Standing before us, I can plainly see perspiration on his brow. I’ve never known Glen to break out in a sweat before. Not without considerable physical effort being involved.
“Chief Glen, Alpha Lyle has something he wishes to discuss with you.” Fenya then gives me a smile dripping with sweetness and honey and all things sugary. So sickly sweet in fact, I almost vomit! I must be more aware when I’m with my mate, or I’m going to find that she runs rings around me with her guile.
“Chief Glen I’ll be as delicate as I can because this is a sensitive subject. Erm, have you, at any time, you know, past or present, had any ‘contact’ or ‘personal experience’ of a female?”
“Alpha Lyle. Are you seriously asking me if I’m a virgin?” Glen looks as though he wants to rip my head off my shoulders.
“WHAT? NO! I mean emotional, not physical. Ew! Why would you think I’d want to know that?” I’m horrified that this has goneso wrong. Hearing Fenya laugh does not help the situation or my mood.
“Chief Glen, what is your opinion of Blossom?” Fenya asks him outright, and he just frowns. “Question too difficult? If the Goddess made her your fated mate, would you be happy? Is that easier?”
“Yes, Luna Fenya. I’d be happy. We’ve been in the same pack all our lives, and there has never been anything like that between us.” Glen looks like he would have preferred that to be different.
“Right. I’m going to give you the chance to change that, here and now. She likes you, Glen. She likes you A LOT! So much so, in fact, that she is waiting for you in the Luna office to sweep her off her feet. I suggest that you go there right now, lift her off her feet and kiss her until her toes curl. Don’t wait for her to say anything, just do it. If I find out that you botched this opportunity, I will make it my life's mission to make the rest of your life hell, and I am an expert in the field. Now! Go to the office, storm across the room, take her in your arms and kiss the living daylights out of her. Before she gets her breath back, tell her you want to take her to the orchard and ask her to show you the way. Go!” Waiting for him to move, he just stands there gawking at us both.
Fenya sighs and then slaps him so hard across the face his head jerks to one side. Blinking at her like a baby owl seeing its first meal, he turns and runs off toward the packhouse.
“How easy was that? Oh. That has made my hand sting so bad.” She shakes her hand and then holds it between her thighs, as if that was going to help.
“I bet Silas is glad that Taria doesn’t have your matchmaking skills!” The thought of Taria slapping Silas just makes me burstout laughing. On the way back, I explain how Taria worked her matchmaking skills on Silas and Dahlia.
“The genteel approach has its merits, too. I just prefer a more direct approach.” Fenya takes my arm, and we walk sedately back to the packhouse.
As we enter, we both look at the door to my office. Mind linking with my guard I ask him if the office is empty. He assures me it is and that as they left Flick asked if Luna Fenya was in her office. She was told that the Luna had left the packhouse in the Alpha’s company, to which Chef Flick was heard telling Councilman Flint that she had something very important to share with him in the orchard.
Relaying this to Fenya, she laughs until she’s crying. It's only when she can get her breath back that she tells me of Blossom’s dream of being in the orchard with Glen. Flick stealing her idea to dream of Flint is when I realize what she’s laughing at. I hope they don’t both pick the same tree to do it under!
Chapter 27
ARRIC
Listening to my officers, I can’t help but feel proud of what I have achieved so far, and of what I will rule when this war is won. My army has grown, and they are all trained warriors now, so we are ready to march on the Spirit Walker pack any day.
As soon as we have Spirit Walker defeated, we will turn and march on Blood Pearl. They will be alone and isolated without their powerful neighbor. Easy pickings.
Sending all those who failed warrior training on the skirmishes thinned the ranks slightly, but they would only have been used as cannon fodder on the battlefield, anyway. Their deaths serve two purposes. First, a demonstration to all that failure leads to death. Second, the Shifter Council and their packs now believe my warriors are weak and undisciplined.
The discussion now turns to food and medical supplies. This is not my concern. It’s up to my officers to supply their troops. I’m not lowering myself to discuss welfare issues.
One of my Shadow Clan, all very mysterious and full of their own importance, enters the room and goes straight to my advisor in all things war related. Levi joined the cause at the very beginning and has proved invaluable in all the planning. Once the war is won, I’ll have someone kill him off. He’s getting too big for his boots of late, and I know that some are looking to him to be their king instead of me.
He didn’t like it when I reprimanded him for killing those idiots in the Spirit Walker pack lands. His ideas of discipline differ from mine. When I suggested I take his ideas and apply them to him, I thought I had pushed him too far. His eyes were almost glowing, and his body was shimmering as though he was physically fighting his own wolf for possession of that point in time and space. I wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but I was afraid, and so was my wolf. He has told me that if it came to a one-on-one fight between our wolves, he would lose. I’ve never known a wolf to admit that.
Levi listens to his colleague, then stands and addresses the room.
“Everyone! The plan has changed. Our primary target will now be the Blood Pearl pack. We will strike them first, and when we’ve added their forces to ours then, and only then, will we march on Spirit Walker. Make your troops aware immediately and be prepared to attack at a moment's notice. You are dismissed.”
“Levi, a moment, please. The rest of you stay where you are.” Levi stiffens at my request, as does his warrior companion. Thisalso does not go unnoticed by some of those loyal to me. “Why would we change the target at such a late stage in the game?”
“Eclipse has dispatched a large force of reinforcements to the Spirit Walker pack. Our numbers will not be enough to offset their warriors' skills. While they ready themselves, we will shift our attention to Blood Pearl and have them added to our ranks. We do not want our first battle to cost us half our forces and possibly even fail.”
“I agree with your assessment, however, in future you will advise me of any suggestions you may have before redeploying my army to another target. Is that clear?” I watch him stiffen as though struck, and I think I may have to bring his death forward rather than wait until after the war.
“Yes, Alpha Arric. I understand perfectly.” Turning, he again dismisses the officers present, and I bristle at the open defiance this shows.
In my office with my son, Ulric, I think of the future. I’m doing this primarily out of greed and a desire for power. I want a kingdom, and I want to rule it. When I’m dead and entombed in a huge shrine, I won’t care what happens then. If it goes to my son, he’ll lose it in a week. He’ll either be dead himself or overthrown by one of his advisors or generals.
Sometimes, I think I should go home and just slap his mother for her infidelity. I’m not convinced I fathered such a dimwit.
