Page 9 of Spirit Walker Pack (Kingdom of Wolves #5)

LYLE

Seeing Gerry and Aurora together was something of a surprise, albeit a pleasant one.

“We couldn’t come to a mutually agreeable solution as to who should greet you.

Alpha Gerry didn’t want to stamp his Alpha foot, and I didn’t want to be the dutiful little Luna, so we brought half the warriors to satisfy Beta Raina that we would be safe.

Welcome Alpha Lyle, Alpha Falan.” Aurora greets us with a beaming smile.

“Welcome to both of you. You made good time, so I guess that you had no delays to your journey?” Gerry queries.

“Can I let Alpha Falan fill you in on the details, few as they are? I need some water for my dry throat.” Stepping slightly away, I let Falan talk a while with Gerry and Aurora. They have had little interaction, so this should be an icebreaker for them, so to speak.

Taking a bottle of water offered by one of the warriors, I recognize their Head Warrior, Wallace.

“Welcome Alpha Lyle. It has been a long time since we saw you last. Congratulations on becoming Alpha, by the way. Leadership obviously agrees with you. You look well.” Wallace tips his head in respect.

“Thank you. Leadership has its challenges, but overall, it is a good feeling to know that you are guiding the pack in a good direction. Forgive me for saying, but Alpha Gerry looks ten years younger than I recall and Luna Aurora has never stopped smiling.” It is good to see them again, and they certainly look like they belong together.

I can only hope that when I find my mate, we look that good in each other's company.

“Having a mate certainly adds something to your life.” Turning quickly to face him, I see the glint in his eye.

“No! You haven’t? Congratulations to you! Tell me everything, you sly dog.” Punching his shoulder playfully has him blushing, and this only encourages me. “How many pups do you have? Boys? Girls? Details, come on.”

“I don’t know if you recall our Nurse Chloe?

It happened suddenly, so perhaps the Goddess saw it late.

No pups as yet, but it isn’t through wanting or trying.

We are very happy together and if it’s not to be that we should have our own pups, there are pups out there that need a loving environment. We can certainly give them that.”

“I’m sure the Goddess is just allowing you some time together before she blesses you with noisy, mucky pups to chase after and care for.” Yet another mated pair, I think to myself.

I told you! We need to go to Wolfsong Pack. You cannot deny us our mate.

‘When have I ever denied you anything? You can be so dramatic at times.’

You deny me runs in the forest all the time. And fresh rabbits! You know this, LYLE!

‘Enough with the name already. I’m sorry I called you Hunter, just that once. We run at least twice a week and you get a rabbit each time.’

Twice a week! That will have to change when we have our mate. You won’t get many pups with ‘twice a week!’

Seeing the others heading our way, I take my leave of Wallace and meet them. Aurora gives me a sly wink and nods a yes towards Falan. I take that as a positive sign that she likes him.

“Alpha Lyle, I must offer my sincere apologies.” Falan looks embarrassed as he speaks, and I already know what is coming.

“You mentioned my mate in your excitement, didn’t you?” I laugh as I see the almost shameful look on his face.

“It was out before I even realized. I am so sorry. Alpha Gerry and Luna Aurora agree with you, however. They do not believe it would be someone from their pack, least of all Beta Raina.” Falan has a look that seems to say ‘sorry it’s not Blood Pearl but YAY, it’s someone from Wolfsong,’ all rolled into one.

“This puts you in a dilemma, Alpha Lyle, does it not? Do you return home, or do you continue with Alpha Falan to his Wolfsong Pack and your mate?” Gerry looks at me quizzically.

“I can only say that if I were in your shoes and knowing what I know now, I would go with Alpha Falan. My life has never been so complete as it is with my Luna Aurora. The pack will not understand if you return without her, and you know where she is. They need a Luna almost as much as they need their Alpha.”

“I was alone for years. Admittedly, I had Taria, but it’s not the same.

Having Gerry in my life has been the best thing to happen to me and you need to seek her out, and let her know that she is destined to be your Luna.

You must have seen Alpha Bronze and Luna Taria together.

She worked hard to be accepted by the Eclipse Pack, and they have taken her in and love her as one of their own.

I urge you not to waste this opportunity to enhance your life with a mate.

” Listening to Aurora and Gerry, I can see the wisdom of their words, yet I am still hesitant.

Have you been in contact with any Wolfsbane recently?

What is all this ‘beating about the bush’ nonsense?

You are human, I am wolf. We are both social species.

Although we can live out our lives alone, we were not meant to.

You have been pining for your mate, yet now she is within your grasp you, keep second guessing every decision.

Enough! We go to Wolfsong and find our mate.

“Your wolf grows impatient, Alpha Lyle. Asher and Aztec both sense his frustration. Our human side ultimately makes the final decision, but I urge you to heed your wolf’s advice. Our wolves do far more for us than just produce pups.” Aurora takes my hands in hers and I can feel her concern.

“Very well. I submit to you all. I cannot stand alone against such adversity. We go with Alpha Falan.” Before I can stop him, Hunter lets out the loudest howl I’ve ever heard from him. Everyone in our party looks at me and I beat Wallace hands down in how much I blush at their stares.

Gerry’s eyes glaze over, somewhat, and we all know he is receiving a mind link. After several seconds, he surprises us all.

“Flint has called a pack meeting in three days at Wolfsfoot Pack. All Alphas are to attend. Alpha Lyle, I think it may be best that you return to your pack and prepare for the meeting. A distraction as great as finding your mate, aligned with all the traveling involved, would not be good right now.” Gerry looks around our little group and I can see that although they are still excited about my mate, they agree with his statement.

Hunter is furious and throws himself to the back of my mind in disgust. I think I’ll give him some space before I speak with him.

Sharing a meal together, thoughtfully supplied by our Blood Pearl hosts, we discuss the upcoming Alpha meeting, share stories of rogue infractions and we notice there are certain differences to the attacks on each pack.

It is during this time that I realize I may have been right about Arric not having such a good spy network within my pack.

“I’m not sure how to broach this with you,” I say, “but Arric appears to have more knowledge about your packs and what’s happening within them than he does mine.

I don’t mean to sound better or superior in any way.

He knew that Falan,” we are far enough removed from all others that we have dropped the formalities, “had left his pack lands and they could plan and execute an attempt to stop him reaching me. From what Aurora has been telling us here, they know when your border guards are changing over. They attack when the guards are coming to the end of their stint, but before your fresh teams arrive for patrol.”

“Do either of your packs receive aid or reinforcements from the other packs?” Falan asks quietly while searching our faces.

“So far, I have not needed any assistance dealing with Arric’s attempts to penetrate the border of Spirit Walker Pack's lands. I have redirected all those sent by the packs or Council to Blood Pearl. Your need has been greater to date. We will need help when the war starts, but no, we have been okay.” I look to Gerry and Aurora, but we all look at Falan when he lets out a curse.

Gerry frowns and glares at Falan. “I hope there is a good reason for that language in front of my Luna,” and it is a statement, not a polite question.

“Oh, my sincere apologies, Luna Aurora. Lyle, I know Flint said to keep things in the loop of the three of us, but we should tell Gerry and Aurora. You have no council warriors and have no moles. They have warriors and leaks. It is too much of a coincidence.” Falan’s eyebrows could not be any higher.

Aurora is quick to make the connection. “You are suggesting that the council warriors have been compromised? Surely not. The Council must have things in place to stop or discover such eventualities.”

Falan and I give each other a look and I nod for him to continue. “We discovered who we believe is Arric’s father. Flint has the information and should be dealing with it, if in fact, he has not already dealt with it. We believe this is why he wants the alpha meeting so suddenly.”

“Well, spit it out. Who do you suspect?” Gerry looks at us both.

“Porter Riverrun.” Falan’s words shock both Gerry and Aurora.

“You are mistaken. I have worked alongside him for years. He has no family, let alone a son. I would have known if there was someone in his life,” Gerry states confidently.

“Arric is Porter’s illegitimate son. We have proof that he has been financing Arric’s life, schooling and more recently embezzling council monies to fund his rise to being ‘King’. I am sorry Gerry. I was not aware of your loyalties to him.” Falan shakes his head.

“My loyalties were to the Council of which he is a part, not to him personally. This will shock the packs when it is released. The Council has been through so much in recent years, I doubt they will survive this.” Gerry lowers his head into his hands and Aurora places her arm across his shoulders.

“You have been away from the Council long enough that our members will not believe you had any part in this.” When he raises his head and looks at her, we can plainly see that this was not something he had contemplated.

“You need not concern yourself with that, my friend. Flint is now the last remaining member of the original Council. They have two alphas, two lunas, and two who hold the old school values in Merry and Lykos. Flint may, or may not, wish to step down, but I think he will have a fight on his hand from the others.” I truly believe that he would be a loss for the packs if he was allowed to step away.

As we sit in silence for a moment, Kynan approaches Falan. “Alpha Falan. Excuse me. You wished to be advised when it was near the latest time we should head out so we would reach Wolfsong before dark. I believe we are near that time.”

“Very well, Kynan, and thank you. Inform the rest of the escort we will be returning alone when we leave Blood Pearl's lands. We will be traveling as fast as we can safely. On our return, I will be preparing to leave again almost immediately. Have Fenya prepare the next escort…No, wait. I will inform her myself. Keep what I just said to yourself. We have too many walls with ears at Wolfsong, my friend.” Standing and stretching, he looks at us all.

“I wish we had met again under better circumstances. Perhaps our sectors will be destined to meet only under duress, but I sincerely hope not.”

Standing, I take his hand, and we bump shoulders. “At least we are destined to stand beside each other on the battlefield, my friend, and not opposite. That would not sit well with me.”

Falan takes his leave and we watch as his party departs with a Blood Pearl escort.

“Gerry, Aurora. It has been a pleasure as always to see you both. We know it won’t be long before we are in each other's company again, eh?” I embrace them both and see my escort formed up and waiting.

“Perhaps you will have your mate by that time? Who knows? You know now that she is out there for a certainty, and if she is close to Falan, she will undoubtedly know of you too when he returns.”

Bidding them farewell, I set a good pace to reach home as soon as possible.

I can’t believe we are returning home without her. I am almost ashamed to be your wolf!

‘Oh, my Goddess! You understand why we must return so soon. Carry on with this shaming nonsense and you’ll be lucky if it’s ‘once in two weeks’, never mind ‘twice a week’!’

The rest of the journey home is remarkably quiet, I have to admit.