Page 34 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)

“Very well. But a discreet distance had better be far enough that I can buy lingerie without this lot knowing what Alpha Gabe is being treated to.” Thomas blushes, and the warriors take a step further back.

The journey to the town is uneventful, but I notice Ember has more than a casual grip on her bat. When I question her about it as we approach the outskirts of the town, she asks for a word with myself, Luna Tati and Beta Thomas.

“Someone is watching us from the woods. They have been keeping pace with us, I’m sure. I feel it more than I know it. I don’t think they mean to attack us, but they are not wanting our autograph, either.” None of us are stupid enough to look into the woods directly, and I trust Ember’s intuition.

“We should head back immediately.” Thomas turns to speak to his warriors, but Ember grabs his arm to prevent him turning.

“Beta Thomas, stop and think for a moment. We are at the edge of Wolfsfoot. They, whoever they are, cannot hope to do us harm in the town. Turning back now, gives them all the advantage. We don’t know their numbers, they know ours.

We are not rested, but they surely will be.

They have cover, we do not. Forgive me, but my Luna is going into the town where it is safer.

I suggest that you do the same for yours.

” Ember has been respectful throughout, but her tone says her words are not to be ignored.

Ember looks at my escort and then flicks her eyes to the woods.

The escorts walk to the opposite side of the road and sit down, take their rations from their backpacks and begin eating.

There is the low muttering of a patrol taking their break.

Five minutes pass, and they stand, and prepare themselves to move off.

Ember nods at them and then gives me a satisfied smirk.

“If your escort are ready now they’ve had their picnic, maybe we can get to the safety of the town, as you suggested.” Thomas’s tone makes me bristle, but Ember gives him a charming smile.

“I’ll happily share a picnic with you sometime, Beta Thomas,” giving an exaggerated curtsy, she leads off.

Once on the busy main street, Tati’s voice suddenly states, “Beta Thomas, you will apologize to Bat Warrior Ember for your rudeness and unprofessional attitude. I will then have her explain to you in the simplest terms about their ‘picnic’.”

Thomas looks as though he has been struck by his Luna, and it is plain for all to see that he knows he has made a mistake.

“You have my sincere apologies for my earlier behavior, Bat Warrior Ember. Please do me the honor of explaining the purpose of having your team take an unexpected break.”

“I accept your apology. My team did not take a break, they performed a well-rehearsed covert maneuver. While they appeared to take the break, one of them shifted to their wolf and slipped away into the woods. As we speak, one of my team is in the woods alone, reconnoitering the enemy position. They will return shortly to make their report.”

“I saw what I expected to see. Very clever. One of your ideas, I presume.” Thomas tilts his head with respect.

Before Ember can respond, I intervene. “One of many ideas that Ember has brought to the table. Before we leave, you should consult with her on your Luna’s security.

As much as I hate to have warriors around me at all times, I don’t feel in the least crowded or under scrutiny.

” At this moment we see our scout returning, and he has a bloody mark across his chest.

Dropping to the floor in front of us, he is gasping for breath. Ember rips open his shirt, and although the wound is long, it doesn’t look deep.

“There was a single male trailing us. I wounded him, but he was as slippery as an eel. He had a message for you, Ember. He said that he had returned for Hannah, but would happily take your Luna in her stead.”

Ember stands and looks around the street. “Elijah!”

Tati turns to look at me and then Ember. “Leave your Luna in our hands. Warn Hannah, and this time, Ember, if the opportunity arises, kill him. I want that shifter dead.”

Ember nods, looks at me, and I nod to her. Running across the street, she heads off towards the furniture shop.

EMBER

Racing toward the shop where Hannah works, I stop for nothing and no one. I spared Elijah once for Hannah’s sake, and it cost an innocent shifter their life. It won’t happen again. If it costs me my friendship, then so be it.

Closing in on the shop I slow to a walk and scan the area, catching my breath as I do so.

Nothing seems out of place, and no one appears to be staring at the building or me.

Approaching the shop's front door, I notice that the sign says closed.

Not today and not at this time should the shop be closed.

Reaching for the door handle I see blood on it, then I bolt for the rear of the building.

Seeing the large rear doors open, I stand by one and listen.

Hearing Hannah crying, I know that Elijah is in there for sure.

Keeping to the shadows around the door, I slip inside. I don’t want Hannah to see me, or she will give the game away. River, my wolf, wants me to shift so she can take down Elijah, but the workshop isn’t best suited for wolf fighting.

Keeping as low as I can without lying flat on the ground, I sneak into the workshop. Hearing Elijah’s voice, I stop and strain to hear what he’s saying. Whatever it is, it’s causing distress to my friend.

“Your batty friend will be mortified when she finds out that you are just a distraction to get her away from her precious Luna. The idiot Alpha that I promised you too got himself killed by his own pack. King Arric will reward me handsomely for gifting him a Luna, though.”

Mind linking with Luna Taria and the escort team, I warn them to be prepared for a kidnap attempt.

I’m convinced that with the amount of security she has around her, she will be safe.

There is my team plus Luna Tati, Beta Thomas and his team.

When Beta Thomas hears about the risk, I’m sure he will request further support.

Knowing that Elijah isn’t in town alone I take a moment and let River use her superior senses to check out the area.

Sensing no one else present, I take a few slow deep breaths as I prepare to take down Elijah, once and for all.

I’m not letting this scum walk free again, no matter that he is my friend's brother!

Standing slowly, I’m only a few feet behind him. I stay as much out of Hannah’s sight as I can. I don’t want her to react before I’m ready.

“Why are you doing this? What did I ever do to you to deserve this level of hatred?” Hannah’s voice is cracking with emotion as she speaks.

“I don’t hate you. You’re just a means to an end. A commodity I can trade for a better lifestyle. Well, you were. Now I need a Luna, and so you’re just expendable and after today, you’re an unnecessary commodity. Past its use-by date, so to speak.”

Elijah’s intentions are clear. He is going to kill Hannah! I need to act before his team reports that they have failed. He may just kill Hannah out of anger.

“I would have been a better gift for King Arric than Luna Taria, Elijah.” Standing up I need to throw him off guard. “We could have made an agreement if you’d been smart enough to approach me.”

“Why would you be better than a Luna? You’re just a worthless female with a stick.” Elijah turned quickly at my voice but wasn’t as shocked as I’d expected.

“I could have got close to Arric and killed him with my stick. Then, as the Queen, I could have chosen the next King. King Elijah. Has quite a ring to it, don’t you think?” I walk slowly around the workshop. I need to get behind Hannah so I can free her when the time comes.

I see his greedy mind liking the idea of him becoming the king. As if there aren’t enough in Arric’s court already plotting and scheming for themselves.

Now I’m standing behind Hannah, I can see that she has her hands tied behind her back, but she is not secured to the chair.

Bonus, I think to myself. Resting my hand briefly on her shoulder, I lean down and in a voice loud enough for Elijah to hear, I say, “Just sit tight while I make my contract with your brother.” Letting one hand slide down her back, I pop my wolf claws and slice her bindings.

Walking away from her, I now need to get closer to Elijah so I can be sure that he dies today, but how? I’d like to crush his skull with my bat, but I doubt that he is stupid enough to let me get close enough for that.

“You really think you could do that? Kill Arric and make me king in his stead?” I can’t believe he’s saying this. He has got to be more than a little touched.

Twirling my bat, I drop my voice and try to sound sexy. “Are you kidding me? I could have him eating out of the palm of my hand. He wouldn’t know what hit him. We could rule the kingdom and do whatever we wanted. What do you say? Let’s shake on it and make it happen.”

I see the grin on his face, and I know I have him on the hook.

He reaches out with his right hand, and when he sees my left hand extended, he frowns.

Before he realizes what’s happening the bat in my right hand connects with his temple.

The sound is horrendous as it shatters his skull, sending pieces of bone into his brain.

Blood splatters everywhere, and he drops dead at my feet.

Hannah’s screaming has me looking up. She’s frantically untying her feet. As I turn to help her, she pops free and rushes over to her brother's body. Seeing the damage my bat has done, she looks up at me and gives me a feral snarl. Slowly standing up she takes a chisel from one of the workbenches.

“Hannah! Don’t do this. He was going to kill you. He had to be stopped. You know…”

I see the moment she is going to launch herself at me and I don’t hesitate. Friend or not, I’m not going to stand idly by while they try to kill me, and that is her intent. It is written all over her face.

I have no intention of spending my life looking over my shoulder. Driving my bat upwards, I strike her under the chin. Her head jerks backward snapping her neck, and she joins her brother.

As I mind link with Luna Taria to check that she is okay, I’m surprised by her voice behind me.

“I’m safe thanks to you, Ember. You have no cause to blame yourself for Hannah’s death, either. I heard what you said, and she chose to die. She knew exactly what she was doing and wanted to join her brother in death. You merely carried out your friend's last wish.”

Tati, standing beside her says, “Come. Let’s get out of here and back to the packhouse. Beta Thomas will get this mess cleaned up.”