Brody and Sarina met with Camille and Mike about planning a way around the Delta region. It would take some more detailed work and plans, schematics and blueprints would have to be drawn up, but Brody offered manpower and supplies if Mike agreed to steer clear of the New Delta.
“We can make this work,” Mike said, smiling. “It’s brilliant.”
“Glad you like it,” Brody replied with an undertone of relief. “So, give me a couple of weeks to get some shit together and we’ll come back this way with everything we need to get started. Don’t get me wrong, it’s going to take at least six months to really get you moving, but it’ll be worth it in the long run.”
“You got it,” Mike said, shaking Brody’s hand. “And if there’s anything I can do for you in the meantime, just let me know.”
“I will,” Brody agreed.
He and Sarina took their twins home, updated Romeo and Amanda, tucked their twins into the Traverse mansion, and headed back to Brownsville with over a hundred workers. Most would need to return during their agreed upon week off each month, to make the change without alerting the human citizens who lived in the town, but other than that, work would continue non-stop with two crews of fifty working night and day to finish what Mike and Camille needed to expand west without entering the New Delta territory.
***
Some time went by before Brody and Sarina were able to make it home for any length of time and Amanda knew not only did they need to know about the cabin and everything else, they also needed to see their sons and enjoy some serious comfort food. “I’m starving!” Sarina giggled as she stuffed her face with a warm biscuit straight from the oven, smothered with butter and honey. “Don’t ever send me away again without food,” she begged.
“It’s a promise,” Amanda said with a smile. “Alright everyone, if you’ll grab a seat, I need to go over some changes that have taken place now that Brody and Sarina are home.”
“Unable to sleep a while back, I took a trip into the woods to visit the cabin. Thanks to the information Brody brought back from Brownsville, I was able to draw out the ghosts of both Mrs. Walker and her daughter, Abigail.”
“Really?” Sarina asked, scooting forward in her chair. “What happened?”
“I explained that Elijah didn’t know what to do when the change came over him. I told her that with no one there to explain things, to buoy that experience, Elijah would only have done what was natural and instinctive to the werewolf he became.”
“What did she say?” The way everyone waited, it seemed everyone wanted to know with equal anxiousness. Amanda smiled.
“She thanked me and gave me permission to restore the cabin to its former glory. I’m also going to put up a marker for Mrs. Walker, her young daughter Abigail, and Elijah as well.”
“Oh Mama, that’s wonderful.”
“I know.” Amanda gave a thoughtful nod.
***
With the construction project in Brownsville well underway and Brody and Sarina moving back and forth between the town and home, things were moving along smoothly. Relations with the humans had never been better and the future looked very nice.
Amanda, along with many of the immediate Traverse clan had gotten together to draw blueprints of the original structure of the Walker cabin. Construction commenced on a Wednesday morning that dawned bright and wonderful. As new floors were put down, a peace settled over Amanda for the first time in years. The humans didn’t want to start a war with the werewolves. In fact, they seemed to want to ignore their existence all together. It was a solution that suited Romeo and Amanda perfectly.
“So, how goes the cabin?” Romeo asked when he dropped by to meet Amanda for lunch.
“It’s incredible,” Amanda beamed. “I can’t believe how beautiful this place is.”
“I never realized how dark the woods were before now,” he said. “When the work started here, especially after that stone went up, this whole place just brightened up. We should think about building some housing out here for wolves that like this sort of setup.”
“That’s a fantastic idea,” Amanda said, looking her mate in the eyes. “I know several of our pack’s members would love to reside in these woods.”
“Then we’ll start getting on that,” he said with a smile. “Give me a list of names and I’ll see if I can’t scrape together a team to get started.”
“Brody and Sarina for starters.”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. Sarina loves these woods and from the stories she told me of their mating, I’m pretty sure Brody would acclimate well to this area. Not to mention, they can keep an eye on everyone out here and watch over this cabin.”
“I think Elijah, Penelope, and Jeremiah should move out here too.”
“Really?” asked Amanda.
“Why not? My brother has a knack for nature. I also think they should live here, in the cabin.”
“Romeo I—”
“This place needs people again, babe,” Romeo said, explaining his point. “I know its sacred ground and who better to reside here than a werewolf and a Radiant? Who better to respect the history of this place? You know Eli and Pen would care for this place, more than it just being a home.”
“We’d be honored,” Elijah said, walking over with Penelope and Jeremiah in tow.
“You’re still as nosy as ever,” Romeo joked. He gave Elijah a light punch in the arm before he settled them on a picnic table close to the construction site.
“True,” he replied with a cocky smile. “However, Pen has two conditions. One, flower beds. She wants to put flowers here. She also wants to keep the picnic table. She said we should have lunch here as often as possible.”
“I think that can be arranged,” Romeo agreed.
***
“How are things coming along in Brownsville?”
“Well,” Brody said as he and Romeo scouted the land in the woods. “We just received clearance from the towns we’ll be moving through that the main road is a go. If we keep up this schedule, we should finish well ahead of our original deadline. With the two alternating crews, the work is really moving along smoothly. Mike and Camille, the two humans we deal with most often, have been incredible and they have a great work ethic. If it works to keep increased human traffic out of New Delta; that’s what I’m after.”
“Excellent,” Romeo said, surveying a beautiful plot of land that had a stream running through it. “Now, since we’re out here anyways, why not pick a nice plot of land to raise my grandsons on.”
“Your daughter is partial to streams,” Brody replied, nodding toward the plot Romeo had been eyeing. “Although we’re going to need to adjust our housing plans some.”
“Oh?” Romeo questioned.
“We’ll need at least four bedrooms and plenty of workable yard space, for when the children get older.”
“The boys will make do with whatever you have,” Romeo chuckled.
“Yes, but I’m afraid their little sister may drive them out of their minds if we don’t give them enough—”
“Did you say little sister?”
“I did, indeed,” Brody said, smiling.
“Well shit,” Romeo beamed with happiness. “Does Amanda know?”
“She will soon if she doesn’t already.”
Just as Brody was finishing his sentence, Romeo winced as Amanda’s voice squealed through his mind. We’re having a granddaughter!
“I’m pretty sure she knows now,” Romeo said, holding his hands to his temples to block some of Amanda’s excitement.