I DIDN'T NEED THIS!

4 MARCH, THURSDAY, DAWN

Vampires had no scent, but that didn't stop them from using cologne. Edward's cologne was a very distinctive woodsy scent that still clung to my clothes. I pretty much threw myself out of bed - even before my alarm rang, just to not contaminate my bedding. Grrr...

I really didn't need this!

My alarm chose to ring at this moment. Grrr... I didn't need this either!

I threw this across the room too.

Ever since I had the power of dream traveling, I had learned all the ways to get off the wrong side of the bed.

I got into the shower and washed my hair twice, just to make doubly sure I lose the smell of fancy woodsy cologne. Why? Why would perfectly scentless beings like vampires do something like wear cologne? Actually, it was only Maria's Dad, the Kosan Lord, and Edward, the Ciara Lord. Was it like a vampire lord thing? Of all the stupid things to do... but forget it. Vampires were nothing but pests. Grrr....

If I could just wash off the memory of meeting them the way I showered off their colognes.

Lesson learned: the next time I had the opportunity of meeting a vampire lord, I just won't.

When my bathroom was infused in a steamy cloud of sakura mist, I turned off the shower and went out to start my day. I decided to just deal with this the way I dealt with everything I didn't know how to deal with - ignore it. Yes, that's what I came up with after steaming in the shower for twenty minutes.

I got dressed and headed downstairs. Vampires were mad over-sized mosquitoes, and it was best to never have met them.

Even though I kept telling myself this, I kept thinking about it. Was this a matter of being told not to think about pink elephants?

Because no matter how hard I try not to think about it, I found myself thinking about Edward. My heart still felt tight and my mind kept thinking about the wager he proposed. The Ciara tithe was no small change, and maybe it was just the things the vampires in school had said - I forgot the name of Dino's friend, but he had said the Kosan Cove was friendly with the Ciara Cove as if that should reassure me. If, and only if... like hypothetically speaking, I had Edward's undying servitude - I felt sure it would come with no small amount of security and influence - and wasn't that what I wanted for my pack?

We had their tithe for the next 99 years, but what would happen after that? If I made the wager, wouldn't I be able to secure their tithe and more importantly, safety from any potential backlash for the rest of my life? I mean, the contract had "airtight" exit clauses to protect both party's interests, thanks to Harvey and Ki. We're using the tithe as "seed money" for all our initiatives. In a century's time, we shouldn't need it. I've seen the Investment Plan my FAO had reported. We've been investing heavily in the Princess Town, Ally Pack Ventures, and Gate City Stocks. They were all the type that either provided a steady modest inflow or were expected to lead to a tidy profit in a decade or two. See? Reading reports could make the dumbest pup smart. It's not that I had any inkling how the decisions were made, but with the help of Harvey's notes, I understood the general direction.

By the time this century was over, Moon Bell's investments should be generating enough income to more than enough to offset the cessation of Ciara tithe. Which was for the best, in my opinion, the less we had to do with those giant mozzies, the better.

BUT if I learned anything this year in my stint at Winderhill, it was how our continent was so small and interconnected. It wasn't just about wolves - but humans and, as much as I hated to admit it, vampires too. My world and the world Moon Bell would be born into, wasn't restricted to the safety bubble of the Green Packlands any longer. If I wanted to change the world and save the lycan slaves, then my pack would need to face, not just the wolves from the other colored packlands, but the humans and vamps as well.

What Edward offered, over a "harmless" little bet, might be just the key for us to free more lycan and establish our pack's long-term security.

BUT vampire!

Arugghhhh... was this what the Black Forest trainers meant when they said vampires liked nothing better than to mess with your head? Because it was working.

I clomped downstairs in a bad mood.

Even Ki's bright morning greeting and breakfast didn't make me feel immediately better. I dropped myself into my usual seat and announced, "I hate -"

Luckily, I realized I had my family's full attention, and I was quick enough to substitute the V word for, "Mosquitoes."

Yes. Mosquitoes. Oversized, pesky, blood-sucking mosquitoes that liked to mess with your heads.

Dad went back to scrolling his screen.

Mum frowned, but only very lightly, "Was there one in your room? It isn't quite warm enough yet though..."

"Are you sure it wasn't just a fly or something?" Savy asked.

"Flea!" Sabre shouted and clapped her hands, "Flea fly! Flea fly mosquito!"

I laughed at Sabre clapping out the familiar summer camp chant. Suddenly, my mood felt lighter. Yeah, the next time I see a vamp, I'm gonna yell this in his face.

I joined Sabre and sang, "Calamine, Calamine, Calamine lotion! Oh no more Calamine lotion!"

Savy cackled and join in too, "Itchy itchy, scratchie scratchie, up and down my backie wackie."

Come on, you know the words!

"Baby, sit down and eat your breakfast." Mum said. By now, she was back to sipping her tea.

Sabre stood up anyway and started doing the scratching dance. Hahaha. So cute! I had always wondered why the adults would teach little pups this perfectly useless and potentially annoying chant. Now I knew. It was just funny and cute when a preschooler did it.

Elementary school pups, not so much. Especially if we did it on repeat. It was one of those things that warranted an alpha commanded, "Stop."

Hahaha... Good times. Savy and I clapped enthusiastically for Sabre and kept up the clapping and chant on repeat.

In the meantime, I noticed Ki heading up to my room. Far be it for him to allow any bug in his alpha's room! Hahaha. Yes, I knew by now that the bugs Ki liked to look for weren't the insect variety, but it was still pretty funny.

Until I realized that I left the bug's jacket in my room.

Ah... I stood up.

Sabre squealed because she thought I was going to join her.

I felt torn... I had meant to run up to stop Ki, but Sabre was looking at me with that... It wasn't puppy dog eyes, it was just this bright and open expectant expression, which was arguably even worse.

"One more time!" I declared.

"No." Dad put down his phone, "That's enough."

He didn't alpha command, but he sounded serious. We stopped.

"Now sit down and finish your breakfast." Mum directed.

So we did, but there were smiles all around the table. It was one of those golden moments around the breakfast table - even though the sun wasn't quite up enough to lend its glow, but I think I'd look back on this moment and remember it with the morning sun

Ki returned, his usual smile in place, and set about putting out the lunch bags and water bottles. Outside, my car was pulled up the porch to wait, four bikes were set up and the warriors put up their legs and waited.

Harvey came out from the side wing. I didn't see his truck pass so I guessed he stayed overnight again. A beta's work was never done.

Ben's lambo blasted like a rocket engine in the early morning quiet. Savy stood up, "My ride's calling."

Eh? The lambo had been moved over to the beta house? I guess Ben really did buy it.

"Bye fam!" Savy waved and ran out.

I got up too, "I should go too."

Ki was already at the door with my coat

"Thanks, Ki." I smiled as my beta helped me into my jacket. Today, it was a dark blue trench coat in a waterproof material. Very chic. I guess Ki had been taking my request to dress more grown-up seriously.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, goddess?" Ki asked.

Eh? I shook my head, "I'm good. Thanks."

Stepping out into the cool spring morning, I made a happy sigh.

"Good morning, alpha." My good beta nodded a bow with his usual wry smile.

Overall, it was another normal day again. I grinned, "Yup, it really is!"

I had to shout over the lambo because it had just made a U-turn to rumble noisily up the Alpha House driveway. Wth?

Ben drove past our car and stopped it haphazardly behind the motorbikes. He didn't even bother to turn the car to face front, instead, he got out and slammed the driver's door with Lizzy and Savy still inside.

{What the hell's up with the dog?} Ben grumbled over the mindlink into the beta channel.

What?

"Hi Sam." He said when he passed me. He crossed the porch and let himself into the side wing.

I looked to Harvey who calmly shrugged and opened the passenger door of my car for me. I was just about to shrug it off as a Ben thing too, but I accidentally caught Harvey's minklink, {I told you to wait till our car leaves.}

{F***.} Ben announced, {It's a Code Red... Or at least an Orange.}

{Perhaps we can delay reporting to Alpha Kingsley.} Ki suggested.

{How the hell do we put the pack on Code Red without telling Alpha Kingsley, dog?} Ben snapped and then he answered his own question, {I'll get the Special Team on the hunt. Ki, contact Luna Bell.}

I paused midway of getting into the car. Harvey paused too.

{I would advise against that, Beta.} Ki said.

Harvey's mouth pressed in a straight line, {Given the situation, maybe it's better she doesn't leave packlands.}

Harvey was still holding the door.

I retracted my foot and straightened. My betas were definitely up to something.

"Is something the matter, Alpha?" Harvey asked calmly when I turned to face him.

On the mindlink though, he said, {S*** guys. I think she knows.}

{Pop.} Ki said weakly.

{F*** her gift of insight!} Ben swore.

Lizzy and Savy got out of the car and came over to me. I guess they got impatient of waiting in the car.

"Did something happen, Sam?" Lizzy asked me. The two girls looked to the side wing entrance across the porch where Ben had entered the house.

"Is everything okay?" Savy asked.

I tried to think. My betas obviously didn't think everything was okay, but what could be a code red/orange that they didn't want to report to Dad or Bell?

And then I remembered: There was a man's jacket in my room.