‘I did not, did I?’
We need to go for a run! You are driving me insane. Rabies would be easier to suffer than you are right now.Hunter again snipes.
‘Alright! I’ll see what Glen is doing and maybe he can go with us. We can’t go alone.’
Outlaw says they have nothing to do, so are free to run. I checked already,Hunter states smugly.
‘Alright, but we won’t be too long. I have things to attend to.’
You forget who you are talking to. I know how bored you are. I suffer you more than anyone in the pack suffers you.Hunter once more is nearly growling his reply.
A knock at the door halts the conversation before it can deteriorate further. “Come!”
The door swings open and Glen steps in. “I understand that we are accompanying you on a run in the forest? It’s a good day for it, weatherwise.”
‘It’s not me they are accompanying, it’s you, ‘Hunter’. You want to go gallivanting about in the forest.’
As soon as we are free of the packhouse, I see that it’s not just Glen and I that will be on the run. He has six warriors waiting for us.
“Are so many warriors really necessary? It’s only a little run in the forest.” I must sound like a petulant child by the look I get from my Head Warrior.
Maybe if we had a mate, you would have more to occupy your mind and burn off some energy to help with your calm.
‘Maybe if I had a mate, you’d be too busy producing pups to keep tormenting me!’ I respond to Hunter.
Glen’s voice echoes through the mind link.‘Alpha Lyle. Perhaps you’d better concentrate on the run more and less on your wolf. We all heard that.’
Quietly fuming to myself, I step up the pace and give everyone a thorough workout. As soon as I feel myself tiring, I allow Hunter to come forth and he sets a blistering pace that will have everyone working hard to keep up.
He stops by a stream, and everyone takes a well-earned break. Once we’ve all caught our breath, he takes off once more, but at a lope that eats up the distance without expending much energy. Lounging at the back of my mind, I wonder what our mate will be like when, and if, we find her. Of the Lunas I know well, I admire Tati’s resourcefulness and persistence, Hope’s kindness and thoughtfulness, Taria’s willingness to learn and progress, finally Aurora’s warrior queen abilities.
Wow. Not much to expect or demand then. I hope to the Goddess she doesn’t turn out to be a simpering, feminine, needy little thing that demands attention all the time. I guess if the bond is there I won’t care or even notice, but I sincerely hope not.
Our run takes three hours, and when we get back to the edge of the forest by the packhouse, I have to say that Hunter was right. The stress from my muscles has relaxed with the physicality of the run. Leaving Hunter to lead has given my mind time to wander and destress.
You are welcome,Hunter states smugly.
****
Resisting the urge to check on the pack once again, I reflect on everything we know of the rogues and their leader, Arric. There have always been rogues. Mainly they have been outcasts from their pack for failing to comply, social outcasts, or there were a few that had lost their mate and didn’t want daily reminders.
Those failing to comply were usually the lazy ones or bullies. Social outcasts were those that just liked to be left alone. Every pack has them and they are usually found living on the outskirts of the forest or in the solitary jobs. Those that lost a mate and left, were more often the older generation that wanted nothing more than to fade away and meet their mate with the Goddess.
The lazy and the bullies were the ones that became a problem as rogues. Too lazy to provide for themselves they stole what they needed. Bullies made others steal for them! I wonder which bracket Arric would come under? Bullies, I would expect. Being idle rarely achieved a position of power.
So, Arric would have to be in the bully category, but where did he come from? Was he born a rogue? Surely if he came from an established pack, someone would have come forward by now? He hasn’t come from a pack in our sector. Southern Sector? I have never had any contact with those packs. Maybe Flint could follow that path? I think I’ll give Falan a call and see if he has any ideas in that respect.
Like most alphas, Falan is quick to answer his phone. “Alpha Falan speaking.”
“Lyle, here. Have you got a few minutes to spare?” I ask.
“I always make time for another alpha, Lyle. You never know when you may need the same courtesy. Apart from that, I find myself liking you. My spies tell me you’re a good sort!” Falan, I’m sure, has no spies in my pack.
“Before I execute them, I’ll be sure to thank them for their kind words!” I can’t keep the humor out of my voice, which gives the game away.
“I’ll have them return home immediately. I don’t have enough that I can just fritter them away, willy-nilly.” Falan, too, is laughing.
“I’ve been trying to work out where Arric may have come from…” Before I get to finish my sentence, Falan is ahead of me.
