Kingdom of Wolves - Page 71

Arriving near the Blood Pearl Pack border, my stomach does aflip. I look at Poppa Lykos and he gives me a nod. “You’ll be okay. If I didn’tthink you could handle this Tati, you wouldn’t be here. I’d allow no one tohurt you, use you, or anything else.”

“How far away before I can’t hear you in my mind?”

“By the time you get to the Blood Pearl packhouse, you’llhave lost connection. But you’ll have Ebony with you, so don’t think you arealone. You’ll never be alone again. You have Ebony, myself, Momma, Brod, andall the town of Wolfsfoot.”

Before I can respond we are at the border of the Blood PearlPack, and two she-wolves are standing watching us approach. My nerves jangleand I look at Poppa Lykos.

“Calm. Ebony, get rid of that scent. You can’t afford forthem to detect any emotions while you are here. I’m relying on you, Ebony, tokeep it that away.”

Climbing out of the truck, I pick up my backpack and walkaround the front to stand next to Poppa Lykos. I have to say he is giving thesetwo female wolves a close look.

“Are you Tatiana Winterstorm?” the dark-haired one of thetwo females asks while watching us closely.

“I am.”

“If you would come with us to the packhouse where AlphaAurora is waiting.” Turning away without speaking to Poppa Lykos has my hacklesup and I can feel Ebony getting angry about the disrespect the female isshowing.

I turn my back on both the females and wrap my arms aroundPoppa Lykos; he grins as he kisses the top of my head. “Now, you try to have adecent time while you are here visiting. I’ll be back here and waiting for youin two weeks, and if you are not here, I’ll get Brod to come and storm theplace with me.”

I giggle because I know Brod would be up for that and he’dnot think twice about it either. “I’ll be here. Nothing will ever stop me fromcoming home.”

“Okay, get gone and I’ll see you soon.”

I give Poppa Lykos an extra squeeze, then turn and followthe two she-wolves into the forest. Turning to give small waves to Poppa as Iwalk away from him.

Once I can no longer see Poppa, I keep my eyes forward andfollow quietly behind. I can’t hear what they are saying as they are whisperingto each other. But the dark-haired one keeps looking behind at me, whether it’sto check if I’m still following or not, I don’t know.

Whatever discussion they’ve had, they seem to decide when thefairer one speaks to me. “We need to shift and then we can get to the packhousequickly.”

Shaking my head, because no way am I showing them Ebony thisearly in my visit, and not sure I will at all. I’ve been well versed in showingEbony for the Alpha-wolf she is, and not allowing others to see her unlessneeded.

“You need to shift. We will not wait for you.” Fair hairstates, but I don’t give a hang if they wait or not because if they go withoutme, I’ll turn around and go back to Wolfsfoot territory.

They both shift into their wolf form and take off. I grin,turn around, and walk back the way I came. They’ll realize in a minute I’m notbehind them, and if they don’t, then that’s their worry when they have to admitto Alpha Aurora why I’m not with them.

I quickly make it back to the pack border and step over intoWolfsfoot territory. I walk over to a tree and sit, resting my back against it.I’ll give them half an hour and then I’ll make my way home. I’m not botheredabout going to their pack anyway and only agreed as Flint, the town council,and Poppa thought it was wise.

Opening my backpack, I take out the apple and water MommaAkela insisted I pack and enjoy the sound of the birds singing above me and,with Ebony’s help, hear the other animals scurrying around.

Mind-linking with Poppa Lykos who can’t be out of my rangeyet, I grin. ‘Poppa, I’m not in the Blood Pearl Pack territory, I’m sittingeating my apple and drinking the water Momma Akela gave me.’

Poppa responds immediately. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Well, they wanted me to shift. I refused, but theyshifted and ran off, expecting me to shift and follow. So here I am. I’m givingthem another ten minutes, then will make my way home.’ Ebony is growling inthe back of my head, letting me know how annoyed she is, but I let her continuefor the time being.

‘I’m coming back for you.’

‘No need Poppa, I can make my way back.’ But I hear arustling in the forest over the border and wait to see who is coming. ‘Someone’scoming from Blood Pearl Pack. Wait for a minute Poppa.’

The two she-wolves come into sight on the opposite side ofthe border, and I show and throw out a feeling of total boredom. No way arethey going to see any sign of worry or other emotion from me.

“Why are you here? You need to shift and follow us.”Dark-haired one snarls. Yep, let them snarl as they can do nothing now as I’mback in my territory. I can see the female is getting more agitated the longerI don’t respond, and one eyebrow shoots up when she growls, then snarls. “Getback over here, rogue. I’m not getting into hot water because you can’t do asyou’re told.”

Ebony is pacing in my mind, and I can hear her growling andsnarling. She’s not happy with this female and if I let her out, I’m sureshe’ll not hold back teaching this she-wolf a lesson. ‘Calm yourself, Ebony. Weare Alpha and have an image to build. One where we are unflustered and cannotbe pushed into any corner.’

I don’t like this Tati; they are disrespectful. We arevisitors of their Alpha and should be made to feel welcome. If you let me out,I’ll show them the error of their ways. Ebony is irate, and I need to calmher before I think of stepping back over into Blood Pearl Pack territory.

Turning my head as I hear a vehicle and see Poppa’s truck, Ismile before getting back onto my feet. I wait for him to stop before I walkover and hug him.