Page 61 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
“No, we have been on this border for six weeks and have seen nothing. We alternate a week throughout the day, and then a week throughout the night. We have had a day resting between each turnaround. But we’ve had no issues at all on either of the rotations, Alpha Barrik.”
“Okay, Monty. It’s good to hear we have had no border attacks in quite some time. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Thor, the panther shifter standing next to Monty nods. “I’ve seen nothing in this section for a long time, Alpha Barrik. My panther likes to come here and sleep in the trees. He’s not alerted me to anything.”
“Good day, Alpha Barrik!”
Turning fully alerted, I calm when I see it’s Alpha Ulrick of the Bayside Pack. The pack that runs alongside our southern border. “Good Day, Alpha Ulrick.”
“I overheard you speaking with your warriors as I was patrolling with my patrol. We have had nothing in a long time either. On any of our borders. If I’m honest my patrol warriors are ready for a good fight and would love some rogues to come wander into the territory.”
Chuckling because I can image the two bear shifters alongside their Alpha would love to get into a fight. They are large and I would imagine black bears, but I’m not bothered what bear they are as long as they stay on their side of the border.
“Would you give me a few minutes of your time, Alpha Ulrick?” I wave my hand to further up the border and away from the warriors a little for privacy.
“Sure,” Alpha Ulrick responds and we step away from our warriors until we’ve gone far enough to not be overheard.
“What are your feelings on the Elder Council?” I come right out and ask.
With a snort, he retorted, “Pompous windbags.”
That is when I go into a full explanation of Adira’s and my idea of overthrowing them and creating a new council of alphas. I can see he’s interested, and he’s not showing signs of being aggressive or upset that I’m talking treason to some. When I finish explaining I wait for Alpha Ulrick’s reaction, and I get one I didn’t quite expect.
Throwing his head back, Alpha Ulrick laughs so hard he has to place his hands on his knees, then wipes the tears of laughter on his cheeks. It takes a few minutes for him to get himselfunder control, then looks me right in the eye. “I’m in. I can’t wait to get those pompous assholes out from their cozy set up. It’s way beyond time they got gone and did something else or retired.” Wiping his eyes once more, he stands straight and smirks, “Whatever you do, don’t put my name forward for the head Alpha. I’ll vote for Alpha James Cornerstone, or Alpha Rudik River. They are the two I know are honest and have great morals.”
“Okay, no problem. I’m up for either of those, too.” I grin because I’m not sure James will be happy about being nominated, but he’ll be a great one if selected.
“Let me know when you need me to put in my request for a meeting. That way we can all request at the same time. The windbags will think it’s great to get everyone at a meeting together, with no idea it’ll be their career demise.”
Alpha Ulrick slaps my shoulder and we head back to our patrol warriors. As he walks away, he looks over his shoulder with a huge smirk on his face, “Can’t wait Alpha Barrik, can’t wait!”
Sitting in a meeting that evening with Adira’s leg resting against mine, I look around at what amounts to our higher hierarchy in the pack. Leo, Rom, Stella, Thorn, Robbie, Talon and Mavis. All have worked hard to achieve pack status and assist Adira in her growth to be a good alpha.
Adira has described what her idea is for the territory for Hunters Bow and Strongbow. How she has discussed it with James andher thoughts on allowing the Dark Water Pack to have all the Strongbow territory and a third of the Dark Water.
“Why do you want to give a third of the Dark Water Pack territory?” Thorn asks Adira.
“Because it’s a huge amount of territory for us to patrol and maintain, if we keep it all. I’d rather off load some to Alpha James as he has a much larger pack than ours and will have the advantage to keep the territory clear of rogues or invaders.” Adira answers clearly.
Leo speaks. “I agree it would be too much territory for us to monitor unless we did a huge recruitment drive for the pack. Trouble with that is we’d not be able to check everyone’s identities, or back history fast enough if there was an influx. That would put us in a weak position security wise.”
Robbie fidgets, but holds his hand up to speak, which of course has most tittering at his antics. “I agree with Leo. We have a lot of humans in the town, and if we had an immense surge of shifters who we know nothing about we are going to be vulnerable. The warriors couldn’t be on patrol at the border and here at the same time.”
“I like the idea of only taking the bulk portion of the Dark Water territory. We don’t need it all, and as time goes, we have young growing and we will expand naturally. We have different species that like wandering alone although they are here mixed with everyone else. The panthers, for example, like to go off for a few days, sleep in the trees, and just be. By that I mean they like to be alone, in their own space. But they can do that and watch quiet areas, so alone, patrol, watch territory. You get where I’m going with this?” Rom looks from one of us to another, and we are all nodding in agreement with his comment.
“Okay, can I have a show of hands for us swapping the Strongbow territory and a portion of the Dark Water to the Dark Water Pack?” I ask, because I don’t want us to over-talk the issue. It will need to be discussed with the pack, or given to them as a done deal. The great thing is we won’t be doing the moving, it will all be James and his pack.
The next morning, as Adira and I are going into town for a meeting with the Town Council, Elena, our new school principal, rushes over to speak to us. “Can I have a moment, please?”
Adira smiles. “Of course, Elena, and congratulations on your recent appointment. What can we do for you?”
“Don’t go there, Alpha Adira. Those two don’t fight fair. They used emotional blackmail to make me take the position. Troy and Tarlo don’t know me very well so they may yet regret their decision! Anyway, I know the threat of alphas coming and trying to grab you is now over, thanks to you and Alpha Barrik finding each other, and we have the emergency siren in place, with everyone knowing what to do and where to go, and that brought me to a point where I thought if we had a little more land behind the school, you know adjoined to the exercise area then we could add some pup, cub, type training because the little devils fight and I want them to know how to fight safely, not actually hurting each other…”
“Wow…take a breather, Elena. You’ll fall over through lack of oxygen at this rate.” I laugh, and I hear Adira giggle lightly.
“I don’t mind you taking more for the school. If it benefits the children, then that’s what it is about. What about you, Barrik?” Adira looks up at me and asks.
“No, I’m okay with it. I can send you Talon, Blaze or another warrior to assist too. You could add it as a class if you would like to do it that way?” I ask, and the relief is palpable on Elena’s face.
