Page 27 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)

FENYA

Wow! Accepting the mating was one thing.

Finding out that Astra may have influenced that decision is huge.

I need to have that conversation with her, but now is not the time.

I have to place a call to Alpha Falan and tell him of that decision.

I should have done this immediately but got caught up in everything else.

Do I call him Alpha Falan or is it now Falan?

That’s going to feel weird, just Falan. I don’t know what my being a luna dictates yet.

I assume Falan is for times like this or when in informal settings and Alpha Falan for everything else.

Perhaps I should have had that conversation with Lyle before I dashed off to make this call.

Calm and constructive. Words to live by, yet they’ll probably kill me! I can see them on my tombstone. ‘Here lies Fenya Walker. Couldn’t be calm and constructive to save her life!’

Being around Lyle will certainly help you with that. He takes things as they come and makes life seem so easy. Astra pops into my thoughts.

‘You can just shut the heck up. You have no input on anything right now. Not until I come to terms with how much I can trust you. You sneaky, conniving…’

Calm and constructive. Words to live by. Tut, tut, Astra chortles.

Snatching the phone from the desk, I place the call to the Wolfsong packhouse. It rings only once and then I hear Alpha Falan's voice.

“Hello, Wolfsong Pack.”

“Hello, Alpha Falan. It’s Fenya. How are you?” I almost stammer the words, I’m so nervous. I’ve never been nervous around Alpha Falan before. If anything, I was probably too familiar.

“Ha! Fenya! I’m fine, thanks. More importantly, how are you? Are you still a Stormhowl or are you now a Walker? I suspect you’re calling to let me know that I need a new Head Warrior.”

“I hadn’t even thought about that. Yes, I am now Fenya Walker.” I hardly recognize my own voice, it’s so quiet.

“Well, ‘Luna’ Fenya Walker. Congratulations! I am so happy for you both. I think once you’ve settled in and accepted that it was meant to be, you’ll have them eating from the palm of your hand, and worshipping the ground you walk on.

I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you saw that this was your destiny.

The Goddess excelled when she put you two together.

” Alpha Falan is almost gushing, he sounds so happy.

“I have a long way to go before anyone offers me anything from their palm. So far, they all believe I’ll bite their hand off at the shoulder if they try that! I have been myself for so long, I don’t know how to be normal or act as a luna should.”

“You are, and always have been, too harsh and judgmental of yourself. Once you let them see past that gruff exterior you seem to relish so much, they’ll see the true Fenya.

The one that helps so many and never asks for anything in return.

The Fenya that gives her free time to helping those who struggle in their warrior classes.

The warrior who takes on extra patrols so that others can spend time with their loved ones on their birthdays rather than having to be on the border.

That is the true Fenya that will win the hearts of the Spirit Walker Pack. ” Alpha Falan sounds wistful.

“You knew about those things? It was supposed to be done in secret. I am surprised and not a little disappointed that these things were talked about.” I feel betrayed right now.

“They were not discussed openly. I am Alpha. I know more about what goes on in the pack than you could possibly imagine. I expect Alpha Lyle does too. You will also, given time. Shifters will share with you to express their gratitude to someone, hoping that you will favor that person in the future. There is always a gossiper, but mostly you will recognize that they tell you because they feel someone in authority should know that there are those out there going above and beyond.” There is a brief pause, and then he continues.

“Beta Garrin was not aware of all the extracurricular activities that you had undertaken here. I have since had cause to educate him about them since you left. I think you will find he looks upon you differently now, and it has nothing to do with your being a luna.”

“He was never what you’d call a supporter of mine, but I never saw him as a detractor either.

I just thought he didn’t like me, and as you know, I never cared how people saw or thought of me.

” I never curried favor or went an inch out of my way to get people to accept me.

They took me as they found me, and as I didn’t have, want or need friends, I could be pretty abrasive I think to myself.

“I know that you were lenient with some of my behavior at times, but I thought that was because you had a ‘soft spot’ for me. I wasn’t aware that you knew about my helping others. ”

“I don’t know if ‘soft spot’ is quite what I’d call it, but I respected you immensely.

There were times as an alpha that I wished I could be more like you.

There has been more than one occasion that I wanted to wipe the smirk off someone's face, and would imagine sending you to their place of residence after dark to do the deed.” Alpha Falan laughs at this thought.

“I would have gone without a moment's hesitation. I may have ‘excelled in my duties’ with some of them, too, Alpha Falan. I can think of more than one that I would have taken pleasure in doling out violence to.”

“Now you need to find your own ‘Fenya’ that you can send!” Alpha Falan laughs even louder at this statement.

“Funny you should say that. I believe I have just the person for such tasks, and I believe she would be as thorough as I would have been.” Sloane’s face swims through my mind, and I feel that I would only have to mention it and she would do the deed.

“I have to dash off I’m afraid, Fenya. I have Zephyra and Kynan waiting with Beta Garrin in the woods.

They have some trees to climb while I decide which of them will become my new Chief Warrior.

I decided Chief sounds better than Head.

I look forward to meeting you as the Spirit Walker Luna in the near future.

Thank you for everything that you accomplished here, too. Give my regards to your mate!”

“Thank you, Alpha Falan. For everything.”

“Just Falan will do. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Just Falan.” Hearing another burst of laughter as the line goes dead, I smile to myself.

Sitting back in my chair, I wonder if Lyle knows ‘secrets’ about any of his pack?

I send a mind link to Sloane asking her to come to the office, if she is on duty.

If not, I’ll talk to her another time. It isn’t anything important as such.

There is only a brief wait, and a knock at the door heralds her arrival.

Calling to her to enter, I gesture to a seat in front of the desk.

Watching as she takes the seat I know that she was not on duty.

“I asked you to attend only if you were on duty. You are not on duty are you?”

“If my Luna requires me, I attend. It is that simple, my Luna. But if I may ask, how did you know?” Sloane throws a glance across my desk as though looking for a schedule of some kind.

“No schedule, Sloane. You rushed to button your blouse, and your buttons are not in the correct buttonholes. You fastened your top button through the second buttonhole, which throws them all off.” I smile as she rolls her eyes, and then re-buttons her blouse correctly.

“I was going to put a scenario to you and see how you would deal with it, but you may have already answered my question.”

“Oh well, let’s not spoil the fun. Run the scenario and let’s see where we go from there.” Leaning forward in her seat she waits expectantly. “I mean, Luna Fenya, if you wish, of course. I’m sorry. My enthusiasm gets the better of me sometimes.”

“Sloane, you remind me of me. I think we’re going to get on like a house on fire.

Now, the scenario is this. I have been to a diplomatic meeting, conference, or some such gathering.

While there, I have been subtly disrespected by the same diplomat, shifter, council member, several times.

I am both hurt and angered by this disrespect.

What should I do about this?” Leaning back, I wait for her thoughts.

“Can I assume several things, Luna Fenya? Alpha Lyle is not present at this event, I am the head warrior for your escort or protection detail, and you don’t want a public display of your displeasure?”

“Very good, Sloane. I like the way you’re going with this so far.”

“Thank you, my Luna. My suggestion would be to let me handle it for you in a discreet yet persuasive manner. Depending on the level of disrespect, though you have said that you were both hurt and angered, I think a clandestine operation involving a visit to the aforementioned diplomat along with a thorough explanation of the said insults, and their detrimental effect on your wellbeing. To reduce the risk of any fallout from this visit, I would ensure that any bruising or other injuries were completely explainable by a drunken mishap that may have occurred. I would also be sure to explain that should there be any further showing of disrespect, it was highly likely that they would disappear mysteriously, never to be seen or heard from, ever again.” Her eyes almost glow as she says this.

“My Luna, I think this is an excellent ‘training exercise’ you have developed, and hope that at some point you are able to devise a practical test to run alongside the theory. I look forward very much to being the first of your protection detail to try it out and demonstrate its effectiveness.”

“We can only hope that it never becomes necessary, but I will count on your skill and ability should such a demonstration be required.”

Talking of such things reminds me of not going on the mission to no-man’s-land, and this must show on my face.

“Was there something else troubling you, Luna Fenya? You look like there is.”

Her genuine concern is touching. “I’m not sure it is something I should discuss freely, Sloane.”

“I understand, Luna Fenya. I would just like to say that anything you say within my earshot will go with me to the grave. Also, if you discuss anything in my presence, I will listen in case you should need me to act on something from that conversation. If you feel that you are in danger at any time, we should have a phrase that you can use to alert me.” Sloane’s mind must be in hyper mode as she tells me these things.

“There was a mission that I wished to undertake but was excluded from. It isn’t sitting well that I wasn’t part of the team.”

“The mission that Beta Earl led? Why would a luna be risked on such a mission? That would be very unwise. Besides which, such things are now beneath your standing. You would expect to lead a pack into a battle, but the mission of which you speak would not be worth risking your life on.” Sloane gives me a look that says , come on now you have to understand.

“I am no more valuable than the next warrior. My life is no more important than yours. Surely you see that?”

Another knowing look as she speaks. “Your life before you came here may have been that way, but it is no longer so.

You are the Spirit Walker Pack's Luna. Second only to Alpha Lyle. It would be devastating to lose our Luna. Also, what effect would that have on Alpha Lyle? I have heard of Alphas who have lost their Luna and never recovered from it. No. That is foolish to think that way. Your life now is to be protected at all costs. As you would have done for Alpha Falan or any mate that he took.”

“I am so new to this. I hadn’t thought of my loss being any more devastating than losing any other pack member.”

A knock on the door interrupts any further conversation, and when the door starts to open before I call enter, Sloane is already on her feet and ready to take down the intruder. When Lyle appears, Sloane visibly relaxes, and then stands by her chair.

“My apologies. I should have waited. Shall I come back later?”

“You should not have to knock and wait at any door in your own packhouse. Sloane has just passed a test I devised to help me appoint my personal Chief of Luna Security. Sounds like a grand title deserving of a highly skilled warrior. Congratulations, Sloane, you’re now my new go-to for anything security.

You’ll need to liaise with Chief Warrior Glen and Beta Earl to arrange three teams that can rotate for my personal safety.

Agree numbers, schedules for home and away escort, etc.

I’m sure you know the requirements. If you need new warriors so that we don’t deplete existing teams, get some into the training program quickly.

As you’ve chosen to work your day off, you may as well get started right away.

” Grinning at her shocked expression, I nod towards the door, and she looks at me in confusion.

“Congratulations on the promotion, Sloane. Now get out and close the door firmly behind you!” Lyle also nods at the door and his wide suggestive eyes get her moving.

“Oh…right…I’ll tell the warrior on guard to make sure you’re not disturbed.” Rushing out as she blushes furiously, Lyle laughs and comes to the desk. Leaning over, he kisses me, and it curls my toes, I have to say.

“Is that why you’re here? You want to test out the desk again?” I stand and wrap my arms around his neck.

“As exciting as that sounds, no, it isn’t why I’m here. I have spoken to Bronze, and we think we need to have a meeting with Flint.”

“Flint? Ah, the councilman.”

“I’ll arrange a visit from him, and then you can be formally introduced. He will be upset too. He has been the one to attend all the Alpha’s bonding ceremonies and pack runs. We did ours without him.”