Kingdom of Wolves - Page 92

“Mating ball? I’ve not heard of them apart from in the pasttense. Which pack held the ball?”

“Blackshadow Pack held it, and Alpha Connell was verywelcoming. Some found mates and it was nice to see but I was happy not to findmine as I just said. I think Alpha Connell may have grown up some since he’shad to take responsibility onto his shoulders.”

“I hope he gets better people around him than Evangeline,Bellamy, and Jackson.”

Laughing loudly over the phone, Lyle stutters. “Oh,Eva…gelll..ina…” more laughter, “Her mate rejected her.”

“Nooooooo…” Gasping with surprise.

Throaty laughter blasts into my ear. “Honestly, Tati, shewent down on her knees holding her chest and the male rubbed his chest, lookedat her like she was dirt, and walked away.”

“How do you know? Were you there?”

“No, but I was speaking with a warrior on the door and heand his fellow warrior were laughing about it, and they told me. They were fromthe pack, so they thought she got everything she deserved.” Calming himself toa chuckle.

“She’s not very nice, I have to tell you. She was one of thepeople that made my life miserable, but I won’t allow her to do that to meanymore. She knows that now because I beat her in the town.”

We spend the next thirty minutes catching up on what was happeningand how we were both coping with all the changes. Then Lyle brings up the topicof the town.

“Do you think you’ll upgrade the town to a pack?”

“I’ve thought about it a lot since I’ve been asked about it.Ebony has given me her view on it, of course. I’m going to ask the town councilto call a meeting so I can see how the town itself feels. I’m going to theEclipse pack tomorrow, so I’ll do that when I come back.”

“I think that’s a good idea, because if they don’t want tocreate a pack, then you can either stay as a rogue town member or come to mypack.” I don’t miss the chuckle he gives.

Seeing Drake heading towards me from the farmhouse, I saygoodbye to Lyle and wait for whatever words of wisdom he’ll throw at me. Foronce, I don’t stand and show the respect I normally would; I stay with my backto the post and watch him approach.

Standing in front of me, Drake folds his arms over his chestand frowns down at me. “Are you going to sulk like a little girl, or are yougoing to be the Alpha female you were born to be? The Alpha female that I havefaith in, the female I’ll follow wherever she goes?”

Taking to my feet, I look at Drake and feel a littleashamed, but I also have that anger at everything being taken away from me whenI only just settled.

“Take a breather, Tati. Things happen for a reason, andbecause you are who you are, things will keep changing and they may changefast. You are strong enough to meet whatever is thrown at you. Now you justhave to prove that to everyone else.”

Searching Drake’s face, I see the belief he has in me, thewarmth he is sending, and the strength that he knows I need to lean on.

“Will you help me do all this? Run the farm, rule the packif the town becomes a pack. Stand with me no matter what happens in thefuture?”

“Yes. You are light in the town’s dark. You are what willbring us all forward from rogues to pack members. You are the one we’ve allbeen waiting for. Yes, you are young, but you have people who care, who willsupport you, who will always stand beside you.”

“Okay, Drake.” I look him right in the eye. “But if youdesert me, know I’ll walk away and you’ll never see me again.”

Taking my hand, Drake tucks my hand over his arm and leadsme back to the farmhouse where I know the discussion will continue regardingthe town, a pack, visits, and everything else that is felt I need to know.

For the next three hours, we talk about the town as it is,and how it would be as a pack. Myself leading alone, or as Luna alongside amate. The visit to Eclipse Pack and what I need to learn while I am there, plusthe stance we will need to take with the Blood Pearl Pack if Alpha Auroradoesn’t appropriately apologize to the town council.

By the time Flint and Drake leave, my head aches, and mystomach is churning. The thought of all the things I’m going to have to face isunnerving and worrying, but Ebony says we can do it, so who am I to argue withmy stubborn wolf?

When the phone rings and Poppa Lykos answers he looks overat me where I’m sitting at the kitchen table drinking water to hydrate hopingit will help my splitting headache.

After the call, Poppa takes a seat opposite the table andgrins. “Alpha Aurora has contacted the council and apologized. She’s sendingsomeone to speak with you and, hopefully, put things right. The town councilrefused the offer for you to revisit because you have the visit to the EclipsePack. She understood and hopes you will not hold it against them forever afterthey dropped the ball.”

Giving Poppa a nod, I finish the water before replying. “Iwill not say I’m not upset that they spoke out of turn, but to apologize showsshe is at least trying to put it right. I do not want to revisit the pack atthis time. I have only a few weeks now before my eighteenth birthday and I havea big decision to make before then. That has to take priority. But even thathas to wait until I get back from the next two weeks’ visit with AlphaBlueblood.”

Patting my hand, Poppa nods. “Okay, let’s get things readyfor you to go on that visit. It will be one thing less for you to face. Whenyou come home, you may have a decision, but whatever you decide, I’m taking theposition with the shifter council. It’s the right thing to do for Wolfsfoot,whether it’s a town or a pack.”

Chapter38

TATIANA