Chapter 5

POV Samantha

I showered and dressed quickly. I was just finishing my hair and makeup when Troy knocked on the bathroom door.

" You look nice. You ready?" he asked and smiled at me.

"Yep, where's Stacey?"

"She's already downstairs. You covered those hickeys right? Dad will kill Jon if he sees them" Troy added.

"They've already healed" I retorted and he shook his head.

"You know that you don't love him? I can tell" Troy began. I sighed.

"I know, he knows. Trust me. It's okay. Don't start" I snapped and he nodded.

"Okay. Okay. Let's go. We don't want to be late" he replied and offered me his arm.

Together we stepped out into the hall. Sean and Jules were behind us.

"You look great, little one" Sean whispered.

"Thanks, so do you" I replied with a smile.

We walked down the stairs where Stacy, Jon, Ash, Steph, Mary and Steve and our parents were waiting. Dad and Mom hugged us. Stacy kissed Troy and hugged me. Jon nodded to Troy as Ash, Mary, Steve and Steph hugged me. Then Jon took my hand. Troy and Dad growled lowly but Jon ignored them. Mom and Stacy sushed them and we got in line to walk into the meeting.

Mom and Dad led with Troy and Stacy behind them. Steve and Mary went next with Jon and I behind them. Jules and Steph came next and Sean and Ash were the last to come in. The pack rose and bowed as we walked past. Dad and Troy went to the stage as the rest of us sat at the head table.

"Please sit" Dad commanded and everyone did as we were told.

Jon pulled out my chair and helped me sit. Frankly, I hated that everyone did that for me. I could open my own door and pull out my own chair but I knew that it would upset Jon or Troy or my Dad so I tolerated it. Mom smiled at me as Sean, Jules and Steve did the same for the rest of the women at the table. I knew that she hated it too. We had made a game of smiling at each other whenever it happened to keep each other from snapping.

My Dad and Brother quickly explained the situation with the Golden pack and what our plans were. Many pack members turned to stare at me in alarm as they spoke. I tried to smile confidently and worked at extending calm with my Omega powers so the pack didn't revolt.

"I know that most of you will not be happy with this decision but it is our duty to help this other pack. My daughter has volunteered for this assignment and I hope that you can all be supportive of her. We know that this will be most difficult for her and she needs for all of us to help her" Dad finished.

The room was silent for a moment. Then one of the warriors raised her hand. Dad nodded to her.

"I would like to volunteer to go with you and Samantha" she said and suddenly all our warriors were shouting out the same.

I was touched by the action. Dad and Troy looked at me helplessly and I nodded and stood. The room calmed as I made my way to the stage.

"I am so proud of this pack's love and support. Your bravery is a treasure to me. Thank all of you. I would love to have all of you come with me but some must stay to protect our home and families. Both jobs are very important as rouges could see our absence as a time of weakness and strike. We need to ensure that our lands our safe as we help this other pack. I trust my father and brother to make the choice of who should go who should be entrusted with the protection of our home." I said and the pack seemed appeased.

"Thank you" Troy mouthed and I smiled.

He put his hand on my back and stepped up to the microphone.

"My sister is right. We will need all of you to make sure that our pack, lands and family are safe and protected. We will hand out the assignments after dinner" Troy added.

"Will Samantha be okay going back to her old pack?" an older woman asked.

Everyone turned to me. I took a deep breath and smiled.

"I will try to be as brave as our pack is and I know that I will have all of you to support me if I need it" I answered honestly.

I didn't want to lie to my pack. We prided ourselves on being truthful with each other no matter what.

"You're damn right" a young warrior yelled out and the pack chuckled.

"I am both proud and honored that the Goddess has blessed me with this pack." I finished and the rest of the pack clapped as I stepped down from the stage.

"I declare this meeting over. Let's enjoy this wonderful dinner together" my dad announced.

Troy caught up to me and walked me over to our table. This took some time because every couple of steps or so, a pack member would come up to hug me. I couldn't say no and Troy was annoyed by the time we finally made it back to the table. Jon helped me sit yet again.

The rest of dinner went well and afterwards the pack stayed around a chatted with minimal complaining about the assignments. All in all, it went better than we expected. I decided to call it an early night and refused to let Jon walk me up to my door, knowing that it would turn into a make out session if he did. I had trouble falling asleep but eventually did.

The next morning, I woke early. I threw on some workout gear and hit the gym since I knew that I would be stuck in the car for most of the day. The gym was crowded as most of the warriors that were coming with us had the same idea.

"Hi, Sammy" I looked up to see Gavin as I was stretching.

I smiled. Gavin went to school with us and was in the grade ahead. He was a nice guy and one of our best warriors. He and I had become friends.

"Hey, Gavin. How are you doing?" I asked he grinned a began stretching with me.

"Just getting ready to spend a few hours locked in a car" he joked and I nodded.

"Yeah, me too" I replied.

"I was wanting to go for a run but couldn't find anyone to go with. Do you want to?" he asked and I nodded.

"Sure. I'll let Sean know" I quickly linked him and he said that he would meet us at the door.

"Thanks for the invite" I said as we got up and left the smelly room.

"No problem. You know that I love hanging with you" Gavin grinned and I put my arm in his.

Sean smiled when he saw us.

"A run is a great idea" he said as we approached.

"It was all Gavin's" I replied and Gavin nodded.

We set out for the tree line and when we got there we each found a tree to undress behind. I quickly changed into my wolf. I was small and almost blue with how black my fur was. I loved my wolf. She made me feel free. Gavin and Sean came out a moment later and we chased each other through the woods for an hour.

{It's time to head back. We have to leave in an hour} Sean linked us.

We nodded and changed back.

Gavin put his arm around me as we headed to the house. That was the other problem with mates if you were an Omega. Pack members always wanted to hug, touch and cuddle you. It made territorial mates an issue. As we walked into the kitchen, Jon saw us and froze. His eyes narrowed at Gavin.

"What's going on here?" Jon asked, icily.

"Gavin, Sean and I went for a run since we are going to be locked in a car for hours later" I explained.

"Sammy, do you want a water?" Gavin asked as he let go of me and went to the fridge.

"Sure, thanks" I replied and Gavin tossed me a bottle.

Jon glared at us for a moment but thankfully Troy walked in.

"Hey, guys. Sammy, did you eat?" Troy asked as he ignored the tension in the room.

I shook my head.

"Sorry, that's probably my fault. We went out on a run this morning. Let me make you something, Sammy" Gavin spoke up and I could feel Jon's anger building.

He reached out and pulled me to him as he growled lowly. I looked at him in surprise. He had never reacted this way before. Gavin and the rest of the room ignored him.

"Thanks but I'm good right now. I'm going to go shower" I replied as I pulled Jon out of the room.

"What's wrong with you?" I whispered as we walked down the hallway.

"Why didn't you ask me to go for a run?" he demanded.

"I wasn't planning on going. I was going to workout in the gym but it was crowded and I ran into Gavin and he suggested a run" I explained.

"So you could ask Sean but not me?" he pouted. I rolled my eyes.

"He's my bodyguard. Are you jealous?" I asked with a grin.

Jon looked uncomfortable.

"No... well... it's just that I overheard Gavin telling some of the other warriors that he has a crush on you. It.... upset me" Jon finished and I smiled.

"You're ridiculous" I said and he blushed.

We arrived at my door and I kissed his cheek.

"I'll see you in an hour at the cars" I said and he nodded.

I hurried in to take a shower and get dressed. I wanted to be comfortable on the trip but still look nice when we arrived so I wore some tailored black pants with a fitted button up and a soft jacket. I added some ankle boots and wore my straight, black hair in a messy bun. I put on some soft makeup and was ready to go. Someone had already gotten my luggage so I grabbed my shower and makeup bag, phone and purse and left my room.

I was right on time to the cars and chuckled at the huge amount of people near the garage.

"Troy, Jules, Stacy, Steph, Sammy, Ash, and Sean will go in the first van. Alpha, Luna, Taylor, Jon, Tom, Rose and I will ride in the second. The rest of the warriors need to divide into the other two vans" Mike announced.

I looked at Jon and he looked annoyed but I shrugged. I knew that my Dad and Troy set this up and they would be upset if I argued. I was surprised to see Gavin hurry up to me. He shoved a sandwich in my hands and I looked confused.

"I know that you didn't eat" he shrugged and I smiled at him.

"Thanks, Gavin." I took a bite and sighed.

I was starving and was grateful that he thought of me. He just grinned and ducked. I looked up and caught an even more annoyed look from Jon. Then he walked over to my Dad and spoke to him. My dad looked at me thoughtfully and nodded. Dad said a few words to Jon and then Jon walked over to me with a grin. I ate more of my sandwich as he walked over.

"What's going on?" I asked. Jon shrugged.

"I just pointed out that we were going into a pack that has a number of unmated males and maybe it would be better if you and I looked like a couple while we were there to keep them from bothering you. Your dad agreed but warned me that we must have separate rooms and that if I did anything that made you uncomfortable he would tear me apart" he explained.

I watched as Dad called Troy over and explained. Troy looked pissed but nodded by the end. He made a beeline over to us.

"Can I borrow you for a moment? Sammy, why don't you say good bye to Mary and Steve and get in the van" Troy suggested as he pulled Jon away.

I cringed at Jon and went to find Mary and Steve after finishing my sandwich. I said good bye and hugged them and many other pack members, promising to call often. I finally made it to the van. Gavin was at the door when I got there.

"Let me help you" he offered me a hand and I accepted.

"I'll see you when we get there. Don't worry, I'll be with you the whole way, okay?" he said and I nodded.

"Thanks, Gavin" He kissed my cheek and hurried to one of the other vans.

"What is that all about?" Stacy demanded and I shrugged.

"You know Gavin. We're friends." I replied and she smirked at me knowingly.

"Looks like he wants more than that" she said just as Troy and Jon got in.

"Who wants more than what?" my brother demanded.

Stacy smirked and I shook my head. Of course she ignored me.

"Gavin helped Sammy into the van" she began.

Jon glared and Troy looked confused.

"So?" Troy asked.

Stacy shrugged, "He kissed her cheek when he left. It looks like he has a thing for her"

I closed my eyes and willed myself to disappear.

"He better not" Troy said

"He kissed you!?" Jon demanded as he sat next to me.

"Just on the cheek. Like a friend" I tried but Jon just shook his head.

"I'm going to have to have a talk with him later" Jon looked at me darkly.

Troy nodded.

"Me too" Troy added.

"Please don't. Just leave it. He's my friend. He hasn't done anything wrong" I defended which seemed to make Jon madder.

"Oh, really? Maybe you want him to keep flirting with you?" Jon asked and I rolled my eyes.

"You are all acting like children" I snapped.

I put in my ear buds and listened to music as we pulled away. I waved to the rest of my pack with no idea about how sideways everything was about to go.