HOW DO YOU CATCH A CLOUD AND PIN IT DOWN?

"What do I do with you, Sam?" My dad spoke first, sighing the words deeply.

The adults had all reseated themselves around the office since returning from seeing Alpha Lorent off.

I didn't know how to answer that. I'm torn between saying it was all a dream (and thus the goddess' fault) and negotiating down whatever penalty awaited me.

I looked around the office at the familiar faces. They all looked like they were suffering from too many pressing questions.

I sipped on my tea in a bid for time. Wolfie, if you have any words of wisdom to deal with this, please. But of course Wolfie would right now decide to chill out at the further recess of my mind.

Maybe that's the trick. Instead of getting defensive, I should take Wolfie's cue and simply sit back and make no excuses for my behavior. Well, it was as good as any time to try it. After all, I didn't think it could get any worse anyway.

I put down my tea and sat back silently, waiting for the adults to speak.

Beta Lucas spoke first, "It is unfortunate that Ben has not shifted and could not follow Sam out."

Wait, so it was Ben's fault?

"Sam has not shifted yet either." Dad said.

Wait, so if I had shifted, and Ben was with me, I was allowed to be at Ventali's at night?

Plus, it was a prophetic dream, if one could still call it that. I wasn't sure what it was anymore. Was it even considered a dream if you could leave things there or bring things back? Was I really there?

"Sam is growing in her wolf powers." Beta Lucas said, "She needs a strong Beta to keep up with her. Ben is not ready, he's young and inexperienced, he hasn't even shifted."

I haven't shifted! But I pressed my lips together. My Wolfie was listening in on the discussion now, but she hadn't made a move. I was determined to follow Wolfie's lead just to see what would happen.

"Perhaps my son could be of service." Beta Gerald offered, "Harvey can assist Alpha Sam for now. It would be good training for him to have an Alpha to follow. Besides, it seems to be only a matter of time before our packs would merge."

He called me Alpha Sam. I sipped my tea to hide a smile. Wolfie was quite satisfied.

"Wait," Beta Lucas raised his hand to cut in, "Alpha Lorent made no promises on that. He was quite clear of his position."

"Yet our young Alpha had convinced him to accept a third proposal. In a short meeting she had made more progress on this issue than we had in years." Beta Gerald declared, "I believe Alpha Sam will be able to bring about the merger in time."

He called me Alpha Sam again, but wait, he also expected me to bring about our packs' merger? The same merger that couldn't make any headway for years. This was the price to pay. This was the "with great power comes great responsibility."

Or in my case, it could be more accurately coined as "with great initial beginner's luck, comes high expectations to live up to".

Which was pretty much the story of my life.

Beta Gerald added, "Harvey would be a good Beta for Sam now. He is a skilled fighter, has a strong wolf, is able to drive, and has experience caring for his little sister."

That didn't sound like a Beta kind of skill set. It sounded more like a babysitter-bodyguard-chauffer.

Why would I need a Beta now anyway? It's not like I'm going to run into another rogue attack anytime soon.

Perhaps in times of peace, he can pour me tea.

I thought of how Henry used Marcus - I could not imagine using Harvey the same way. Could I really send Harvey out on errands?

How did Dad use Beta Lucas during times of peace? They were more like best friends - as far as adults went anyway. But I guess with pack work, Dad made most of the decisions while Beta Lucas made sure that decision got communicated and implemented by the various people involved. Gamma Harry ran the regular rosters and errands. Dad also directly worked with the Deltas, each holding a different portfolio of responsibility.

Delta Simon was in charge of the medical center and hospital.

Delta Charlie was the principal of the pack school.

Delta Felicity, Tim's mum, was in charge of negotiating and delivering special consignments between us and friendly packs.

Delta Bernard was in charge of accounts and budgets

The list went on... I think Flynn and Hank were slated to be Deltas from next year onwards. Flynn was in charge of youth development. Hank was going to take on a new special role, as captain over the elite warriors. He was taking over from my dad himself.

That's how it worked, Delta positions opened and closed as the need arose. It was a huge honor to be chosen, and for most of my childhood, if I had not imagined myself as the Alpha, I would have imagined myself as a Delta or at least an elite warrior.

It was slightly different in the Morning Light Pack, but I won't bore you with the details. It's slightly different with different packs, and different Alphas.

It just made me wonder about the roles my own Betas and Gammas and Deltas would take.

"With Sam's wolf emerging, I believe she would require a strong team of Betas and Gammas who would be able to keep up with her." Beta Lucas

My dad spoke then, "How do you gentlemen propose we set this up?"

My mum looked concerned but remained quiet.

To be honest, I was starting to feel a little on the edge too. What happened to being grounded? What happened to the rules?

Beta Lucas thought about it, "Harvey can officially assist Alpha Sam for now. We can also have them sit in our meetings when we draft the third proposal for the merger. Besides this, perhaps in the weekends, both Harvey and Ben can tail Alpha Sam on her duties."

"What duties?" Beta Gerald asked.

Good question, I was wondering that myself.

"Just various tasks..." Beta Lucas, you're making this up as you speak!

But suddenly Mrs Beta got excited, "Perhaps they might take on various tasks to serve the pack once a week!"

"Might I suggest not just us Betas, but also her Gammas and Deltas to be involved in this training?" Harvey asked politely.

Dad nodded, he seemed pleased with the plan, "I will leave it to you elder Betas to arrange my daughter's new Alpha duties."

"Can we keep the new duties on Sundays?" I requested, "We still have school and other pack things."

"That seems reasonable." Beta Gerald agreed.

"I'll inform the others." Harvey told me quietly.

I nodded. I guess he was in his working Beta mode now. I'm glad the good Beta had initiative, I wouldn't have thought to ask him to do it.

"We can start next week." Beta Lucas decided.

Good! Cos I promised Link I'd be attending ultimate dodgeball tomorrow.

Oh wait, was no one going to question me about last night, or how I got my hands on the fight cage info, or why I brought Lycan homework to a vampire's coven? No one?

I looked around the room. Nope. The adults looked excited. It was almost as if I had just fumbled through a milestone worth celebrating. What just happened?

I tried to listen in on the grown up discussion.

"We could roster the Alpha with her various Betas and Gammas." Beta Gerald said.

"Yes, that would be perfect, like a warrior mission team." Beta Lucas said.

"Will it be lead by an Elite Warrior? A Delta? Perhaps Flynn?" My mum said.

"No, no, Luna. It must be led by Sam." Beta Lucas said.

"Don't worry, it won't be dangerous." Beta Gerald assured her, "Maybe a patrol route."

"Oh!" Mrs Beta sounded a little alarmed, "I was thinking they could visit the destitute home, or help normal wolves with home improvement projects or errands. It would help introduce them to the normal wolves in the pack."

"They could do that too. But we need to throw in special missions as well." Beta Lucas said.

Okay... Why did I get the feeling the adults were just making it up as they went along?

"They are still unshifted, we shouldn't push them too hard." Mum worried.

Dad stepped in then, "Sam has fought vampires and rogues, she saved me from the last attack. I don't think we can stop her."

"But we can equip her and build up her Betas and Gammas to run with her." Beta Lucas piped in.

"Her speaking and persuasive skills are also remarkable" Beta Gerald pointed out, "Perhaps she might travel with your Delta Felicity. It might lend her experience and insight to negotiation."

My mum's mouth dropped open, " That's outside the packlands!"

"She does travel out on her own almost everyday." Dad reminded mum gently.

"No other pack sends their future Alpha out of packlands alone on public transport." Mum sounded resigned, "I already worry every day."

"I could send and fetch her to school." Harvey volunteered.

Whoa... Wait, no. I shook my head.

I know I haven't said anything nice about the train rides to and from school so far, but they were my private public spaces away from the pack. I could nap on the way to school or immerse myself in a book (but let's not worry my mum with such details). And homebound, I could get homework done, and if I met Jules and the other guys, it was fun and light-hearted no matter what the topic was.

"No, thank you." I said, "I like riding on the train."

"If we coddle her, she would just run off into danger by herself again." Dad reasoned gently to Mum.

Was that what they thought of me?

"Yes," agreed Beta Lucas, "By pushing them out into danger, they won't run into them on their own."

Yeah, because we would be all dead.

Beta Gerald listened, his expression somewhat shocked. I'm sure this line of logic went beyond his sensibilities. Was he wondering how Ben and I survived dads like these? Well actually this was a new development. Before today, they had been regular do-not-do-anything-stupid-or-I-will-ground-you-forever kind of dads.

I'm starting to wonder if I would survive this new phase of upbringing.

"Amazing." Beta Gerald concluded, "I've not considered it this way before."

Beta Lucas puffed out proudly, "We can't rear soft Betas! We need to push them out there."

Beta Gerald nodded, "Perhaps it's true."

Seriously? Beta Gerald, your parenting produced Harvey! And Harvey was one heck of a Beta.

Ben's great too, but like Beta Lucas said, Ben's still young. I wonder what type of Beta Ben would grow up to be? I wonder what type of Alpha I would become?

I guess that's what this training is for.

Yosh! I'm all fired up!

"Let's include a rescue mission to free some Lycan slaves!" I decided to help with the brainstorm.

Mrs Beta who had been writing down all the ideas so far stopped writing to look up. The other adults stopped talking to stare. What? What did I say now?

"You're right, as usual, Dear." My mum sighed into Dad's arm then, "This way would be safer."

Harvey chuckled softly, "You did it again, Princess."

"Did what?" I asked, nonplussed.

Harvey sighed, but it was a happy sound, "Not only did you not get grounded for running out, you convinced the adults to create opportunities for you to be sent out more."

Oh yeah? Well I didn't convinced them. They pretty much came up with the bizarre idea all on their own. The adults in my life can be over-complicated like that.

"We should make sure that either Flynn or Hank would be with them." Mum said, I don't think she was ready to let me really go free just yet.

But hey, as long as its one of my wolves, its fine.

I grinned, "This is going to be fun!"

Harvey smirked, "My princess loves trouble."

My chance to use that line again!

"If you think I'm bad, wait till you meet my mate!" I boasted, tongue in cheek.

"Sam..." It was Beta Lucas, I think he was realizing something, "You mate... Did you find out who he is?"

"Yups! I confirmed it." I announced, "But its a secret."

I flashed everyone a cheeky grin and watched their faces as their minds tried to work out who it might possibly be.

My Wolfie was in a good mood today. I got called Alpha Sam for twice - and nobody laughed at it.