Page 43 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)
LYLE
The Victory Ball was a tremendous success and was enjoyed by everyone. It went on until the early hours, and the dining hall is only now starting to show signs of filling up with breakfast diners. I doubt that many will require lunch as it’s so late.
Gabe has arranged for a gathering of all the pack leaders and their guests for twelve noon, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a few had to be roused from their beds even at that time.
Being the first to join Gabe and Tati, Fenya and I chat with them as diners arrive.
It is clear to see that some have forged new friendships, and even relationships since they arrived or attended the ball.
Ember and Ezra are sitting at a quiet corner table, alone and looking very comfortable with each other.
They are also sitting very close. As I watch, they clear their table and head out of the Hall.
Smiling, I notice something amiss but can’t put my finger on it.
Fenya nudges me, and as I tear my eyes away, she whispers, “Are you jealous, Lyle? You haven’t taken your eyes off them since we walked in. ”
“What? No, of course not. There’s something different though, and I can’t think what it is!” Listening to Fenya giggle, I frown.
“You males can be so dim-witted at times. If she were in the training area or going into battle, you would notice immediately. She doesn’t have her bat with her!”
“Ha! I knew there was something. Why wouldn’t she have her bat with her? I’ve never seen her without it.” That thing, in one form or another, has been with her since Bronze presented her with the first one all that time ago.
“Clearly, my dear, she wants Ezra to be comfortable with her as a female, and not as a Bat Warrior of the Luna Protection Detail.” Fenya looks at me with raised eyebrows and shakes her head.
“Why would she…Oh! OH!”
“And finally, the penny drops. Sometimes, Lyle, you can be sooo slow,” Fenya giggles again, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of hearing that sound.
“Gabe, how many of your pack found mates last night?” I ask, knowing that three of mine did.
“Five in total. I’m pleased with that. They were obvious matches too. Not like Ember and Ezra? I’m happy for them, though. Taria will be over the moon.”
“Taria is ecstatic about that match!” A voice interrupts from behind us.
Turning, we see Taria and Bronze, each holding a tray of breakfast food.
Slipping into seats at the table, Taria glows with excitement.
“We had three matings last night, and if there’d only been Ember and Ezra, I would be just as happy. They deserve each other.”
Watching Taria tuck into her food, I wonder where she puts it all. Bronze sees me and grins.
“We burned a lot of calories last night.” Smiling a salacious grin at me, he too tucks into his breakfast. It seems a good night was had by all.
Seeing Flint and Flick walk in with Blossom and Glen in tow, we pull another table and its chairs to ours. Flint, I have to say, looks ten years younger. I say this out loud without realizing.
“Thank you, Lyle. It is either the lack of stress since I resigned from the council, or more likely the new lease on life Flick has given me.” Seeing her blush, it would appear that the Victory Ball has had the same effect on everyone that attended.
“The Victory Ball appears to have had a positive effect on everyone. Perhaps our hosts added a little something to the food.” Glancing at Tati, as she shakes her head.
“Not to my knowledge. If there was, Gabe didn’t eat enough!” Tati responds.
Looking shocked, Gabe gives her an evil look. “I wasn’t the one who got home, collapsed on the bed exhausted and was asleep still fully dressed in seconds.”
Blushing at being outed, Tati retorts, “It had been a very long day organizing the ball and everything that entailed. I wanted it to be perfect, and I think it was!”
Gerry, Aurora, Connell and Hope arrive, and the gang's all here, as they say. I know it’s been a month since the battle, but there has been very little bragging among us Alphas about how we won.
I think I know why, too. None of the Lunas were happy about being left behind.
That phrase seems to ring true in every conversation that comes up.
I, for one, try to avoid anything that will cause Fenya to throw that at me, but I don’t for one second regret trying to keep her safe with the rest of the pack.
As she reminds me whenever the war gets mentioned, she was there when Arric met his end.
I stand from my seat, guiding Fenya onto her feet, “Come on everyone, let’s get the pack and have a run. I’d love for all Alphas and Lunas to run with us.”
An hour later, the Spirit Walker Pack members, along with any members with the other Alphas and Lunas are running through the woods. Yapping, yipping, and even some mating as we enjoy our time together.
The air of peace hovers around us and I can’t help but thank the Goddess Selene that we came through this alive and with such hope for the future.
I see my mother and father, Flint, Falan and some of the rogues that have joined the pack running carefree alongside each other, and I can’t help but think this is how it should be.
Reaching the open fields, I stop, and Fenya stops beside me. I sit and watch as everyone either shifts to human form or frolics in wolf form. I raise my head and howl, long and loud.
Ahwoooooooo Hunter sings, and the other Alpha wolves can’t resist the call. Ahwoooooooo they respond.
I mind link Fenya, ‘You have a count of thirty before I chase you down, and either mate you in wolf form in the woods for all to see, or you make it back to the packhouse and I’ll mate you in the comfort of our bed.’
Fenya runs and I count. 1, 2, 3… 16… 28, 29, 30…
Ahwoooooooo.
Running back to the packhouse while everyone laughs and jokes none of us notice in the sky above there is a dragon gliding on a current of air watching all of us. But that’s another story to tell.
Ahwoooooooo….