The next morning Kasey stood on the front porch looking out at the surrounding area.  “Home,” she thought to herself, “this really has become my home!” she smiled and pushed out her mind to see who was up and about.

She sensed the men making their way to their prospective jobs and women also beginning their day.  The calm she felt here was something she’d never had before and she revelled in it as she closed her eyes and pushed out further. 

She missed Trace and was worried that he hadn’t arrived yet with the rest of their brothers.  Then she felt a whisper within and knew that Trace was trying to make contact too.  She took hold of that whisper and drew it closer, “Trace?  How close are you?”

She felt him smile, “I miss you too little sister!  We will be with you in a few days time, so please prepare rooms for everyone and let your Mate know that I will be staying in the main house with you.  This will keep the others calm.”

Kasey sighed, “They all want to play big-brother right?  Ewan has already tried that Trace and I put him straight in no uncertain terms!”

She could feel his laughter, “It is good to know you can handle your youngest brother, but you will have all five of them to contend with shortly.”

“Five!  That means you’re on my side right?”

“Yes little one, I will always be on your side.”

Kasey felt the warmth of his emotions for her heighten, engulfing her then he pulled back and faded away.  She smiled and couldn’t help wondering what kind of chaos it would be with all seven of them together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next few days seemed to go by in a blur, Kasey spent each morning with Shallana and Ewan working and developing her skills.  In the afternoons she’d spend time with the women of the Pack getting to know them and helping out however she could. 

One day a week would be set aside to spend with Talea where they could hang out and eat popcorn and watch DVD’s or go on a picnic.  The later Kasey thought would give Talea a chance to show Kasey all her special places within the Compound. 

Kasey realised that Talea needed someone who could understand what she was going through in regards to finding her mate.  For so long everyone assumed that she had been using her connection to Jacob to her own advantage and to a point she was, but there was another reason, one no one had even considered.

As an adult Jacob felt the mating bond and the need it brought to be with his mate.  The fact that Talea was a child didn’t curb that need and the need could be painful at times.  No one thought that as young as she was, Talea would be feeling a similar kind of discomfort.  It was assumed that she was too young to feel anything except a sense of rightness in being with Jacob.

Kasey now knew this to be wrong, Talea may not be old enough to feel the sexual tug between mates, but the bond had been developing for some time and the need she had to be with Jacob could at times be so severe it was painful.   This was especially so if he was away or if she hadn’t seen him for several days.

As the female Alpha Kasey would need to learn as much as she could about how the mating bond affected Talea.  This probably wasn’t the first time this had happened, but she was fairly certain it was the first time anyone had taken note of just how much it impacted on the child.  She looked at it as her responsibility, not only watch over Talea but also to pass on any knowledge she gained to the Elders and healers of the Pack.

Kasey looked up as Braedon came out to the porch and wrapped his arms around her.  “What are you up to today kitten?”

She smiled up at him, lifting a hand and rubbing her palm against his cheek, “Today Talea and I are going to go shopping.  I need some warmer clothes and Talea is going to help me pick what I need.  Then we are doing lunch and we might even invite Daniel to come join us.  He is the one still shadowing me right?”

Braedon grinned at his mate, “Yes kitten Daniel is still your shadow.  He would have it no other way.”

She snuggled close to Braedon enjoying the feel of him and wanting so much more.  She reached up and kissed his softly on the lips, kissed him again then again with more passion.  He was her mate and she wanted to finalise the deal.  In fact the mating bond was all but demanding it.

Braedon wanted her too, and she could sometimes see the frustration and need in his eyes, but he told her they needed to wait until her brothers had arrived.  They were part Fey and as such would insist they have a say in their sisters’ future.

Still that didn’t stop Kasey from getting all hot and kissy with her man, the trouble was he was the one that pulled back, he was the one with all the control.  She looked up at him and pouted, “This is not their business Braedon, this is my choice… you are my choice.”

“Kitten, we need to keep your family on side and if that means waiting a little longer to get their approval…”

Kasey sighed, he was right of course, but that didn’t make her feel any better, “Braedon this afternoon I need to speak to Jaz and the female Elders.  Can you please set that up for me?”

She saw the curiosity in his eyes, “Women’s business Alpha, so don’t ask okay.” He nodded and agreed to set up a meeting telling her she should be back at the Compound by three to prepare for the meeting.

Braedon lifted his little mate up sitting her on the porch railing and let her have her way with him once more.  He longed for a time when he wouldn’t need to pull back and god help any of Kasey’s brothers if they tried to prevent them from becoming mates.

Kasey started to giggle softly against his shoulder, “What’s so funny kitten?” he asked.

She looked at his gorgeous face and kissed his nose, “I can hear your Wolf rumbling deep inside of you.  He wants to come out and play and he’s letting me know when he does that… it’s soothing and it makes me feel so happy inside, you know?”

Braedon did know, he went to kiss her again but was prevented from doing so by a tug to his shirt sleeve. “Umm, Alpha Kasey and I are gonna go out today,” she looked at Kasey then back at her Alpha, “we are going shopping and umm gonna have lunch… I think?”

Braedon smiled at Talea because in her own way she was telling him it was her turn to be with Kasey and he should let her go.  “Hmm” he said looking down at the little girl, “I have approved this outing and as such have two rules that you must promise to follow.”

Talea looked at her Alpha all serious and waited for him to continue, “First of all you must do exactly as both Kasey and Daniel say,” he paused and when she nodded agreement  he went on, “and secondly you and Kasey are both to have fun.  Is that clear?”

Kasey grinned at them both, Talea jumped up and down in excitement and hugged her Alpha, “We will have lots of fun Alpha, I like shopping and,” she smiled mischievously, “we might even bring something back for you too.”

Braedon made sure Kasey was safely balanced on the rail then picked Talea up giving her a hug.  “How would you like to spend some time this afternoon helping Gerald in the kitchen?”

Talea beamed at him and nodded, “Umm, will Jacob be here?”

“He just might be and if so, I can’t see any problem with you having milk and cookies together,” he looked at Kasey, “do you kitten?”

“Nope!  No problem at all.”

Kasey and Talea spend a good part of the morning shopping.  Kasey had a credit card with her name on it and although she didn’t feel right using Braedon’s money, she knew she needed to outfit herself ready for winter.  Thankfully she thought, Australian winters weren’t overly cold and didn’t last as long as they did in other countries.

By eleven thirty they’d bought pretty much everything they needed, jeans warm tops, sock, boots, a couple of scarfs and two jackets.  They were heading for one of the many cafes when Daniel steered them away, Kasey looked at him and he grinned back.

They stopped outside a disposal store and as they walked in Daniel pointed at the thick woollen coats on display. “They are a lot warmer than the ones you will buy in the boutiques,” he said and promptly pulled out one that looked about her size.

She tried it on and it fitted, giving her enough room to wear a big woollen jumper underneath.  Talea looked up at Daniel expectantly and when he pulled out a matching coat, her face lit up.

They ended up in a little Italian café and ordered a couple of pizzas, garlic bread and salad.  They took their time eating and chatting, both girls in a relaxed mood.  Kasey noticed Daniel check the area at intervals and realised that he was sitting in a position that would enable him to protect them both.

She wondered if Daniel ever had time out, if he had a sweet-heart or if there were things he would like to do, places he’d like to go.  She realised that being Pack meant sacrifice and that for some, in particularly the Enforcers their lives weren’t their own.  

She thought about how unfair their lives must feel at times, then shook off the thought as she wanted today to be about fun, not about too much seriousness. Seriousness would come this afternoon when she met with Jaz and the Elders.

After lunch they headed back to the car and as they pulled out of the parking lot Kasey saw two more cars keeping their distance, but following.  She looked at Daniel raising an eyebrow.  He grinned at her and shook his head, so she thumped him, “Just how many shadows did I have today Danny Boy?”

He nodded towards the rear-view mirror indicating that they were all the shadows she had and she shook her head and laughed.  Daniel saw the smile, but knew she’d be having a conversation Braedon about it sometime soon.

As they arrived at the Compound Kasey felt more at peace and realised that it was being closer to Braedon.  She looked down at Talea and saw the same sense of calm written across her face.  This only confirmed what she’d been thinking about the strength of the link between her and Jacob. 

She turned, looking out the window and tried not to think about it all for the moment.  Then she heard a squeal and almost jumped out of her skin.  “What!” she cried, then realised that Jacob was waiting out front for them, a big grin on his face and the same look in his eyes that Talea had.

Jacob and Daniel helped unpack the car then left the girls to organise the things they’d bought.  It wasn’t long before Talea came out to show Jacob her new coat. “It’s just like Kasey’s,” she stated proudly.

Jacob made a fuss of her and they soon disappeared into the kitchen to see what Gerald had for them to snack on.  Kasey went to Braedon’s office and before she could knock on the door he was calling out for her to come in.

“How was the shopping trip, did you get everything you need?”

“Yep! Daniel even helped me find a big warm coat so I won’t have to hibernate when it gets too cold.”  Braedon laughed knowing she was joking about how cold it could get where they were.  “Brae, did you organise the meeting for me?”

“Ah, yes kitten Jaz is organising the meeting room at the school for three thirty this afternoon.  That gives you a bit of time to relax and organise your thoughts.  I’m a good listener and you do know we shouldn’t have secrets between us?”

“Yeah I know and I will talk to you about this, but I need to speak with the women first okay?”

“Okay.” He said and came around from his side of the desk to give her a kiss.  “I trust your judgement kitten; just let me know if you need anything else.”

“Umm, actually, can you call Daniel off, at least until after the meeting?”  He nodded and she gave him a kiss on the cheek before leaving, calling out over her shoulder, “I’ll let him know when we’re finished so he can shadow me again okay.”

Braedon smiled, in the past he would have heard anger, even resentment in those particular words, but now he heard acceptance and trust in the knowledge that he was keeping her safe.  He sent a message to Daniel then telling him to make sure Kasey got to her destination and then to back off until she called him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kasey arrived at the meeting room early so she could help Jaz set up tea and anything else that would be needed.  Jaz was happy to see her but Kasey wouldn’t talk to her about why she’d called the meeting.  She was still organising her thoughts and needed to do so without input from anyone else.  Once she spoke there would be time enough to discuss things.

At three thirty on the dot the female Elders arrived, Kasey and Jaz stood by the door welcoming them in.  When everyone was seated Jaz stood and did the introductions, she turned to the oldest then to each of the other Elders in turn, “Tamara, Brindalee, Dasha I would like you to meet Kasey.  She is to be our female Alpha and has called this meeting to discuss issues of importance.”

Kasey bowed her head and waited for the Elders to do or say something.  She smiled when Tamara took her hand and pulled her to the seat next to her. “Jazmina, you shall pour the tea.”

Kasey looked at Jaz and felt relieved when she nodded slightly to her.  This was the first time she’d met these women formally and she wanted things to go well. Jaz poured tea for everyone including Kasey then Tamara looked at Kasey, “I was hoping you would call a gathering.  As the female Alpha there is much you need to learn and we all wish to help you in this.  While there are protocols that need to be followed from time to time, we are for the most part informal with our meetings.”

Brindalee spoke then a mischievous grin on her face, “Except when we meet with the men!  Then we make sure we follow all protocols and are a lot more formal.”   Dasha laughed as did Jaz and even Tamara had a smile in her eyes.  That seemed to break the ice and Kasey could feel herself relax.

“Okay,” Kasey began, “informal is good, it’ll make it easier to talk about things.” She looked at each woman in turn took a breath and began, “How common is it for an adult Were to find and discover that their mate is a still a child?”

Tamara nodded and answered, “It’s not at all common, but it has happened.  In the past the pair would be separated, at least until the child came of age.  This prevented the bond taking hold and the child was able to have a normal childhood.”

“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but how’d that work out for them?” everyone went very quiet and Kasey didn’t think she reacted, “What? This is supposed to be a safe place for us to discuss issues.  This is important!”

“Child,” began Tamara, “you are right, if we are to do any good at all we need to be able to say what is on our mind.” she sighed thoughtfully for a few moments, “I know only of what became of one mated couple.  They were separated when it was realised that they were to be mates.  She was twelve, he was… much older.  What the Elders didn’t realise was that their bond had already connected.  It was slight, it was very new, but it was there. 

Separating them did not stop the bond from growing; unfortunately it caused a great deal of pain for them both.  They were told this was how it was to be so they held their tongues, they never once spoke of what they were experiencing.”

Tamara looked out the window as if seeing something far in the distance, “Their bond didn’t develop as it should have, it was never as strong as it should have been,” she paused for a moment that actually felt like forever to the women, “What should have been something strong and beautiful was flawed with doubts and suspicions.”

Kasey read a great deal more into what Tamara had told her and she kept her thoughts to herself, but sent out warm caring feelings to her.  Tamara looked at her a surprised look in her eyes and Kasey smiled softly at her.

“I know I’m new to all this and that’s why I’m really glad to have you all to advise and guide me.  It’s no secret that Braedon and I haven’t completed the mating bond yet,” she could feel heat move up her neck to her face as she blushed, “we have our reasons for not completing it and… well…”

Jaz could see she was at a loss for words, “Kasey its okay, I know you’re probably embarrassed having to talk about this, but you’re among friends… family.”

She nodded and continued, “Okay, the thing is I know how I have felt in regards to Braedon and our bond.  At first it was subtle but the more time I spent with him, subtle became need.  I umm, I have never been with a man and I have to tell you what I was feeling was overwhelming and scared the hell out of me.

What I feel is wonderful, but it’s also daunting and the greater the bond the greater the emotions I feel.  And now when I don’t see him or I can’t touch him in some way it hurts.  It’s physically and emotionally painful.  The mind link helps and I find myself using it without having to think about it.  It helps, but it’s not enough,”

Kasey waited for a minute trying to sort her emotions and how best to phrase them for these women then she took a breath, “I want him! Now! And he’s saying no we need to wait and I understand that we do, but the want… the need is so great.”  She shook her head and lowered her face trying to compose herself.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with both Jacob and Talea and I’ve seen what they are both dealing with.  For Jacob it’s pretty much what I’ve been going through, because he can’t touch his mate in the way he wants or needs.  That’s gotta hurt.  He loves her so much already and I can almost see the connection between them.  It’s strong and well Jacob is an honourable man, he looks out for Tally and does whatever he can to see she’s happy.

Talea is another story though, she is a child, but she has also found her mate.  She’s experiencing the same pull I am towards my mate.  She recently put herself in danger because she needed to be with him.”

Kasey sighed, “We have all treated Talea as if she were a spoilt precocious child and I guess in part she can be, but she’s also experiencing what I am.  The sexual tension isn’t there… I mean it is, but she’s feeling it differently.  She needs to physically be with her mate, she loves him and that need can sometimes outrank any and all rules she’s been given.”

She looked at each of the women, “Talea has been in pain for a long time and she hasn’t had anyone she felt comfortable enough to talk to about it all.  She knows she’s different in regards to her age and finding Jacob and she is afraid if she says too much she will be taken away from him.

We need to tread very carefully with them both and Tamara, I’d suggest we never ever separate a couple like has happened in the past.  We want our Pack whole and if that means we take more care with those who need it, then so be it.  Talea is beginning to talk to me and I’m confident that if I open up a little more with her, then she will do the same.  I will keep Jaz in the loop, but it’s imperative that both Talea and Jacob don’t feel like they are being watched.  They need to be who they are and I think too, it will help me if I spend time with Talea.”

Kasey looked around the table and saw that each woman had teared up.  She wasn’t sure what to do, then felt a hand on her own giving it a slight squeeze.  She looked up and saw that it was Tamara, “Braedon is a very lucky man child.  You will be a good Alpha and together our Pack will grow and be even more than it already is.  You seem to have things in hand with young Talea and we are here if you need to speak to us.”

Kasey was relieved with what Tamara had said and they all spent another hour drinking tea and chatting.  It was nice to do this, to listen to the Pack Elders and also have them listen to her as well.  When she left she sent out a message to her shadow and grinned when she sensed him nearby. 

Maybe, just maybe she could do this!  People seemed to believe she would be an asset to the Pack and she was now feeling like she might be useful.  She headed back towards the main house; she wanted to speak with Braedon before she went to the cottage to continue her training with Shallana and her brother.  So far this had been a very good day!