Page 62 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
“That would be great. The human children are becoming a little frightened of the shifters fighting, and the growls and yowls are not helping. I know it’s natural, but it needs put into some sort of environment where it’s controlled and the little devils can let out steam under supervision,” Elena discusses a little further and after we agree to where she wants to expand, Adira tells her she’ll send Talon over to organize something.
“Well, that’s another crisis solved,” Adria says, reaches up and kisses me gently.
“You shouldn’t be doing that in front of the whole town, because if I can’t contain myself it could be very embarrassing.” I tease.
“Promises, promises…” Adira laughs, but takes off running before I can respond, and she’s laughing all the time.
‘Naughty mate.’Rawlin growls, but he’s amused at the same time.
Walking into the Town Council office I’m surprised to see the four council members sitting at the large table drinking coffee and eating sandwiches, and cakes.
“What can we do for you?” Adira asks as she takes a seat at the head of the table, with me right by her side I might add.
“We’ve had a discussion, and would like to put a proposal forward,” Mato Shaw one of the bear shifters says.
“What proposal is that?” I ask.
“We would like to disband the Town Council, and form a pack council, and by that I mean we would only be there for any advise you would like to ask us. We would not be in meetings, or give opinions or anything else unless you called the council to you. All of us have served the town for a long time. We feel now as it’s a pack it’s time to shift the responsibility to you as the Alphas of the Pack. But, if you have trouble you want advise on, and we can help then we’d be more than happy to give it. Otherwise, we’d like to retire, or take up a business, something different,” Thomas says, and I know from what Adira has said he is the oldest of the council members.
“If that is what you want, then by all means, as far as I’m concerned it’s a good move. To still be able to use your wisdom in a case we need extra input then that is ideal,” I look at Adira and she agrees. Although we are both surprised at this move, it is good as things have changed a lot since Adira created the pack, and then I became co-alpha.
Lars sits forward with his elbows on the table, “I for one am more than happy to help take down the Elder Council if needed. They are like us, past the time they step aside and let the young work hard. Me, I want to create a garden where I can sit with a glass of beer and read a good book. Dilly dally the day away, go for a walk, nip to the café for lunch, do nothing much but spend the money I have saved all these years.”
The other three are looking at Lars as though they don’t recognize him, but if you look closely, he looks tired. Maybe it is time all of them took time for themselves, although Tarlo has himself a younger woman and a half wolf stepson to rear.
“From this point, I would like you to speak with Mavis. Have her take the paperwork that is needed for the upkeep of the pack. Iwill create an office here that pack or townsfolk can come to once a week if they need a meeting with either myself or Adira. That way, everyone knows they can be heard if they have an issue.” I look at Thomas and he gives me a nod before saying it’ll take a few weeks to get done, but they will do it.
Back at the farmhouse, both Adira and I are amazed at the Town Council’s decision, but to keep them as an advisory council is a great thing. They will maintain a small salary for that too, which means they won’t have to rush out to find an income, and it’s a retirement pension for all the years of work they have done for the town, and the community that has lived within it.
Chapter 32
*Adira*
Things are happening at the Dark Water Pack, and I have an idea that James likes the idea of moving his pack to the Strongbow territory. As yet, he has not spoken to us more on that subject, but he is back to full health and has been in touch with Barrik regarding pack issues he has had with other alphas.
I’m not going to worry about what is happening with James. He is, after all, a great Alpha and knows what he’s doing. We will come to some agreement eventually I’m sure.
Knocking on the office door has me looking up from the huge shopping list Robbie has given to Mavis for the next two weeks' groceries. “Come in,” I raise my voice slightly.
I’m more than surprised when Elena walks into the office. “Hello, Alpha Adira. I hope it’s okay to come and have a few words with you?”
“Of course it is. Come on in and take a seat.” I wait for her to settle in her seat and give her a soft smile. “So, what can I do for you, Elena?”
“I wanted to thank you for giving the school the extra grounds. It has made a difference to our lessons. I have been hiding things in the area for the children to find. I have to hold the shifter children back a little to give the human children the opportunity to find things.” Elena gives me a smile, and I return it because I know that if she didn’t the shifter children would find things easily using their enhanced sense of smell. “I have introduced training, and it has stopped the squabbles that we were having. Sometimes the shifter children get too much energy and fighting is the way they get it out of their system. But I have some of the warriors coming to assist, and it’s been great.”
“Who has volunteered? I put it to them you needed some aid with the children as far as training was concerned.”
“Tyson Proudfoot has been and his two children are doing well. They were not fighters, but I think Tyson and Cato take the cubs out often to run and train. Grant Gladstone, Yarik Broadly, and Blaze O’Conner have also been helping. Surprisingly, Lars Frekin and Tarlo Pawfoot have assisted too. In fact, those two have been helping in the classrooms.” Elena is giving me a shocked look at the last, and I explain they have retired the town council so are looking for other things they can do to help. “They have helped wherever they can, and it has been lovely I have to admit.”
“It’s good to hear that everyone is pulling in the same direction. It is one of the things that I loved about the town when I first arrived here. I was made welcome immediately. Coming from a pack that assisted a rejection, it was soul warming, and I will do anything for the pack. Even if I had not been the Alpha, I would have done anything and everything I could because everyone makes this place special.”
“You are well loved here, Alpha Adira. I have not heard a single bad word about or against you. Well, Maisie bad mouths everyone so she doesn’t count.”
At that comment, we both laugh as I understand exactly what she is saying. But to be fair to Maisie she has improved with Dottie overseeing her. Asher also informed me last week that Maisie was working well at the store, and had even learned how to be a decent cashier. But, she is a gossip and will probably always be one.
“Is there anything else you need for the school?” I ask.
“No, thank you, Alpha Adira. I just wanted to update you on how things were going, and that the warriors have stepped up to help.”
