Kingdom of Wolves - Page 91

Poppa sighs, rubs his hand down his face, then turns toFlint. “Okay, let’s just speak to Tati and clear the air. I don’t like this atall.”

“Clear the air?” I snap. “There is no air to clear PoppaLykos. You decided to leave here, and never said a word to me. You excluded mefrom any say in the matter. For me, it showed again that I didn’t count. Butyou do what you feel is best for you and Momma Akela, and I’ll be left here todo all this on my own.”

“Tati, it’s not like that. Flint asked Poppa if he wouldconsider being on the council to represent the town as the rogue faction. It’snothing we’ve ever had before, but it’s time that the town had a voice. If youdecide to legalize the town into a pack, then you need a voice on the council.Poppa is doing this to make sure you have a voice, and the town has someone whocan stand for them.” Momma stands and takes a step toward me, but I stiffenbecause I don’t want her touching me at the moment.

Brod straightens and is ready for whatever move anyonemakes. I take hold of his hand and squeeze, and when he squeezes back, I knowfor probably the first time since I lost my parents; I have someone totally onmy side. I know Poppa and Momma are doing this, as they see it, to help my future,but it’s so soon after I arrived here and accepted my new life that it’s hardto see further than them leaving me.

“Tatiana, look at things from all sides. That is how I haveto view things as a higher council member. Sometimes I have to make decisions thatsuit the majority and not the minority. I’m sorry that this has been a shock,and that it’s turning your world upside down once more. But you are a strongfemale, you will either lead a pack or be a Luna to a pack. That is yourfuture. I think you probably don’t see that, but it is true nonetheless.” Flintis giving me a sympathetic look, and I at this moment despise him for it.

Poppa stands and walks to me, ignoring the snarl that eruptsfrom Brod. Arrow is flashing in Brod’s eyes, and I squeeze the hand I’m stillholding to calm him as much as I can.

“Calm,” Flint states, throwing some of his power towardBrod.

“Tati, I need you to look at the bigger picture. If I jointhe council, I can ensure that the town has its opinion given, and if youcreate a pack, you’ll have someone behind you on the council helping your packbe represented. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do for you, mydaughter.” Poppa grabs me and hugs me, wrapping me in his arms.

Ebony speaks in my mind. We need to support Poppa’sdecision, Tati. We can’t let him go to the council thinking we are angry withhim.

‘I know Ebony, but I feel like everyone I care about leavesme.’ I respond.

“If this is what you want to do, Poppa, then you must do it.I’ll speak to the town council for help on the farm because I can’t do all thecrops on my own.”

The discussion that follows moves along quickly, and it’sdecided that Momma and Poppa will leave the week I come back from the EclipsePack visit. Which is a week away. I maintain some coldness toward Flint, andalthough Ebony keeps telling me he has been around our ‘mate’, I keep that tomyself because the last thing I need at the moment is a mate who may demand Ileave here and go to his pack.

Flint leaves, and Brod is called home by his parents. Heleaves grudgingly but promises he’ll be back as soon as he can. I walk outsideto the far side of the paddock and sit with my back to a fence post. Holding myphone, I decide to text Lyle, who is a good friend to me, and if I decide tocreate a pack from the town, he’ll be my neighboring Alpha.

Tati: Hi, Lyle

I’m surprised when Lyle responds immediately becausenormally it can take hours for his reply.

Lyle: What you doing, girlfriend?

Tati: I’m thinking about how I’m going to run the farm bymyself because Poppa and Momma are leaving to serve on the shifter council.

Lyle: I’m going to call, so you’d best pick up.

The phone vibrates, and I collect the call. “Hi, Lyle.”

“Hi, Tati. Now tell me.”

I explain what has happened, and the decision that has beenmade. Even my worry about being here to run the farm on my own.

“I don’t think the town council will leave you stranded,Tati. Speak to them before you decide what you want to do. But, you haveoptions and you can consider all the packs if you want to join a pack. Comehere, you’d be made very welcome. We all love you.”

“I’ll consider all my options, and if I joined a pack itwould be yours,” I reply, because that is the truth. If I had to be in a packnot of my own, I’d join with Lyle.

“Now, I have news too,” Lyle murmurs, and it sounds serious.

“What news? Are you alright?”

“Well, I’m now Alpha of Spirit Walker Pack. It seems Flintis going around recruiting members for his shifter council, and my fatherdecided he’d like to retire from running the pack and help the council instead.So, I was promoted if you like, to being the pack Alpha. My ceremony was twodays ago.”

“Oh, Lyle.” I close my eyes because this changes thingsagain. “Or should I call you Alpha Lyle now? Shit, I’m sorry if I was disrespectful.”

Laughing, Lyle splutters before replying. “You never call meAlpha Lyle. To you, I am a friend, and you’ll only ever call me Lyle.”

“Things are changing fast and it’s hard to keep up with itall. But you’ll be a great Alpha and your pack is very lucky to have you.”

Lyle laughs. “We’ve just been to a mating ball, of allthings. Thank goodness my mate wasn’t there because I can’t settle for beingAlpha and being a mate at the same time. I’ll look for her when I am happy withhow I run the pack.”