Page 16 of Spirit Walker Pack
“I’m not sure how to broach this with you,” I say, “but Arric appears to have more knowledge about your packs and what’s happening within them than he does mine. I don’t mean to sound better or superior in any way. He knew that Falan,” we are far enough removed from all others that we have dropped the formalities, “had left his pack lands and they could plan and execute an attempt to stop him reaching me. From what Aurora has been telling us here, they know when your border guards are changing over. They attack when the guards are coming to the end of their stint, but before your fresh teams arrive for patrol.”
“Do either of your packs receive aid or reinforcements from the other packs?” Falan asks quietly while searching our faces.
“So far, I have not needed any assistance dealing with Arric’s attempts to penetrate the border of Spirit Walker Pack's lands. I have redirected all those sent by the packs or Council to Blood Pearl. Your need has been greater to date. We will need help when the war starts, but no, we have been okay.” I look to Gerry and Aurora, but we all look at Falan when he lets out a curse.
Gerry frowns and glares at Falan. “I hope there is a good reason for that language in front of my Luna,” and it is a statement, not a polite question.
“Oh, my sincere apologies, Luna Aurora. Lyle, I know Flint said to keep things in the loop of the three of us, but we should tell Gerry and Aurora. You have no council warriors and have no moles. They have warriors and leaks. It is too much of a coincidence.” Falan’s eyebrows could not be any higher.
Aurora is quick to make the connection. “You are suggesting that the council warriors have been compromised? Surely not. The Council must have things in place to stop or discover such eventualities.”
Falan and I give each other a look and I nod for him to continue. “We discovered who we believe is Arric’s father. Flint has the information and should be dealing with it, if in fact, he has not already dealt with it. We believe this is why he wants the alpha meeting so suddenly.”
“Well, spit it out. Who do you suspect?” Gerry looks at us both.
“Porter Riverrun.” Falan’s words shock both Gerry and Aurora.
“You are mistaken. I have worked alongside him for years. He has no family, let alone a son. I would have known if there was someone in his life,” Gerry states confidently.
“Arric is Porter’s illegitimate son. We have proof that he has been financing Arric’s life, schooling and more recently embezzling council monies to fund his rise to being ‘King’. I am sorry Gerry. I was not aware of your loyalties to him.” Falan shakes his head.
“My loyalties were to the Council of which he is a part, not to him personally. This will shock the packs when it is released.The Council has been through so much in recent years, I doubt they will survive this.” Gerry lowers his head into his hands and Aurora places her arm across his shoulders.
“You have been away from the Council long enough that our members will not believe you had any part in this.” When he raises his head and looks at her, we can plainly see that this was not something he had contemplated.
“You need not concern yourself with that, my friend. Flint is now the last remaining member of the original Council. They have two alphas, two lunas, and two who hold the old school values in Merry and Lykos. Flint may, or may not, wish to step down, but I think he will have a fight on his hand from the others.” I truly believe that he would be a loss for the packs if he was allowed to step away.
As we sit in silence for a moment, Kynan approaches Falan. “Alpha Falan. Excuse me. You wished to be advised when it was near the latest time we should head out so we would reach Wolfsong before dark. I believe we are near that time.”
“Very well, Kynan, and thank you. Inform the rest of the escort we will be returning alone when we leave Blood Pearl's lands. We will be traveling as fast as we can safely. On our return, I will be preparing to leave again almost immediately. Have Fenya prepare the next escort…No, wait. I will inform her myself. Keep what I just said to yourself. We have too many walls with ears at Wolfsong, my friend.” Standing and stretching, he looks at us all. “I wish we had met again under better circumstances. Perhaps our sectors will be destined to meet only under duress, but I sincerely hope not.”
Standing, I take his hand, and we bump shoulders. “At least we are destined to stand beside each other on the battlefield, my friend, and not opposite. That would not sit well with me.”
Falan takes his leave and we watch as his party departs with a Blood Pearl escort.
“Gerry, Aurora. It has been a pleasure as always to see you both. We know it won’t be long before we are in each other's company again, eh?” I embrace them both and see my escort formed up and waiting.
“Perhaps you will have your mate by that time? Who knows? You know now that she is out there for a certainty, and if she is close to Falan, she will undoubtedly know of you too when he returns.”
Bidding them farewell, I set a good pace to reach home as soon as possible.
I can’t believe we are returning home without her. I am almost ashamed to be your wolf!
‘Oh, my Goddess! You understand why we must return so soon. Carry on with this shaming nonsense and you’ll be lucky if it’s ‘once in two weeks’, never mind ‘twice a week’!’
The rest of the journey home is remarkably quiet, I have to admit.
Chapter 10
FENYA
I’ve been trying to keep busy so I don’t mope around after being left behind by Alpha Falan. I don’t care how flowery and sugar-coated he wants to present it, but I was damn well left behind. Never again.
If the Alpha says stay, we must stay.
‘Oh no we don’t. We are not some damn trained pet dog!’
No, we are not, but we do hold a responsible position within the pack, which means we do as we are asked OR told. I swear to the Goddess that you are becoming more difficult with every day that passes.
