Home To Roost - 13. A New Step

With nothing else pressing, and with Dean finally off the hook as far as his former job, the duo left for the drive north. The moving truck would be heading out in two days, which gave the boys some wiggle room for sightseeing and being alone with each other. Planning the route was only made difficult by having to set a travel plan with all the packlands they would go through. Most of them were small and didn't care if the duo stuck to the highway. One even invited them to have a meal with the Alpha pair and their Betas.

Kao had gotten the call for that one when they were just leaving Nevada and crossing into Utah. He answered, saying "Kao Whitmore-Saechao," which brought a HUGE grin to Dean's face.

"Beta Whitmore-Saechao, this is Beta Levi Hawkins of the Salt Lake Pack." The voice was light, sweet, and Kao knew instantly that a "Good Mormon Boy" was on the other side of the line. How this would go was beyond Kao. "How has the drive been so far?"

"Beta Hawkins, the drive has been superb. No rain, no traffic, no construction." Kao kept his tone light, but he felt a bit wary. He had met two kinds of Mormons at BYU: The Live and Let Live and the Other Type.

"Wonderful. Alpha Perkins has asked me to invite you and your mate to join us for a meal when you come through Salt Lake City. To put your fears at ease, you will not be persecuted for being gay. Neither the Alpha nor Beta pairs will tolerate such bigotry. If I may be so informal, my little brother is finding it very hard to transition from male to female since we don't respond to human hormone treatments." There was a soft chuckle. "I have to catch myself to remember pronouns. HER name is Melody."

Kao was open-mouthed with surprise but quickly recovered. "Please, let's be informal. I had enough of the Elder this and Elder that when I went to BYU. I can't imagine trying to transition as a Lycan." Kao grinned at Dean's amazed look. "But sure. Dean and I would love to share a meal with you and your Alphas. We should be near there around 8 pm. Is that too late? We could have breakfast before we head out in the morning." Since the Beta had contacted them to say they were sharing a meal, it was safe to say they would have full permissions to spend the night.

"Since Alpha Mate Tiffany doesn't get off work until six, I think that would be great. I will warn you that Alpha Perkins will be trying to talk shop. We've been trying to get alliance talks with Homestead for a few months, but Acting Beta Andrews advised against anything until you guys were ready to move. Solidarity in the hierarchy and all." Levi's tone was understanding and a bit frustrated. There was something going on that made it to where Salt Lake needed access to Homestead lands or resources.

"While I cannot give a guarantee on an agreement, I know Dean and I will make time to listen to Alpha Perkins. This way we can bring direct information to Alpha Davenport on the needs of Salt Lake."

There was a slight exhale on the other end. It told Kao he had said the right thing. "Thanks, Kao. Really, it will mean the world to us if we can at least negotiate a non-hostility treaty. But I will leave that part to Alpha Perkins. I will text you the address and we'll see you around 8 pm."

"Perfect. See you then, Levi."

Dean glanced over with a serious expression on his face as Kao hung up. "That does not sound good at all."

"I know. My first impression is they need access to our territory or something we have, and it's vital. Something personal, I'm guessing, by the tone Levi used." Kao sat back and looked down at the phone when the text came in.

"How big is the Salt Lake Pack?" Dean asked as he switched lanes, flipped off the slow driver, and went the actual speed limit.

"Big enough to be a threat to most of the small packs in the area combined. Maybe on par with Homestead or Cali Sands."

That was a sizable pack. "So pretty much, if they want a non-hostility treaty, they face the threat of violence from some other power. What could threaten them?"

"Any other pack. Cali Sands is too far to be a problem, the local packs to small unless they joined up to take down Salt Lake." Kao thought for a moment. "The Adobe Pueblo would be a problem if they were not already allied with Salt Lake."

"Would the ECP be a problem?" Dean asked. He had heard enough problems coming out of that pack.

"Only just. They don't share borders, but if Alpha McLeod decided to expand rapidly, he could absorb or eliminate any pack between ECP and Salt Lake."

Dean nodded. "Too much work for Angus." His brow creased in thought. "What's north? Into Canada?"

"Small packs, but not much else. Why?"

"Something the Little Dude told me about a hiking trip into Canada. I think Homestead expanded to cover the border and beyond."

Kao nodded. "They did recently bring in a small pack of six without an alpha. They held a large territory for such a small group. About the size of Rhode Island."

That was large enough for a pack of two hundred. Dean pressed the call button on his steering wheel.

"Hey, Uncle Dean."

"Little Dude, your dad or Pat free to talk shop?"

"They're dealing with an issue in North Dakota. Papa Travis and Grandpa are here though."

"Can you get them both?" Dean had a germ of an idea. He heard Dylan bellow for them and in a moment he heard Travis and Alan come into the office. "Travis, Alan, it's Dean."

"Problems on the road?" asked Alan.

"Not with our drive. We're passing through Salt Lake tonight..." Dean began

Travis cut him off. "Remus is going to be talking about the treaty." It was not a question.

"Got it in one. Now, with a safe buffer between his pack and anything large enough to threaten it without warning, why would he need a bare minimum of a non-hostility treaty with us?"

"He's going north. Some of his people have gone missing, as have some of a few from smaller packs near ours. Which is why Jon and Pat are in North Dakota talking with a few trackers and Gene. If Salt Lake makes a bold move north, it could leave his pack at half strength and open to threats, or it could lead to fighting with the packs up in Canada, which consist mostly of Solaris and other solitary types."

It made sense to Dean and Kao now. "So he wants either a few of Homestead to guard his lands, join so he doesn't have to send more troops, or not try for a sneak attack while he's away and we can hammer and anvil him." Dean could see why time was a factor here. They could already be dead, but Salt Lake was holding onto hope. Faith is such a fickle thing at the best of times.

"Exactly," said Alan. "As Acting Alpha, I authorize you to make a decision concerning Salt Lake. Jon trusts the pair of you, shifty blighters that you are," there was an obvious joking tone in his voice, "and you've grasped the situation quickly. In other words, it's your call and the Alpha Pair and Designates will support your decision."

"First really big task and you need a scapegoat. Gotcha." Kao got a chuckle from the other side of the line. "We'll touch base with you if anything seems questionable."

Dean cut the line after some small talk and they continued their drive, stopping off for fuel and some travel junk food. So many new smells, so many new faces, and more than one were Lycan. It wasn't so much the Lycans that bothered Dean as it was the general...niceness. So many smiles, waves, held doors, polite children... When had he crossed over into the Twilight Zone? He was used to big cities, rudeness, callow disregard, apathy. This was all new territory, and he was nervous because none of it was fake.

"Yes, they really are this nice," Kao said to his mate with a grin.

"It's not natural. Humans are selfish and myopic. Do I smell as nervous as I feel?" Kao just laughed and nodded. "Hope no one finds it offensive."

"One look at your license plates and all is understood." Kao's grin was huge.

Dean's custom frame around the plates read "HORN BROKEN – WATCH FOR FINGER" which was all anyone needed to know.

"Wonder if any of the locals are calling about 'new people' in the area," Dean mused.

"Yes," came a soft reply from behind, and Dean jumped, his pupils contracting to pinpoints, "those in charge have been told." The speaker was tall...very tall...and lean like a swimmer, with long jet black hair, tawny skin, and merry green eyes. Lycan, but a type Dean did not know very well. There was something very feminine about this undeniably beautiful young man. "You must be Dean and Kao. I'm Melody."

"Levi's sister," Dean said with a grin. Those two words won a huge grin from Melody and an honest flush of pleasure scent. "Not used to that reaction, or lack thereof, are you?" She shook her head. "I'm from California. You're not the first trans I have met." When she took Dean's offered hand, he bent over to give it a courtly kiss.

Kao could not smother his giggle at Melody's scarlet blush. He felt no threat or jealousy as he had seen Dean do the same with many other women. It was just an old custom he found to his liking. The ladies were not opposed, either.

"I...uh...have been asked to lead you through security at the estate." Melody cleared her throat to try and sound official, but there was no hiding that giddiness. No one did that hand kiss thing to her, so it was a very unexpected pleasure.

"Lead on then," said Kao with a smile.

An hour later they were pulling into the drive of a stately Victorian home. Security had been no problem. Even without Melody there, they would have found it welcoming as the guards had photos of them in the guard house. Waiting on the steps were two small families.

"Welcome to Salt Lake City, Betas Whitmore-Saechao. I am Alpha Remus Perkins." Remus was a Southern born-and-bred gentleman right out of Gone with the Wind. Although that era would not have had black gentry. "My mate Tiffany," he said with a twinkling smile to the very tall and stunning blonde, "and our two pests, Sarah and Rogan." The two children, Sarah being the elder, were a beautiful combination of their mixed parents. Caramel skin, light eyes, statuesque even in the gangliness of youth. "And my beta, Levi, to whom you spoke earlier." There were handshakes all around, with a big welcoming hug for Melody from everyone.

Yup, no bigotry here. Very refreshing, but slightly more understandable with the mixed marriage.

As they were walking into the house so Dean and Kao could wash the travel dirt off themselves, Kao overheard Sarah's whisper to Melody. "He is fiiiiine."

Which made Melody chuckle. "Which one?"

"Yes," was Sarah's remark.

The interior of the house was tastefully done and Dean did not feel like he was in a museum. It felt lived in and cherished. It was a home, not a showpiece.

"Did you know we are fiiiiine?" asked Kao, putting the same amount of I's in the word as Sarah had. They were washing their hands and faces with the provided towels and sinks.

"Let me guess: another teenie-bopper crush," Dean grinned. Not the first time. "I think I'm only a few years younger than Alpha Perkins."

"Two years," said Kao with a grin. He knew quite a bit about the various packs across the US.

"I so do not need a teen girl crush. I'm old enough to be her dad." It was still flattering.

"What's twenty years?" Kao asked with a laugh, ducking as Dean tossed the towel toward him. Their own age difference was not a factor, but this was pushing it.

"It's twenty-five...as in twenty-five to life." That got a chuckle from just outside the open door of the bathroom.

Alpha Mate Tiffany Perkins stood there with an open grin on her face. "Don't worry about her. She crushes on every gay guy she meets. That way her dad won't realize one of them MIGHT be straight and get 'The Talk' from him."

Dean laughed. "I'd be doing the same. Save my daughter from guys like me." That got a humorously raised brow. "Hey, I'll admit, until a few years ago my biggest sin was fornication. Never lied about it, never will. Next would be pride, but when you look this good..." He struck an absolutely fake pose. Both knew he was just playing the fool, but it was his reaction to this situation that Kao was noting.

Dean was not worried and would handle business when it came. Until then, be relaxed.

Tiffany looked at Kao with a smirk. "He always like this?" The phrasing and lack of poise told both Dean and Kao that Tiffany was not brought up Mormon. Something about it struck something within Dean. She seemed familiar...something in her smirk.

"Usually, but I've almost got him potty trained."

"Yup, only missed twice last week." That sent Tiffany into a fit of laughter and Kao into a fit of blushing. Dean pulled Kao in for a smooch, not feeling the least bit self-conscious or wary. Relax, dude, we won't get tarred and re-feathered here.

Kao got the message and shook off the first reaction of shock and caution.

Tiffany caught it. "Beta Whitmore-Saechao, I speak now as Alpha Mate of the Salt Lake City Pack. I will not suffer any to be persecuted or mistreated due to matters of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or former and current pack relations. You are free to express your love for your mate any way you deem fit without fear. Should anyone in this pack act differently, notify me and I shall remind them of my edict as Alpha Mate." Her phrasing told them both she was responsible for the open nature of the pack. Perhaps Alpha Perkins was more ambivalent or less opinionated and supported his mate's passion for the subject.

"I thank you for your words, Alpha Mate Perkins. It is difficult to act so openly when it has ever been my way to hide it."

She took his hand with a soft smile. "You are mated to a strong-willed and charismatic man. You are Beta to one of the largest packs in the Americas. My advice to you is to go forward with your head up and proud. Not only do you represent your pack, you represent your mate. Both hold you in very high esteem."

Kao bowed his head with a smile of his own. It would take a long time to get used to being treated as if he mattered.

Dean looked at Tiffany and nodded. "Your sister is Brigit Whitebear," he said so certainly.

Tiffany nodded. "Half sister. Same father...and mothers." It made sense to Dean now. Strong opinion about same-sex couples, her mothers brought in a surrogate to have kids, one for each mother if not more. "So, when you get back to Homestead, tell that mountain of a nephew of mine that Tonny Tiffy sends her love."

"The Klondike bear is your nephew? I am so sorry," Kao said with such false sincerity that she laughed and gave him a hug.

"You'll fit right in with Homestead. Come, follow me or you'll get lost."

After a wonderful and delightful supper, the adults went to the back porch to talk. Dean's banter, which had the entire family laughing, was gone now. It was time to talk treaties. "We have been given full permission and authorization to open treaty negotiations on behalf of Homestead. Please, tell us what is so important?"

Remus nodded. "No dallying with you. I like that. Bluntly, we have lost a few members of our pack who went on Missions into Canada. We are planning on sending some scouts north overland, which will take us right through Homestead. If it comes to violence, which we all hope not, it could spill over onto Homestead's people or lands. We may also come under fire from a few rogue groups around the fringes of the area."

Kao nodded. "We thought as much on our way here. Who have you lost?"

Beta Hawkins spoke up. "My little brother Jordan and Creston Miller, who went with him on his mission."

Personal indeed. "What is it you would like in a treaty with Homestead?" Dean asked.

Alpha Perkins took over. "If nothing else, an agreement that we can have safe passage to and from during this recovery." Kao noted that Remus said recovery. He wanted this to be non-violent. "If forces oppose us, we will not be held responsible for damage done to Homestead and its peoples. This is all we ask."

Dean and Kao just looked at each other. "Homestead offers its support with manpower, resources necessary, and even assistance with keeping your territory safe during the recovery. Any force that wishes to enter Homestead will be met with our own forces." Dean was having to stop himself from smiling at the hopeful looks in their eyes. "Some of which are a certain mountain and his mate." A grateful smile broke out on Tiffany's face.

Kao took up the discussion. "In addition, Homestead will grant open passage for any and all members of Salt Lake City Pack who wish to travel through or to its lands with the understanding that SLCP will extend the same to Homestead and its peoples."

Dean nodded. "I know Jon...Alpha Davenport will let people come and go so long as they're not douche bags, but this is a formality." He thought of something. "We also would like to offer a sort of exchange program of sorts. Cross training for our forces. We have tracking specialists and I am sure many of our younger members could benefit from your members' specialties. This one is my idea, but I know it works. I worked briefly with Cali Sands under Beta D'Arlene and learned quite a bit from her."

Remus was momentarily speechless. "Honestly...I don't know what to say. Your extension of this much...it means a lot to us. We're a peaceful pack, and it kills me to think of our boys lost somewhere. Thank you. I do have to ask...are you sure Alpha Davenport will ratify this treaty?"

"The only thing Jon may not is the exchange thing, but I can make him see reason. I can guilt him like no other." Dean's conspiratorial whisper expelled a lot of tensions. "So, we can draw up the document, fax it over to Jon. You'll probably get Alan, his pop, but Homestead has a lot of Alphas."

Remus shook his head. "Lead by council...yet it works for them. Levi will get everything typed out so we can sign and send it off to the Lycan Council for records."

When Kao and Dean were brought out of sleep by Dean's cell blaring "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," which is Jon's ringtone, they were somewhat surprised. "Dude, it's 4 am. The hell do you want?" He put it on speaker.

"I'm just getting home after forty-one hours awake, so waaah." Jon's tone was tired but playful. "I want to tell you I am so proud of the two of you. The SLCP treaty is perfect. Who added the exchange program?"

"Dean did, blame him," said Kao through a yawn. He snuggled deeper against Dean's side.

"It's awesome."

"Then I thought of it," teased Kao, making both men chuckle. "Any changes while we're still here?"

"Nope. Anything else will be handled as needed. You guy get an hour or more sleep, then get on the road. I miss ya." They could hear it in his voice. He did miss his best bud and his new bud.

"Gotcha. Now go to bed. Beta's orders," said Dean with a grin. He hung up on Jon knowing the other would be laughing and telling his husband what an asshole he had for a Beta.

Still, it meant a lot to both that Jon had called just to say he was proud.

After a hearty breakfast, and some farewells with much thanks, the duo were back on the road and head for home. Where home was, neither knew because Pat had handled it all. The house, the area, getting both jobs within and without the Pack. All of it. Obviously, the movers knew where to go, but neither Dean nor Kao thought to ask about the place, and being this close, they would let Pat surprise them.