Kingdom of Wolves - Page 55

‘Yes, I can. It’s coming from more than the Alpha now.’ Ireply to Bruno, and the stench is fairly strong as I enter the pack’s mainentrance.

I can smell stress, fear, and anger.

‘We need to find out what’s happening here and put a stop toit before the pack has no chance of surviving.’ Bruno settles in the back of mymind after he gives me a small growl to let me know he agrees.

Carter Goldman the Beta walks over to me as I enter thelarge entrance hall of the packhouse and gives me a tiny smile. It’s noticeablethat pack members are keeping their heads down and getting out of the hallquickly.

“How are things?” I ask, keeping my voice quiet.

“The same. I’ve sent a couple of pack members to the EclipsePack, but we can’t keep skimming members off because he’s going to notice soon.I think Connell has noticed some people missing, but as of yet he’s not saidanything, or brought it to his father’s attention.”

“Okay, you better take me to the Alpha or he’ll getsuspicious.” I take a deep breath before walking towards Alpha Torrance’soffice door.

Beta Goldman knocks on the door before opening it slowly andstepping just inside without giving me the opportunity to step through withhim. “Alpha Torrance, shifter council member Flint, is here on a visit. Do youwant to speak with him, or shall I take him to a room?”

Bruno perks up in the back of my mind, and when his hacklesstand on end, I become aware he’s feeling something is not right. Lookingaround, I notice Bellamy and his sidekick Evangeline approaching, both withsick grins on their faces.

They stink bad, they may be past saving. Minx is thinkingof leaving Evangeline before it’s too late, but Czar may have gone too far.

‘Damn, I wanted to save both the wolves. Can we save Minx doyou think? Maybe you could tell her to leave Evangeline if another host isavailable. The goddess Selene may help Minx if she asks?’ I’m pulling at strawsbecause I’ve only known of one other wolf that left its other half, andalthough the wolf found a new host eventually the shifter male didn’t survivelong.

“What are you doing here?” Bellamy snarls, but I look at himdown my nose and send out power, which has him looking away after a fewmoments. Not bothering to reply because whatever I’m here for is no concern ofhis.

Turning when I hear the Alpha snarl. “I don’t need to seehim. He can fuck off and do as he likes. Now get out of here.”

Beta Goldman steps out and closes the door. Noticing Bellamyand Evangeline, he scowls before snapping at them both. “Get to work. You’re atthe nursery today, Evangeline, and if I hear another complaint about the wayyou treat the pups, I’ll beat you in the circle myself.

“Bellamy, get to the training area; I’ll get Thomas to putyou through your paces.” Now the wince I see Bellamy give has me smilinginwardly because it’s pretty obvious he knows he’s going to get his ass handedto him.

We both watch the two of them scuttle away, and I grin atthe Beta. “They going to give you trouble?”

“No, they daren’t push me, but they sneak around and dothings without my knowledge, like going into Wolfsfoot and causing trouble.”Rubbing his hands over his face, I can see the stress in his eyes when he looksdirectly at me. “Come on, I’ll get you in a room. Do you want to see anyonewhile you’re here?”

“Connell. But anyone that may know anything about Tati’sparent’s deaths and anything about Anika and Hulah from the shifter council.”

“They used to come here quite a lot at one time. Friendlywith the Alpha, but they’ve not been for probably a year. I never liked them;they gave me the feeling they were not here on official business.”

“How is the pack in general?” I need to know because, duringthis visit, I’m going to watch how the pack interacts, and how the pack feelingcomes across.

After dropping my bag in the allotted bedroom, I follow theBeta out of the packhouse and towards a small house situated just to the side.“This house was the Luna’s as she had it built to get away from her mate. Saysa lot when your mate doesn’t even want to be in the same space as you. Connellhas taken to living here as he doesn’t want to be around the Alpha more thannecessary.”

Beta Goldman knocks on the door and while we wait, I lookaround the neat little garden. Flowers in clusters make the whole thing lookwelcoming. Looking up, I see a female rushing past, head down and eyes on theground. She is tense and fear rolls off her, turning my stomach at the stench.

The door opens behind me and Connell steps aside to let usin. “Hello, Flint. Come on into the kitchen and I’ll make us a drink.”

Following Connell, I notice the place is tidy, clean, andhas a warm feel about it. Nothing like the cold, stark feel that the packhousegives off as you walk into it.

Taking a seat at the kitchen table, I watch Connell put thekettle onto the stove and get a teapot ready before turning around and lookingat me. “Have you seen him?”

I’m a little taken by surprise by Connell’s question. “No,not as yet.”

“He’s in a bad state. Stinks of something vile and he nevercomes out of the office. The females won’t take his food tray to him anymore.They hand them to a warrior. The fear in the pack is growing daily and I knowI’ve got to do something soon, but I don’t want to kill my father.”

Connell turns and fills the teapot when the kettle boils andI’m rubbing my chin because I’m not sure what I can say or do to help Connellget past all this.

Beta Goldman speaks and takes Connell by surprise. “I’llkill him if you can’t do it, Connell. We’ve got to get the pack from him beforehe ends us all. He’s tried to provoke me a few times now, and he’s spoiling tofight with me. I’m not sure if my Beta is stronger than his weak Alpha and hecan sense it, which makes me a threat, or if he’s just at the stage where hewants to kill someone or anyone.”

“What does your wolf, Rust, think?” I ask Beta Goldman andhe mind links for a moment before he responds.