Daryl remembered Alpha Cornell saying the activities were similar to the human team-building ones, but withbite. Had she meant that literally?
Cam sighed and took a step back to lean against the wall. “They’re safe in that no one will come to any serious harm, but that’s not to say there isn’t a risk of injury.” He addressed all the betas in the room. “A lot of the activities that Alpha Cornell proposed were based on the human equivalent.
They’re designed to encourage people to work together, maybe push their limits, and get them to act outside their comfort zones. We’re shifters. To get the same or similar results, we need that little bit extra.” He grinned. “Like Jenn said, we heal. I dare say both units involved can handle it if things get tough.”
“So.” Cam stood up straight. “Jenn and Rachel will be accompanying their units to take part in the pack-bonding exercises.”
If it’d been up to Daryl, he’d have happily let the council take Davies and his friends and place them with other packs, far away from London. But then, he wasn’t as patient or as forgiving as Cam.
Never would be.
“Considering the possibility of—” Cam grimaced. “—conflicts.” Alec snorted, and Daryl stifled a laugh. That was one way to put it. “Alpha Cornell and I thought it would be prudent to have one or more impartial betas there as back up.”
Oh no. Daryl tensed.
“If there are any instances where intervention is required, then we believe it would be better if someone other than Rachel or Jenn had to step in and risk being accused of bias, and I’d rather not have to involve the council in any disputes. That’s what we’re trying to avoid by this whole endeavour. I want us to resolve any problems as they happen, and within the pack. If we can’t do that, then we’ve failed.”
Cam glanced around the room, and Daryl groaned when Cam’s gaze landed on him and then Jason. Daryl rolled his eyes as Cam smiled. “Daryl, Jason, since you two have been present for most of the discussions concerning the pack bonding, I’d like you to accompany the others to the alpha council.” He shot a glance at Jenn. “You’ll be there primarily to observe. As far as you’re able, I’d like you to stay out of any misunderstandings or disputes, unless resolution seems unlikely.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Or in the hopefully unlikely event that tempers flare and someone shifts or half-shifts. If that happens, step in immediately.”
Daryl bit his lip. “Cam? How long will we be there?” The full moon was on November seventh.
Less than a week from away.
“The plan I agreed on with Alpha Cornell—although we still have to finalise a few things—is for you to be there for two weeks.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Daryl caught Jenn tensing.
Alec let out a low whistle. “You’re not planning on having both teams there over the full moon, are you?”
“I know the timing isn’t ideal,” Cam said, frowning slightly. “But I’d rather not delay this.
Especially after what Daryl and I witnessed this morning. The pack is out of sync. Bad feelings still exist from the merger, and I feel that this needs to be done now. If we delay until after the full moon, it’ll be another week we allow things to fester. I’d rather not lose anyone from my pack.”
Tension prickled in the room as Cam’s words sank in.
Jenn sighed, and Daryl felt all of her worry and concern from that one small exhalation.
“Look,” Cam said. “The aim of these pack-bonding exercises is to bring the individual pack members together, to make them feel like they belong. How will we truly know if that’s worked until tested under the tensest of circumstances? Like the full moon.”
Daryl didn’t like it. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up just thinking about the full-moon run, let alone the rest of the two weeks. But Cam was in a tough spot, and although Daryl didn’t necessarily agree with him trying to make the members of Jenn’s unit welcome in their pack despite all the shit they’d caused, he’d support his alpha one hundred per cent. Sitting back in his chair, the matter decided as far as he was concerned, he said. “When do we leave?”
Cam smiled at him, the slight nod in Daryl’s direction telling him without words how grateful he was for Daryl’s unflinching support.
And he’d always have it. Daryl had known Cam a long time, before Cam took over as alpha.
“Rachel’s due back on Wednesday,” Cam said, walking over to lean against the fireplace. “I’d like you all to leave on Thursday if possible, Friday at the latest. Alpha Cornell assures me they can get everything in place by then, and I’d like to get a few days under your belts before the full-moon run.”
That made sense. Hopefully Jenn and Rachel could spot potential problems and deal with them before they escalated. If not, then that’s what he and Jason were there for.
Daryl glanced over to where Jason sat on the arm of the sofa, next to Paul, as usual. As ex-P-pack members went, Jason and Paul were some of the better ones. Neither had bought into Newell’s anger and hate where Cam was concerned, a fact which had nearly cost Jason his life. While he
understood and agreed with Cam’s decision to keep them as betas, Daryl didn’t feel one hundred per cent comfortable with either of them yet. Wouldn’t for a while, probably. It took time for him to fully trust someone, to trust that they’d have his back if the shit hit the fan. That went for Rachel and Jenn, too.
Cam knew how Daryl was with new pack members. Hell, with change in general. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Cam explain a few more details of their trip.
The crafty bastard!
Maybe this pack-bonding thing wasn’t just for the units involved? Out of all the betas to accompany them, why choose him?
