“I would have gone without a moment's hesitation. I may have ‘excelled in my duties’ with some of them, too, Alpha Falan. I can think of more than one that I would have taken pleasure in doling out violence to.”
“Now you need to find your own ‘Fenya’ that you can send!” Alpha Falan laughs even louder at this statement.
“Funny you should say that. I believe I have just the person for such tasks, and I believe she would be as thorough as I would have been.” Sloane’s face swims through my mind, and I feel that I would only have to mention it and she would do the deed.
“I have to dash off I’m afraid, Fenya. I have Zephyra and Kynan waiting with Beta Garrin in the woods. They have some trees to climb while I decide which of them will become my new Chief Warrior. I decided Chief sounds better than Head. I look forward to meeting you as the Spirit Walker Luna in the near future. Thank you for everything that you accomplished here, too. Give my regards to your mate!”
“Thank you, Alpha Falan. For everything.”
“Just Falan will do. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, Just Falan.” Hearing another burst of laughter as the line goes dead, I smile to myself.
Sitting back in my chair, I wonder if Lyle knows ‘secrets’ about any of his pack?
I send a mind link to Sloane asking her to come to the office, if she is on duty. If not, I’ll talk to her another time. It isn’t anything important as such. There is only a brief wait, and a knock at the door heralds her arrival. Calling to her to enter, I gesture to a seat in front of the desk. Watching as she takes the seat I know that she was not on duty.
“I asked you to attend only if you were on duty. You are not on duty are you?”
“If my Luna requires me, I attend. It is that simple, my Luna. But if I may ask, how did you know?” Sloane throws a glance across my desk as though looking for a schedule of some kind.
“No schedule, Sloane. You rushed to button your blouse, and your buttons are not in the correct buttonholes. You fastened your top button through the second buttonhole, which throws them all off.” I smile as she rolls her eyes, and then re-buttons her blouse correctly.
“I was going to put a scenario to you and see how you would deal with it, but you may have already answered my question.”
“Oh well, let’s not spoil the fun. Run the scenario and let’s see where we go from there.” Leaning forward in her seat she waits expectantly. “I mean, Luna Fenya, if you wish, of course. I’m sorry. My enthusiasm gets the better of me sometimes.”
“Sloane, you remind me of me. I think we’re going to get on like a house on fire. Now, the scenario is this. I have been to a diplomatic meeting, conference, or some such gathering. While there, I have been subtly disrespected by the same diplomat, shifter, council member, several times. I am both hurt and angered by this disrespect. What should I do about this?” Leaning back, I wait for her thoughts.
“Can I assume several things, Luna Fenya? Alpha Lyle is not present at this event, I am the head warrior for your escort or protection detail, and you don’t want a public display of your displeasure?”
“Very good, Sloane. I like the way you’re going with this so far.”
“Thank you, my Luna. My suggestion would be to let me handle it for you in a discreet yet persuasive manner. Depending on the level of disrespect, though you have said that you were both hurt and angered, I think a clandestine operation involving a visit to the aforementioned diplomat along with a thorough explanation of the said insults, and their detrimental effect on your wellbeing. To reduce the risk of any fallout from this visit, I would ensure that any bruising or other injuries were completely explainable by a drunken mishap that may have occurred. I would also be sure to explain that should there be any further showing of disrespect, it was highly likely that they would disappear mysteriously, never to be seen or heard from, ever again.” Her eyes almost glow as she says this. “My Luna, I think this is an excellent ‘training exercise’ you have developed, and hope that at some point you are able to devise a practical test to run alongside the theory. I look forward very much to being the first of your protection detail to try it out and demonstrate its effectiveness.”
“We can only hope that it never becomes necessary, but I will count on your skill and ability should such a demonstration be required.”
Talking of such things reminds me of not going on the mission to no-man’s-land, and this must show on my face.
“Was there something else troubling you, Luna Fenya? You look like there is.”
Her genuine concern is touching. “I’m not sure it is something I should discuss freely, Sloane.”
“I understand, Luna Fenya. I would just like to say that anything you say within my earshot will go with me to the grave. Also, if you discuss anything in my presence, I will listen in case you should need me to act on something from that conversation. If you feel that you are in danger at any time, we should have a phrase that you can use to alert me.” Sloane’s mind must be in hyper mode as she tells me these things.
“There was a mission that I wished to undertake but was excluded from. It isn’t sitting well that I wasn’t part of the team.”
“The mission that Beta Earl led? Why would a luna be risked on such a mission? That would be very unwise. Besides which, such things are now beneath your standing. You would expect to lead a pack into a battle, but the mission of which you speak would not be worth risking your life on.” Sloane gives me a look that says, come on now you have to understand.
“I am no more valuable than the next warrior. My life is no more important than yours. Surely you see that?”
Another knowing look as she speaks. “Your life before you came here may have been that way, but it is no longer so. You are the Spirit Walker Pack's Luna. Second only to Alpha Lyle. It wouldbe devastating to lose our Luna. Also, what effect would that have on Alpha Lyle? I have heard of Alphas who have lost their Luna and never recovered from it. No. That is foolish to think that way. Your life now is to be protected at all costs. As you would have done for Alpha Falan or any mate that he took.”
“I am so new to this. I hadn’t thought of my loss being any more devastating than losing any other pack member.”
A knock on the door interrupts any further conversation, and when the door starts to open before I call enter, Sloane is already on her feet and ready to take down the intruder. When Lyle appears, Sloane visibly relaxes, and then stands by her chair.
“My apologies. I should have waited. Shall I come back later?”
