When Glen and Kynan return, I see Glen’s hand on Kynan’s shoulder and he is still giving him advice. That simple act has me filled with pride.
“Alpha Lyle, this should be interesting. Kynan here is a natural. Sloane, you are going to have to bring your A-game to this competition.”
“Very well, Chief. You may pick the trees and start them climbing when ready,” I say, and feel excited at the coming competition.
There are a number of pack members that have been witnesses to the preparations and they, in turn, have passed this on to others. We have quite an audience gathering now. When the Chief is satisfied that Kynan and Sloane are ready, he counts them down and the contest begins.
Sloan is away the fastest, but Kynan is no slouch. I suspect his upper body strength is making up for his lack of expertise. They are neck and neck when they descend the first time. Kynan, I’m surprised, has a slight lead on the second descent. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, I think to myself.
By the third and fourth descent, they are tied again, but by the time Kynan is halfway up his tree, Sloane has begun her descent. When she touches the ground, the audience shout and clap for her victory. When Kynan touches down, Sloane takes his arm and raises it high. The pack watching goes positively crazy in their appreciation of his valiant attempt.
Walking over to them, I see how hard Kynan is breathing and the sweat that is running off him. Sloane, I notice is barely out of breath.
“Alpha Falan, Kynan did exceptionally well at that challenge. It is difficult for any warrior, but for his first attempt he did very well. I didn’t think to embarrass him by the display, but to demonstrate that we can learn a lot from each other. Using both our wolf and human physical traits in tandem, pays dividends in many ways.”
“Kynan, well done. When we return, I suggest you take Fenya into the forest and show her this. I think she will have us all likemonkeys in a matter of weeks. Fenya, Alpha Lyle, is my Head Warrior. Had she been here, she would not have left until she had beaten Sloane. She is the most fearsome warrior I have ever come across. Her training is impeccable and her standards are exacting. I thought I was going to have a serious problem when she was not chosen as part of my escort.” I see the look in his eye and recognize the pride I see there. I have had that look myself many times.
Chapter 8
LYLE
Hunter is driving me crazy, ever since he smelled our mate on Alpha Falan he’s lost all rational thought. I’m not sure, to be fair, how much rational thought he had to start with, but what he did have has gone south. I want my mate as much as he does but we can’t just leave the pack and go wandering around other pack lands in search of her. I’ve given in by agreeing to go to Blood Pearl pack and confirm that it’s not Beta Raina, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go at this stage.
You know we should follow Alpha Falan to his pack if she is not at Blood Pearl. We need to find her and make her ours!
‘At any normal time, I would agree with you Hunter, but with the rogue threat, these are not normal times.’
The pack is well defended, and we can be spared for a few days.
‘You sound like a spoiled human child. I am not going to Wolfsong Pack and that’s final!’
Ha! Now who sounds like a spoiled child!
Deciding that this is going nowhere I begin making plans for the journey to the Blood Pearl Pack. Beta Earl and Chief Warrior Glen won’t be happy when I tell them they will be staying here to look after the pack and deal with any rogue incursions, but that’s why they have the positions they have. I can trust that they will do whatever it takes and make any tough decisions that will need to be made in my absence.
Warriors Lucas, Eli and Sloane will go with me, and Glen can decide who the other three warriors will be that make up my escort. I know he will call it my protection detail, but I’m still stubborn enough to think I don’t need protection.
You will need protection when our mate finds out that you did not immediately go in search of her!
The phone on my desk rings and I snatch it up quickly, ending the chance for Hunter to continue his constant jibes. “Alpha Lyle speaking.”
“Good morning, Alpha Lyle. How are you this fine day?” Taria’s voice almost tinkles down the phone.
“I’m good, thank you, Luna Taria. Not as good as you seem to be. You sound like you just hung the moon, all on your own and with no step ladder.”
“That’s because I have something to tell you.”
“It sounds like good news, and that’s always welcome. Wait. You’re not having a pup already?” Not knowing where that thought came from, I hear Taria laughing on the line.
“Oh Goddess, no! I’m enjoying the practice too much to get pregnant and spoil it! Better news than even that.”
“I give in. I don’t know what could be better than that.” Waiting, I hear Bronze in the background telling Taria to stop teasing me.
“It seems the Goddess has seen fit to mate Lavender to one of our warriors.”
“WHAT? Seriously? That is fantastic news. Not for me, but for Lavender. At last, she’ll be able to get the attention she has craved. Oh, that is wonderful news. Are they both happy with each other?”
“Well, Lavender appears to have forgotten you in an instant. Her friend, Jade, tells me that Lavender has certainly transferred her addiction from you to Wylder in a heartbeat. Wylder is a bit more cautious. Happy to have found his mate, but wary of rushing in. I think Lavender may have frightened him somewhat with herintensity, shall we say?” Hearing Bronze laughing in the background, I have to ask what he finds amusing.
