Full Moon on the Lake

by D. M. Angel

  “But,” Jacob paused in thought; “now I am starting to realize it is becoming quickly full blown as the time passes, not days. I am doing everything I can to control my emotions, but I can also so tell I am losing control.” Jacob sat down suddenly seemingly exhausted.

  Placing his elbows on his knees, laying hid head in his hands. “I feel antsy, the thoughts are confusing and all I can think about is all the ways to get to her and in any way possible. Then suddenly, I have control again over my emotions and I am tired.” He sighed, “I feel like I am battling with myself,” He paused looking up at everyone in the room praying for understanding, “Constantly; and it is getting harder and harder to maintain control.”

  The room became quiet when Jacob stopped talking. Caleb, Derrick, Michael, James and Adam were all deeply concentrating at the circumstances Jacob had just laid out. Michael spoke first, “Caleb? Have you ever heard of this happening so fast before?”

  Everyone turned to Caleb hoping he had the answers; he raised his hand in thought rubbing his grayed beard as his blue eyes stared at the ceiling. “The only record I can vaguely recall was …” Caleb started as his eyes glazed over in recollection of the memory. “.. At a time when there was an imminent danger to one of the ones in the mating. Usually the female.” Caleb returned his thoughts to the present, “But, there has not been a recording of such an event in recent history,” looking to Derrick, “I will check the records again and with some of the other packs to be sure of all the facts and gather more information.”

  Derrick nodded at Caleb’s statement. “Michael you will set up the security including the property at the lake and schedule all personnel covering for Jacob’s mating. I expect it on my desk in one hour. James you will take first shift with Jacob the rest of you will check in with Michael. Caleb let me know what you find out as soon as you hear or find anything in reference to this situation. I am going to my office.” Derrick rose ending the meeting, looked over at Jacob sympathetically and headed to his office looking at his phone.

  Derrick walked into his office closing the door behind him. As he sat at his desk, he let out a long breath thinking of the coming events he knew about and wondered what was still in front of him. This was going to be a strenuous mating he realized this already and hoped that everyone would be ready, prepared for whatever was about to happen. It was going to be hard enough to run the pack without his second in command, but now it looked as if this could strain and test the limits of all of them.

  Kyla had been texting him with urgency for the last 30 minutes and he needed to call her back to find out what the problem was. He dialed Kyla’s number into his cell, and waited patiently as it rang. Kyla answered exasperated, “About time you called me back! We may have a problem.”

  Derrick sighed, “You mean bigger than the fact that this mating is happening way to fast?”

  “Yes, Bigger than that.” Kyla replied. Derrick rubbed his hand over his face, “Fine, what’s the problem?”

  “Do you have your computer on?” Kyla answered.

  “No?” Derrick questioned back.

  “Well, turn it on and look up, Garret Bentley.”

  Derrick turned on his laptop asking, “What the hell has this got to do with Garret Bentley?”

  Kyla signed into the phone, “It seems Daniela is really Kathleen Bentley, recently divorced from Garret Bentley. This could be trouble.” Kyla finished trying to get across the information she knew preparing Derrick as best she could.

  Derrick typed in the name and started glancing through the information. “OH, HELL!” He exclaimed as he got to the parts where Kate was mentioned, as a victim in several news articles about the infamous divorce. Realization of what Kyla was trying to say, and the reason behind Jacob’s condition, becoming quite clear the more he read. “We will be sending security out your way; no one is to leave there without an escort. You need to talk to Kathleen and convince her to stay here within the pack. Jacob gets wind of this and all hell will break lose.”

  “O. K. ummmm; There is another problem, no one is to know who she really is.” Kyla continued, “She is going by Daniella Casey remember? She has made us all promise not to reveal who she really is.”

  Derrick now frustrated by these new developments, “Let me talk to her, get her on the phone, now!”

  Calmly Kyla informs Derrick, “That will be kinda hard to do at the moment, she has passed out.”

  “I will be out there with security in thirty minutes.” He replied back angrily turning the phone off and slamming it on the desk. Grabbing the phone back up he dialed Michael’s office as he was thinking ‘she will just have to understand the gravity of the situation’, “Michael get Caleb and get in my office now!” He yelled when Michael answered then hung up.

  As he waited for Caleb and Michael to arrive he started reading more of the articles as he found them online.

  …. ‘As famous divorces go, this one will be for the record books as one the ugliest in history.’ This reporter was surprised by all the threats Garrett Bentley was able to get away with in the courtroom. He not only threatened the life of Kathleen Bentley, if she should follow through on this divorce, he threatened the judge presiding over the hearing when he ruled in her favor.

  Garret Bentley has been under suspicion and is being investigated by our government for several questionable foreign dealings, according to my source. He is also under investigation for fraud and tax evasion. As this reporter left the courtroom to obtain a statement from the now former Ms. Bentley, Mr. Bentley was over hear telling Ms. Bentley that, and I quote, “He would find her and then he would make sure she was very sorry she ever thought of leaving him.” This reporter wishes Ms. Bentley the best of luck!

  Footnote: This was Janet Morring’s last report; she died suddenly in a car accident shortly after this report was released. The accident is under investigation. If you have any info…

  Derrick was staring at the screen when Michael came in with Caleb following behind him. Caleb cleared his throat then opened his mouth to speak but Derrick looked up at that moment and he closed his mouth. “Sit,” Derrick said roughly, “we have a problem.”

  “What I am about to tell you does not leave this room, you tell no one understood?” Derrick said in his most alpha voice, walking over to the door and closed it, emphasizing it as a command.

  Michael and Caleb both nodded.

  “It seems Ms. Daniela Casey is not who she seems to be, her real name is Kathleen Bentley.”

  “Oh crap!” Michael interrupted while Caleb looked between him and the alpha.

  “I take it this has something to do with the threat that seems to be influencing the mating?” Caleb stated questioningly, “The research I have done so far,” Caleb continued, “agrees with my earlier assessment that there has to be a threat to one of them, for the mating to proceed in the direction this one seems to be going.”

  Michael ran his hand across his chin in frustration as he replied sarcastically, “Yeah, you could say this is a threat.”

  “So, you know who this Garret Bentley is?” Derrick addressed Michael.

  “As Head of your security, I am aware of Mr. Bentley and his dealings” Michael answered solemnly, “and was quite content not to have any connections with him. He is not a nice man to say the least.” Michael paused in thought tapping the tips of his fingers together. “It is rumored he has ties to some very illegal transactions. He has been known to have been dealing with arms, drugs, possible slavery…” Michael looked at both men with a serious alarm showing on his face, “… and a few assassinations or accidents have been very convenient for Mr. Bentley. He is under investigation, but no one has been able to pin anything on him. He is very good at looking above suspicion.” Michael said unconvinced of his innocence, then finished his report with a question. “So, how do you want to handle this?”

  Derrick steeped his fingers in front of him in thought. “Caleb what have you found out so far?”

  Caleb spoke with
the voice of and elder, “I still have some calls out to be returned but, by all accounts so far, it is going to get worse, a lot worse if I understand the threat level that is coming our way. No one understands how the male knows there is a threat, only that there is a threat. Jacob may not know what is actually happening, but as the threat increases, his protectiveness will become unequivocally stronger. He will become uncontrollable when it comes to her safety, which is all he will understand. Jacob will become a threat to the pack if he imagines there is a threat within the pack and you will not be able to convince him otherwise, that is until the mating has come to its finale.” Caleb continued suggesting, “They both need to be somewhere isolated and secluded, for both the pack and their sakes.”

  Derrick stood needing more information to make his decision asked, “Michael, what do we have in the way of following Caleb’s suggestions?”

  Watching Derrick pace Michael answered, “The place she bought is the most secluded area and the easiest to guard. There is only one road into the place and except for the lake, which runs along our territory would be easy to guard. It was one of the main reasons; Jacob was trying to buy the property. It would be hard for someone to sneak in without us knowing.”

  Derrick stopped pacing and turned staring out the window. “Caleb I want you and Michael to work out the most effective details and help him get it implemented immediately.”

  Derrick turned toward the both of them with a cover story that they would implement for now. “This is the information to be given to the rest of the pack. Mr. Bentley is interested in some property we have and that we are not interested in his offers and because of who he is, we are increasing security.” Derrick took in the expressions on their faces and continued, “Inform everyone involved that ANYTHING suspicious, no matter how small, is to be reported immediately.” Grabbing his phone roughly and slamming the computer closed he moved toward the door. Derrick dismissed them stating, “I need to get out to the cabin, Michael have security meet me at the garage in fifteen minutes.” and abruptly left the room.

  4

  Derrick showered and changed quickly then headed back to his office. Grabbing his computer and several files, he walked swiftly to the garage. Entering the garage, Michael walk up to the alpha with 4 others following close behind. “They have been all briefed on the situation. These four,” he reported to Derrick, “will be assigned permanently to the cabin until further notice. Others will come out to relieve them at night and at other shifts, but these four will remain in the area.” Michael reported as the four nodded in acknowledgement in turn in acceptance to the alpha’s orders.

  “Michael, you will be my second temporarily until this situations ends.” Derrick Stated briskly.

  “Yes Sir,” Michael replied, “my thought was to stay here and direct security while you and Kyla were at the cabin, and then relieve you both when you are needed here.”

  Derrick approved once again of making Michael his choice in security. With his natural protective instincts and military background, he knows automatically what actions needed executing in any given situation. “Very Good.”

  Michael waved the four to their vehicle as he continued his briefing, “They are all well-armed and have all the supplies they will need for the next week. More will be sent as needed, with the relief.”

  Derrick nodded his approval, “Call me if the situation changes or there is a problem.” With the final instruction given, Derrick got into his car and drove to the cabin the other car following close behind.

  As they got to a mile out from the cabin, Derrick saw that the car behind him had stopped. Two of the security got out running in two different directions into the woods, and then continued to follow. Derrick got to the cabin and waited for the others to catch up.

  They got out of the car and walked up to Derrick, “Sir, Jace and Serena are scouting the area past the pack border on their way here looking of any areas that may need special attention. We will scout the area closer to the cabin. Where would you like us to set up?”

  Kyla walked out of the cabin at that moment hearing everything pointed them over to the north side of the cabin. “There is a clearing over that way a few hundred yards. You will have a clear view of the road and the surrounding area. You can set up there. When Finished, come inside for dinner and introduce yourself to Daniela.

  “Yes Ma’am.” The taller of the two answered smiling.

  “Eric if you call me ma’am again we are going to have problems!” She reprimanded playfully.

  “Yes, Kyla ma’am!” they both answered laughing as they walked away. Kyla was easier than Derrick to communicate with yet, they both knew never to cross her. Derrick gave her a smug look as both boys turned back toward empty the car to set up in the clearing.

  “Kyla...” Derrick exasperated with the idea of informing Kyla once again, that she needed to learn about proper command procedures, but stopped when she playfully answered

  “Yes sir dear?”

  Shaking his head, he noticed he was relaxing with her playfulness. “Daniela awake?” he asked sternly instead.

  “Yes the others are in there calming her down. You be nice to her, this is a lot for her to take in.” She answered as she turned walking back to the cabin.

  Emily was talking quietly with Leisa as Jasmine sat next to Daniela, her hand on Daniela’s shoulder. Daniela just stared at her hands clasp in front of her trying to figure out when she was going to wake up from this strange dream. Her life could not be any more confusing than it had been, or so she thought. She shook her head slightly thinking; and I thought the divorce would be the hardest thing to deal with. Kyla opened the door and walked in, closing it after Derrick walked through. Daniela looked up seeing who had walked in, she laughed silently, somewhat hysterically to herself at the strange turn of events.

  Derrick sat down in the chair across the table from Daniela, as Kyla stood beside him laying her hand supportively on his shoulder. Leisa stood with Jasmine and Emily quietly waiting to see what the alpha had to say. Daniela looked back up waiting, looking pleadingly to Derrick not knowing if she could take any more information. What else could they spring on her?

  Derrick decided to start with the pertinent information, “First, there will be at least four pack members here patrolling the area at all times. Anytime anyone leaves or comes to this area, they ‘will be escorted’.” he stressed. This is for your protection as well as the packs. Kyla and I will be here most days to help you get through all of this and answer any questions you have. Leisa, Emily and Jasmine will be here anytime you need them. At first, they will be here every day helping Kyla. As I have things that need to be taken care of daily back at the office, I will be leaving at night. Then after you are more confident in your understanding of this mating’s circumstances, they will return as needed.” Looking directly to Daniela he asked, “You have their numbers in case you need to talk?” Daniela reaches for her phone absently and nods. “Good,” Derrick nodded back then continued.

  “Second, We have discovered a reason why Jacob it acting the way he is. It has to do with the possible threat to you. It is a natural instinct for a wolf to protect what he feels is his.” Holding his hand up as Daniela opened her mouth to protest he continued, “Whether that person feel they are his mate or not.” Daniela lowered her eyes. “This extreme mating has not been experienced by a mating male in recent memory, so we are not sure what direction this will be going in. We have others researching to find as much information on the subject as we can. Know we will protect you from your ex-husband and Jacob, as well as protect Jacob and the pack. This being said; we will have to set up an area for Jacob to stay out here. He will need to be close to know you are safe””

  Kyla and the rest of the women looked to Derrick in confusion. Seeing their confusion Derrick informed them, “This is the most isolated area; it is the safest place for the both you and Jacob as well as the pack.”

  Daniela feeling overwhelmed to this situation looke
d up speaking softly, “There is a small hunters cabin in the back corner of this property. It is a little run down but it is usable.” Thinking for a moment she looked at everyone as she stated, “I could leave if it would help matters.”

  Kyla spoke first, “Daniela that will not work Jacob would just follow you. Without our protection from your Ex and Jacob it could get worse for you.”

  “But would it be better for you and your pack?” she returned.

  Derrick replied before anyone could answer, “Daniela it would actually make it harder to control Jacob, not easier. Also, to honor your request, no one will know your real identity; so we will call you Daniela at all times to avoid any mistakes.”

  The conversation turned to guard shifts and helping Daniela become acquainted with pack protocol. The day had slowly working toward late afternoon, when Leisa cleared her throat. “I think that is enough information to keep Daniela busy with her thoughts and it is time I got back to my home.” She announced briskly ending the conversations for the day. Getting up from her chair she picked up the emptied coffee cups and staring intently at Emily and Jasmine, encouraging them to get up with just a look.

  Emily rose asking, “Who will be escorting us home?”

  Jasmine patted Daniela’s hand as she rose, “We will return tomorrow morning, you make the coffee dear and we will bring the pastry.”

  Derrick rose and walked outside as the women finished making plans for tomorrow. Walking over towards the clearing, Serena leisurely walked out from behind a tree, “Are the women ready to go back Sir?”

  “Yes.” He replied, “Where is everyone at?”