Kingdom of Wolves: Blackshadow - Page 59

“Gentlemen, let me introduce you to my second Beta. Beta Walim, who is a new pack member, and one that came to us with other shifters from the Northern Parklands. I have had my eyes well and truly opened with the stories these members have told me of their past, and how they came to be rogues in the Parklands.

“I have a Gamma and a Delta who are newly joined members. Both are as solid as my new Beta. We have warriors, a dressmaker, kitchen help, housekeeping staff, and gardeners, along with those that are building new cabins. But the one that came to me and altered my whole life is Luna Hope, and you will meet her shortly.

“Let me warn you now. If you frighten her, nothing will save you from my wrath. She is the sweetest of females and everyone loves her. We have been blessed with a Luna who will help the pack grow and soften after the disgusting time it’s had with the last Alpha.”

“I’ll look forward to meeting her, but before we do, tell us all about your new members. Because we’d like to help anyone that is still in the Parklands,” Lykos states, and bites into the sandwich he’s just taken from the tray.

The next hour I discuss each of my new pack members, and Beta Walim fills in some details as the meeting progresses. By the time we’ve spoken of them all, I can see Flint, Porter and Lykos are all willing to help others from the Parklands if it’s required.

Flint speaks and has my undivided attention, plus Walim and Caleb’s. “I have information back from my councilman friend. Alpha Soren is determined to come for Luna Hope. The Northern Sector Council has officially warned him that his daughter, if she is his daughter, as he has no proof, only the word of some spiteful she-wolf. If he makes a move of aggression, he will have the Northern Sector Council standing firm with us, and any of the packs that stand with you, Alpha Connell.”

“Alphas Gabriel, Lyle and Chet have given me their word they will stand by my side as allies. Alphas Gabriel and Chet have Lunas, so they know what it means to have your soul mate threatened. Alpha Lyle, of course, will stand for anything that is good and honorable, and it’s why I am more than happy to stand by his side as an ally.”

“The Council has had a meeting, Alpha Connell, and we are more than willing to send the council warriors to stand at the side of you and your allies. The Northern Sector Council are not happy with the situation and are going to speak to Alpha Soren again and see if they can make him back down.

“If he had done the right thing by his true mate instead of rejecting her he would more than likely have had more pups and the son he desperately wanted. He has suffered with his Luna because she is not a nice she-wolf. She manipulates and lies to get what she wants. We have been told the council have been watching the pack for a long time, but as yet have done nothing. I think we can say we are going to war fairly soon,” Porter adds to the conversation. We all turn and look at Beta Walim when he snorts in disgust. “What is it, Beta Walim?” Porter asks.

“If you want to know about the Wolfsong Pack, ask Delta Gamzin, or go to the Parklands and speak to some of the ones that escaped that pack. It’s vile and twisted, and if they come for our Luna, we will fight to the death to stop them from getting her. She’d not live long among them because Luna Corintha would make sure of it,” Beta Walim snarls.

Knight takes me by surprise and nearly rips out, with a snarl so loud and vicious I’m sure I shake the packhouse. I’ve never had such a forceful reaction to anything in my life.

We will kill him; we will rip him apart piece by piece. I will kill his wolf! I’ll rip his throat out, he will die!

‘We will kill him, Knight. If he comes here for Hope, we will make sure he doesn’t leave alive, or be so maimed he’ll never come back.’

“Alpha Connell, I think you need to put some security in place, just in case he sends someone to sneak in and grab her,” Lykos states, leaning forward in his seat.

“We have purchased night vision goggles and have them placed in the trees on the borders. It gives us extra distance than our wolves’ eyes, and at night we can see the heat signatures of anything moving. I have concentrated more on the northern pack border between us and Wolfsfoot, because of the threat to Luna Hope, of course. But we’ve also placed extra on the eastern border to watch for rogues from no-man’s-land.”

A thought comes to me, and I turn to look at Caleb. “Beta Caleb, order me another eight pairs of the goggles, and get them ASAP.”

Caleb gives me a nod, and a mumbled, “Yes, Alpha Connell.” I’ll fill him in on what I’m going to do with these goggles once they arrive.

“I’ve put a warning system in place, where a siren will be heard throughout the territory. We have had a drill with a large bell, one that we gained from, oh, I don’t know where, if I’m honest, but it would only cover the packhouse area. Gaul, our builder, is installing the siren system and it will be up and running any time,” I continue informing Lykos.

“Having an early warning system in place is good and one many of the packs may end up having to use if the rogues from no-man’s-land continue with their aggression,” Porter adds.

My phone has kept ringing, then stopping and starting again. I walk over to my desk and, seeing its Alpha Gabriel, I quickly take the call.

“Alpha Gabriel,” is all I manage to say before he speaks.

“Connell, get your warriors to your northern border. We’ve had a skirmish on the border between us and the Blood Pearl Pack. They didn’t say who they were, but my warriors were up for the task and whooped some ass, which had them running away. But, as they did, one turned and grinned, then said with spite, ‘Diversions are such good things.’ Check on your Luna, and make sure your border is tight.” Without giving me a chance to respond, Gabriel has gone, and I blink a few times.

“Beta Walim, get to the Luna, and you stay with her along with Gamma Baildon.” He doesn’t respond. He runs out of the office and mind links the border patrol, giving instructions to drench the border with warriors. The alarm siren blares out across the pack lands calling all to readiness.

I make my way out of the office as soon as Delta Gamzin has confirmed he’s on the case. Running from the packhouse once Baildon mind linked to say the Luna is safe and at the training grounds.

Behind me are Flint, Porter, Lykos and Beta Caleb, and, from where I don’t know, Roul has appeared. The council warriors are so differently trained that they seem to know something is going to happen before it actually does.

I come to a grinding halt when I see Baildon, Walim, Chief Oscar, and Iona all watching Hope. Now, I don’t know where she got a bat, but she is swinging it like she’s going to knock someone’s head off.

“Ahhhhhhh…” Hope bellows as she swings that sucker for all she’s worth. But I have to put my hand over my mouth when she throws her weight behind it so hard, she can’t stop and she does a full 360° turn, but gives the brightest smile you have ever witnessed. The smile shows how proud she is of herself. I side-eye Iona, then Chief Oscar, as I don’t know what’s going on here.

Lykos steps forward, grinning, “Hello, Luna Hope. My name is Lykos and I’m wondering what you are doing with that bat?”

Stepping forward, still with the brightest of smiles, Hope giggles. “Well, I’m the worst fighter you can imagine. I just can’t do it. My right hand and my left hand don’t listen to orders well, and I get mixed up with what leg I’m supposed to kick with. Anyway, Swift, who is my friend, and my trainers, tried hard to teach me to fight, but they gave me a bat as a gift instead.”

I’m blinking hard as I’m listening to what Hope is saying, and I look from Iona to Chief Oscar, then Baildon and lastly Walim, who I have to admit looks as astonished as I am.