It was 6:45 when the last group pulled into the campground. They got busy setting up their trailers. While Beta Aide, Delta Elliot, and Gwen were making supper. Kyle, Tyrone, and Peter were gathering wood. Beth and Elijah were reading all the investigative reports collected from the car bombings.

Suddenly, Chris started yelling, and we heard two other voices. We ran to their trailer and saw him struggling with two boys. I yelled, "STOP." They stopped, and I saw my two younger cousins: Zeus and Yuri, lying on the ground. "What the hell are you two boys doing here?

Yuri's said, "Hi, Charlie. We snuck aboard. We wanted to be there to get justice for Scott and Zander."

"Where does your dad think you are?"

"He was told we were going to help Charles. We did not tell him which Charles. He permitted us to stay back. We packed up all the belongings in every trailer and assigned the cabins. We gave that list to Councilman Goliath for approval. He gave it to Charles."

"Your parents don't know you hid in an empty trailer bedroom?" I grab my phone and call Uncle Easton.

It rings, and he answers, "Hi, Charlie. I wasn't expecting to hear from you this early into your mission."

"I wasn't expecting to have to call you either. But I wanted to ask you about Zeus and Yuri."

"Are they giving the pack trouble?"

"We discovered they stowed away in one of the empty bedrooms on the trailer."

"They did what? I cannot get them. I leave in the morning to go after those escaped prisoners. We got a lead."

"I can keep them with us. I will see if Uncle Goliath will add them to the group link. This way, they can link us. I am going to have them set on grunge duty. If they trouble me, I want permission to collar and chain them."

"I will be sure to get them as soon as I can. Tell them when they get home, they will be busted down to the lowest rank duties and will have to work their way back up."

I looked at them. They looked ticked, "But, Dad."

"Guess they heard. Love you, boys. Will see you when I see you."

He hung up. "You heard him, boys. Now call Goliath, and then we will eat dinner. After dinner, we will report on our findings."

I dial Goliath. The phone rings, and I hear, "Hello."

"Hi, Uncle Goliath. It's me, Charlie."

"Hi, Charlie. You got some news already?"

"I got some news but not about the mission. One of our trackers caught two stowaways in the empty third bedroom. It was my cousins: Zeus and Yuri. With their dad chasing down prisoners, he cannot get them.  Is there a way I can add them to the SNAP so they can link us in case of an emergency?"

"Now that you are a pack, you can add them as an alpha. I am unsure when an alpha adds a member if they keep dual citizenship. I would give their family a heads-up. Wait until Easton says they have informed the family. This is the first time we have done it."

"How did you join Charles?"

"I did the ceremony with just him and Solomon, and the other elders  were the witnesses."l He hadn't mentioned wanting to travel with you guys."

"Ok. Let me call Uncle Easten back. Bye."

"Bye, and tell the boys, since they knew there were told not to be part of SNAP1 when they get back, they will have 200 hours of community service each as punishment for the council. If they cause any problems, I will add more punishment."

"Will do." Then I hung up.

I called Uncle Easton back, "Hello."

"I know it's your meal time, but I just got off the phone with Uncle Goliath."

"What did he say? Let me put it on speaker so my mate and the pups can hear." I hear a click and several voices, "ok, everyone, quiet. I want your mother to hear this conversation." It got quiet, "precede Charlie."

"I talked to Goliath about adding the stowaways to our links to keep communicating with them. He said as the group alpha, I can add them."

Maggie said, "That is good news. I know you will keep them safe until their father can get them. When you boys get back, you will be punished by me, too, for this stunt. I noticed the warehouse was getting dusty and disorganized. You will be cleaning it out. I will check if it cleaned to my specifications and not yours."

The boys groaned, "but dad is already punishing us and making us work our way up from lowest to highest rank with cleaning."

Maggie replied, "That was his punishment, and if you are going to argue, I will add more."

They replied, "Yes, ma'am."

I told them, "Goliath said one thing since SNAP is a new pack and first duel citizenship, he does not know if, as an alpha if I can add members as duel citizens or if they break from the old pack to join us. You might need to add them back to your pack once SNAP is discontinued."

I heard many cries of "No, we don't want to lose them."

Easton growled, "Quiet. Zeus and Yuri. I hope you don't break, but if you do, know you are hurting us with this break."

"Dad, we did not think about this hurting you guys. You know we would never intentionally do that. We will accept our punishment when we return without argument. We just wanted to avenge our uncle and cousin's death."

Easton replied, "I know, sons. There are reasons for rules, and you broke the rules."

I added, "So that you know, when I talked to Goliath, he said since the boys know they were turned down in the ceremony that the council is giving them 200 hours of community service work upon completion of our mission. I have a feeling they will be busy when they return. Plus, I told them they would also be on grunge duty here. Have a feeling they will learn the consequences of breaking the rules."

The boys looked down toward the ground. I continued, "What if I hang up and call you back through FaceTime? You can witness the ceremony to add them to SNAP1. We should know right away if you feel the break."

"Ok. I will call you on FaceTime once I make sure the younger pups understand."

At Easton's house.

He asked the server, "Please bring the strongest sliced-up onions you have. Put one plate in front of each pup and my mate. You all are to sniff the onions and get your eyes to cry. Just don't touch the onions.  When he completes the ceremony, I nod my head. Could you turn off your link to them? Then I am going to show them you all crying. Then tomorrow morning, we will reestablish their link after breakfast."

"Won't they feel the pack link?" One of the younger pups asked.

"No, because I will alpha order everyone to block them until I order them to reestablish their link."

Another pup asked, "What if they do break with us."

"The onions would not have been needed."

Maggie replied, "I think the guilt of thinking they hurt us will be their worst punishment."

A few minutes later, Easton called back. Maggie was sitting on his lap, "we are ready."

I said, "Since we do not have a ceremonial knife, we will do this in the ancient ways." One of my hands shifts to a claw. "Zeus and Yuri, please step forward." They walked up to me. "Do you, Zeus Hutton, and Yuri Hutton promise to abide by the SNAP laws to protect those in our pack?"

"We do"

"Do you promise to listen and obey those of seniority in SNAP?

"We do"

Then I, ALPHA CHARLES SOMMERS-HUTTON, will accept you in our pack." I then sliced my palm and theirs with my claw. I squeeze my hand with theirs. When our blood intermingled, I felt their joining.

Then we heard and saw the tears from their family.

March 15, 2023
I posted this chapter. Now the question is, what do you think of the prank or mental punishment Alpha Easton came up with?
Should the link be broken, or should they be like the others and be members of both packs?