Page 47 of Smoke and Moon

“Forget hitting them at midnight.It seems they are doing most of their fucking dirt in the night.I want to catch them as unprepared as possible.”Chanin stalked around the table and stood before Boris.

Like him and Bleddyn, Boris was part of a new and younger generation of Pack leaders.Before, leaders were in their middle wolf years when they fought for or assumed any head position.However, losing so many during the initial blast and from the resulting fallout and radiation forced Alphas and Betas to come forth at a younger age and claim high-ranking positions.Most of them were barely staring at the human age of thirty.

Chanin was the youngest Alpha ever to hold the position.However, he made up for what he didn’t have in age and experience through tenacity and strength.Those two things pissed his older cousin the hell off.Farkas had crested forty-two years ago and had been waiting for his father to step down, but his cousin figured he would walk into the Alpha role—no challenge.

When Uncle Kenneally died, Farkas didn’t anticipate Chanin stepping forth, showing him that being a fucking alpha bully did not win popularity, nor did it make him the baddest wolf in the Pack.

In the end, after accepting Chanin’s challenge, Farkas was a beaten, loudmouthed, pompous jerk, unconscious and bloody on the ground.Often Chanin got pissed at himself because he didn’t take Farkas’s life that day as tradition dictated to prevent an insurrection.But their numbers were already suffering, and Chanin couldn’t find the strength to end another wolf’s life.His mistake was trusting his cousin would put the Pack’s needs first and submit.

Chanin had been wrong.Farkas was a stain on the Pack’s reputation and a force that Chanin and all the new leaders had to deal with.

“We’ll follow your plan.”His security leader’s features were tight, set in fierce determination.“Where do you want the Fang Warriors to RV?”

“Let’s take a look.”Chanin headed to his home office.He crossed through his living room to an open sliding door on the front side of his place.Once there, he entered a spacious room set up for his office.

Rudie, who was always a step ahead of his thoughts, was already there and had the screen with the map of their territory pulled down between two bay windows.He, Boris, and Bleddyn moved to stand before it.

“According to your original report, Boris, Farkas’s band was last spotted holding up here in the Northern mountains.”Chanin pointed at the area he was familiar with.The Pack occasionally ran there, but it was a beautiful wasteland.No life or vegetation returned to the area after the Great Catastrophe, the reason Chanin had led the Pack southwest.

“That should still be the case.It is where the scouts heard and spotted the women with them,” Boris confirmed.

Chanin growled.“How the hell are they doing it?”

“We are still trying to determine that.”Boris stared at the map with his arms folded.“The scouts have seen a few entrances, but Farkas always has them guarded.Without the approval to strike, the team held their ground.”

“I understand.”Chanin continued to stare at the area on the map for a moment.In the back corner of his mind, something sat lodged.It was problematic concerning the area, but it was an enigma.Chanin knew he’d figure it out sooner or later.“Concerning your question, Boris, we will meet on the Northwest side.Since they seem to be focused east on their deeds, they must be more concerned with an attack coming in from that way.”

“They’ve pissed off the dragons, and if the Fae discover their actions, they will come for them.”Bleddyn tossed in, his voice rough.

They all wanted a piece of Farkas and his band of deviants.

“Will do, Alpha.”Boris gave a sharp nod.“I’ll get going, and we’ll meet you there in a couple of hours.”

Chanin gave his security leader a quick, firm pat on his shoulder.“Make sure to tell the team to proceed with caution.I don’t trust Farkas.”

“Absolutely,” Boris agreed.He turned and headed out of the office; Rudie followed behind him.

Bleddyn moved closer to the map and stared at it.His Beta looked from their territory to the Fae’s.At one point, he reached out a finger and drew an invisible line across the three regions.

“I keep asking myself, how in the hell is the rogue band doing it?Maneuvering in and out of the other territories.”Bleddyn spoke to himself even as he directed the perplexing question to Chanin.“They can’t use the mountains as cover the entire time because the range doesn’t continue outside our area.”

“Even if it did, after they’d stolen from Aodh’s people, I’m sure he has an incinerate first and ask questions later order for the wayward wolves.”Chanin stepped beside his second and tried to sort out the situation before them.

“If Aodh and Liekki happened to catch Farkas’s band in the act and roast them, it would be a great solid for us.”

Bleddyn chuckled.“We can pray to the Great Spirit for some Farkas flambe.I’d give a tooth behind one of my canines to see it.”

“You’re not the only one, my friend.”Chanin fist-bumped his beta.

They fell silent for a moment, both still studying the map.

“You think they may have worked something out with a dragon?Maybe they got one to look the other way.Their females are pretty lusty, and Farkas never had trouble with finding multiple bedmates before he began to act up.”

Chanin squinted at the map, still studying it.“Perhaps, but doubtful.The link those Drahks share through their Alpha is strange.I don’t fully comprehend how it works.That may be the reason we’ve never heard of a rogue dragon.”

“What did I miss while gone?”

Chanin and Bleddyn turned to see Minsi entering the room as Rudie returned.

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