Page 46 of Spirit Walker Pack
‘A stud? A stud, you? Litters of pups? I can’t believe you uttered those words. It takes you all your time to catch a rabbit these days, never mind satisfy a female's mating desires.’
At least I can still catch something. You couldn’t catch a cold, old human!
‘Go to sleep and leave me to my pity party,’ I snap.
My pleasure. Wake me when we get there. I’d like to meet the new Luna myself, and her wolf.
Relaxing back into the seat, as much as I can in this boneshaker, I close my eyes, watching Bruno settle down and he’s soon fast asleep.
Hearing my name, I open my eyes with a start, and hear Roul calling to me from the driver's seat.
“We will be arriving in about ten minutes. I didn’t think you’d appreciate it if I delivered you to Alpha Lyle, snoring like a warthog with the flu,” Roul states with amusement in his voice.
“Snoring? I don’t snore.”
“Well, to my knowledge a wolf can’t snore, and as there are only the two of you back there, I’d say it was you that was making all that racket.” Roul smiles at me through the rearview mirror, and I have to be honest, I’ve woken myself up before now with my snoring.
Arriving at the Spirit Walker packhouse, I see the usual welcome plus Alpha Lyle with his new Luna, Fenya. She is almost as tall as he is, and they look good together.
Stepping out of the vehicle, I walk over to Alpha Lyle and greet him warmly. Standing before Luna Fenya, I take her offered hand, but pull her into a hug. “Luna Fenya, it is a pleasure to meet you formally. We were never introduced when you were Alpha Falan’s escort to Wolfsfoot.”
“Councilman Flint, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. Alpha Lyle speaks very highly of you,” Fenya says with a touch of respect in her voice.
“He exaggerates a lot, I’m sure,” I say as I smile at them both. “You look good together. That was my first thought as we pulled up.”
“Come on, Flint. You must be half-starved after your long drive. Chef Flick has been extremely busy since she heard of your visit.” Lyle laughs as he says this, and he takes his Luna’s hand as we head for the dining hall.
Stepping into the dining hall, I notice Bruno takes an interest in the smells that assail us.
That’s venison stew. I’d know that smell anywhere. It would appear that Chef Flick has cooked for me this time. None of that lasagna stuff. Yuk! This smells like proper food.Bruno growls in my mind with satisfaction.
‘Lasagna is proper food, and I happen to like venison, too. It isn’t especially for you.’
“Councilman Flint. It’s good to see you again so soon. I thought I’d prepare something that your wolf could enjoy with you this time. My sources tell me he is almost as partial to venison as he is to rabbit.” Chef Flick appeared as if by magic in front of me.
“Well, that will make him so big-headed I won’t hear the last of it.” I give her an eye-roll that tells her I am teasing him. “I also understand that congratulations are in order. It’s about time you got some recognition for your superb work in the kitchen and herb gardens.”
“It was Luna Fenya’s first action as our Luna. It is most appreciated, I assure you.” She gives a squinty-eyed look at her Alpha as she says this.
“One little change of title or years of compliments? I thought that the praise was enough, but we males can never get itright. I bow to my Luna’s act of recognition. In fact, I may make her responsible for all pack promotions going forward, eh? Promotions are all well and good when they go smoothly, but ruffle one set of feathers and you never hear the end of it.” Lyle shakes his head at both Chef Flick and Fenya who smile back at him.
“I have a one hundred percent record, Alpha Lyle. I am not worried. In fact, I would welcome the responsibility. I’d have the pack fawning all over me to ingratiate themselves for the next step up the proverbial ladder.” Seeing the tips of her lips twitching shows the smile trying to escape. They are going to be a happy couple, I’m sure.
Taking our seats at a table, Chef Flick has two of her staff act as servers, and they bring plates of varying dishes as well as the venison stew. The stew, however, is the star of the show. It is cooked to perfection, and the juniper berries make the meat's flavor pop.
Insisting that Roul takes time out to enjoy some of the fantastic offerings, he takes a table where he can still be on duty as part of my protection detail.
I could say that when the ‘meal’ was over, but that wouldn’t do justice to it, ‘banquet’ is more suitable. Standing at the table, I call out to Chef Flick in the kitchen. When she appears at the door, I bow and then clap loudly. The table joins me, and then the dining hall, too.
Blushing furiously, Chef Flick gives a hurried curtsy and then dashes back to the haven of her kitchen.
Relaxing in the Alpha’s office, Fenya tells me some of the things that Lyle has had to put up with during the time she didn’t knowher own mind. When she tells me of challenging him in his own office, I can’t help the wide-eyed owl look that I give them.
“It wasn’t quite as bad as Fenya makes it out to be. Plus, I was not handling what I saw as rejection very well, either,” Lyle informs me.
“It doesn’t sound like it's all been plain sailing to get to this point, I must admit. You wouldn’t think so though, seeing how you are with each other.” As I smile at them both, Fenya takes Lyle’s hand.
“I am thankful for his patience, and I hope it lasts well into the future. I am trying to curb my quick reactions somewhat without changing who I am.” Fenya glances at the clock on the wall.
