Page 21

*Adira*

W e have three new children in the pack. The ones we rescued have told us as best they can what happened. The bear cub has been adopted by Jackie, who is a bear shifter herself. The cub is a male, and he is the sweetest thing. When he told me his name was Artan, a little blush rushed up his cheeks.

The little female tiger cub is called Blossom, and she hasn’t stopped crying quietly since we rescued her.

She seems to have attached herself to Rom, which is amusing as he has tried to get her to stay with Petra, who is a snow tiger, but she won’t.

Hence, we see Rom carrying this little cub around in cub and human forms. I think he may have gotten himself a daughter, whether he likes it or not.

But Jenni loves the little girl already, so that has helped, I’m sure.

The wolf pup seems to be independent. He’s pinpointed every wolf shifter in the pack and from what I’m seeing, he could be an alpha pup, which means his father was one.

Or maybe his mother! I’ll have to give out some gentle enquiries and see if I can pick up any gossip.

But in the meantime, he is with Dottie, who has just returned from a visit to see her son who lives in the Dark Water Pack.

As soon as Dottie saw Elias she picked him up and smothered him with kisses.

Which, funny enough, had him giggling loudly.

From that moment, he was happy to be with Dottie in her house on Main Street, and she was beyond excited to have him living with her.

I don’t think for one minute he’ll be living with anyone but Dottie.

Although I feel sorry for the shifter children, I am happy they have found safe homes, with people that will love them as much as their parents did.

Before I can consider any more regarding the children, I receive a mind link from Conris who is on patrol of the main street into and out of town.

“ Alpha Adira. I have visitors for you. I’m taking them to the café, but will stay with them until you arrive.”

“Okay. Do I need to be worried, or on high alert?”

“No. They seem friendly.”

“Thank you, Conris. I’m on my way.”

I quickly make my way to the café. Opening the door and stepping inside, I’m more than surprised when I see Bella, Warden and Grant sitting at a table while Jenni serves them beverages.

“Bella, Warden, Grant, what are you all doing here?” I ask as I reach their table.

Bella, who ran the diner in the Blackbird Pack, and was a dear friend, grabs me as she surges to her feet.

Hugging me so tightly I can hardly breathe.

“Oh, it’s so good to see you. We three have left the Blackbird Pack.

We were sick of the internal politics, infighting and that nasty ass Joliee.

Now, you know you are very lucky that you are not actually blood related, don’t you?

She is strutting around trying to order the pack around, but it’s not working as nobody wants her as the Luna. ”

“Bella, leave Adira alone. You are strangling her,” Warden grins.

Grant laughs as he eases Bella out of the way and wraps his arms around me. “We three have, as Bella just told you, gone rogue. We would like to join you here, if that is possible?”

“Of course, you are more than welcome. Jenni?” I shout the last and watch as Jenni quickly comes to the table. “Do you still need a staff member here? Because Bella has been in charge of a diner for a long time and would be a blessing to you I’m sure.”

Bella looks at Jenni hopefully, and Jenni throws her arms around Bella with the brightest smile on her face.

“Oh, you can start as soon as you can because, Bella, I’m fed up with chasing my own butt around here.

The one who was supposed to be helping is useless, and I got rid of her a long time ago.

Then I got a replacement, but she found her mate, and of course off she went with him to his pack.

So, it’ll be me and you and Missy, but she only works three days a week. ”

“I’ll start in the morning. I want to be a pack member and have somewhere to lay my head at night,” Bella says, giving me a hopeful look.

“Oh, you can live in the café’s cottage.

It’s not big, but it is lovely. One bedroom, kitchen which is the living space too, and a bathroom.

That’s it, but it’s yours if you want it.

I lived in it for four years until I bought the house I live in now.

But I loved it that much that I kept it.

” Jenni is rubbing her hands together, and I can see she’s excited about having Bella’s help and a new friend.

“Jenni, I’ll send Bella over in a short while.

But she needs to come with me, and these two new warriors.

” I give Grant and Warden a wink, which I can see shocks them both, but I jauntily walk out of the café with my arm linked with Bella.

This is a good day, gaining three pack members who I know will be great additions to the pack.

Stopping dead in my tracks with Bella as stunned as I am when we both gape at Joliee, who is shouting and verbally abusing Conris.

“I said I want to see that bitch, Adira.”

“And I said if you continue to cause a ruckus you will be removed from the packlands. Before you start spitting anymore shit, the packland is the town, and ALPHA ADIRA will have every right to lock you up if you keep up this drama.”

“Conris, what the heck is going on here?” I ask. Ignoring the elephant in the room.

“This…”

Before he can say anything more, Joliee of course, opens her mouth to spill more idiocy.

“You have to come back to the pack and tell them to accept me as their Luna.” Slamming her hands on her hips, tapping her foot and looking like a ten-year-old having a tantrum.

“And why, pray tell, do I have to do that?” I ask calmly, which seems to up her ire somewhat.

“The pack is not accepting me because of you…”

Now, I interrupt her dramatic roll. “I don’t have to do anything of any kind for you or that pack.

Get this into your head. You are not my sister, that is not my pack, and I don’t care they don’t want you as the Luna.

In fact, it makes them sensible not to accept you.

WE all know the Moon Goddess will not be happy that you purposefully broke a fated bond.

This results from your selfish actions. Now, live with it.

Conris, remove her from the packlands.” Before he can, however, Joliee allows her wolf , Ivory, and surges towards me.

I don’t have to think about it. Blue comes to the fore and rears onto her back legs as Ivory reaches us mid air.

Grabbing Ivory on the side of her neck, Blue shakes her violently.

Ivory growls, but it’s not anywhere near what you would expect.

Then I realize that Ivory is an Omega. Now that is amusing as she has always tried to portray herself as a Beta.

Blue snarls as she pushes Ivory to the ground, pinning her down by the neck.

It doesn’t take long for Ivory to whine in defeat and flick her eyes away in submission.

That is the point at which Blue gives a warning growl before releasing her and stepping back, but is still on alert if Ivory tries again.

Shifting back, Jenni, who must have heard the ruckus, had come out of the café along with the diners. Pissed is what I am because Joliee came here thinking she was going to order me around. She needs to see someone who can sort her head out because her thinking needs an adjustment.

“From this moment, you are banned from the Hunters Bow Packlands. If you come back know it will be seen as an act of aggression and will be met accordingly by the pack warriors that are on patrol at the time. Now, leave and sort your own damn mess out.” I turn, place my arm through Bella’s once more and walk away, leaving Conris to sort Joliee out.

I’m not surprised as we walk away to hear Joliee screeching at Conris, but I know he’s not going to be fazed by any of her dramatics. “Let’s go visit the kitchen and Robbie. He’s going to be in his element that he has people he can feed and fuss over.”

Grant chuckles. “He sounds interesting.”

“He is, and although he is human, and you see him as no threat, don’t ever underestimate him. He is one feisty man and has taken on shifters and won. He also is excellent using his kitchen appliances as weaponry.” I can’t help but smile, thinking about Robbie using his skillet in training.

Two hours later, I have the three of them initiated into the pack.

Leo and Rom, along with Blossom of course, lead Grant and Warden to the room they will share in the farmhouse.

They will renovate the cottage off Main Street and take ownership.

But for now, it is the only spare place for them to sleep.

Arak still has one bedroom to finish before he moves on to his next chore.

Bella has taken herself back to the café as she said she needs to get settled in and ready for work in the morning.

Already taking control of her situation, and that has always been one of the things I love about Bella.

She is an independent female, but still has the capacity to help anyone who needs it.

The phone on my desk rings, and picking it up, I am surprised who the caller is.

“Hello, Alpha Adira. This is Alpha James of the Dark Water Pack. I am calling in regard to your Papa.”

“Well, he isn’t my Papa, it turns out Alpha James,” I respond.

“Yes, that is what I have been told. But, he still sees you as his daughter although he is berating himself for his part in the Joliee and Travis fiasco.”

“What is it you need to inform me of? Let’s get it over with.”

“Your Papa rejected your Moma, and although she accepted that rejection, it has hit him hard, causing a detrimental effect on his health. He is fighting it, but his wolf is giving up, and if it continues, your Papa won’t last much longer. He would like to see you before that happens.”

Sighing as I rub the back of my neck, I think of the man who raised me. Who gave me love and support until I realized it may have not been genuine. “What is it you want? I cannot leave my pack at this time. I have too many things to do without coming over to your pack.”

“If it is okay with you, I will bring your Papa to meet with you. I’ll stay until he is ready to leave, then bring him back with me.

He has been staying here for weeks, and the decline has been rapid.

He is rogue also, and will not accept my pack, or I would have done that for him.

” Alpha James seems genuinely concerned, and I can hear it in his tone of voice.

“Okay, bring him over tomorrow and I’ll speak with him.”

“Thank you, Alpha Adira. It is a good thing you are doing. I am very sorry about what happened to you, but fate is a funny thing, after all. Our Moon Goddess has twists and turns in our lives and we never know the reason, but we have to trust in her.”

“I lost my faith in her for a while, but I agree with you. The Goddess moves in mysterious ways. Only she will know the reasons for things she does.”

“We have to trust in her. But let me leave you in peace. I will see you tomorrow. Have a good day, Alpha Adira.”

Sitting back in my seat, my mind wanders back to growing up.

It was noticeable that Joliee took priority where Moma was concerned.

I have to admit that Papa stood by me on major issues, which often caused problems between himself and Moma.

Maybe, just maybe, I owe him the opportunity to see and speak with me.

At the end of the day, I do not want to see him, or Radar, his wolf, die.