Page 75 of Forgotten Arcane

Thankfully, these are directed at all of us, and we all answer questions here and there. The ones that we can answer anyway.

Everything is going really well until someone rushes up to the head of the table and leans down to talk to Eamon and Calia.

They have a quiet conversation and then the person rushes off again.

“Is everything okay?” Van asks, picking up on the tension.

Eamon nods, “Yes. There is an unknown person approaching the fence on the left side of the property.”

I frown.

“It’s probably just someone from the pack on the neighboring land that’s strayed a little bit too close to our borders. It happens every now and again. It’s nothing to worry about,” Calia adds.

The unease doesn’t quite leave me though.

In the whole time that I lived here, I can’t remember one of the wolves from the neighboring pack getting too close. They own as much land as the compound, and there’s a two-mile-wide strip of land that’s referred to as no man’s land that runs between their border and ours.

The relationship between the pack and the compound is complicated. It used to be really good, and in fact, I remember them being invited to the banquets and everyone getting on great.

Then the alpha and his true mate died. We’re not sure how. Those details were never shared with us because the beta that took over thought that the different kinds of supernaturals should be kept separate. He also didn’t like that we had more land than they did, and even that some wolves chose to live here instead of on pack grounds.

Not only did he think that wolves shouldn’t mix with other supes, so he banned mating to anyone but another wolf, he also looked down on women. Now that I think about it, he’s pretty fucking similar to Ahren’s beta. Maybe it’s a prerequisite and all betas are assholes?

It wouldn’t surprise me, the evidence certainly suggests that’s the case.

But because of his actions, and the fact he’s an asshole, tensions have been extremely high between the pack and the compound.

We carry on talking for only ten minutes more before the alarm goes off, a siren blaring throughout the whole of the compound. All conversation stops as everyone looks to Eamon and Calia.

“Everyone, please make your way to the meeting room and the safe room below. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. We will get this straightened out and then come to get you,” Eamon tells them as he stands up.

“Please, do not come out until you are given the signal from us,” Calia adds.

Everyone quickly gathers their children and families and heads for the meeting house, leaving behind Van's parents, a few members that I know are extremely well trained, and us.

Eamon looks at us, and smiles.

I appreciate that he doesn’t try to make us go with the others, we wouldn’t go anyway, but it would waste time having that argument.

“What’s going on?” Eddie asks one of the highly trained members of the compound.

“We need to head to the gate on the left side. It would appear the wolves are attacking,” Eamon says, and everyone takes off running.

Chapter Twenty-One

Neith

For a moment, I worry that I’m not going to be able to keep up, but I’m happily proven wrong within a few moments, and I can easily keep pace. Thank fuck for that.

“Do we know why they’ve decided to attack?” Reed asks as we hit the tree line and start dodging and weaving through trees. “Have they attacked before?”

“They have never attacked us before, and I have no idea why they would now. Things haven’t been great with them, but we never would have suspected them of wanting to attack,” Calia replies, with an upset frown.

The wolves used to be friends, and it’s always hard when friends turn on you.

“How do you want to handle it?” Truip asks, not out of breath as we carry on running toward the left side entrance.

“As calmly as possible. If we can talk it out with them and figure out why they’re attacking, then maybe we can diffuse the situation before it escalates.If we can end this without violence, that would be the ideal situation,” Calia replies firmly and with hope that I’m pretty sure is quite optimistic for this situation.

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