I am not taking any chances.

Part of the free time I had during my vacation was spent imagining a worse case scenario. I don't like to think about Richard finding my mate and his son here, but I cannot help but think that it is only a matter of time until that happens.

This scares the living crap out of me, it really does. I like having a mate. I love his son like my own already even though it's been barely one month since we were mated. What can I say? Charlie is the most adorable kid ever - not counting my nephew.

I have taken my time to imagine possible scenarios for that happening and in all of them, my mate is devastated over losing his son. I cannot let this happen, but I am far from being a god. I am a simple man, though if I could I would whisk the three of us away to the West Coast where we would never be found.

Alas, that is not my reality. Not that I would abdicate my job and my family anyway.

On Friday, the second day after I returned from vacation, I went over the pack budget and did some analysis. I crunched the numbers, called some Council members that are not related to me or Phillip (both our fathers and grandfathers sit on the board of the Wolf Council) and put my math skills to work.

Then I walked to Phillip's office with a memo ready for him to sign.

"Are you sure we can afford this?" He questioned me, sounding unsure with the document in his hands. He examined the document over and over again.

"Yes, I am sure. I need to prepare us for a fight." I told him, feeling confident.

"I thought we already were! Don't we have 120 warriors to that effect?" He challenged me in an annoyed tone.

"We are, but we can always be more prepared." I replied in a low tone, trying to be respectful.

"If I get calls for impeachment, I will give them your name." He threatened in a joking tone, signing the memo.

"They don't have the votes, Alpha. Last I checked, even your fathers love me." I smirked and the Alpha glared at me. I am not lying and he knows that. As former Alpha and Luna, Elliot and Felix, his fathers, receive an 'automatic' seat on the board of the Wolf Council. As did my father, for that matter.

When I arrived at the training center that afternoon, everybody was ready for the weekend. Iris had some time to think it over the 'bound by Moon mates' issue and she talked to her daughter about it. There is nothing she can do about it now. Worst case scenario, they get disappointed when they turn 18.

I was looking like a man on a mission, so I called out the men and women to file in front of me by raising my fist in the air. More than half the force was present at this hour, so I am confident that the rest of them can be told later of what I am about to inform them. I can never expect all of them to be here at the same time because then who's protecting the pack effectively?

"Good afternoon, everyone. I know it's Friday and some of you are looking forward to the weekend. But I have to make some announcements. I have decided to make some changes in the force, so it's better to announce them now." I started off, catching the dozens of warriors by surprise who were looking wide eyed at me.

"First of all, I am going to hire an additional ten more warriors. I will use the roster from last June, but if that is not enough I will put out a call. That means one team leader spot will become available to lead this squad. Clarkson and Carpenter will make that decision, not me." I declared, catching both the aforementioned by surprise.

"Furthermore, I will double the patrols during the day. I figured I prefer to have you lot for four hours fighting out there than eight hours here, just training. Delta Carpenter will work out your new shifts with Clarkson. Rest assured, if anyone has any limitations in regards to scheduling that will be taken into consideration." I continued, sternly.

"The probational warriors will participate in a shadow program that will be put into effect next week. That is to be explained to them later." I surprised the young warriors, who gaped at me in shock.

"Last but not least, I decided to create a new position within the ranks. The Assistant Delta. This person will work with the teams to observe and report back to Clarkson or Carpenter. Obviously, the goal here is not to have another boss watching you over while you train. No, the Assistant Delta's job is to go where Clarkson and Carpenter don't go. The night shifts, the patrols out in the woods. He will serve as another pair of eyes and ears to report back what needs to be corrected and coordinate the patrols on the ground. Yes, this man will work out there on the field or back here when neither Deltas are present."

I could see everybody's eyes widening as I said that. Nobody has ever changed the force structure in a hundred years. The ranks that we see in action here are the same ones from when the wolf force was created. Nobody ever messed with them.

Literally, the entire room is gaping at me with jaws dropped on the floor. Including Iris and Clarkson, of course.

"I understand I am creating yet another leadership position, but that is exactly my objective. The Assistant Delta will rank above the team leaders, but it's not his job to tell you what to do. No, Clarkson and Carpenter are still the ones with true authority in the force. That hasn't changed nor it ever will. I am not trying to undermine their authority here, on the contrary, I want to expand their views." I clarified.

"For all intents and purposes, the Assistant Delta is only there to observe, report back to his superiors or convey an order from them. He will not, I repeat, he will not discharge orders. The chain of command remains the same. With that being said, I need you all to respect this position as you would any other warrior for he will be there to watch you." I cautioned them.

"In case anyone is curious, the Assistant Delta gets paid ten percent more than what team leaders make. It's not much, I know, but this person will be key in integrating our Deltas to what happens when they are not present, wherever they cannot look." I informed them, who all looked curious at me.

"The reason why I am making these changes is to better improve the efficiency of our warrior force. I want you to focus on protecting the pack, so the least amount of people I see here during the day the better. I see no reason for us to operate in half capacity with these many fierce warriors in my eyesight." I tried to appease them a bit with encouraging words.

"Before I dismiss you, I am pleased to inform you that the person I imagined for this position is a warrior everybody here respects. By all accounts, he did an excellent job as 'acting' Under Delta in my absence, so I give you the new Assistant Delta of the pack, Kaleb Michaels." Owen's father was shocked to hear his name as all the warriors applaud him for the deserved promotion.

The truth is he was supposed to be promoted to team leader a long time ago, but there was always someone else better suited for the position and his break never came. Until Iris decided to name him 'acting' Under Delta when I went on vacation and she acted in my stead, leaving a position to be filled temporarily.

"Wow. Wait to drop a bomb on a Friday afternoon!" Iris approached me, jaw dropped.

"You created another position? How bold!" She complimented me, as the warriors all talked amongst themselves about my new radical changes.

"You haven't seen bold yet, my dear Delta." I spoke, boastfully. "CLARKSON, I need you to assemble all the probies in the conference room tomorrow morning. I know a few of them are out today, but I need them all here tomorrow. Is that understood?" I ordered the Under Delta, who got caught by my surprise announcements just as everyone else.

"Yes, Beta. I will send them messages right away." He replied, respectfully.

"You can do that later. Now I need you, Michaels and Carpenter to go to the conference room. It's time I explain to all three of you what I want out of the Assistant Delta and how that is going to work from here on out." I instructed him, incisively. Iris was wide eyed at my commanding tone, not that this is surprising to her. If there's one thing I know how to do is to give orders.

In a moment, I will talk to the three of them about what I want to happen from here on out. I want to be prepared for any challenges that may come our way. Nobody will catch me surprised or unprepared.

You know what they say? Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. And I will not be caught off guard.

https://youtu.be/5WsZdDDQ8b0

A|N: BOOM!

Are you prepared?

Boy, I love - love - love this song and movie!

What happens next is not expected by ANYONE.

Twist?

That's just a Monday for me. You know that, my lovelies.

Next is... I will not tell you because it is a surprise for my editor @PinkCookieLove

OFF: Out of all my books, I have always been most infatuated with the model I chose for the Alistair character of THE ROGUE'S MATE. But now this model I used for Stephano is giving him a run for his money. He looks so positively adorable. And so darn hot! I have an embarrassment of riches to pick out a new photo of him for each new chapter. He looks so dreamy.

Love,

Léo.