Belinda woke wrapped in Juan's embrace. She felt some better now. Sleep helped. She felt deep sorrow over her mother's choices both about the choices themselves and for her mother herself. Knowing a little more about herself and finding her wolf had taught her what suffering her mother had to have gone through. To walk away from family, destiny, her fated mate and to kill her wolf ...wow...she had to have suffered mightily. Whatever possesses her mother to do that? She was not going to start this new day crying iver her mother. Those were her mother's decisions, not hers. She sat up, untangling herself from Juan's arms and legs. He stirred and rolled over freeing Belinda. She ran to the bathroom and did her business, brushes her teeth. washed her face and hands. Stepping out, she grabbed clothes and stepped back in to change. When she came back out Juan was up and waiting his turn. He gave her a brief peck on the forehead and went into the bathroom. She chose to sit and wait for him. They would go downstairs together.
Juan came out dressed and extended his hand to Belinda. She stood and took his hand and together they went to the dining room for breakfast. It was early. Only 6 am but the pack house was busy and food was out on the tables. They found Roberto and Rodney and sat with them.
"Shall we go see your mother's pack?" Roberto asked.
"If you are willing, I would like that." Belinda said.
"I will stay back." Rodney said.
"Why?" Belinda asked.
"Umm..." Rodney rubbed the back of his neck. "Your other set of grandparents don't like me much. They blame me for your mother leaving."
"That's ridiculous! She decided it on her own, against your wishes!" Roberto barked.
Rodney responded, "True, Dad. But they lost their daughter...their little girl...their heir. To them I am an incompetent mate." he bowed his head and looked very lost for a moment.
"Grandfather, will you still take us?"
"Yes. I have no issues with the old fart, despite what Rodney wants to believe. They do not blame you. You misread them then and now! Come with us.It is time to put this to rest." Roberto demanded. He wanted to use his alpha command voice but knew that was not really the right choice here. Roberto sighed. "Son, come. Belinda needs you."
"Father, please." Belinda said as she touched his forearm.
Juan looked into the eyes of the.older man and saw the live he had for his daughter. He knew he would go.
"Fine." Rodney agreed.
Roberto and Belinda smiled and said, "Good." at the same time. Belinda chuckled and Roberto laughed heartily.
"What choice do I have really when both my father and my daughter gang up on me?" winking at Belinda.
They finished their breakfast and Roberto gathered 8 warriors as their guards and 3 vehicles. The 4 of them sat in the middle jeep, Roberto driving. The warriors were divided between the two other vehicles: 4 in front and 4 in back.
Roberto addressed his Beta to take care of the pack until they returned.
It was about 8 am when they left for the border between Bukidnon and N Cotobato. The Manobo pack was even more remote than this one. Juan held onto Belinda's hand in the back seat as Rodney was Roberto's co pilot. They traveled over narrow mostly dirt roads for three and half hours. When Roberto had all.the jeeps pull over. "We go by foot from here." he said. The warriors flanked the four. Belinda was really glad she liked to run and was in pretty good shape. The mountain trails were narrow in places but the warriors took machetes and made the path wider. At was nearly noon now and Belinda was beginning to tire. Juan sqatted down in front of her, "Here. Climb up on my back.Rest while I carry you."
Belinda shook her head no. She would walk. Juan shook his head at her stubbornness. Belinda began to weave a bit and Juan swooped her up into his arms. She was asleep on her feet. Juan chuckled at her and she laid her head on his chest fast asleep. They stopped at an overlooking a valley for a late lunch. One of the warriors laid down two blankets and set up the picnic lunch. Juan sat down with Belinda still in his arms. She woke and rubbed her eyes like a little child. He kissed her forehead. Roberto snickered and Rodney smiled broadly at his daughter. "Are we there yet?" she said groggily. All three men laughed. "No my love. It is time to eat. You are tired because you still eat like a wolfless human. You need to eat many more calories now that your wolf has come forward. She consumes many calories." "Oh. I have so much to.leanr." and she yawned.
One warrior bowed and handed her a hot off the fire chicken quarter which she devoured. She thanked him while still chewing and again the three men laughed. She was adorable...at least to them.
They finished lunch and Belinda felt.much better. She took Juan's hand and stood. It was time to take off again.
around 3 pm they arrived. The warriors made a tight circle around the 4 Alphas as patrol wolves from the Manobo pack sniffed them. Roberto stepped forward, "Call your Alpha. Tell him Alpha Roberto and Alpha Juan are here."
"Yes, sir."
The head patrol wolf.blanked out (or so Belinda thought) and then said, "He is coming now."
Belinda was befuddled. "How did he ...what hapoened."
"Mind link" Juan said ... "like.how you talk with your wolf. Once you join a pack you too will be able to mindlink."
"Oh." she was confused but she did not want to admit that. She would ask.Juan later when they were alone.
Within minutes a jeep roared up the hillside from the south with 3 warriors and a man who had to be the Alpha as he was emitting power. He was as large as the 3 men with her and had black hair with gray streaks. He looked older than Roberto and more worn. "Roberto! Rodney! Juan, young man have you ever grown! And who is this beautiful..." He paused. Blinked. Walked over to Belinda...she dropped her eyes immediately as it is rude to look into the eyes of an Alpha. He reached out and lifted her chin, stroked her cheek with his other hand. Tears formed in his eyes instantly. "You...you are the spitting image of her." He sighed and then grabbed Belinda in a bone crushing hug.