Meeting with Blood Pearl Pack’s Beta at the border, I damn near embarrass myself when I stand there gawking. The Beta is a female that introduces herself as Beta Raina. I don’t know why I should be so surprised that the Beta is a female. I’m not against females in formal positions or any such nonsense. For some reason, I just wasn’t expecting a female.
“Is there a problem, Alpha Falan?” She asks, her head tilted to one side.
“No. Not at all. I was just surprised you are a female.”
“Should I be offended or complimented by that statement?” She frowns at me, and I blush. I blush, damn it!
“I have absolutely no explanation for my reaction, Raina, and it is certainly not my intention to offend you.” I start to recover when she has me blushing all over again.
“Raina? Not Beta Raina? Just Raina? Are we already past formalities with each other? Did I miss a courtship period,Falan?” She has a stern look about her and I can’t help but feel I want the ground to open up beneath me and swallow me whole!
What on earth has gotten into you? I’ve never seen you like this around a female? There is no mate bond, so why are you so tongue-tied?Jupiter, my wolf, finds this extremely amusing.
“Alpha Falan? Alpha Falan?” Gradually realizing my name is being spoken, I glance around and my warrior escort leader, Kynan, is giving me a concerned look. “Is something wrong, Alpha Falan?” He then gives Beta Raina a hard stare as though she appears to be the problem.
“No, Kynan. There is no problem. I’m just embarrassing myself in front of the whole world for no good reason.” I look back at Beta Raina. “My apologies, Beta Raina. I have no idea what just happened or why. I clearly had a temporary loss of my mental faculties.”
“I’ve never had THAT effect on a male before, I have to say. No harm done. I’ll know what to expect now, each time we meet! Perhaps we should get on our way before you have anotherepisode!”
For the next hour we run as wolves through the Blood Pearl pack lands, and I have to say, they are beautiful. We travel near a river that would look good as a picture on any wall. Rolling hills give way to flat, almost prairie, land. I immerse myself in the surroundings and give only the occasional glance at those around me.
You keep telling yourself that, but I know different. You forget! I see what you see through MY eyes.
‘What is that supposed to mean?’
You only have eyes for one other when you are not looking at the scenery.
‘Concentrate on where we’re going!’
Jupiter picks up his stride and before I know it, we’re running alongside Beta Raina’s wolf.
Her name is Zuma.
Hearing the humor in his voice, I throw myself to the back of his mind and close my eyes. Maybe a nap will help with whatever has come over me.
Jupiter wakes me when we take a brief rest at the side of the river. I say wakes me, but it is the taste of raw rabbit that wakes me, and not in a nice way.
‘You could have woken me first so I could prepare myself. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to warm blood in my throat!’
The Goddess gave you the wrong wolf if you expect me to delay a fresh, warm meal just so you can be squeamish.
“We’ll travel in our human form for the next hour, take another break and then finish the last stage as our wolves, if that’s okay with you, Alpha Falan,” Beta Raina states, interrupting Jupiter's taunts.
“That sounds good to me. I leave myself in your capable hands, Beta Raina.”
“Alpha Falan, I do believe that is the first thing you’ve said to me without blushing. We’re making headway.” She smiles at me… and I blush furiously. This is going to be a long day!
Somehow I manage not to embarrass myself again and Jupiter has no cause to tease me further.
Arriving at my second border crossing of the day, we are met by the Spirit Walker Pack’s Beta, Earl. We share introductions before my Blood Pearl escort bid me farewell. I don’t watch them as they leave and wonder what had caused my odd behavior with Beta Raina.
After only a brief rest break, we set off for their packhouse. Stopping for a brief respite after two hours, we are halfway there. We are just preparing to begin the last leg of our journey when one of my warriors shouts from the forest, “ROGUES! STAND READY!” and then bursts into our clearing. Turning to face from where he has appeared, he shifts to his wolf.
Rogues charge through the forest, then come to an abrupt halt when they see us waiting for them. Taking the offensive, we quickly dispatch those closest to us and run down those that choose to flee rather than fight. Holding them in the clearing, Earl takes on the role of interrogator and soon has his answers.
“Alpha Falan. They knew you were coming to Spirit Walker Pack. How they knew you had already left your pack lands, the prisoners couldn’t say. To have that information so quickly speaks of an efficient spy network.” Earl gives me a wide-eyed look.
“That is something I need to address when I return. You are correct. How did they know so quickly that I had left? That is not good. What do you propose to do with your prisoners?” I ask, knowing how difficult it would be to move swiftly and watch prisoners.
