South Mountain Pack Ch. 08

More introductions were made, both Vincent and Dominic apologizing to Todd and Holly for their inappropriate behavior and felt relief when Todd smiled at them saying, "It's okay, just don't let it happen again. Treat my daughters with respect and I won't have to hurt either of you." "Yes sir," both boys replied as they took in Todd's 6'4", 240 pound frame.

"Go ahead and join the others," said Frank as he smiled at his oldest sons. "We need some time to talk things over. See if you can find out what's going on with Anthony and Alberto and clear it up." "Yes sir," both boys said as they held out their hands for their intendeds.

As they approached the group of youngsters Hope squealed, "Vinnie," as she launched herself at him. He let go of Brianna's hand to pick her up as she said, "You was bad, you knockeded me down and gots my new dwess dirty. Dommie was bad too, but he pwomised Jackie extwa ice cweam. Antny said its cause you found your gurlfwiend, so do I get extwa ice cweam too?"

Vin started laughing and said, "Would you like to meet Brianna? I'm sure she would like to meet you, and yes you can have extra ice cream as long as you eat your dinner and drink your milk." Hope laid her head on his shoulder as she smiled shyly at Brianna as she whispered to him, "She's pwetty, like my dolly."

The Miller girls were having problems remembering who belonged to which families, so Anthony suggested the families stand together. Everyone broke into their respective families but when it got to the Carlucci's, they were still confused because they looked almost identical.

Gabby smiled and said, "Try and remember this and it'll help. Mr. C's youngsters have curly hair, dimples on the right side of their face and are right handed; Mr. JC's youngsters have straight hair, dimples on the left side of their face and are left handed, they're like mirror twins." The Miller girls were swiveling their heads back and forth between the two families.

Damian started singing, "Still, they're cousins, identical cousins and you'll find, they laugh alike, they walk alike, at times they even talk alike." His family started cracking up laughing while the Miller girls looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"Oh, come on," he said while he grinned. "The Patty Duke show.You've never heard of it? It's a cinematic masterpiece....Oh never mind."

"I'm hungwy Vinnie," whispered Hope. Vin looked around and saw the buffet was set up and said, "Okay older ones get your young ones and let's head over and get some food. We'll talk while we eat and everyone can get to know each other."

All of the youngsters got in line and loaded their plates before making their way back over to their spot in the clearing. Maria and Sophia got blankets from their cabin so the older girls would have a place to sit and be more comfortable. The boys leaned up against trees with the little girls leaning up against them and chattering nonstop. Across the clearing, the parents kept a close eye on their youngsters.

"I forgot how much little girls talked,"said Vin as Anthony opened the bond to include Alberto and Angelo in addition to the Carlucci boys."Are they ever going to stop? What is up with Brooke and her shoes, she's been talking about them all day. Hope's lisp is adorable, but I don't understand half of what she says and Jackie, Toni, and Abigail talk just to hear themselves I think."

"Did you see how little Brooke's feet are? I'm not sure how she can stand up, they're so little. She just got new kicks and wants to show them off, so give her a break dude,"said Lorenzo as he held Brooke upside down by her ankle so the boys could see how little her foot was. She squealed in delight with a big smile on her little face and then launched into a whole new discussion about her shoes, causing the boys to groan even as they were smiling.

"Okay, now that we got the pleasantries out of the way; Ant and Alberto, what the fuck is up with the two of you? Whatever it is, Dad wants it taken care of before the ceremony,"said Dom as he glanced at them. Vin and Dom listened as Anthony explained what was said and the girls reaction.

"So, have you tried talking to them?"asked Vin as he opened Hope and Hyatt's cartons of milk. Hyatt insisted he could hold his, so he held Hope's while she drank. Neither twin was eating much, they were too excited and talking too much, so every time they opened their mouth to talk, Vin popped a bite of food in. Lorenzo saw what he was doing and followed his example with Eddie and Brooke, feeding them like little birds.

"You know them Vin, they won't listen to us when they are this mad. We figured we'd let them cool down a little and then straighten it out,"said Anthony as he wiped Abigail's face. Vin nodded his head in agreement and then said,"Okay, but take care of it after dinner."

"Sophia, what are the boys doing with the young ones?" questioned Maeve as the older girls stopped eating and talking as they looked over at the boys.

"It's what they do," stated Sophia with a shrug. "You notice how each little girl has picked out one of the boys? We're taught when we're young if our fathers aren't around to position ourselves with a dominant male for protection. The little ones, like Hope and Brooke are especially vulnerable because they haven't begun training yet."

"They willingly do it? The men in our old Pack would never feed or take care of the young, except for their own and some not even then, they would consider it beneath them. As far as protection, they never did anything to protect us, the only ones that did was Daddy, Papa Mike, Papa Conall and Uncle Nick," said Morgan as she watched Dominic cut Jackie's hot dog into smaller pieces. Anthony, Vin and Dom looked at each other noting what she inadvertently said of having never been protected by her previous Pack.

Dominic smiled at his intended and said, "We feel it's an honor they are comfortable around us and their parents trust us enough to protect their young. As far as being 'beneath' us, nothing is further from the truth. All children must be protected, but especially the girls, without them our Pack would cease to exist."

"Plus, it shows our intendeds we would make good fathers, it shows we can feed and protect them, its part of the natural nurturing instincts of males," said Anthony as the older girls looked at him with their mouths open in surprise. "What? Did you think the only thing we thought of was sports and fighting each other?"

"We are very sensitive, gentle, kind, caring souls. It hurts my feelings to think any of you would think otherwise," Damian said as he pretended to wipe tears from his eyes.

There was stunned silence from the Miller girls as they glanced at each other unsure of what to say or do.

"You're full of crap is what you are Damian Carlucci," laughed Gabby as she threw her napkin at him. He lunged for her ankle and pulled her towards him, throwing her shoe at Angelo, he began to tickle her foot. She was giggling but asking him to stop between giggles as Angelo looked on and told her, "You call people crap, you gotta pay the price, little sis."

"LEAVE HER BE DAMIAN," demanded Sal, surprising everyone, but most of all himself. "I mean...she asked you to stop, so leave her be." Damian let go of her foot and apologized as Gabby blushed at finding herself the center of attention.

"It's okay Damian, nothing you haven't done before," murmured Gabby as she got her shoe from Angelo. She rejoined the girls on the blanket who had started talking about the upcoming first day of school and training classes.

"Sal, is there something you need to talk about? You are way too young to be feeling a mating pull, so what's up?"asked Vin, Anthony had never closed the bond so all the males heard the question.

"Nothing, Damian was being rough with her and she's so little and delicate. I don't even like her, its just that she's so, oh forget it... Why can't I say something without everyone making a big fucking deal out of it?"he belligerently asked as he glared at his brother."I mean she's not even usually nice, she's a spoiled brat and...."

Sal stopped talking as he heard Alberto and Angelo growling low in their throats as they stared him down."Listen up, that's my fucking sister you're talking about, nobody and I mean NOBODY talks about her like that,"snapped Angelo.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it, it's just that... oh never mind... nobody would understand anyway... but I like Gabby, just not in that way,"stammered Sal."I mean she's cute, beautiful even, her hair smells nice and it shimmers in the sunlight, and she's got eyes like liquid chocolate with little streaks of green that sparkle when she laughs, and her freckles are kinda cute, but I've never, well you know...looked at her that much...or never really noticed her as a girl...just leave me the fuck alone guys, okay?... She's cute okay, but she's old, and I really don't find her attractive, so drop it."

The boys stared at him in astonishment and then Paulo astounded everyone again by saying,"For someone who doesn't look at her much, you sure noticed a hell of a lot. Gabby was my partner in Chem Lab last year and I never noticed she had freckles or shimmering hair. Hell, I barely noticed she had brown eyes, let alone they were like liquid chocolate with streaks of green, whatever the fuck that means. I'm glad you weren't really looking at her or never really noticed her as a girl, I'd hate to hear what you noticed then."

Gabby was putting her shoe on when she felt somebody staring at her; she looked up and saw the older boys staring at her intently, except for Sal who was holding his head in his hands. "What? What is wrong with all of you? Why are you staring at me? Do I have food on me, or is my hair messed up? What?????"

Damian replied laughing, "Nothing Gabs, we noticed how grown up you got over the summer while you were in Italy. Somebody mentioned how your hair shimmered in the sunlight and how cute your freckles were. I'll bet your brothers have a hard time keeping the guys away from you at work."

As he finished talking, he glanced over to see Sal's reaction and wasn't disappointed; his hands were clenching and unclenching. He caught Vin's eye and jerked his head so Vin could see his reaction too. He was too young to feel the mating pull, but Sal was certainly feeling something for Gabby. "Oh, I'm going to have fun with this," he thought as a huge smile broke over his face.

After dinner, Doc came over to Damian and Maria and said it was time to remove their casts. They followed him to the small cabin set up as a clinic, since it wasn't unusual for injuries to occur during the Pack run or with the young ones running around. He removed both casts and said they could shift as it would help in the healing process, but he didn't want them doing more then walking or a slow run.

Hope had climbed back onto Vin's lap curled up and was half asleep; he looked at his intended and held his hand out to her. Brianna smiled at him and came over, leaning into his side and they talked quietly so they didn't disturb the little one.

Dominic watched his intended as she talked with Sophia and Gabby about school, dance classes and things girls did that he didn't understand. Jackie was lying on his chest, fighting sleep as he was gently rubbing her back. When Morgan noticed him watching her, she smiled shyly and got up and came to sit next to him and whispered, "Okay big boy, have you thought about our first date? How are you going to impress me? Where are we going and what are we going to do?"

Dominic laughed quietly and whispered, "We will do whatever you want, whenever you want. You tell me what kind of food you want and what you want to do afterwards, we can go bowling, roller skating, the movies or we can take a drive through the mountains. Whatever you want to do, I will make it happen." She giggled and said she would like to go eat at a real Pizza place and then go bowling. They sat quietly talking and made plans with Brianna and Vincent for the next weekend.

After Maria came back to the clearing, Alberto went and sat near her. She ignored him at first then leaned into his side and he scented her neck deeply. He said, "I missed you Gattina, I don't like it when we argue. I didn't mean any disrespect to you, but to be honest I am miserable." When she stiffened against him, he continued, "Let me finish, please. I'm miserable because I want to hold you and kiss you and I am unable to. I'm miserable because I want to be with you all the time and I can't. That's why I am miserable."

"Oh, Alberto," Maria sighed as she snuggled against his side. He put his arm around her shoulder holding her tightly as he scented her deeply he thought, "Three years, three years, I can handle that and then she'll never leave my side."

"Sophia, can I talk to you please?"said Anthony as he looked at her as she sat on the blanket with the older girls. She rolled her eyes and looked away before getting up and sitting next to him, but not touching him."I'm sorry for what I said earlier, it came out wrong. The pain and suffering I was referring to is mine and has nothing to do with you being my intended, well that's not right either. Damn, I can't seem to say anything right."

"I think I know what you're talking about, you are used to being with girls and doing things with them and you can't with me. It's because I'm so young, isn't it? You regret feeling the mating pull for me, don't you?"Sophia said her voice trembling as she agitatedly plucked blades of grass."I don't want to think of you going out and doing those things with other girls Anthony, the thought of you being with somebody else makes me sick to my stomach."

"Arachide, being with you means everything to me, you are my life and I cannot picture a future without you by my side. Yes, I am frustrated because I can think of nothing else but kissing you and holding you,"Anthony stated firmly as he reached over and put his fingers under her chin so she could look at him."I'm not going to lie to you and tell you I haven't been with other girls, but I want you to know I will never be unfaithful to you, you are mine and I am yours."

Sophia smiled shyly at Anthony and leaned into his side, tilting her head so he could scent her. Anthony took full advantage and pulled her as close to him as he could while he buried his hand into her curly black hair. He growled low in her ear and whispered, "I could stay like this all night."

Gabby and the Miller girls continued to talk quietly about nothing and everything, just like teenage girls normally do. The Millers were fascinated with her stories of Pack life, dance classes, school, bowling, training, parties and had endless questions to ask. Gabby was very patient and never made them feel bad about their not knowing about things she took for granted. She noticed the boys watching and listening to them, so she included them in the conversation and soon everyone was laughing and joking.

***

Across the clearing, Frank watched the youngsters as they walked back from the food line and said, "Well, it looks like everyone is getting along. Why don't we get some food and get to know each other better, since we're going to be in-laws. Matt and Phillip, you're going to join us, aren't you?"

"We don't want to intrude Frank," said Matthew. "Nonsense," said Alpha Carlo. "You two are as involved in this as anybody, plus we enjoy your company." With pleased smiles on their faces, Matt and Phil followed the Carlucci's, Rossi's, Moretti's and Millers.

After everyone was settled at the picnic tables, Carlo said, "Aldo has got a lot of work ahead of him shifting the bunk arrangements now." Everyone started laughing, except for the Millers who looked perplexed. Frank quickly explained to them about the safe room at the school and how the bunk assignments were done. With Vin and Dom making declarations for Brianna and Morgan, those arrangements had to be redone for the third time.

"You have a safe room at the school? It's got to be huge," said Papa Mike. Joe nodded his head as he quietly talked the schematics over with him and told him he would be at the school tomorrow and would personally go over the plans with him.

"We also need you to become familiar with our territory. Our main base of operations is Washington County, but we also control Frederick, Allegany and Garrett Counties. We have safe houses located throughout our lands; one for each family and you will be shown your house this week. The property records for these lands are not registered to anyone in the Pack and there is no way they can be traced to us," said Alpha Carlo."

"The safe houses look like normal cabins and vacation homes, but are constructed with safety in mind, even more then our homes. We figured if we had to seek the protection of these homes, then we had to amp up the security," said Frank with a smile at Papa Mike. "If you don't mind me asking, what did you do in the Pack?"

"Before I was forced into retirement by Charles, I was in charge of maintenance," said Papa Mike. "I had my own electrical business for 25 years and Charles forced me to sell it last year and the Pack kept the money. What the little bastard didn't realize was Ellen and I had been hiding money for two years prior, and even after the sale we didn't tell him the full price I got for the company. The new owner and I worked out a deal on the back end, we listed a price on the sale papers, but he also paid me in cash that wasn't shown."

As Frank, Joe and Carlo looked on in astonishment, Todd started laughing and said, "We told you we planned on escaping for three years, we wouldn't have gotten far without money. How did you think we paid for the house? That reminds me, we need to take the rental cars back and buy new cars."

"I never even thought of it," said Carlo with a grimace. "I should have asked if you needed help getting here. For that I apologize, I have no excuse for my lapse, I just never thought about it."

"Alpha Carlo, don't let yourself be upset. When we asked to join the Pack that was one of the first things you asked," said Phillip. "Everyone knows how much you care for your Pack members."

"Thank you Phillip. I do need an assistant, I cannot let details like this slip through again," Carlo stated as he looked at his mate, who was nodding her head.

"We'll introduce you to Vinnie, he owns Pinelli Ford which is where everyone gets their cars," said Matt.

"Papa Mike, would you be interested in doing electrical work for us? We have been relying on subcontractors, but would really like to start our own subdivision, so would you like to head the department? Or if you want to restart your business, then you would be one of our subcontractors. You would naturally have to get licensed first, but that shouldn't be a problem," said Frank as Joe nodded.

"I'm too old to run my own company, but I would definitely be interested in heading the department. There shouldn't be any problems with transferring my license, I ran my business for 25 years and never had any complaints registered with the state," stated Papa Mike proudly.

"What are you going to do Todd? You're an environmental engineer, right? When we first talked you said you got transferred here, but was that part of the cover?" asked Alpha Carlo.

"Since the budget cuts, a lot of analysis is done by subcontractors for the EPA and that's what I do. They send me test results and I run the analysis on them and put reports together, so I work from home," said Todd. "It'll be helpful once Holly and mom get the coffee shop up and running. I'll be able to help them and the girls will also be working in it."