Chapter 4 #3
this step by step, you can pay each step off before moving to the
next doing as much as possible yourself.”
“It sounds good and doable
when you lay it out like that. Let’s discuss the cost of the land
first.” Bindi suggested. When that was done, she felt like she
could handle this and end up with a home she would love.
“We’ll file the paperwork
in the morning and the place will be yours. I’m amazed you nearly
had enough money to pay it. Moe says you’re working yourself to
death. That was a good thing you did last night. Most would have
called the backup person on the contract and left. What you did may
have saved a life. Possibly even two. Who knows what a little boy
might do if he’d gotten panicked?”
“He seemed pretty cool
headed.”
“Joey usually is. I heard
he attacked you?” Ariel asked.
“The boy was like a little
tornado.” Bindi laughed remembering.
“I’m going to have Tyne
give him self-defense training next time they give it and he has an
emergency phone now with my number on it.”
“Can he handle a
phone?”
“Joey is a bright kid.”
Ariel observed.
“If he learns how to use a
phone, last night won’t happen again.”
“I’ve discovered training
is everything to avoid mishaps and tragedies. It was my suggestion
they get the security system. What is hard is making things work
with a young child and two working parents. Friends and relatives
can help.”
“Once Joey is in school
things will be better.” Bindi said.
“Most in the school he’ll
be attending only go part time.”
“That makes it tougher.
Maybe she can work from home?”
“That might be a
possibility. Meanwhile, let’s get supper and have a toast to
celebrate you being a homeowner.” Ariel suggested.
Together they headed to the buffet.
Ariel stood in line with Bindi behind her. Supper was wonderful as
always and the champagne they had after they’d eaten was sweet in
more ways than one. It was time to turn in and she tried not to
worry about what might happen next. Being on call had been busy the
first night, but tonight all seemed calm.
When a disturbancethe disturbance came,
it wasn’t from her radio. An alarm went off meaning there was an
attack. Attacks averaged two to three times a week, but the times
were all over the place. Bindi got up and headed to the living
room.
There was Ariel. “These are
wolves.”
That told Bindi she needed to go
upstairs and use the rifles that had darts. Once she got to the
window it was evident that this was a large attacking force. How
inHow the hell had they gotten in? She began shooting picking off
wolf after wolf. The tide turned as more of the attackers were
taken out. Some of the wolves were killing the attackers and it was
bloody, but it was the way of wolves.
Ariel was out there trying to take them
out without killing them. As a parent her heart was softer, but her
four kids were here so she killed as needed. An hour later, with
the last of the attackers either escaping or caught, the fight was
over. Bindi went down to see what would happen now.
“Ariel, what do we do now?”
Bindi asked.
“I’m going up the mountain
to question these guys.”
“Can I go with
you?”
“Come on.”
Up the mountain they went to the
underground building. Some called it a bunker, some a house, or
even a bunkhouse but it could be any of those things if need be.
Ariel used it to house guests when needed, she had an interrogation
room a couple of cells that had been added, all the facilities a
house needed, and a small greenhouse that was actually outside on
the roof.
They went straight to the interrogation
room where a captive waited. “Why did you attack us?” Ariel
asked.
“He said you were his
enemies. The alpha said he wanted us to get in, capture a few
females and leave. It sounded easy.”
“Does it still sound
easy?”
“No, he didn’t tell us who
we were attacking.” The captive admitted.
“Why do you do this kind of
work?”
“There was nothing else. I
have no talents, education, or training.”
“What do you want to do?”
Ariel asked.
“I always wanted to be a
singer.”
“Really? Sing something for
us.”
He began to sing a well-known song and
he did a good job. When he finished one verse and the chorus, they
all clapped.
“Was that okay?”
“That was good especially
since I’m assuming you have no training.” Ariel said.
“No, I have none. Those
that don’t fit a certain mold are not treated well in some
packs.”
“I know that’s true.” Bindi
admitted.
“What pack were you raised
in?” The guy asked.
“Northern Oregon. It’s a
hard pack to be in for some.”
Ariel glanced at Bindi but said
nothing. “Change is in the air, and they can’t continue with their
evil ways.” Ariel assessed. “I’ll assign someone to you, and we’ll
decide what needs to be done.”
The male knew he’d done wrong, and he
just accepted the way things would be. Ariel was fair and Bindi
heard she redeemed many of her captives. Many got better than they
ever expected. She knew interrogation was part of investigationthe
investigation, but the way Ariel did it wouldn’t work for
her.
After speaking to the leader, there
seemed no point in talking to anyone else. At least not for Ariel
to do it. Others would assess them and determine what to do with
them. Bindi didn’t mind because she needed some sleep.
The next morning, she was still tired,
and her eyes burned. This was going to be a long day. Breakfast as
usual was good. Ariel’s daughter was old enough to hold her own
plate and go down the line with Ariel when she wanted to. Her son
was mad because he wanted to as well, but they felt he was too
young. He was pouting in the kitchen where the younger ones
ate.
Parenting seemed like a lot of work.
There was no doubt she wanted to wait to have children. Her life
wasn’t in order yet and she believed it needed to be. Besides,
there was no dad and a child needed both mom and dad. This was
serious thingsa serious thing to be thinking about at bedtime. She
tried to clear her head as she got ininto bed. Sleep was what she
needed and wanted for now. When she finally got to sleep it was to
dreams of Duroc and children. They were a happy family. That
happened only in dreams. Reality was harsher.
Morning came too soon as it had been
doing every day since she’d come here. Bindi got ready and went to
eat. Things were normal here considering the attack last night. It
seemed they were used to it. Could that happen in time? If so,
maybe she would manage to get used to her sleep being interrupted
every night.
Ariel must have eaten earlier. It was
said wolves needed less sleep, lucky them. Some would say that was
a reason to go through the change. Ariel had offered her that
opportunity, but she wasn’t ready. How would she handle being a
wolf? Her memories when she was young told her many wolves weren’t
worth knowing. She-wolves were in demand and a wolf might take her.
Had she been wolf, even a less than desirable one she would have
been taken and mated toby someone.
Bindi made it to the office without any
problems. When she headed in, Duroc and Moe were waiting. “We heard
Ariel had an attack?” Moe asked.
“She did. They were heavily
outnumbered, but the attackers were poorly trained, and it didn’t
take long for the tide to turn.”
“You shot from the
balcony?”
“I did. My aim has gotten
good.” Bindi declared.
“Good for you.” Moe held up
her fist and they bumpedbumped them.
“Were you in danger?” Duroc
asked.
“Not at all. Ariel made me
stay inside.”
Duroc just shook his head. It seemed
he just didn’t understand. That was okay. Friends could be
concerned about each other. Hopefully he would leave things
alone.