if we ever get pregnant! I am more than happy to let you break every bone in my body⦠just please.. pleaseeee, leave my dick where itâs at, yeah? Thatâs okay, right?â And I burst out laughing âPregnant women are scary, arenât they!?â He nods profusely!