Page 34

*Adira*

P apa walks into the office and quickly gives me a hug.

Our relationship has grown tremendously in the last few weeks.

I think his mating with Bella has brought out a huge amount of softness.

The hard man who hardly smiled, now smiles all the time.

It is so noticeable that I can’t help smiling each time I see him.

“I’m going over to check the garden at the Dark Water Pack. Robbie is canning this morning, so I volunteered.”

“I’ll come with you, Papa. I want to check how James is after his injuries. Barrik is going to the southern border today but I’ll ask Thorn to watch things while I’m gone,” I jot a note on my desk for Barrik in case he gets back home before I do, then turn to Papa and smile. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah, let’s go. You know Leo or Rom will tag along don’t you?”

“Of course they will.” I shake my head a little, but I know it’s about security and all alphas have warriors of some description with them when off territory.

Walking into the Dark Water packhouse, I’m greeted warmly. Beta Toral gives me a nod and a small smile. “Good day, Alpha Adira. Please come this way and have refreshments. Alpha James is expecting you and waiting for you in his office.”

“Thank you, Beta Toral. Papa is going to check the garden today if that is alright? He wants to make sure that you have everything as it should be, so you have a good harvest later in the year.”

“The pack kitchen is more than a little excited about the garden. They are planning a herb bed, vegetables and friendly plants to attract good bugs. Now, I’m not getting involved with the garden, but Earnest you will have quite a few excited helpers this morning.

” Smiling at Papa as he leads me towards James’ office.

Papa smirks as he rushes toward the kitchen.

Stepping into the office when Beta Toral opens it and holds his hand out, showing I can enter. I give James a smile as he stands from behind his desk. “Stay sitting, James. How are you?”

He ignores me and steps over to me and hugs me, kissing my forehead. “I’m doing better, sister.”

I blush a little at his comment, but can’t help but feel the flow of happiness that his words evoke. ‘Love, James.’ I hear Blue murmur in my mind.

“Barrik has gone to the southern border of our territory, but wanted me to ask if you needed him for anything?” I take a seat and settle back, getting comfortable, as I’m not going to be rushing home. “What happened?”

“No, I need nothing. Thank you for asking. It was an idiot rogue who thought he could come here and dominate a challenge, then win it. Sadly, he lost and is now rotting in an unmarked grave. Without ritual, I must add.” James rubs his neck as he speaks and I can see he hasn’t enjoyed killing the rogue.

“You are a good Alpha, and I’d heard that before I knew you. The few I spoke to had nothing but good things to say about you. Don’t take it to heart, James. You did what you had to do. Now move on.”

“I know. I just don’t like killing when it’s senseless. Even if he’d won, my Beta Toral and others would have challenged him immediately, and kept doing so until he was so tired he would have died, eventually. Sad thing is how many would he have killed in the process?”

Beta Toral who is standing near the door is nodding in agreement, and seeing me looking at him, he gives me a huge grin. “We would never have allowed a rogue to lead us.”

“I understand, Beta Toral. I think it’s admirable that you would all stand firm for the pack's wellbeing.” I quickly want to move the conversation on, as it is more than obvious James doesn’t want to say more about the incident or his recovery.

“Moving along from that I’d like to discuss something with you. ”

James settles with his elbows on his desk and waits for me to continue while Beta Toral takes a seat on one side of James' desk.

“The visit with Alpha Rudik went extremely well. He is actually very nice, and so is his Luna. We agreed to an alliance, and to bury the past where it belongs, in the past.” I don’t want to go over the entire visit, but over the portion of the visit that counts.

“Rudik is nothing like his grandfather or father. I’ve an alliance with him and he has never strayed from anything we have agreed upon. Are you worried at all, Adira?”

Shaking my head, “No, I actually think it will be a good alliance. I found them both eager to be allies, and moving forward as such.”

“Good, it’s how it should be. The past cannot define the future as it only mars anything you try to do. It’s not how you want to live your life Adira, looking over your shoulder worried about an attack,” James states, and I see Beta Toral nodding in agreement.

“Another thing I want to discuss with you, but don’t take it in any negative way.

It’s just a suggestion and I’ve not discussed it with my pack, so it is nothing official, just a thought.

” I know how I’m saying it is making this sound iffy, but I’m not sure how to go around this apart from just blurting it out.

“Okay, continue.” James leans back in his seat and waits.

“The Strongbow Pack is no longer. We both know it cannot be recovered. I can preserve the name for myself and any offspring I may have. But the pack will never be again. I’m okay with that to be truthful with you, James.

But the territory is a problem. I would always have to cross your land to get to it from the Hunters Bow territory.

So, either you give me a stretch at the end of your property and I give you a strip from the side of the Strongbow territory, or…

” I pause because I really don’t know how to say this.

“Or? Come on, Adira, spit it out.” James leans forward now eager to hear what I’m saying.

“Or, you move onto the Strongbow territory and I take what is now your territory, you know the Dark Water Pack territory,” I wait as I see the shock, interest, and then of all things amusement cross James' face.

“You realize that the Strongbow land is far larger than the Dark Water land don’t you?” James asks, and I nod, showing him I know that. “You would lose acres of land and a huge packhouse.”

“Yes,” I respond.

“It is a good deal, but I’ll have to speak to my council you understand, and then to the pack.

But let me have a discussion before I even consider taking it to the pack.

I’ll want to speak with Barrik as well,” James leans forward and I can see he’s seriously considering what I have suggested.

“Barrik knows this territory like the back of his hand. He’ll be able to give me his opinion on us making this deal with you.

I would also have to place this before the Elder Council. ”

“No!” I take to my feet, and the mention of the Elder Council has Blue stirring as well.

“I don’t care what the Elder Council wants or says.

They are not fit for purpose. They know nothing about what is happening day-to-day in any pack.

All they are interested in is lording it over the rest of us.

I have no interest in what they have to say about this, James.

It is our pack land, and it does not, and will not, affect any other packs.

With that in mind, it has nothing to do with anyone. ”

“Wow, you are a feisty one, Alpha Adira. But, I’ve got to admit I agree with you.

They are not in a position to understand why we would do something like this.

They more than likely would throw out some fee or other to say ‘Yes, you can do this,’ so I’m all for just doing it if that is what both packs decide.

” Beta Toral states as he takes to his feet also.

“We will only speak with our pack once we have something substantial to tell them. This at the moment are thoughts that maybe, just maybe we could both gain something positive for our packs. If I take even two-thirds of the Dark Water territory, it will give room for expansion over generations to come. You would have a larger territory and as I just said I’d be happy to even give a portion of this territory.

We’d both improve, and we’d be pack neighbors in a better way than you being piggy in the middle of two packlands.

” I’m trying to show I’m good at doing whatever is needed to make this a positive move for both packs.

“Why don’t we both discuss this and think what would work for both packs, then get back together and see what we have.

I’m not against the idea Adira. I agree I would rather my pack not be between two other packlands.

Even if you kept the Strongbow land as Hunters Bow land from this point, I’d still be sitting in the center of them both.

” James' eyes are blank, which tells me he is being mind-linked.

“Toral, go to the kitchen and get the tray that Elizabeta has for us. She said you were supposed to bring it when you led Adira in?” James asks the last as a question and seeing Toral’s stricken look I can see he’d forgotten.

Toral rushes out of the office and I see James grinning at me as I have my hand over my mouth to suppress the laughter I feel trying to escape.

“He is the best Beta in the world, but sometimes he just needs a kick up the ass,” James comments. I chuckle and watch as James laughs along with me.

“I spoke to the town council quite a while ago about the Elder Council's position and maybe it’s time to have them replaced. I had a conversation with Alpha Rudik, and he is in full agreement that they are living in the past. They are not seeing what the younger and progressive alphas are trying to achieve.”

“I agree,” James says before I can finish.

“They are not seeing the way the world has changed. We have humans in our pack and have for quite a few years. The council is not happy about this, but to stay hidden forever from humans is not viable. I don’t think we should go out and shout about who we are.

We are different, but when people come here to our pack, or as you have the town and they integrate, then they need to know what and who they are living among. ”

“I have no problem with humans, or the mixed species, James. They were and still are to a degree rogue. We are a rogue pack, as I won’t allow the Elder Council to integrate us into their world.

Barrik and I have discussed where we want to go with the pack, and we both think that we’d be happy to lose the rogue status, but not to the empowerment of the Elder Council.

We would be more than happy to have a council of alphas.

Which means every Alpha would have a seat, a vote on issues would take place.

But a single trusted Alpha would sit at the head and have a final decision if a tie of votes happened.

” I take a deep breath after quickly saying all this, and turn when the door opens and Toral appears with a tray of refreshments.

“I think that’s a good idea, Adira. Every Alpha would be able to bring up issues they felt were needed.

Whereas now we are pushed away if the council doesn’t want to discuss it.

How do you think we get rid of the Elder Council?

” James is rubbing the back of his neck, but the frown tells me he’s thinking about this seriously.

“We call a full Alpha meeting with the Elder Council. We contact the alphas and tell them our idea, then we all call a meeting and vote them out. They have no power if we just take it from them. They are elderly, they have homes, and income, and they are stable. They can live their lives merrily, doing as they like. Enjoying whatever years they have left,” I think it’s simple and the more you make it complicated the more it will be.

“Adira, I think that will work. Okay, let’s discuss the pack territories with our trusted members, and in the meantime reach out to alphas and see what reception we get to overthrow the Elder Council,” James smiles.

I hold up my teacup with a grin. “Cheers!” Yes, this has been a productive visit. James is well, pack matters dealt with and the council’s demise discussed. ‘Cheers!’ Blue chuckles in the back of my mind.