“Lyle, stop beating about the bush and tell me what’s wrong. You keep looking at me as though I’ve caught you with a hand in the proverbial cookie jar. Spit it out and let your mother advise you.” I knew she wouldn’t take long, but this is fast even for her.
“It’s a problem that you can’t help with this time, mother. This one is beyond even your extensive capabilities.” After explaining the whole Fenya thing, it takes both me and my father to stop my mother from searching out Fenya and demanding a reason for her reticence.
Fortunately, the arrival of the rest of the awaited Alphas and Lunas takes the heat off my problem and we go to meet them. The meeting was scheduled to begin after the arrival of all the attendees, and having given them time to freshen up. With that in mind, the meeting would begin within the hour.
Seeing Falan and his half-sister, Hope, reunited is a thing of beauty, I have to say. They don’t have much in common when it comes to physical features, but there is no mistaking they are pleased to see each other. Connell stands to one side and lets them have this time together, looking at Hope as if she was the center of the universe.
Bronze and Talia also look good together. They have naturally gravitated to Gerry and Aurora, and seeing mother and daughter together watched over by their mates has me wanting some of this for myself.
Looking around, I fail to see Fenya anywhere, which I find surprising. I was wondering if all this familiarity would have any effect on her, as it had on me.
“Fenya is in the training ring. She made a comment about a female warrior needing a bat as a weapon, and things degenerated quickly after that. I doubt she will return uninjured this time, and I don’t just mean her pride,” Falan states.
“Oh my. I assume the warrior with the bat was Ember? That would be an interesting contest, but I think I’ll stay well out of it.” Talia grins and has put her money on Ember coming out at least equal but probably with far fewer bruises.
Catching all of our attention, Flint calls us to order, as it were, and we are advised that transport awaits us to go to the town hall. Security is tight and also fairly inconspicuous. We are a long way from a potential attack, but Arric has been nothing if not tenacious.
Once in the town hall's main chamber, we all see Porter Riverrun seated to one side. He looks very different from the last time I was in his company. He is extremely thin and his features are drawn. It immediately begs the question, is his wolf still present?
Surprisingly, it is Councilor Lykos that addresses the room first.
“Before we begin, there is something that we wish to address. By now, you are all aware of Porter Riverrun’s relationship and involvement with Arric. We are grateful that you have kept this amongst the select few present. It is probably more than we could expect, given the circumstances. Rather than face the consequences of his own actions, he has taken Wolfsbane in sufficient quantities that he has killed his own wolf, and condemned himself as a human to a slow death, also.” With this, Lykos signals to two guards standing on either side of Porter and they remove him from the room.
“Our next item of business relates to Councilor Flint Sable. He feels that as the last of the ‘old’ council, and because the othershave in recent times let you all down in one way or another, he should step down and relieve us of his services.” Searching everyone's eyes in the room, we all sit stunned into silence by this revelation.
“I have known Flint for more years than most of you have lived. I have never had any doubt that he has only done what is best for the packs in our area. In fact, I know of more than one occasion where he has gone outside of our area to help a pack or its Alpha.” Lykos looks at Flint with raised eyebrows. We can all see that this is true and that Flint was unaware that Lykos knew of it. “That being said, is there anyone present that calls for the resignation of Flint Sable from the current Shifter Council?” The room remains totally silent. “Councilor Flint, the pack leaders have been unanimous and extremely silent in their support of you remaining on this Council. Please step back here to your position and resume your duties.”
As Flint stands from his place at the end of the council, everyone stands and gives him a tip of their head.
Lykos, seeing the emotion within Flint, waits for him to approach the center chair, reaches out and clasps his arm. “No more of this stupidity, my old friend. Get on with the task at hand and let's see what is to be done.”
Resuming his seat, we all take our own seats too and wait for what pearls of wisdom Flint may offer. “With Porter out of the picture, Arric has lost most of his intelligence network. We have been able to backtrack and isolate most of those that were willing, or coerced, into helping. It has been proven to be an extremely unpleasant business with some unfortunate casualties. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alpha Falan. Without his fast actions on discovering the truth, things could have been far worse.” Flint gives Falan a nod and thencontinues. “If he doesn’t know already, it won’t be long before Arric realizes that his intelligence stream has been severed. What he will do next is anyone's guess. Personally, I think he will move his plans forward and we should prepare for an earlier attack. Alpha Gerry and Alpha Lyle, you both should bolster your border guards as soon as possible. Any pack that can send spare warriors should do so, but do it quietly. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?”
Gerry stands and addresses the room. “I believe Flint is correct. Arric will not want to give us time to prepare for his onslaught. I believe he will not find out about Porter for at least a couple of days. From what we know of him, I doubt anyone will want to give him that tidbit of information. If we gather our forces away from prying eyes but in a position that we can reinforce where necessary quickly, I don’t think we can do much more…”
“I have a suggestion, but it will take some reconnaissance to decide on its feasibility. I can discuss it with Lyle after the meeting. I don’t mean to sound distrustful, but I think security should be at the top of our agenda for the time being.” Bronze looks around the room and meets anyone’s gaze that wants to question that statement further. No one speaks and so I nod at him and we both silently know that we will meet in one of our rooms in the packhouse away from any of those prying eyes or ears.
The meeting continues for another hour, and discussions range across the board around logistics, weapons or more precisely bats with Talia’s input of her personal guards' requirements, food, field hospitals and even latrines.
Once we have discussed everything that we believe is relevant, for the time being at least, we leave the town hall and most return to the Wolfsfoot packhouse. Falan takes the opportunityto visit the town and see how everyone has integrated. Fenya, of course, is his shadow and I decide to leave them to it and walk back with my own escort.
We haven’t gone far when a vehicle pulls up and Gabe nods for us to climb aboard and accept a ride. I see the wheels in Tati’s head whirring as she keeps glancing from me to Gabe and back again.
“Leave it be, Tati. What will be, will be,” Gabe says quietly to her and then shakes his head.
“It’s not natural not to accept a fated mate. I can’t believe she can’t see what she is turning down. Stupid!” She positively hisses back at him. Crossing her arms, she scowls at Gabe.
“Don’t scowl at me. I have done nothing. If you want to scowl at someone, it should be Alpha Lyle. He’s the one that hasn’t made himself irresistible.” Laughing, he turns attention to me and raises his eyebrows. I just scowl back, which has him laughing even more. Fortunately, no one else in the truck pays us any attention.
Once we’re at the packhouse, I search out Bronze and he takes me off for our secretive discussion. I think his idea is nothing short of genius and agree to action the necessary reconnaissance when I return home. As I leave, I find myself accosted in the corridor by Talia and dragged back into the room.
“I need to fill you in on Lavender. She has certainly taken to her fated mate. I don’t think poor Wylder knows what’s hit him. He came to see me for some feminine advice. He is being run ragged by her constant attention and wondered if it was normal. He thinks she has ‘abnormal energy levels in every department’. His own words.
“All I can say, Talia, is I’m glad she has found someone to dedicate her ‘energies’ to other than myself. I hope they live long and happy lives.” I smile at Talia.
“I’m not sure how long Wylder will live. He looks almost a shadow of his former self. She is wearing him out and I know for a fact he is already trying to avoid her. Not good for such a new relationship.” Bronze looks at Talia and waggles his eyebrows. “I never felt the need to avoid my mate, far from it.”
Talia glares at him. “I hope you’re not suggesting that you were not receiving your due amount of attention in that department?”