Page 4

*Adira*

T his is the third night I’ve spent in the public library. Mavis, the librarian, has helped me find what they have regarding packs, pack laws and the evolution of the Elder Council. She doesn’t know why I’m researching, and thankfully she hasn’t asked.

‘We are not finding information about the Strongbow Pack. Why is that?’

“I don’t know Blue. It seems very odd that the other packs have information, but not that one. We’ll keep looking.” I can feel Blue is agitated that we are finding nothing.

Mavis walks over to me giving a smile as she takes a seat opposite where I’m sitting with a notepad, pencil and a pile of books. “Can I help you look? I would never speak to anyone about what you are researching, but I’m good at finding things.”

I study Mavis for a moment, and decide to give her the benefit of the doubt that she wouldn’t tell anyone what I’m looking for.

“You cannot speak to anyone about what I’m trying to find.”

Mavis pretends to run a zip across her lips, showing she’ll not say a word. Then leans forward with elbows on the table and waits.

“I’m from the Blackbird Pack, brought up thinking I was Adira Stormwalker, but in fact, I am not.

I am probably the last of the Strongbow Pack.

My eyes shine when upset, which I’m told shows I have old royal blood in my veins.

I’m trying to find out what really happened to my pack.

Why did I get taken to the Blackbird Pack and why are the Elder Council looking for me? ”

“Well, that is a dilemma, but I will scour the library this week and place anything I find that may help you on one side. Thankfully, my office is never entered by anyone else. I’ll keep the information safe and away from prying eyes.

“Now, the house I hear you are interested in renting has a library and that may hold some information the library here does not. The house was owned by a dragon shifter ‘Blaflono–Keeper of the Flame’, and you know what they are like for hoarding. Well, he was killed by a hunter and the house was left to the town and has actually stood empty for years. But you may find something there. If you need help to look when you get into the place I can come on a Sunday and look with you?” Mavis’ offer is so sweet, I like this woman more and more.

“I’m waiting to hear from Alan, you know, the caretaker.

He said he would speak to the town council with it being council property now, but he didn’t think it was going to be a problem if I agreed to do repairs to the place.

” Looking at Mavis, she is nodding and giving me a tight smile. “What? Is something wrong?”

“Make sure you put a clause in the lease that you have the option to buy and at a reduced rate because of the repairs and the financial strain that it will put on you.” Mavis then winks. She’s quick thinking and a shrewd one.

“Will do, Mavis, and thank you.”

“Friends help and support each other, Adira, and hopefully one day you will see me as the friend I would like to be. Yes, an older than you friend, but a friend none the less.”

“I would like that. I’ve more friends now than I think I’ve ever had. Leo is great and is going to live in the house with me, so are Robbie and Stella.”

“That will be good. It’s a large farmhouse and with six bedrooms, so you’ll have more than enough room. You’ll be creating your very own pack.” Mavis gives me a huge smile, and I giggle at her comment.

Once I left Mavis muttering about finding information and dismissing me, I arrived at the B&B where I assisted Joyce in cleaning the kitchen, and getting everything ready for breakfast the following day.

Alan Letterman has the clause added to the lease regarding the option to buy, and it’s passed by the town council. I sign the lease, and we all four move into the old farmhouse quickly.

The next week we spend every spare minute cleaning every room in the place. Which is hard after working all day at the school. But we do it with smiles and laughter. Creating our home and, yes, our tiny pack. A pack of misfits, but a pack all the same.

The old furniture was in good condition, and after we scrubbed it and left it out in the sun to dry, it looks much better. The rooms smell of lemons mostly thanks to the cleaning agents we used. We will have to decorate some of the rooms because the wallpaper is peeling.

Thankfully, we can all work easily together, and we hold each other in high regard, with respect and love as family.

Leo does a lot of the heavy work. Stella and I wash out and organize rooms. Robbie has scrubbed clean every inch of the kitchen and has become the cook and bottle washer.

Between us, we are creating a home and we are going to protect it fiercely.

The library is magnificent, but it is disgustingly dirty. I have spoken to Mavis, and she is going to help clean and organize it. While also looking for anything that can help me search.

At the end of the second week, the library was taking shape and Mavis had found a book about the forming of the Elder Council. I am reading in the evening after my share of the chores are done and I’m finally finished for the day.

‘Adira, I think we cannot trust the Elder Council.’

“The book tells us it is a different Elder Council way of doing things to what we know today. They are supposed to put every pack’s needs as a priority.

Travel to each at least twice a year. Hand out punishments to the officers of the pack if needed, and to make sure Alphas don’t overstep their position. ”

‘We need to be careful. Always be alert and warn the others.’

“Yes, we will.”

Before I can say more snarls, growls, and fighting can be heard coming from the woods. It’s not on our property, but it’s not far away from us. I run downstairs and see Robbie in the kitchen, taking out his double-barrel shotgun.

“Stay here, Robbie, protect the house. Is Leo or Stella around?”

“They both went to see what was happening just before I heard the fighting start.” Robbie is ready and standing at the back door looking out towards the woods.

I allow Blue to take over and I give her control while we race to where the fighting is happening, and reaching it, I can’t help but be shocked to see three lions, plus one fighting with Kazi.

Now, Leo’s lion, Kazi, is enormous, and he’s half the size again of these others.

He’s also vicious, so I’m not overly worried, but I am watching the others because I don’t want them joining in with the fight.

Biting, swatting with his claws out, Kazi is not posturing or making any noise. He is in this to kill, and it’s more than obvious by the way he is fighting.

Blue is alert and Iris, Stella’s wolf, is standing beside us, waiting and watching. The three lions that are not fighting are pacing but not attempting to join the fight, but one false move and I’ll not stop Blue from ripping into one of them.

We may not win, but we’ll fight for our family with everything we have.

Iris is the same, and the conversation Stella had with us about forming a small pack so we could all mind link, now is making far more sense.

I think Leo would be the perfect Alpha or, in Lion shifter terms, King.

But convincing him could be more than a little difficult.

A huge roar sounds and Kazi shifts back to his human self. I keep my eyes off him and watch the other lions who are backing away slowly.

“DO. NOT. COME. BACK.” Leo roars at the three as they turn and run. We dig once more to bury another body.

“What do they want?” Stella asks and Leo shakes his head, rubs the back of his neck, then starts to walk toward the house.

Both myself and Stella following. Me with my eyes on the ground, although Blue was happy to have sneaky looks before I shifted back to human.

Stella, however, isn’t shy at all and is walking along buck naked and ogling Leo’s ass.

“Get your eyes off my ass, Stella,” Leo snaps.

I giggle and place a hand over my mouth while he continues.

“I should have been helping lead the pride, but I didn’t want a part of it.

I still don’t want a part of it. We will place some traps around our yard, giving us some warning if they come back and get close.

“We are going to have to tell the town council, aren’t we?” I ask, because that has got to have been heard by someone.

“Yeah, I’ll do it. I don’t want you to be seen, Adira, as part of it. Keep your head down, work as normal. I’ve a bad feeling something is going to happen and you are going to be in the middle of it.”

I stumble to a complete stop and watch as Leo and Stella continue walking back to the house. What could I possibly be in the middle of? I’ve done nothing or caused any trouble! Leo has to be wrong. He may be the one they are after and that’s all there is to it.

Leo comes back from the town council later that afternoon and looks far more relaxed than when he went. Robbie has plated our meal and we all take a seat, but are waiting for Leo to tell us what is going on.

“The town council are not happy that a pride is encroaching on our territory. Yes, we are rogues, but the Elder Council has given it to us so we can live peacefully, and as legally as we can be without being under their control. It stays that way as long as we do nothing to break the peace and trust that was formed. They will be speaking to the Pride involved, and I hope that will be the end, but we need to be alert just in case they won’t step down.

“The town council has also told me the Elder Council will visit this week. They are sure it has to do with the finding of a she-wolf, and we think that is you, Adira.”

I stare at Leo blankly, then flick my eyes to Stella and Robbie before returning them to Leo. “Why?”

“Because you have the blood of the old royals. They won’t want you mating with anyone from the Mass Mountain Pack, because that would strengthen the bloodline.

” Leo is giving me a look I don’t recognize.

Then what he says next has me standing to my feet, but holding onto the edge of the table.

“The town council wants you to form a pack. Become a female Alpha so the Elder Council cannot just rip you away from here. We need to announce you are no longer a rogue and that way they cannot push you into a mating with an Alpha of their choosing.”

“We are your pack, Adira. Me, Leo and Robbie. It doesn’t mean you have to have an enormous pack to run. Does it, Leo?” Stella asks.

“No, the town council said they were good at you forming a pack, and we are a pack. You are the Alpha and I am the Beta. Stella would have to be the Gamma, and Robbie is just Robbie.”

“Oh, come on, I know I’m human, but I can be something.” Robbie is scowling at Leo and I know that he’s hurt and feeling left out.

“Well, how about you be the Omega? They are the most important as they feed and look after the pack. Without them, the rest of us would be hungry and stink.” I give Robbie a hopeful look, because no way do I want him to not feel he is part of this pack or family.

“Okay, I’ll be the Omega. Does this mean I get to cook, clean and do the laundry?”

Why is Robbie looking hopeful? Tentatively, I reply, “Yes.”

“Okay, well, if I’m doing all that, I don’t have time to go to work as well. But I’m going to sell my chutney, pickles, and get a garden going so we can create an income that will more than cover my wages.”

Leo sighs, but nods he agrees, followed by Stella, then me. “Okay, but we will need to be more careful if we are losing a wage to start with. How about we put all our money in one place so we can all use it for the pack?”

“That’s perfect,” Stella smiles.

“What do you want to call our pack?” I ask and see everyone struggling to think of a name. “No ideas?” Still no response.

“I don’t know, Adira. I’m not good at this sort of thing,” Leo mumbles while rubbing the bridge of his nose.

“Okay, what about The Hunters Bow Pack? That is Hunters for Huntsville, which, after all, is where we live, and Bow, which is the end of my name.” I wait while they all think about it, and seeing Stella smile, followed by Robbie, I think we are going to have this name.

“I like it. Let’s vote on it,” Robbie exclaims with excitement.

“Okay, hands up if you agree we become the Hunters Bow Pack.” All four of us raise our hands and we have our name. I walk over to the cabinet and take out a bowl. Open a drawer and take out a knife, then return to the table.

Placing the bowl in the center of the table, I slice my hand and allow a small pool of blood to form in the bowl before the cut starts to close.

“I, Adira Strongbow, hereby promise to protect, provide, and always put the pack first. I will be the best Alpha I can be, and if I fail, I will stand down allowing a better Alpha to ascend.”

Leo quickly slashes his palm and allows blood to flow into the bowl, “I, Leo De Stormroar, herby promise to be a united pack member, support and provide for my pack and Alpha.”

Stella slashes her hand, “I, Stella, no last name, do promise to be a united pack member. I will support and provide for my pack and Alpha.”

Robbie screws up his face as he cuts, “Ouch, that hurts.” Squeezing a small amount of blood from the tiny cut he has made on the palm of his hand. “I, Robbie Black, swear to be a pack member, and support and provide for my pack and Alpha.”

Now, it’s very difficult, but I manage not to laugh when Robbie looks up with such pride in his face. But I swallow the laughter and continue. “I, Adira Strongbow, do hereby bring together Leo, Robbie and Stella as pack members into the Hunters Bow Pack with the blessing of the Moon Goddess.”

Before anyone can say or do anything, a surge of heat rushes through us all, and I feel Blue howl in the back of my mind.

But, thankfully, it’s not a howl of pain, it’s a howl of pleasure.

The bond of the pack snaps into place and I feel my pack members and hear ‘Alpha’ in my mind.

The pack is formed, and the link is alive.

Robbie laughs and holds his arms out before crushing me in a hug. “I can feel you and hear you. Your Moon Goddess blessed me, although I’m human.”

A tear runs from my eye corner and down my cheek, because I have never heard or read in the books that the Moon Goddess would bless a human. But if anyone should be blessed, it should be Robbie.

I finish our ceremony by officially giving the titles Beta, Gamma, and Omega, which has Robbie laughing again.

Leo keeps shaking his head at Robbie, but I can see he is just as happy as I am.

Who heard of a pack have a human and a lion shifter in it?

But that’s what we are, a pack, and now we just have to inform the town council.