Silver Moon: A Change Ch. 06B

"Go play children, just be good. Maybe show him to the kids' room and see if some of them would like to go for a romp." That would allow the two of them to have time together but not alone.

When they finally left he sighed and took a sip of coffee and made a face since it had gotten cold. "Well let's get this over with." Dan was getting used to the strange technology and backward rest of the world. Eventually he was able to get the damn thing to dial and waited only moments before it was answered.

"Silver Kitsune Clan offices how may I help you?" The voice on the other end came across as a young woman but definitely professional.

"Good morning this is Alpha Danilo Legarith, Lady Logan requested I give her a call." He wasn't even sure where the heck she lived, something he was going to need to do was get some good maps of the region.

"Ah yes Alpha Legarith, give me a moment and I will patch you through." There was a pause and a brief stint of hold music before it was picked up. "Good morning Alpha Legarith, this is Alysson and please call me that."

"Not a problem and please call me Dan. I am not trying to be blunt but being subtle isn't my strong suit. Why exactly is Geoff here, well other than to find that my little submissive is his mate. I understand the mating bond and all but I am slightly miffed that I wasn't informed till after they had seen each other and then was given your correspondence."

"I am sorry that happened that way and I wished I could have contacted you sooner but we simply didn't have any information on how to contact you. All we had was some map coordinate's and nothing else. If there is any compensation we can offer you for the inconvenience Geoff can handle it."

He started rubbing his forehead. "I will consider it. Mari is a really wonderful young woman and a great pack member but there is one minor complication, she is carrying my pup right now. That is one of the reasons I am rather bent out of shape."

That definitely got a pause. "I can see how you might be a bit concerned about his being her mate and if you don't mind she isn't your mate correct? You don't have that type of bond?"

"We have pack bonds but not a mating bond. It was one time, I needed some comfort and she was starting to feel safe being around males again. We didn't realize it but she was in heat at the time and she ended up pregnant. That is my pup and nobody is going to deny me any visitation rights what so ever. That will be understood. I have two pups lost to me and I will not have a third." Dan needed to relax since he was starting to growl but he was feeling very worked up.

"I am sorry for your loss and we would never deny the rights for someone to see their children without a very good reason. Since Mari is a lycan if you wouldn't mind putting Geoff up for a week or two so he can start to learn about that I would appreciate it, part of training him to be a good leader. I would also like to invite you to the estates when time permits. I would really like to meet you and see if I can figure out why you were placed in our backyard."

"Good thing she sleeps with the pups. Dang it, now gotta find another babysitter. Oh well. She would have outgrown that position eventually." What did he think about Geoff staying here? Actually even though it was going to be a pain in the ass it would allow him to get to know the boy. "I can do that for a couple of weeks and as far as coming to visit I don't know. As you mentioned I am new to this world and though my pack is healing they are still damaged and I wouldn't want to be away from them for very long. The longest would be maybe four days unless I can find or train a good second-in-command."

Alysson laughed at his joke. "Don't keep them apart for too long. I can understand your concerns since I do have two daughters and if a strange man walked up and said one was his mate I would be a bit worried as well." There was some silence on the phone and she could almost hear him thinking and mentally cheered when he agreed to let Geoff stay there. "Well if you are worried about your pack bring them with you." They had plenty of room and it might be good for them to get away.

Dan blinked. "Um, there are 36 of us including pups. That would be a lot of feeding and lots of rooms." He had to wonder if she was trying to conscript them though he didn't say that. What he could really use was a good Beta and he didn't have one. Saul was a great assistant but just wasn't dominant enough to fulfill that role. To be honest he was surprised he hadn't had any major dominance fights as of yet though he had a feeling that they were getting close. For the moment the pack was still healing and off center: they were sort of just surviving and that was it.

She smiled. "Our estates are vast and we have plenty of room. In case you are worried I am not inviting you up here to try and take over your pack. I have several that report to me already and don't need any more. I really want to figure out the puzzle that is you Dan. You are from a different world, have abilities that our lycan's don't, have turned your section of the lycan world on its head and I want to ensure that it isn't going to have an impact on my clan." She snickered slighty. "Besides I know just how much lycan's can eat and it isn't a problem."

Dan frowned slightly. Other than the lycan's he had taken over nobody else should know about his abilities and that bothered him. "I will consider it. As much as I have enjoyed this conversation Alysson I have some pack matters to deal with. Since you want Geoff to get an up close look at Pack management I am going to have him shadow me in what I am doing unless it is close pack business." A few moments later he hung up the phone and sighed.

~~~

It was after lunch and Dan walked outside and couldn't help but grin. Geoff and Mari were again playing with the pups and Geoff looked to be having a great time as he tackled one and dodged another. His attacks were gentle and seemed to look like they were designed to teach and not hurt. He watched for a moment and then whistled. "Enough all of you, it is time for classes and such. Mari, Geoff we are going to the training center and work out. Geoff if you would like to invite your staff to join us that would be more than fine. I would like to see what type of training your security detail has."

Geoff stopped at the whistle and shifted to his human form and nodded. "I am sure they would like to get the measure of your training Alpha." Actually they were more than happy to and he mentally called them over the clan bonds. "They will be here momentarily, well other than those currently assigned to protect me." He nodded at two of them.

Dan tried not to snort since they were in the MIB outfit and he was sure they had more armament than really needed. "Understood, for today I am going to train my pack and you and yours can watch and do what you want. I have to admit I would like to know their training simply so I can evaluate it and offer suggestions. Where I come from I was in charge of a security company and rented bodyguards out to celebutants and such."

Geoff grinned. "We will see and I have to admit that I can't want to see you do your thing Alpha."

Dan sighed. "Call me Dan or I am going to offer to spar with you young man." He wouldn't hurt him but would chase him around the ring for a while. He flashed a grin at him when he said that.

A short while later they were in the training building and Geoff was caught off guard since most of the class were kits and not adults. He felt sort of odd being in there with most of his detail as well as his assistant.

Dan gave him a glance before addressing the pups. "I know I have said this before but the fighting style for me isn't necessarily the best one for you. I am ultimately a brawler. I am large, strong and can absorb lots of damage before I go down. For some of you that might work but others a different style might work best. Don't ever let what I can do overrule what you need to do." He looked around the room and smiled slightly.

"Nancy come up here please." The girl he mentioned was about 13 or so and was in that gangly early teen stage and even now the fact that she was going to be slender was obvious.

She moved forward and clutched her hands over her chest and bowed to him. "Greetings Alpha." She said as she bowed and stood up with her hands by her side.

"Now look at her. She is slender and even when she reaches her full growth she is going to be slender and more of a runners build compared to my bruiser build. My fighting style simply won't work for her since I can absorb more damage than she can buy quite a bit. I am going to show you two styles of fighting, mine and what is best for her."

Dan knelt down so he was in his knees. "Hun, I want you to hit me as hard as you can in my abdomen. You will not be punished for this in any way. Once you do that throw three or four hits as hard as you can at me. I am going to block all but the first."

Before he had really finished she had slugged him as hard as she could in his solar plexus and he actually grunted. "Good hit..." The next blows were blocked and absorbed without a problem. See how I didn't react too much other than the first blow? It sort of hurts but I have the mass to absorb it. Now throw some blows at me and I am going to block differently. I want you to also consider what would happen if I really struck her even when she is fully grown." He held up his large hand and made a fist.

She did that and each and every blow he deflected with a totally different style. "Okay, my style is brawler, the style for her is using an attacker's power against him." The training continued on from there and eventually he set the pups free.

The next set was his senior wolves and was much different. With the pups he was instructing as well as teaching. With the older wolves he was flat out teaching them the best way to fight. He wasn't brutal but he was hard and growled as they screwed up. "Damn it I have been working with you for several months. By now you should be doing better. Look at Geoff's protective detail, they were working as a team and taking down the singles as a team. I have been trying to teach you this. There is a difference between a warrior and a soldier. Warriors do things on their own and soldiers work as a team I want you to work as a team and not individuals. I might just match a few of you up against them."

Finally he excused the class and chased them out. "Sorry Geoff, I am sorry if I used your team as a lesson but the previous alpha was a p.o.s. and as hard as I have been trying they are still thinking as individuals. I would like to use your protective team as something to train them with." Dan looked tired as hard as he tried not to.

"Danilo I can see how much you have worked with them and if it helps you, I don't have a problem. Tell me what I need to protect my mate and I will make it happen." He moved forward and met his eyes. "Well that and what I need to protect your pups as well. They are the future of all of us."

Dan ran a cloth across his face. "Will do and I think I am going to my office since I am sure I have some paperwork piled up." He bowled slightly towards Geoff before turning and leaving. Even the possibility of having Mari leave with his cubs scared the crap out of him. He wasn't really trying to be a hard case with Geoff but he couldn't help it. He had been in the protection business for so long he couldn't remember when he wasn't. Letting someone he cared for that much out of his view was really petrifying.

Geoff looked at his assistant and then sort of nodded in Dan's direction and she smiled and wandered off. She took her time to make it to his office but eventually she made it there and lightly knocked on the door. "May I please come in Alpha?" It was obvious that she wasn't part of his pack simply based on her voice.

"Um, sure. Come in and have a seat if you want and call me Dan as well." Dan was leaning back in his chair and trying to relax when she walked in.

She walked in and smiled before walking over to him and lightly touching his arm. "I am Sheliae, Lord Geoffrey's assistant and he asked me to come and talk to you. I will tell you no lies since part of my job is to make sure that Geoff's personality is honestly described and talked about. I am also a sort of spiritual healer as well. I can feel your pain and it is drawing me to you to try and help if possible." Her hand was gentle on his shoulder as she was talking.

Dan listened to her and tensed up and almost wished Mari was there. Talking about his family or even now thinking about them made him start to tense up and made his wolf want to go and howl at the moon. "I am sorry but I don't want to talk about it. I had help till Geoff showed up." That was a growl though he tried to keep it inside.

Sheliea looked at him and then sat down and curled her arms around Dan and leaned into him. "I know what it is like to lose a kit Dan. I lost one of mine years ago and it isn't easy to deal with. I am simply offering comfort and nothing else." She tucked her head into the side of his neck and lightly stroked his hair. "To have lost a family is even worse and I can't even begin to imagine how that might feel. Please let me help you." There were tears in her voice as she spoke and her scent was in alignment with what she was saying.

Dan was more than startled when she sort of plopped down in his lap and wrapped her arms around him. For a moment he was tempted to toss her off his lap till she mentioned she had lost a pup as well and his arms slowly curled around her. "I am sorry for your loss. Losing someone near and dear to you is never easy and when it is a pup or mate..." His voice broke as he was talking. "Sorry but it still hurts. I have a broken pack that is healing, had Mari to help me with the nights, and some great pups that have been sneaking into my bed for emotional comfort but damn it all to hell it still hurts."

"I know Dan and as odd as it sounds I might be able to help you with it later. That is part of my job with Geoff, to help him deal with extreme emotions and especially since we are spirit creatures. Extreme emotions from others can cause us to in a way flip out and since he is the heir of the clan if he flipped out it would be bad. I am teaching him to control his feelings as well as how to help others with their feelings and emotions." One hand stroked Dan's hair as she was curled up in his lap.

She was nothing like Mari since she was much taller and had a golden blond hair as well as more curves but she sort of projected a sort of feeling like Mari did. She had been with the clan for a long time and had been an assistant to a number of senior kits and feeling Dan's pain drew her to him. As Dan was talking she slowly absorbed his emotions and feelings and almost wanted to cry herself. His spirit wasn't healing the way it should and it cried out for help. He was a very strong man but even though he wasn't crying any more his spirit was still screaming out in agony.

Dan couldn't help but relax as she stroked his hair. There was something similar to Mari in her but something extra as well. The urge to cry again faded away as she was stroking his hair and he had to sigh. "Sorry, once in a blue moon it sort of hits and..." He sighed again and then softly smiled. "We are going to have a pup here soon."

A moment later Giani slipped into the room and crawled into Sheliae's lap since she was sitting on Dan's lap. She curled up against his chest and shivered. "I wish I could help My Alpha. I have tried hard to comfort him. Can you help him?" She looked up at the woman as she spoke. She had sensed something special about this woman earlier.

Sheliea couldn't help but smile at the little girl. "Hello kitten, well I suppose I should say cublet but Kitten works as well. You are the one behind all the sneaking I think. You are going to make a wonderful Alpha female one of these days when you are older." One of her hands stroked her face and pulled her close. "One heck of a strong woman and if he lets me I will do my best."

Giani leaned into her and smiled. "Good and I want to grow up to be just like my Alpha and protect my pack. He is wonderful and special and I want to be just like him." Her voice was firm when she said that.

Dan wanted to cry but for a different reason. If he had impacted on this pup that much he was doing his job the right way. He didn't want to scare the pack or terrorize them into doing things his way but in the beginning he hadn't had much choice. Before he realized it tears were flowing down his face and he wrapped one arm around Giani and hugged her close and started a low keening. Damn it, he thought he was over this and all it took was a pups words and the attention of a woman to drag them out of him again.

He tried to keep the keening as low as possible but the rest of his pack heard it and they lifted their voices and joined in. Normally it was at night they heard it but once every so often heard it during the day.

Mari was with Geoff and turned to him and shivered in his arms and most of the cubs searched out either her or Aiden and huddled around them. Geoff's detail looked around and gathered around him, his mate, and the kits that were there.

*Stop, it is grief and nothing else. Relax and pay attention.* Geoff thought at them and they took their hands off their weapons and bowed their heads before really listening and felt the agony. Though they were foxes they knew the feeling and lifted their heads as well and let out the fox version of the keen and joined in.

Sheiliea held both of them as, he as he cried out his pain again and the kit as she tried to give her Alpha some sort of comfort. Now she could do her work and help him. He had admitted his loss and the pack was supporting him as well as Geoff and the rest of his detail. She could hear their yips as well. *Go kitten, I need to help your alpha. Tell someone to have food brought to his room. This is going to take a bit of time but I will help him.* Sheliae gently stroked Giani's hair before the little girl got off their laps and scurried out of the office.

"Come Dan, let me help you. I will help you in a way that Mari can't. Like I said I am sort of a spirit healer." She stood up and tugged at one arm till he stood up and almost blindly followed her to his bed room. "Take your shirt off and lay on your stomach. Your muscles are so tense right now I don't know how you even manage to relax."

Sheliae's voice was soft yet commanding and Dan wasn't sure why he was not only listening to her but obeying her but her voice was soft yet commanding. He could feel the sympathy and the need in it. That he could understand in a way since he had been driven to help this pack even though he missed his old pack dreadfully. When they made it to the bedroom he did as she said and crawled into bed and wrapped his arms around one of the pillows and buried his face into it.

She crawled on the bed and straddled his hips and pressed her hands on his back. For a moment she couldn't believe the mass of muscles he had but started working on them nonetheless, determined to work the tension out of tem. As she did she expanded her spirit again and slowly worked her way into his. She almost cried feeling the ripped and torn sections that was missing. God did it hurt as she slowly accepted it into her spirit. As she worked on his back she slowly started feeling the bonds with this pack as well as the broken ones with his old pack and began to lay down a matrix of healing to help him.

How long she worked on his back she wasn't sure but eventually she had done as much as she could for the moment. Dan was asleep and she sort of collapsed on his back and was enjoying his warmth. Eventually there was a quiet knock on the door and then Mari walked in.