Kingdom of Wolves - Page 82

“That’s sad, and we shouldn’t have to keep fighting with therogues from no-man’s-land, but I think something is happening because that’s afew attacks they’ve made now.”

Nodding at Poppa Lykos, I grimace. “Do you think they’ll tryto come to town?”

“I don’t know, but I think the town needs a meeting todiscuss what we know so far.”

Settling back into the passenger seat, I relax, knowing I’m safenow. I’m on my way home. Falling asleep with the movement of the truck and thesoft country music playing on the radio.

Chapter33

TATIANA

Back at the farmhouse, Momma Akela is raging, and her wolfDusk is snarling and snapping. I’m sitting in the garden watching all thisgoing down, sipping juice, and trying to calm Ebony, which is difficult as sheis communicating with Dusk, and they are heating each other into a frenzy.

‘Ebony, enough. Stop now. We are home, safe, and AlphaAurora will be spoken to by the town council.’

Who does she think she is? I’ll show her power if shewants to throw what she has. Did you see we pushed her back easily, not evenusing all our power? Oh my, Ebony is pacing back and forth in my mind, butsnickering in her growly way when she speaks of the power.

‘We cannot show anyone all our power unless it’s absolutelynecessary. Now calm yourself down.’

Poppa Lykos picks Momma up and hugs her to his chest,grinning at her before he kisses her soundly. I can’t help the smirk thatcrosses my face because he quietened Momma.

“TATI!”

Looking to where my name is called out, I grin, then laughas I see Brod running towards me with a huge smile on his face. Throwinghimself at me when he gets to me, we both laugh and hug.

“Okay, you two, what did you have planned for today?” PoppaLykos asks as he’s still holding on to Momma tightly.

“We are going on a picnic. Planned before Tati went to theBlood Pearl Pack.” Brod tells Poppa Lykos, and grabbing my hand drags me intothe kitchen, where we quickly put a picnic hamper together, filling it withsnacks of every kind and bottled water.

Once we are ready, Momma Akela gives us both a hug and Igrin when Brod scrunches his face in disgust at having to be hugged by hissecond momma. “Now, no getting into trouble. Are you going to the river?”

“Yes. We’ll stay this side and go to where it has that nicepiece of grass with the buttercups and daisies growing.” Picking up the picnicblanket from the back of the chair where I’d laid it earlier.

“Okay. Behave, no trouble today, Brod, you hear, and be backby two because we have to go to a meeting with the town council about whathappened at Blood Pearl Pack.” Poppa Lykos opens the door for Brod and me toleave, but we nod okay as we pass him.

Jogging to the river, Brod carrying the hamper and I havethe blanket. The birds are singing, and I can’t help but enjoy the feeling ofhaving a family that truly loves me.

“Were you okay at Blood Pearl Pack?” Brod takes me bysurprise asking. We drop from the jog to walking and I look at him as I answer.

“Yes, I was. I was mainly with Carolina, who is a warrior.She’s hoping to drop from that, as she’s not enjoying it very much. She wasnice, and we spent time together pleasantly. I met an elder she-wolf who knewmy mother. It was nice speaking with her. But when they lost my trust, Icouldn’t stay.”

“Well, when a pack has flapping lips, the Alpha needs to dosomething about it. Trouble is, when lips flap someone falls over them, andthat’s what happened.” I giggle as Brod is smacking his lips together, stickingthem out to the largest he can get, and when he pretends to trip over them, thegiggle becomes laughter.

Reaching the patch of grass where we want to hold ourpicnic, I spread out the blanket and Brod places the hamper in the middle.Kneeling, I open the top and lift out the snacks.

“I’m not looking forward to having this meeting with thetown council. I know them all now, but it’s an official meeting and I hatethem.” Handing a bottle of water to Brod as I nibble on a cookie.

“I’ll come with you. Whatever they have to say can’t be toobad. They probably only want your version of what happened.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. I’m not sure they’ll let youinto the meeting, but if you are sitting outside waiting, that would be good.”I nudge Brod with my shoulder, catching him unawares and when he fallssideways, I laugh and pounce, tickling him.

It’s not long before we are rolling off the blanket andtowards the river. “Stop, stop, we’re going in the river!” I laughingly say,but too late… Plop… Gasping, I quickly stand and look at Brod, who’s knee deepat the side of the river. I’m soaking wet and there is no way I’m going to hidethis when we get back to the farm.

Brod throws his head back laughing before scooping waterinto his palms and throwing it at me. Of course, that’s the start of a waterfight, but when we hear. “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU TWO DOING?”

We both freeze, and our eyes flick to who’s spoken, andseeing Poppa Lykos walking over, I look at Brod and smirk. He follows mythought process; we wait until Poppa gets near enough and we scoop up the waterand throw it laughing loudly at the gasps and splutters that Poppa makes.

“Oh, you have gone and done it now.” Poppa laughs andlaunches himself into the river, grabbing Brod around the neck and dunking himunder the water for a few seconds. Seeing him let go of Brod and move towardsme I give out a girly squeal and slosh my way out of the river and run to theblanket where I spin around and laugh watching Brod jump on Poppa’s back andthey both go down and under the water.