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*Barrik*

T oday I’m at the southern border with two of the patrol warriors. We have run the entirety of the area and seen nothing untoward. “Anything unusual over the last few weeks?” I ask Monty, the taller of the two.

“No, we have been on this border for six weeks and have seen nothing. We alternate a week throughout the day, and then a week throughout the night. We have had a day resting between each turnaround. But we’ve had no issues at all on either of the rotations, Alpha Barrik.”

“Okay, Monty. It’s good to hear we have had no border attacks in quite some time. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

Thor, the panther shifter standing next to Monty nods. “I’ve seen nothing in this section for a long time, Alpha Barrik. My panther likes to come here and sleep in the trees. He’s not alerted me to anything.”

“Good day, Alpha Barrik!”

Turning fully alerted, I calm when I see it’s Alpha Ulrick of the Bayside Pack. The pack that runs alongside our southern border. “Good Day, Alpha Ulrick.”

“I overheard you speaking with your warriors as I was patrolling with my patrol. We have had nothing in a long time either. On any of our borders. If I’m honest my patrol warriors are ready for a good fight and would love some rogues to come wander into the territory.”

Chuckling because I can image the two bear shifters alongside their Alpha would love to get into a fight. They are large and I would imagine black bears, but I’m not bothered what bear they are as long as they stay on their side of the border.

“Would you give me a few minutes of your time, Alpha Ulrick?” I wave my hand to further up the border and away from the warriors a little for privacy.

“Sure,” Alpha Ulrick responds and we step away from our warriors until we’ve gone far enough to not be overheard.

“What are your feelings on the Elder Council?” I come right out and ask.

With a snort, he retorted, “Pompous windbags.”

That is when I go into a full explanation of Adira’s and my idea of overthrowing them and creating a new council of alphas.

I can see he’s interested, and he’s not showing signs of being aggressive or upset that I’m talking treason to some.

When I finish explaining I wait for Alpha Ulrick’s reaction, and I get one I didn’t quite expect.

Throwing his head back, Alpha Ulrick laughs so hard he has to place his hands on his knees, then wipes the tears of laughter on his cheeks.

It takes a few minutes for him to get himself under control, then looks me right in the eye.

“I’m in. I can’t wait to get those pompous assholes out from their cozy set up.

It’s way beyond time they got gone and did something else or retired.

” Wiping his eyes once more, he stands straight and smirks, “Whatever you do, don’t put my name forward for the head Alpha.

I’ll vote for Alpha James Cornerstone, or Alpha Rudik River.

They are the two I know are honest and have great morals. ”

“Okay, no problem. I’m up for either of those, too.” I grin because I’m not sure James will be happy about being nominated, but he’ll be a great one if selected.

“Let me know when you need me to put in my request for a meeting. That way we can all request at the same time. The windbags will think it’s great to get everyone at a meeting together, with no idea it’ll be their career demise.”

Alpha Ulrick slaps my shoulder and we head back to our patrol warriors. As he walks away, he looks over his shoulder with a huge smirk on his face, “Can’t wait Alpha Barrik, can’t wait!”

Sitting in a meeting that evening with Adira’s leg resting against mine, I look around at what amounts to our higher hierarchy in the pack. Leo, Rom, Stella, Thorn, Robbie, Talon and Mavis. All have worked hard to achieve pack status and assist Adira in her growth to be a good alpha.

Adira has described what her idea is for the territory for Hunters Bow and Strongbow. How she has discussed it with James and her thoughts on allowing the Dark Water Pack to have all the Strongbow territory and a third of the Dark Water.

“Why do you want to give a third of the Dark Water Pack territory?” Thorn asks Adira.

“Because it’s a huge amount of territory for us to patrol and maintain, if we keep it all. I’d rather off load some to Alpha James as he has a much larger pack than ours and will have the advantage to keep the territory clear of rogues or invaders.” Adira answers clearly.

Leo speaks. “I agree it would be too much territory for us to monitor unless we did a huge recruitment drive for the pack. Trouble with that is we’d not be able to check everyone’s identities, or back history fast enough if there was an influx. That would put us in a weak position security wise.”

Robbie fidgets, but holds his hand up to speak, which of course has most tittering at his antics.

“I agree with Leo. We have a lot of humans in the town, and if we had an immense surge of shifters who we know nothing about we are going to be vulnerable. The warriors couldn’t be on patrol at the border and here at the same time. ”

“I like the idea of only taking the bulk portion of the Dark Water territory. We don’t need it all, and as time goes, we have young growing and we will expand naturally.

We have different species that like wandering alone although they are here mixed with everyone else.

The panthers, for example, like to go off for a few days, sleep in the trees, and just be.

By that I mean they like to be alone, in their own space.

But they can do that and watch quiet areas, so alone, patrol, watch territory.

You get where I’m going with this?” Rom looks from one of us to another, and we are all nodding in agreement with his comment.

“Okay, can I have a show of hands for us swapping the Strongbow territory and a portion of the Dark Water to the Dark Water Pack?” I ask, because I don’t want us to over-talk the issue.

It will need to be discussed with the pack, or given to them as a done deal.

The great thing is we won’t be doing the moving, it will all be James and his pack.

The next morning, as Adira and I are going into town for a meeting with the Town Council, Elena, our new school principal, rushes over to speak to us. “Can I have a moment, please?”

Adira smiles. “Of course, Elena, and congratulations on your recent appointment. What can we do for you?”

“Don’t go there, Alpha Adira. Those two don’t fight fair.

They used emotional blackmail to make me take the position.

Troy and Tarlo don’t know me very well so they may yet regret their decision!

Anyway, I know the threat of alphas coming and trying to grab you is now over, thanks to you and Alpha Barrik finding each other, and we have the emergency siren in place, with everyone knowing what to do and where to go, and that brought me to a point where I thought if we had a little more land behind the school, you know adjoined to the exercise area then we could add some pup, cub, type training because the little devils fight and I want them to know how to fight safely, not actually hurting each other… ”

“Wow…take a breather, Elena. You’ll fall over through lack of oxygen at this rate.” I laugh, and I hear Adira giggle lightly.

“I don’t mind you taking more for the school. If it benefits the children, then that’s what it is about. What about you, Barrik?” Adira looks up at me and asks.

“No, I’m okay with it. I can send you Talon, Blaze or another warrior to assist too. You could add it as a class if you would like to do it that way?” I ask, and the relief is palpable on Elena’s face.

“That would be great. The human children are becoming a little frightened of the shifters fighting, and the growls and yowls are not helping. I know it’s natural, but it needs put into some sort of environment where it’s controlled and the little devils can let out steam under supervision,” Elena discusses a little further and after we agree to where she wants to expand, Adira tells her she’ll send Talon over to organize something.

“Well, that’s another crisis solved,” Adria says, reaches up and kisses me gently.

“You shouldn’t be doing that in front of the whole town, because if I can’t contain myself it could be very embarrassing.” I tease.

“Promises, promises…” Adira laughs, but takes off running before I can respond, and she’s laughing all the time.

‘Naughty mate.’ Rawlin growls, but he’s amused at the same time.

Walking into the Town Council office I’m surprised to see the four council members sitting at the large table drinking coffee and eating sandwiches, and cakes.

“What can we do for you?” Adira asks as she takes a seat at the head of the table, with me right by her side I might add.

“We’ve had a discussion, and would like to put a proposal forward,” Mato Shaw one of the bear shifters says.

“What proposal is that?” I ask.

“We would like to disband the Town Council, and form a pack council, and by that I mean we would only be there for any advise you would like to ask us. We would not be in meetings, or give opinions or anything else unless you called the council to you. All of us have served the town for a long time. We feel now as it’s a pack it’s time to shift the responsibility to you as the Alphas of the Pack.

But, if you have trouble you want advise on, and we can help then we’d be more than happy to give it.

Otherwise, we’d like to retire, or take up a business, something different,” Thomas says, and I know from what Adira has said he is the oldest of the council members.

“If that is what you want, then by all means, as far as I’m concerned it’s a good move.

To still be able to use your wisdom in a case we need extra input then that is ideal,” I look at Adira and she agrees.

Although we are both surprised at this move, it is good as things have changed a lot since Adira created the pack, and then I became co-alpha.

Lars sits forward with his elbows on the table, “I for one am more than happy to help take down the Elder Council if needed. They are like us, past the time they step aside and let the young work hard. Me, I want to create a garden where I can sit with a glass of beer and read a good book. Dilly dally the day away, go for a walk, nip to the café for lunch, do nothing much but spend the money I have saved all these years.”

The other three are looking at Lars as though they don’t recognize him, but if you look closely, he looks tired. Maybe it is time all of them took time for themselves, although Tarlo has himself a younger woman and a half wolf stepson to rear.

“From this point, I would like you to speak with Mavis. Have her take the paperwork that is needed for the upkeep of the pack. I will create an office here that pack or townsfolk can come to once a week if they need a meeting with either myself or Adira. That way, everyone knows they can be heard if they have an issue.” I look at Thomas and he gives me a nod before saying it’ll take a few weeks to get done, but they will do it.

Back at the farmhouse, both Adira and I are amazed at the Town Council’s decision, but to keep them as an advisory council is a great thing.

They will maintain a small salary for that too, which means they won’t have to rush out to find an income, and it’s a retirement pension for all the years of work they have done for the town, and the community that has lived within it.