Page 2 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)
LYLE
Sitting in the office with Flint, I’m happy to hear that my parents are doing well.
I know they’ve told me themselves that they are happy and enjoying their new roles, but it’s always good to have it validated from an independent source.
After all, they’re hardly likely to admit that they’d screwed up and wished they could come back!
“I’m thinking of introducing an apprentice scheme for all the management roles we have in the pack. When we go to war with Arric properly, and not this skirmish crap, some will have to remain at the pack and ensure we have something to return to.” Looking at Flint, I see a glint in his eye.
“Lyle! You don’t need an apprentice scheme. Talk to those doing the job now and I can guarantee they have someone in place already. If not more than one. Have you got someone that can stand in for you?” Flint tilts his head to one side and raises his eyebrows questioningly.
“Earl could do it no problem. Glen could do it in a pinch. Alright, I see where you’re going with this.” I slump back in my chair and feel deflated.
“Stop trying to reinvent the wheel just because you are bored. Let’s face it, the only reason you are bored is because there is a process or a person in place to ensure the smooth running of the pack.
You and your father have both done an exceptional job organizing everything and training everyone.
Your mother, Cinder, has also been in the mix and her people skills have ensured that you have the best possible people where you need them to be.
I know your father made all the appointments, but don’t think for a minute he was able to create the team without your mother's guidance.” Flint waits for me to say something, but I have no words.
“When your mother saw Blossom, she knew instinctively she was right for the gardens. Did you know it took Cinder a full month to get Blossom into that position? Both your father and Blossom thought she was mad. Look at her now. Blossom has your pack grounds looking like some of the best I’ve ever seen.
I shouldn’t say this, but I couldn’t choose between your grounds and Blossom, or Blackshadow grounds with Silas and Dahlia.
The others are just not in the same league.
Don’t get me wrong, not one pack has poor grounds but between you and Blackshadow, I wouldn’t want to choose a winner. ”
“I thought Blossom applied for the position?” I’m shocked to hear that she had to be persuaded.
“She did, after Cinder had been on her back every single day for a month. She bludgeoned Blossom into submission with praise, compliments, and ego boosting. She was relentless with the poor woman. By the time the application went in, Blossom was convinced it was all her own idea and that she could grow plants on the moon if she put her mind to it!” Flint’s laugh tells me he must have been around while all this was going on and seen it firsthand.
“They have two head gardeners at Blackshadow?” I ask. “How does that work? Aren’t they constantly at loggerheads?”
“Silas is the head gardener and Dahlia is his mate. Taria visited Blackshadow while preparing to become Luna of the Eclipse pack with Alpha Bronze. She did the matchmaking and the pair have never looked back.”
“Maybe she could do the same for me? A mate could be what I’m missing in my life.
Perhaps I’m destined to be alone or worse still, mated to Lavender.
She’s been on my radar since my parents left.
My radar to avoid that is!” I have to grimace as I think of all the times that Lavender has tried to ingratiate herself with me.
“She started popping up at mealtimes, showing up at my office with a drink or something for my lunch. That got so bad I had to speak to Flick and have meals specially delivered to me every damn day. It’s going to reach a breaking point soon and I really don’t want to have to go down the road of expelling her from the pack.
I’ll get Earl on the case and he can have a stern word or two with her. ”
“We all have our crosses to bear, Lyle, unfortunately. You may not believe it, but I too once had my own infatuated female. She was everywhere I went. She once turned up to a pack mating ball with a forged invitation stating she was my ‘plus one.’ That was so embarrassing, I can tell you. The weird thing was, she was stunningly beautiful and could have had her choice of any of the males,” Flint reflects.
“Obviously her elevator didn’t reach the top floor, or perhaps she was partially sighted!” I say this with a straight face and wait to see if Flint catches my meaning.
“I can always go and spend my time with an alpha that appreciates my company and leave you to your boredom, you know. I’ve been insulted in far better places than this!” Flint laughs at my stricken face as I picture him riding into the sunset and me returning to my lonely boredom.
“No! My apologies for my poor sense of humor. My warriors are removing the wheels of your motorcycle as we speak!”
Laughing together, I feel my mood lighten and a weight taken from my shoulders.
“Let’s go see what Flick has on offer for the evening meal, shall we? I’m certain it will be above average with her knowing you’re visiting. Average? She’d have me in one of her stews if she heard me calling anything she prepared as ‘average.’” I cringe at the thought of her overhearing me.
Entering the dining hall, Flint takes a deep breath and sighs.
“She definitely knew I was coming. I’d know the smell of lasagna anywhere, and this smells delicious.
It’s herby too, just the way I like it. She’s spoken with the council's chef, no doubt. Either that or she can read minds.” Flint almost floats to the counter, and I see Flick grinning from the kitchen as she watches.
Taking a plate, Flint gets his helping of lasagna and, giving his server a stern look, he gets a second serving reverently placed on his plate. Grinning happily, he glances towards the kitchen and gives Flick a mock bow.
Taking my own plate, we find a table in a quiet corner and begin to eat. I’m only on my second forkful when a shadow looms over the table. Knowing what I’m going to see when I look up, I delay for as long as I can. Obviously sensing my discomfort, Flint acts first.
“Ah, you wish to join me? Two such lovely females can only be attracted by my presence, I’m sure.” Flint gives them a smile that looks like a predator that has seen its prey.
Lavender and Jade look at each other, not sure what just happened.
Their ploy to get Lavender at my table has suddenly gone awry, and they are now the center of attention of the wrong male.
Lavender is in flight mode and Jade looks at her, waiting for her to do the talking.
Jade, I doubt, has a ‘flight’ bone in her body, so is looking to Lavender to get them out of this mess which has to be of her making.
“SIT!” Flint barks at them and they drop into a seat immediately.
“You are both either very na?ve or very stupid. I’d like to think na?ve, but I’d be deluding myself and giving you more credit than you’re due.
Given the descriptions from your previous Luna, I take it that you are Lavender, and you are Jade?
” Looking at them in turn, they both nod.
“Good. I was given clear instruction from my now fellow councilor that should you cause any kind of disturbance, incident or became a nuisance of any kind, that I should end your life without hesitation.”
Lavender pales considerably while Jade has an air of ‘try it and see what you get.’
“Lavender! If you insist on this nonsense of trying to become the pack's Luna, I will personally take an interest in your demise. You have been told so many times by so many people that it is not going to happen, and yet, here you are again. Have you anything to say for yourself?”
“I would be the perfect mate for Alpha Lyle. I…” Lavender starts her usual diatribe of complete and utter garbage, but Flint is having none of it.
“What does anyone have to do to get through that thick skull of yours that you are not what Alpha Lyle needs or wants? You are delusional and if you insist on going down this road, it will end badly for you. Go and wait outside Alpha Lyle’s office until I have finished my meal.
Speak to no one and sit quietly while your future is debated. ” Lavender heads for the exit.
Flint turns his attention to Jade. “You are a loyal friend. Unfortunately, your loyalty is misguided. By supporting this fantasy your friend has, you are helping to drive her to a bad end. Can you not see where this is headed?” Flint patiently waits for her response.
“She has talked of nothing else, no, I should say dreamed of nothing else, for as long as I can remember. It isn’t the Luna position that drives her, it is being the mate of the only male she has ever wanted.
Since she was a pup, she has adored Lyle, long before she understood pack hierarchy.
Perhaps the Goddess has only completed one half of the mating process, I don’t know, but it is how it is.
Perhaps death will be the only release she gets, but no one's words will ever sway her devotion to Alpha Lyle.
I have tried for years to make her see that it is not meant to be and it has all been to no avail.
“If you take her to another pack, she will return. Find her chosen mate, perhaps? Even if there is one out there somewhere, I don’t know if the bond would be strong enough to break the connection to Alpha Lyle she has lived with all her life.
One thing I do know Councilman Flint, is that if you intend that her life be forfeit, it must be me that does it.
I need to be the one that ensures her passing is swift, painless, and that she slips quietly away to the Goddess.
” Jade stuns us both with her calm narrative.
At no point have I ever seen Lavender's behavior as anything other than that of a young woman craving power and attention. Thinking back, I can never see a period where Lavender wasn’t either in my class or training group.
Whatever I’ve done, she was always there, somewhere.
I never saw it as anything other than pack life until she got older, and the sexes became aware of each other.
Even then she was just there, never of any genuine interest to me. At times, nothing but a damn nuisance.
“Councilman Flint. We have to try something. I can’t just toss her aside in light of what Jade has just told us. I owe it to her, as I would any pack member, to try anything to resolve this.”
“I suggest that the first thing we do is get her away from you, Alpha Lyle. It might not help her in the short term, but at least she may focus on something else, even just on her new surroundings would help. Jade, go pack your things, you’ll be going with her,” Flint states.
“Where?” Jade looks worried.
“You’re going on a good-will tour of the other packs.
” Flint waits for Jade to leave and then continues, “I’ll contact the Alphas directly and discuss the issue.
It will be better for them to know the truth and perhaps their Lunas can come up with something, too.
I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, Lyle. ”
“Not at all. I’m confident that there isn’t an alpha out there that wouldn’t do whatever it takes to solve a pack member's issue. If there is, they don’t deserve their position.”
Two hours later and the arrangements are made.
All the alphas were sympathetic to the problem, and all discussed it with their Luna.
Sienna Stone Shadow has gone along as the leader of the delegation.
I chose five others to make up the group, and only Sienna and Jade know the truth.
Lavender was told she was going with them to allow her time to reflect on what Councilman Flint had said to her.