Page 32

*Adira*

M avis walks into the office and hands me an envelope. That was a fast reply I’m thinking when I see the official seal for the Blue River Pack. I glance at Mavis as I slide my finger under the envelope flap and open it. Taking out the letter, I quickly glance before handing to Mavis.

Dear Alpha Adira,

I was delighted to receive your letter of invitation for a visit. My Luna and I would be thrilled to come and make your acquaintance.

Please send a date and we will confirm and arrive as you’d expect. I will bring three warriors with us, so be aware of that fact.

Neither I nor my Luna bring no threats to you, and I hope our visit with show we can and will be allies.

Best Regards,

Alpha Rudik River

“That is an excellent letter and right away he is stating he is no threat to you. It is very obvious that he knows who you are, and that you may be concerned about his intentions,” Mavis states.

“Please send a reply and arrange a day next week. I’m going to the café to have something to eat. Robbie has gone to Alpha James’ pack for the day, and he’s taken Papa along with him. Do you want to come?”

Mavis places the letter on her desk for her attention, but gives me a smile, “Yeah, come on, let’s go find something to eat.”

Walking into the café, Bella gives me an enormous smile and wave.

Taking our seats at a table near the window, I pick up the menu and look for the meal of the day.

Jenni creates a great menu, and today is chicken and leek pot pie, with roasted potatoes, carrots and parsnips.

She’ll bring me a jug of her brown gravy, which she knows I love too.

Jenni bustles over, “What can I get you, Alpha Adira, Mavis?”

“I will have the meal of the day please, Jenni.” I place the menu back on the table and listen while Mavis orders the same.

“How are you getting along with Bella?” I ask Jenni.

“Oh, we get on very well. With her owning her own diner previously, she knows the pitfalls we have to dodge. She has some great ideas to improve a few things too, which is great. I am always open to hear new ideas,” Jenni replies.

“Bella’s diner was terrific. She ran a tight ship as the saying goes with her staff. But even that never stopped people from loving her.” I smile at memories of Bella serving a winter soup that was hearty enough to fill you for the rest of the day.

“I’m sure she’ll be settled in, and in no time it’ll be like she’s always been here. She has made people warm toward her immediately. Now, let me go fill your order.”

“Bella has settled into the cottage. I spoke to her just two days ago, and she was telling me all about the little garden she is finding after weeding and clearing.” Mavis smiles.

“She was up to her neck in earth at the time I was passing her cottage. But you can see the shape of the flowerbeds that used to be there.”

Before I can respond Arak walks into the café, and seeing me he walks over, takes a seat after waiting for me to show I don’t mind him taking a seat.

“I’ve gone over the town thoroughly, Alpha Adira.

I have the Proudfoot family in that cottage, and I gave them some materials for a small renovation.

Grant and Warden have their cottage nearly completed.

It’s a good job they are doing, too. The O’Conner's purchased the house they are living in, and I’ve offered help if Blaze needs it.

I spoke with Yarik and Zorak and they want to stay with Joyce for now.

But they have their eye on the house two over, which needs some repair.

It was owned by old Mrs. Simpson, but when she died, there were no relatives to hand it over to.

Since then, it has been standing empty and becoming a mess.

Do you want me to speak to Alan about the house?

I don’t know who any payment would go to if we took it?

” Asher gives a nod of thanks to Jenni, who has brought him a mug of coffee.

“Yes, speak to Alan and let either myself or Mavis know. But I think if my training was correct the house would be given to the town as there are no living relatives. Hence, the town is now the pack, so in my mind the house is pack property. But check, and then we’ll see about renovating it. Did you find any others?” I ask.

“Yes, there are more, but they are smaller apartments, or houses. They are one or two-bedroom places. Good for the warriors I would think,” Arak, leans back as Jenni places Mavis’ plate in front of her, then walks to my side and places mine. Then she flushes when she realizes she fed Mavis first.

“I’m sorry Alpha Adira…”

“Jenni, stop. I’m not that arrogant. I need my food two seconds before Mavis. We came her together, we’ll eat together, and we’ll walk back to the farmhouse together. I am not hung up on the fact you placed a hot plate in front of Mavis before me.”

Jenni gives a relieved sigh, and as she walks away, I jokingly say, “Oh, Jenni, don’t do it again.” She looks mortified for a moment until Mavis slaps my arm and I burst out laughing.

“That was mean,” Jenni states with an amused tone.

“Arak, I’m making you our housing manager.

I want you to report to me once a month.

You do what is needed, and if you need more finances than I allowed you, then speak to Mavis.

I don’t need this on top of everything else, but if you direly need my attention speak to me.

I don’t want you stressing over this, but I need you to manage housing. ”

Arak looks at me with a very serious expression. “I will do a good job of managing housing, Alpha Adira.”

I interrupt before he can say more. “I know you will, Arak, and I trust you implicitly, or I wouldn’t give you the responsibility.”

Mavis places her knife and fork down, and looks over at me. “The bedrooms at the farmhouse I checked, and we have one downstairs vacant. Now Earnest has moved in with Bella at the cottage we have a vacant room upstairs.”

Bella wanders over and gives me a huge smile. Now, I’ve not said anything to Mavis in response to her comment about Papa, but I may learn more now?

“I don’t know if Earnest has had time to speak with you, Alpha Adira, but we have taken each other as chosen mates. He has moved into the cottage with me yesterday,” Bella waits for my reaction.

“Well, hot diggity damn, he has never said a word. The sneaky old man.” I give my attention to Bella who is now chewing her lip, showing she’s somewhat concerned with my reaction. “I’m thrilled for you both. Look after him, Bella. He’s had a hard time of it previously.”

“I will, I promise, Alpha Adira.”

“Okay, then, we have to get back to the farmhouse and get some work done or the day will be gone. Barrik with Robbie and Papa will storm into the place expecting a welcome of drinks and food. Both they will get after I’ve spoken to Jenni.

” I grin as I walk over to the counter. Pay for our meals after telling Mavis to be quiet.

I ask Jenni to bring food over so that I can pop into the oven and keep warm, ready for the three of them to return.

Back at the farmhouse I sign the official bank paperwork, which will free the account for the Strongbow Pack finances, my inheritance and the deeds for the territory. I place them in the large envelope and seal it tightly.

“What exactly are Robbie and Earnest doing at Alpha James' pack?” Mavis asks.

“They are going to help plan a vegetable garden. Give them a list of what they need, and how to do whatever it is they need to do. I didn’t get involved, Mavis. Honestly, it’s Robbie’s baby and he can do it,” I reply.

“He was very excited, and I was surprised when Earnest quickly jumped in to go with him. I wasn’t surprised Alpha Barrik went as it was a good time to visit his brother.”

Later, after our evening meal, Barrik and I have retired to our room. I’ve heard most of what happened with the garden and it sounds like Alpha James will do whatever is needed to get a garden for the kitchen relatively the same as ours.

I was shocked when Barrik tells me he has a plan to make it easier for us to access the Strongbow packlands. “What do you mean?” I ask, rather shocked hearing he has discussed something with Alpha James.

“It is awkward to always have to ask for permission to cross the bottom of the Dark Water packland so I suggested he give us a mile strip at the bottom of his land, and in return we will give him a mile strip on the side where Strongbow packland meets the Dark Water packland. It’s a simple solution, and we can give him permission to cross our mile strip if it is of an urgent nature.

” Barrik leans back on the headboard and waits for me to digest what he has told me.

“What about we give James up to the river? It’s only just over the mile you are speaking of.

But doing it that way would be simpler, and we can mark out an area with James where we can cross to Strongbow territory.

” I lean back against Barrik and he wraps his arms around me, holding me back to his side.

“Better yet would be for James to move his pack to the Strongbow territory and we take over his. I know it is a little smaller, but it would make more sense if he was agreeable.”

“But it is your family territory that we are talking about. Don’t you want to keep it?” Barrik kisses the top of my head, which I know is his way of showing me love.

“Trouble with that statement, Barrik, is that I have no relatives, and I don’t know the territory.

With that said, I have no pull to the land.

Here, I have made a home, and if it was extended to include James’ territory, it would be perfect.

I know we would lose some territory, but we would have a massive amount for our pack, and I won’t resurrect the Strongbow Pack. I will always now be Hunters Bow Pack.”

“Okay, we will speak with James. But let’s clean up the Strongbow territory if needed, and look at the packhouse.

If we can restore things so it is tempting to James we will have more chance of him agreeing.

” Barrik turns me enough to kiss me, and of course roll on top of me. Yeah, I know where this is leading!