Chapter 3
AURORA
Small talk isn’t easy when your mind is darting from one thought to another. Flint keeps looking at me curiously, and I don’t want to give him full control of the situation. I know the Shifter Council has more authority than I have, but it’s my pack and I’ll do what I know is right for them, regardless of the likes of Eve Planter, who hates me and the feeling is mutual.
“Eat Aurora, we’ll make sure we do whatever is needed for your pack members. You can’t do anything if you become weak. To get into and out of no-man’s-land, you need your strength. If you come across any rogues, you will have to fight, and you need to be fully fit and alert.”
I nod in agreement, acknowledging his words, and take a few bites of the food on my plate. I have no idea what I'm eating or if it even tastes good. I am desperately looking for a way to bring my pack members home, and my mind is consumed with finding a solution.
‘Alpha, two warriors are here wanting to come to the packhouse. They say they are here for Councilman Flint.’
The border warrior links and I give him a fast reply. Bring them to the packhouse. I knew they were coming, but don’t allow them to wander. Bring them to where I’m eating alongside Councilman Flint.
‘Okay, Alpha Aurora, we will be with you in fifteen minutes.’
“Your warriors are here. My patrol is bringing them both here to us. They can eat before we take them to their rooms. We will have a meeting first thing in the morning in my office if that is good for you?”
The two council warriors arrive in the dining room and they are very different in stature. The shorter of the two, who reminds me of a deceased friend, tips his head to Flint, while the taller one, somewhat athletic in build and with chiseled features, scans the room. His eyes are alert and dart around the room assessing for threats. When he’s completed the scan, he then acknowledges the Councilman while the shorter of the two scans the room. Once they have both satisfied themselves there are no immediate dangers, they nod to each other. One stands directly behind the Councilman, while the other stands off to one side, blocking any possible threat from the nearest doorway.
I like the way these warriors work together and a small tic raises my lip. “Your Councilman will be safe here. Take a seat and I’ll have food brought over.”
“Thank you, Alpha, that would be good. I could eat a horse, its saddle and probably its rider right now,” the shorter one growls as he slips in beside Flint.
Councilman Flint glances at him reproachfully and then grins at me. “This is Warrior Gerry. He is always hungry. I’ve never known anyone eat as much as he can and does, on a regular basis. I think he must have a tapeworm the size of a python to digest the food he gets through.”
Pointing to his other warrior, that has taken a seat at the end of the table where he has an uninterrupted view of most of the dining room and its doors and windows, “This is Warrior Roul. He doesn’t cost the same to feed, is more refined and polite than Gerry yet just as thorough when it comes to my protection. I think you’ll get on well with both of them, Alpha Aurora.”
“I’m sure they are both capable, ‘how’ capable remains to be seen. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I need to complete my evening inspections. I will have Raina, my Beta, arrange an early morning call and a hearty breakfast for you all before our meeting.”
Leaving the dining room, I decide to task Taria with the evening inspections and retire to my room early.
Walking into my office the next morning, I take my seat behind the desk, checking if anything has been left on one side for my urgent attention. Thankfully, nothing has been placed overnight for me to look at first thing this morning. My Beta Raina walks into the office, giving me a bright smile.
“What has you so cheerful this morning?” I can’t help but ask.
“Nothing, except a good night's rest.” Raina takes a seat in front of my desk, and sits quietly as I check the food rationing list that our kitchen workers have passed for me to look at.
“We are going to run short of food if we have to keep supplying this much to the rogues. I can’t allow the pack to go hungry, so I’m going to make a move on getting our pack members back. I’ll need you to step up as acting Alpha if I step away for a short while to get the information we need to get them out of no-man’s-land. We can’t in all conscience leave them any longer. We don’t know if they are all alive or not.”
Raina growls under her breath, then gives a small cough to cover it up. “I can do whatever it is you're thinking of doing. We can’t have you risking yourself…”
Cutting into whatever she’s going to say, “I’ll not let another of my pack be hurt while I sit here waiting. Twiddling my fingers and thumbs has never been my way, and every one of the pack members I take responsibility for. I will get them out, or die trying. You will make sure Taria stays safe and act as Alpha until such a time as either I get back, or I’m not returning, and the council will decide the pack's fate.”
“Alpha, please don’t put yourself at risk. I can do it in your stead.”
“No, you cannot, Raina. It’s my responsibility. I’m having a meeting at any moment with Councilman Flint and his two Council Warriors. We will see what they can suggest, but if they have nothing, then I’m going into no-man’s-land, find my pack members and get them out, somehow!”
Tapping at the door grabs our attention, and Raina opens it to allow Councilman Flint, Warrior Gerry and Warrior Roul into the office.
“Please, take a seat.” I point to the long table and chairs as I rise from my seat behind the desk and step over to the table as well. We all settle into a chair and I wait for Flint to speak.
Raina speaks, “Would anyone like a drink?”
All three give a shake of the head that no, they wouldn’t, and turn their attention back to me. Okay, seems I’m the one opening this meeting.
“Let’s not delay what we are here to speak about. The rogues have ten of my pack members. They have had them for months and I’m going in, with or without help, to find them and get them out, if it’s possible. I don’t care about my safety in this matter, at this point I’m past caring if I get out alive or not. What I care about are my people, getting them home where they belong.”
Flint leans forward in his seat, leaning his elbows on the table and clasping his hand together. “Warrior Gerry is going with you. We have briefly spoken last night and if you are insistent about going into no-man’s-land, then he’s going with you. He has the skills to get you in and out. He can watch your back and you can watch his. You cannot go in alone. I will give you three days and if you are not back in that time span, then I’ll contact the other council members and we’ll decide if we need to involve the other packs and invade or not!”
Aztec speaks to me. We need someone with us. We can’t do this alone. Asher spoke to me and is determined to go along with us. He is a good wolf, and Gerry is a worthy shifter. They will be perfect to go along with us. We can’t take any of our members with us. We already have to rescue ten.
‘I know Aztec, I’ve heard only good things about Warrior Gerry. I just don’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s life.’
“Have you finished speaking with Aztec?” Flint asks, and Warriors Gerry and Roul smirk.
“Aztec is okay with Warrior Gerry coming along with us. She has spoken to Gerry’s wolf, Asher, and is more than happy to run alongside him.”
“Okay then, this is what we’ll do.” Flint leans even a little more forward onto his elbows. Warriors Gerry and Roul do the same. I have a feeling this is the norm for these three when they are strategizing.
Two hours later we have studied the map of no-man’s-land I have on the wall, marking the area where we believe the pack members are being held. We also plan the route we need to take to stay out of the path of the patrol they have walking.
Knocking on the door interrupts and I call out, ‘Come in.’
“I’m sorry for interrupting Alpha Aurora, but I have information regarding a change in the rogues’ patrol pattern,” Warrior Amos states.
“Come in, Amos, tell us what you have found.” I lean back in my seat and rub my temple because I can feel the throb of a headache starting.
“I’ve been in the trees along our territory perimeter. I always keep a check on the patrol from the rogues, but they always, and I mean for the last few months, have passed by the spot I watch from, every hour, on the hour, never fail or miss. But this morning they have been passing every ninety minutes. I’ve been watching since five this morning, and it’s never wavered. For some odd reason, they have changed their patrol times.” Amos gives me a worried look, and I think he knows me well enough that he has an inkling that I’m going to do something soon.
“They either have lost some rogues, and by that I mean they’ve deserted, or they’ve killed them. They could have a change in the structure which you told us they have put together. I mean, it sounds stupid that they have formed a rogue pack, but it would make sense from their point of view. To have a pack gives them stability, others to rely on, others to watch their backs. We still have no information about who is the supposed Alpha or his Luna, if he has one!” Warrior Roul states, rubbing the back of his neck.
“We know that you have pack members that will fight alongside you if necessary. That’s not a bad thing Aurora, if they want out of that situation they may have to fight for their freedom.” Flint gives me a worried look, knowing that I’ll die before any of my pack does. “Trust them, allow them to do what they can. Don’t do it all yourself. It never works. In a situation like this, work as a team, and Gerry can do that. He can organize quickly and efficiently. He can get everyone in the same frame of mind, and working together before you could allow that to happen, and you’ll get your pack members free.”
Raina had updated me first thing this morning about the rogue patrol, so the change has happened in the last twenty-four hours. She had monitored for the last two days, getting the timing and the route they take. It seems the timing of the patrol has changed, but the route has stayed the same. It’s odd, something has to have happened, but none of us knows what that is, and it’s going to mean we have to be on high alert the whole time.
Aztec speaks again in our mind link. Aurora, we can do this. We just have to be careful, no taking risks and no rash decisions.
‘I know, Aztec. I’ll do my best to stay calm and not put us or Warrior Gerry in danger.’
Flint stands, gives me a look I cannot interpret, then nods at Warrior Gerry. “You go in, check out what’s going on and if you can’t get them out, get the information that will help us go back in with a team and get them out. No heroics, just in, out and stay safe.”
“We will. Come on Alpha Aurora, let’s get ourselves fed, watered and ready. We’ll not carry anything. We’ll sneak across the territory as soon as it is dark.” Warrior Gerry gives me a firm look, and I return it with a nod.