Joining The Artemis Pack (48)

I feel pulled to join Ken more and more every day. Especially now that I have surpassed his Beta in strength. I only pause because of the crown. I've talked to dad about it and he said I should go with my heart. He also said that he will wait until my mate agrees before giving the crown to Wilson alone.

After talking to Clementine I feel ready to join. She is so gentle in spirit. She said that if I want the crown she would be my queen but if I didn't she is just as happy as my Luna or even my warrior mate. This of course makes me love her even more.

I talk it over with Wilson and he has given me the ok to go with my heart. With everyone on the same page I walk into Ken's office to talk it over with him. "Hi Alpha Ken, just the wolf I was looking for. I have thought about it long and hard. I want to join your pack. I don't know where you will want to use me but I am ready to join the pack. I want to stay in Australia and, I want to make Artemis my pack.", I look him in the eye. "I know what this means for you Russell and I really appreciate it. I respect your decision and I can offer you the top warrior position. As well as making you my war strategist. I know it's not as glorious as King but I already have a Beta. I will also arrange for you to take my Alpha position if I step down or become injured. My Beta knows that you are Alpha worthy. He wouldn't challenge you. I hope it's enough.", Ken says shaking my hand. "It's enough. Now let's get me voted in and party to celebrate my joining. ", I chuckle.

"Ana is going to be so happy you are staying. Let's go tell the girls now.", Ken suggests. "I think Clem is teaching the little ones about herbs.", I say to Ken. I can't wait for my mate and my sister to know that I am staying in Australia.

"Babe, Clem, honey?", I call out to her. She and the pups run up and wrap their arms around me. I couldn't be happier than having my mates arms around me. The pull is beyond great. I feel like a part of something more. The crown never felt like mine. I always wanted something different.

I love that my siblings, my parents and my mate are all ok with my next step. With everyone on board we schedule my pack vote for Friday night with a lasagna dinner and my pack acceptance for Saturday night with a party. I invite my family and my mate.

I will be so glad when Clementine knows that I am her mate. I want to hold her, breathe in her scent and make her mine for the world to see. Wilson will be our next King and as weird as it sounds I am sure he will be a good leader.

The lasagna dinner is for 300 wolves. I am mingling with the pack, our guest and my Clem. A wolf asks her to dance but she refuses his advances. He is pissed but doesn't fight for her. I try to remain calm. She holds me close and whispers in my ear, "I love you Russell. Please let's dance."

"Your wish is my command baby girl.", I pull her close. We start dancing and soon over 100 people are swaying to the beat. I have so much fun. Finding my mate has made me so happy. I can't wait for her 18th birthday.

After all the festivities are over and life is ready to move on I feel like a part of me is complete. Having the pack with me as one is stronger for me. As a royal my strength was pure brawn. Now I understand why the power is different. I was getting power from Dad alone, now every member is sharing power.

I can't wait to mate with Clem gaining my mate power. I feel really good about the future. I've been talking with Clementine's family and they know that she is my mate. It is hard to believe that I am top warrior in Australia only second to the World Champion.

I have a warriors heart. I've always liked the battle. I see each move in my head before it takes place in each fight. I go over moves in my head that could have been better, I look for weaknesses in my fights, all of this is while I'm resting. I think about grappling all the time. I have sparring on the brain.

After each fight I adjust how I proceed in the next one. This way I never fail. I will never fight the same way twice. This way no one can film my fights and find my style. I really don't have a style.

Clem has been training with me. She is an excellent warrior. She learns fast and because of our healing abilities I don't worry about her getting hurt. She only fights with me or other shewolves. No other wolf is allowed to touch her.

Her 17th birthday is in a few days and I can't wait, it has been such a long winter. Spring is a fun time of year. This time next year we will be mated, marked and married. It makes her birthday very special. The school is out for Spring Break the first week in April and our honeymoon will be over by that time. March is beautiful in a lot of warm climates.

This is all I can think about. I have started planning our wedding. I reserved the venue and hired the catering team. I have commissioned the cake. It's 6 tiers with 2 wolves on top. The grooms cake is chocolate with a waterfall and the 2 wolves frolicking in the water. The flowers are tulips and the decor is going to be spring woods.

I have picked out a wedding dress designer and she is getting with Clem to make the dress. I have asked her to try to help guide Clem with Spring Woods theme. I want to surprise Clementine with everything finished and she can just change anything she wants to.

While all of this has been taking place I have heard rumors that a war is coming. I have been training all of the warriors in over drive. I have also been working with Clem on strength and strategies. She is the strongest shewolf in her pack. Even her mom the Luna who is also a witch isn't as strong. I have encouraged Clementine to take up more time for healing. I think she has witch blood as well but no one has ever encouraged her to expand into any witchcraft or spells.

We work on spells while I train in my snake form. This helps my speed and agility. I grow 2 sizes doing this and she has learned that she can cast some spells. The encouragement has brought her mom out to join us and they enjoy torturing Griffin. They all giggle every time I return to complain about soreness.

The pack is very ready and Clementine's pack is joining us for war if it happens. I share my training with her warriors as well as her leaders. They are all getting stronger. I ask my sister if I can hold a feast for the 2 packs. I want to celebrate my warriors and show them the secret video I made of them when they started out and now.

Anastasia agrees and both packs are invited to a big BBQ. Beef brisket, Beef ribs, steak, hamburgers and more chicken than I think will get eaten. Beer, beer, and guess what more beer. Potato salad, cole slaw, pickles and everything for burgers. Baked beans, chips and watermelon with berries.

As everyone gathered together for the BBQ I had the video playing on a huge screen. It was only the old fights, the fumbling and grumbling. The falls and misses. The were all getting ribbed about it. I just acted calm, cool and collected.

When it was 15 minutes after the announced time for the BBQ I took the stage. I told everyone that the images we all were watching was from when the warriors started training. "Now sit back and watch yesterday's training.", I grin.

Everyone sits up and looks at the screen. My warriors are so strong and doing great. The females are fighting strong and the males are excellent at sparring. My mate is fighting with me and I have to admit that she is really good. I hear gasps from the shewolves as Clementine hits, punches, kicks, claws and brings me down. I do fight back and she expects me to punch her.

As hard as it is to do, I make sure not to give her love taps. I punch hard because I need her to be safe. I want her to be able to really fight. She dodges my punches, she is fast and she knows that I will knock her out. This is because I want her safe.

We have talked about it often and she begged me to fight hard with her because she needs to be an excellent warrior. I'm so proud of her. When the video ends I give an award to the top 3 males and the top 3 females.

Clementine gets top female and most improved. Then we have two more shewolves and 3 wolves who get top wolf posts. Also most improved male. Everyone is taking pictures. Ken takes up his Alpha position and announces that we have rumors of gaints wanting war with wolves.

This makes everyone nervous and it makes me start to think about how we can fight the giants. I have a notebook in my room and I need to start planning. I need to research the giants weaknesses.

I Talk to Ana and Ken explaining what I think that we should do. I want to start training in teams and I want to research the giants. We need to know how they have fought in past battles, we need to know who has won any fights against them and we need to know their weaknesses.

"I will start team training while you and Clem research the giants. You can visit any libraries you think necessary and pull information from any allies. I want to keep this as hushed as possible.", Ken says.

"Sounds good I'll talk to Clem and start right away. I will put together a list of teams that I think will be good to train together but of course you can switch it up.", I let Ken know.

Clem says she can visit a few libraries with me tomorrow if I will pick her up. I kiss her forehead and promise to see her at nine. Then I take her home, only brushing her lips softly with mine.

Once back in my room I pop the top on a beer, then start putting together teams of 4. I put 2 males and 2 females in each team. I pair the lowest 2 with the highest 2 and keep going until all pairs have been made. I know that no one will think of this.

I think that the females will distract the giants. Their females don't fight they capture. If we hide our old, children and everyone who isn't a warrior, we should be able to hold off the female giants.

I also suggest mirrors so that everyone can see how they look in battle. I make a few more notes before a shower and getting some good sleep. I hope my next few weeks can pass in peace. I call my Dad to ask his advice and see if he knows anything about giants.

"Giants fight dirty but they don't have much for brains. I would try to make them confused. I think that if you can cause the giants to argue that would be good too.", dad explains.

I just want to get them occupied and distracted. The teams will help with that.