December 1

Looking around the lodge, this area looked very festive. As a pack we came together and decorated the lodge. Frank, Finn and Faye had disappeared while the rest of the pack was pulling Christmas decorations from the warehouse and bringing it to the packhouse. When we returned from our third trip carrying decorations from the warehouse we found our missing trio setting up a fifteen foot tree they had gone to cut down.

While the tree was settling we decorated the rest of the lodge. The last thing we decorated was the tree. At supper that night Jules announced, "While at Symposium I talked to several instructors that will be arriving later on today for the introduction to Gideon's training class, and they have agreed to be judges for the RAGING VATIC FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST.  Starting tomorrow morning after breakfast everyone who wants to participate will decorate their homes. 

Now in your homes are a dozen or more catalogs from ten years ago. On the table by the exit door of the cafeteria are order forms. You are to look at those catalogs and make a list of your decorations. Make sure you fill out the form correctly or you won't get that item.  Those lists must be dropped in the box by the order forms before midnight tonight. Guide Maude said Time Loop Maude will pick up the box after midnight. Those items will be in the warehouse for you in the morning and after breakfast you can begin. If you miss the deadline then you will have to go buy your items yourself around your schedule. Now let us eat."

Frank asks, "what is the prize?"

"You won't get the prize until after we have won, but first place will get a one month all expense paid vacation of their choice for all who live in that cabin. Those who are single and find a mate will include them plus any pups they have."

A bunch of howling and cheering in excitement began. When it quieted down. "You did not let me finish. There will also be a second and third place. Second place will be a two week vacation of the place of the winner's choice. Third place will be a one week vacation."

Once again a bunch of howling and cheering. Then good naturing trash talk began between various friends. Soon as supper was over everyone took their dirty dishes, rinsed them off and put them in the dishwasher. Then hurried to their homes to start their list.

Jules smirked at that memory. Randolph and her discussed it and he said he always preferred old fashion. They ordered a sled and wagon, axe, rope, tarp, twine, plant shears, floral wire. treebase, hooks,  ornaments and lights. When breakfast was done and everyone cleaned up their dishes Randolph and Jules went to the warehouse followed by the others. They used their sled since it had snowed during the night to carry their ornaments and lights to their cabin. Jules looked at Randolph, "where do we go to find our tree and stuff to make our garland?"

He smiled, "we will go to the  blind and shift to our wolves. We will place our outfits in a bag and throw it on the sled. I left the axe on the sled. I will pull the sled in wolf form and you can follow me."

They go to the blind and shift. Jules linked Lily, "Randolph and I are going to go chop a tree down. We won't be on the grounds. You're in charge while I am gone."

"Where will you be?"

Jules linked Randolph, "Lily asking where will we be?"

Randolph links Lily, Jules and Sam, "just to let you know, Jules and I are going by the waterfall to get a tree for our house."

Sam replies, "Do you need me to come? I am her protector."

"We should be ok. I am not picking up any warning signals. Just wanted to let you know where we will be."

Jules adds, "we are just going to go cut down a tree. Lily as my beta is in charge."

They shut down the link and took off running toward the waterfall. Randolph linked, "I want us to find one tree about eight feet tall inside the house and two small ones outside the house for our porch."

"I only ordered one tree stand."

"Since our theme is old fashioned Christmas I will make homemade  ones for the front porch. That is why I picked candle ornaments lit by batteries and all those bow ornaments."

"I trust your judgement and let you pick how it would be decorated. In the spring we will plant two trees for everyone we cut down. How many trees will we need for the wreaths do you think?"

"Oh, we don't cut down trees for that. We just remove the bottom boughs of the tree." He starts to slow down and drops the rope he was pulling the sleigh with.

"Where is the waterfall?"

"It is about a mile from here, but I saw the tree inside the house. Go shift and put on your clothes. I placed a small saw inside my bag for us to cut the boughs. He picked up the bag and walked behind a tree to shift and change. Jules did the same.

Once they were dressed Randolph showed her the tree. "Oh it is beautiful."

"I will work on cutting it down, but let me show you how to choose the perfect boughs for garland and wreaths. You look for pieces with  lots of evergreen limbs." He points to a lower limb, "this one is perfect." He crawled under and saws the branch. He then crawls out. "This bough has enough smaller limbs we can use for garland. Just take these lower branches from this tree." He walks over and grabs a tarp and lays it in the ground. "Just lay the branches on the tarp."

"I can do that." Jules started sawing boughs while Randolph was cutting down the tree.

When he was done with the first tree he cut down two smaller trees.  He carried the three trees to the sleigh and used the rope and tied them to it.  He said, "get about five more boughs and we can wrap them in the tarp and tie them on the sleigh."

"I have two under here. I haven't drugged them out yet." The saw is heard, "now it  is three done." More sawing is heard as Randolph drags the three bough to the tarp. "Another's done." He grabs the fourth one to toss on the tarp while she finishes the last bough."

Maude appears, "I am excited to see your house decorated." Jules jumps and knocks her head as the bough she was cutting falls on her.

"Dammit, that hurt."

Randolph grabs her leg and pulls her out, "what happened?"

"I popped in beside her and startled her."

"You ok?"

"I just jumped and smacked my head, but I will be ok. The last branch is done. It is half sawed and half broke. When I jumped The land without the saw grabbed the bough. Let's get these boughs wrapped in the tarp and tie them to the sleigh."

"We can do that." They got busy.

When done Jules asks , "before we go back can we go see the waterfall?"

"Sure, we can. Let's leave the sleigh here. Do you want to shift or walk?"

"We can shift. It is 11:30. Maybe just hunt for our lunch?"

"I am not much of a hunter,"

"Good thing your with me. I am." They take off their clothes. Stuff them in a bag and shift. They use their snout and push the bag between the tree and tarped boughs. Jule's linked Tom and Lily, "we finished gathering our stuff. We are going to go to the waterfall so I can see it. Then gonna hunt for our lunch."

Tom laughed, "Randolph isn't a great hunter."

"He already told me that, but I am a good hunter." Will message you when we get ready to head back."

Lily adds, "enjoy."

"Thank you. It's been a while since I done this, so I am happy to let Siena out." They run with Randolph leading the way to the fall.  She runs up behind him and nips his tail. He turns and playfully snaps at her. He veers deeper into the woods and she starts to chase after him.  She suddenly stops. She sniffs the air and turns to follow her scent. Randolph realizes what she is doing and slowly starts to follow her. He is being careful to be quiet while she hunts.  She sees a small deer and sneaks up by it. Randolph watches as she pounces and brings it down.

She looks around and when she sees him, "come on over. There is plenty for both of us." She starts to devour the deer. She even offers the heart to him.

He is hesitant and links, "you should not offer me the heart. In our pack the heart is shared between mates. I do not feel that way about you."

"Oh no I never heard that. In our pack it is offered to our leaders or to someone you dearly love or respect. I deeply respect you."

"I am honored you feel that way," he took a bite of the heart. They finished eating what they could. Randolph picked up the one back leg and links, "grab the other leg. I know a lone wolf who lived close by. Let us give him the remains."

He leads him to a small shack about a quarter mile from where they ate. He drops the leg and shifts, "Henry, it is Randolph with a friend. We hunted and had some left. We are leaving it here." He shifts back and turns to walk away.  Jules drops her leg and follows him.

"Randolph, his home doesn't look livable. Doesn't he get cold in that shack?"

"When he turned 33 he decided to take a chosen mate. She was a widow. They were together five years when she had a second chance mate show up. He gave her up and became a lone wolf. He has been a lone wolf for 3 years now. Jonas and various pack members drop off items  every couple months."

"He deserves better than shack. I had seen a show on tv called off the grid tiny homes. Wonder what he would think of that."

"Let us talk to Jonas. Now let me show you the waterfall." I began listening and could hear it as we approached. We step from behind a tree and it came into view. It was beautiful, it wasn't very big, but it was pretty.

All the sudden a witch and Mitchell along with four more pack warriors appeared in front of them. Maude whispered, " Aunt Madeline and she is still alive." She then disappeared.

Mitchell growled, "you thought you could get away from me you bitch? What have you become a slut? This is two different wolves I have found you with and this one does not appear to even be a warrior. He should be an easy kill. SHIFT."

Randolph does shift, but not Jules. She steps in front of Randolph and she growls.  Randolph links Sam, "under attack by Gamma Mitchell from Striker and he got a powerful dark witch."

"We know,Guide Maude told Priestess Cassandra. We are on our way."

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All the sudden a witch and Mitchell along with four more pack warriors appeared in front of them. Maude whispered, " Aunt Madeline and she is still alive." She then disappeared and reappeared by Cassie, "Priestess Cassandra, my aunt is still alive. She is at the waterfall with Striker Pack Gamma Mitchell and some warriors. I do not know if anyone else  is gonna attack the pack or not."

Cassie looked at Stuart, "Stuart link everyone to tell them there is an attack at the waterfall and doesn't know if it is also here. Summon the warriors and alphas to the front of the lodge. All non-warriors and pregnant she-wolves to the safe room. Tell Gideon and his student warriors they are to guard the safe room. After linking them go join your family in the safe room." A moment later the boys ran off toward the lodge.

Jonas and Frank are the first to arrive followed by Finn. Then Sam, John, Mike, Alex, Samson, Tyron, Jonathon, Sydney, Austin, the male elementals and the eight instructors who had just arrived.

Conley and Sara came running up.  Cassie looked at them, "no you stay here. They have a powerful witch with them. You, Sara, and Faye will be the last resort against her. Monroe, use your speed and get there to help with defence until we get there." He zooms away.

She looked at Jonas and Frank. "Maude said that a powerful witch, Delta Mitchell and warriors ambushed Jules and Randolph at the waterfalls. I will transport some of us there and I will take care of the witch.  My shield to keep any evil out should hold unless I get defeated. I suggest you stay here and be ready to fight if need be."

Jonas replied, "some warriors  are on their way here and others are prepared to defend Symposium. Sam, Tyron and Jon you go with Cassie. You instructors head to the safe room. You know how to defend but have not learned Raging Vatic fighting techniques.  Gideon and his students report to the road to the east and head north  to patrol. Elemental and rest of warriors go to the west and spread north. Stay in the perimeter; the shield should protect us until more reinforcements come."  Everyone e started to take off.

"Frank, Finn, Sam and Tyron go with Cassie.

All the guides showed up. Guide Austin ordered, "ALL GUIDES WHO HAVE NON PREGNANT ELEMENTALS ARE TO MERGE. MAUDE, FRANCIS, AND GWENDOLYN ARE TO MERGE IN CASSANDRA TO GIVE HER THE ANCESTRAL POWER. The rest of you stay invisible and scout for the enemy and report to Jonas if spotted. These leaders who are going evil want to go after our grandchildren then let us show them how scary ghosts can really be."
 
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"Sam said help is on its way."

Jules did not reply; she was watching the five wolves to see who would pounce first. Just then they heard a howl.

"Henry is here." He ran into the clearing and stood between Randolph and Jules."

He shifted, "I am Warrior Henry Erhman and you are on an annex of Symposium Pack. You are trespassing on our land."

"I am Gamma Mitchell Foster. One thing a pack cannot do is come between mates. Julianna Adler is my true mate. I am going to bring her home."

Jules shifted. Randolph threw a blanket he had been carrying in his mouth to her and she covered herself up. "What Illegal Gamma Mitchell Foster called to mention was he rejected me. I refused to be his second mate or mistress while he took my sister as his first mate prior to rejecting him. Which according to council law is illegal. When you have a true mate you cannot go through with a chosen mate unless the known fated mate rejects you or you choose to let another mate come into your relationship."

"You mated her sister without rejecting or accepting any terms?"

"Yes," he smirks, "by the way Julia. Kaylee.had the pups. You are an Aunty to two beautiful girls and one handsome boy. Since you seem to have all these males around which one did you give your virginity too?"

Jules looked ready to shift again and attack. Henry spoke up, He laughed, "if you would use your wolf scent you can tell she is still pure, but since you seem to follow false and illegal preaching you most likely lack since."

"You wrote the council and Councilmen Bowers has assured us that we are ok. Though I will say, Councilman Thompson disagreed. Your Alpha Thompson and his followers did strike down the law you are quoting against me. They validated my mating. When I saw the councilman he looks a lot like the alpha from my dreams. That is how I found you."

Jules growls, "you still rejected me so you cannot claim mate rights to take me. Besides, there is still one thing you do not know. When you ordered us to shift and use your gamma voice on me did you not wonder why your voice did not work?

"Because you are my mate."

Henry guruffed, "your ex is very slow. His senses are worse than I thought." He looked over at.the four Striker warriors. "Can you not sense the change from when she was with you? Or are you like this poor excuse of a leader?"

They growled at the insult. One of the sniffed and opened up his senses, "oh my goddess. She is an alpha."

One of the others stated, "maybe the rumor is true. That Alpha Jon had to fight his wolf not to submit to Julia."

Delta Mitchell, "you cannot be an alpha. You're just a warrior. Even then not as great as me, so no way could you have beaten Alpha Jon.

Just then Monroe showed up beside Jules, "Alpha Jules, I am here to assist you." He looked at the others and sneered, "at least I can help even the odds with those mutts. I did see some other mutts and even rogues on my way here."

More growling. Jules shifted to her wolf and she did an alpha growl back at them. Some Striker warriors started to submit.

Mitchell growled at them, "you idiots don't pay attention to her. Concentrate on the  the leach, rouge and weak one.

Penelope all the sudden merged with Randolph, "It is ok Randolph I am Julia's grandma and I helped teach her as a young pup how to fight. Retreat to the back of your mind with your wolf and let me take over. I will make sure they loose."

Peter merged with Jules, "with me here I can instantly heal you and them. I know a few ancient warrior moves that have been forgotten that can put him in his place."

Jules replies, "I will take the healing if needed, but this asshole is Siena and Mine. We deserve our revenge."

Peter replied, "I will only interfere if you start to lose, but with that attitude I am sure you will win."

Cassie/Maude/Francis/Madeline; Frank/Jolt/Onyx: Sam / Alex; and Tyron/Zues appeared. Just as six more wolves stepped out.  One shifted and Jules said, "Beta Tony. Where is Alpha Jon?

"He is ready to take down a couple packs who hid you from," pointing to Gamma Mitchell, "his mate. "He is supporting his Gamma."

"I am not his mate you jackass. He rejected me."

"You are mates since you did not accept him."

"If that is what it will take to stop his sharing false preaching? I have figured out I can still get my revenge within the year that I promised him. I Alpha Julieanna Rose Adler of the Ragic Vatic Pack hereby reject Delta Mitchell Dale Foster if the Striker Pack in grounds of him cheating and making pups with my sister while we were mates. I refuse to be a second mate or mistress to mutt like him who breaks the true doctrine of the Moon Goddess. By the authority of Alpha Jonas Thompson I hereby vanquish you from his annex land."

Delta Mitchell falls to his knees in pain. He looks up and his eyes go red, "if I cannot have you then noone will." He shifts and lunged.

Both Sam and Frank lunge and stop him. Jules commands, "stop, this is my fight. You stop these other assholes." She shifts and pushes her way between them. The others step back as Jules and Mitchell start to fight.

Beta Tony looks at the others, "what a motley crew she has befriended: witches, Lycan, vampires, seers and lone wolves. Are you all her various lovers now?"

He looks over at the witch, "take them out."

Thank you for reading ONE YEAR. Would love to hear your input. This chapter is 3397 words