Page 36 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)
FENYA
When the last group of warriors arrived from the Eclipse Pack, I was surprised when Luna Taria arrived with them. Even more surprising was the news that I was staying behind at the packhouse while Lyle went off to war with Bronze and the other Alphas.
Although Taria was far from happy, she took the news far better than I did.
It probably helped that her mate sat her down and explained everything to her, whereas mine completely forgot to mention that minor detail in the battle plan.
All the females were to remain at their respective packs to defend them if the impending battle didn’t go as anticipated.
Taria would have none of it and insisted that Beta Xavi should stay behind.
If the battle was lost, she reasoned the Spirit Walker Pack would be the next line of defense and would need support.
She packed up her Luna Protection detail and quick-marched here before anyone could stop her.
Gabe persuaded Tati to stay at Wolfsfoot just in case Arric defeated the Blood Pearl Pack, however unlikely we all believe that to be, and then marched on Wolfsfoot for its town resources and to divide the packs.
Tati had moved everyone from the packhouse and surrounding area into the town as it is easier to defend, and she had begun creating choke points for any invaders so that any attack could be stalled and contained.
Hope, well, Hope. She is as far removed from being a warrior as anyone I know.
What she lacks in skill and ability she more than makes up for in attitude and determination.
If she can’t kill them with teeth and claw, she’ll find another way to do it.
She’ll defend her pack to the bitter end if it ever comes to that.
Council Warriors and Shadow Warriors are divided between Blood Pearl Pack and Spirit Walker Pack, though there are far more heading to Blood Pearl Pack secretly than are remaining here.
Falan has been granted control over all the Northern Sector warriors that have gathered from all the packs in that region.
Word has it that few warriors have been sent from each pack as they don’t see this as their war.
I also know that this is false information that has been leaked deliberately. Falan controls an army of thousands.
I have to go make peace with Lyle shortly.
I have been so angry since finding out second-hand that I was being left behind again that I couldn’t speak to him.
I had to walk away and take a time-out. It is not Lyle’s fault that I was left behind by Falan when he visited here the first time, but it is beginning to feel like a theme.
I am more than capable of holding my own in a battle.
Knocking on the door, has me call, “Enter.” I wonder who is brave enough, or stupid enough, to risk wanting to see me right now. Seeing Sloane enter and raise her eyebrows at me, I’m not surprised it’s her.
“Run out of toys, have we?” She asks, taking a seat in front of my desk.
“Toys?”
“Finished throwing your toys out of your stroller? You need to start coming to terms with being a Luna. You are no longer first and foremost a warrior,” Sloane says this quietly, but I am having none of it.
“I am what I say I am and what I want to be when I want to be it. I get to choose. No one chooses for me. And that’s final!” I rage at her, and she just shakes her head.
“Oh, grow up! I’ve heard all this before, and it’s time Alpha Lyle stopped being Mister Nice Guy and put you across his knee for a good spanking!
You already made your choice, so stop acting like it’s being forced upon you.
You chose to become the Luna. No one pinned you to the floor and forced you into it.
No one is holding you here against your will.
You are not a hostage. You only kick off when you don’t get to do something you want to do.
” Sloane is angrier than I think I’ve ever seen her.
“You don’t make this fuss when you get to promote someone.
You don’t whinge and whine when you invade Chief Warrior Glen's training sessions and take over. You don’t stop and ask when you want to walk through Blossom’s gardens, cutting flowers for your desk to look and smell nice.
Oh, no. It’s okay to be the Luna when it suits you and what you want.
Take the rough with the smooth or get out of the kitchen.
If you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, your shoe doesn’t fit! ”
I blink at her as I haven’t got a clue what she is talking about. “I don’t know what any of that even means, Sloane.”
“If I weren’t so angry it would have come out properly and made sense. I get so frustrated with you. I don’t know how Alpha Lyle puts up with you sometimes, I honestly don’t. I’m surprised Astra hasn’t shifted just your head to a wolf’s so she can damn well bite your human self!”
“She’s said before that she wished she could bite me.” I clearly remember her saying that.
“I want to bite you myself sometimes, or beat you to within an inch of your life.” Watching Sloane calm down, I am thankful she is my friend. She is the only one who could say stuff like this to me and get away with it. It does bring me back to earth too.
“You know I could meet you in the training ring for saying things like this, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. You won’t though.”
“And why wouldn’t I, pray tell?” I know the answer already.
“Because we’d be there for eternity. Neither would give in, and neither would want to kill the other.
We’d be stuck in a damn time loop thingy.
We are alike in that. I, however, accept my place in the greater scheme of things and get on with it without all the drama.
You, on the other hand, are such a diva! ”
“Oh, please. Get out of my office so I can plan my apology to my mate.”
“Ha! My work here is done.” Sloane stands, rubs her hands together to demonstrate a job well done and heads for the door. As she opens the door I hear her say, “Mission accomplished. You owe me a pickernic for one, Alpha Lyle.”
Lyle walks in followed by Taria who states. “What does she mean, you owe her a pickernic?”
Lyle holds his hands up. “I don’t have the faintest idea. We had just arrived at your door when Sloane walked out and said that. What were you talking about with her?”
“Never mind. What can I do for the two of you?” Standing, I walk around the desk, waiting to see what is forthcoming.
“I’m leaving for Blood Pearl Pack shortly, so I thought we’d have a last meal together.”
Taria grimaces. “Your choice of words is just astounding, Lyle. I’m going to leave you two alone and have lunch with Ember.”
Alone in the office, I accept a long, lingering kiss before I start my groveling apology. Using very few words but lots of actions, I’m sure I’m forgiven.
“I like your office so much more than mine.” Lyle whispers as we relax against my desk once again.
“No. You like what happens in my office so much more than yours.” I laugh and push him away so we can get dressed and eat our last meal before he leaves.
****
Later, at the training area, I stand with Taria and watch Ember and Sloane sparring.
I wouldn’t want to wager who would win if they were ever serious.
Ember wields her bat as if it’s one of her limbs, and it moves at incredible speed, too.
Sloane though, seems to have a sixth sense for where it’s going to land and is never there to take the hit.
They perform like a ballet, and quite a crowd has gathered to watch them.
There’s a bit of healthy banter going on as to who is the better warrior with a few stating that Ember’s bat gives her an unfair advantage.
Taria surprises me when she jumps to Ember's defense stating, “Anyone that doubts my warrior's abilities unarmed is welcome to step up. I’ll even hold her bat for her while she shows you the error of your words.” Smiling sweetly, there is a hush from those detractors.
A voice from the crowd asks if I would spar with Ember, to which I look to where the voice came from and reply, “Both those warriors are preparing to fight and die for the same cause. Your safety. Your freedom. How they perform that duty, with or without a bat, is irrelevant. Would I spar against either? No, I wouldn’t.
Ask me if I would fight and die beside either of them and yes, I would be proud to do so. ”
The crowd gives a cheer, and I deflect it from me to the two warriors sparring by calling their names and asking them to take a bow.
Taria has the crowd roaring with laughter as she calls out, “Right, form an orderly line all those that wish to spar with my Chief of Luna Protection. Don’t be shy. I said I’d hold her bat, and I won’t let her hurt you too much.”
Not knowing what’s going on, Ember starts to hand her bat to Taria, and the crowd suddenly begins thinning out.
In only a minute or two, the four of us are alone, and Ember looks slightly confused.
Taria explains, and Sloane, finding it hilarious, slaps Ember on the back almost knocking her to the floor.
Speaking with Glen later, Earl having gone off to war with Lyle, we make final arrangements for the defense of the pack if any of Arric’s forces find their way here.
I will take care of any northern approaches to the pack, Taria the eastern.
Glen will hold his force between the two of us and be prepared to reinforce where necessary.
No one expects any of Arric’s forces to reach this far, but I have an itchy-scratchy feeling all down my back that won’t go away.
When I told Taria about the feeling, she said she gets it too.
But hers is when Bronze takes her in the forest beneath a tree and she is sure that the rabbits are watching!