Chapter 25
AURORA
Sitting in our medical facility, I feel like a fraud taking up Doc Patricia’s time. I’m sure she’s got better things to do than waste her time looking at my shoulder.
“You do know that you’re muttering to yourself again?” Raina states from her position at the door.
“And you do know that if I want to leave, you guarding the door won’t stop me?” I give her my sweetest smile.
Seeing Wallace and Gerry peer round the corner of the doorframe, I groan. “Really? You brought back-up? For the love of the Goddess, I don’t need all this protection every time I leave my office.”
“It’s not just when you leave the office, Alpha. Until further notice, you are on a twenty-four-hour watch. That was a close call. Had it not been for Gerry’s warning, you would be dead. That is not going to happen again.” Raina is as serious as I’ve ever seen her when she tells me this.
Further discussion is interrupted by the arrival of Doc Patricia, and she has quite a scowl going on, which is certainly out of character for her.
“Alpha Aurora. You need to listen to your Beta. She has your best interests at heart. In fact, she has ALL our best interests at heart. You do so much for us as a pack that we would be lost without you. You need to accept that rushing to defend us clouded your judgement. I heard what the patrol warrior told you when you arrived at the skirmish. Had you taken a moment to analyze that information, you would have arrived at the same conclusion as Council Warrior Gerry did. Half the pack applauds you for your courage. The other half think you’re losing your ability to lead us rationally. Personally, I applaud you, but you need to start being the Alpha you’ve always been and listen to advice from your team.” Doctor Patricia pauses for breath and looks embarrassed. “Now that’s off my chest, let's have a look at your shoulder.” Motioning for Raina to enter the room, she closes it on the grinning Wallace and Gerry.
“Let’s see how you’re mending, shall we? Hoodie off, please.” Removing my hoodie, I wince as my shoulder rolls.
Eyeing me critically, she says, “Well, that was easier than I expected. I suspect Aztec has been at work in the background.”
“Aztec says you are a very astute doctor, and that, yes, she has been helping me heal.”
“The original medical assistance that you were given has also been instrumental in your healing. Getting that arrow out so quickly, cleaning and bandaging the wound has definitely reduced the chances of complications. You need to rest that shoulder for at least a week. No strenuous exercise and certainly no training.”
Seeing the grin on Raina’s face, “Doctor Patricia. It was Raina that attended to my wound. Perhaps you could make some time for her to improve on her battlefield medic skills? In fact, I think we should introduce this into warrior training. When they have injuries on border patrol, it can take quite some time to get aid to them. Having a couple of trained medics in each patrol could potentially be a lifesaver.”
Looking from Raina to myself, Doctor Patricia nods and tells us she will begin putting a training plan together. Seeing that I am dismissed, I put my hoodie back on, gather my security detail, and head back to my office. Once back behind my desk and alone, I take my cell, placing a call to Flint. After only three rings, he answers.
“Aurora, how are you? How’s the shoulder?”
“I’m good, thank you, Flint. The shoulder is sore at times but is healing well. I was wondering if you had gleaned any information from the traitor?” I’m thinking Gerry didn’t take long to inform Flint about my injury.
“Very little, so far, but we have not yet ‘turned up the heat’ in our interrogation. Certain Council members are a little squeamish about shifters' personal rights. I have arranged for those members to visit packs and perform audits over the next few days. That should ease their concerns as they will have other things to occupy themselves with.”
“Very astute of you to remember it is audit time. So, what have you discovered with the softly softly approach?” My patience is running thin today, with Flint sounding cagey and being followed around everywhere. Even now, I have a guard outside my office door. Although that is not something new, it is certainly playing on my mind today.
“Well, he’s been with your pack for sometime and until recently was happy with his lot. He has never had a problem with any of the pack or yourself, so that’s a positive.” Flint sounds distracted, as though he’s doing something else other than giving me his full attention.
“Councilman Flint! If you have somewhere else to be, please feel free to end this conversation. If not, please do me the courtesy of at least pretending to be interested.”
“Alpha Aurora! I have not been present as yet during the interrogation of YOUR traitor. As such, I am reading from reports and transcripts from my warriors that HAVE been conducting them. I will acquaint myself with the details and you may call me back when you have discovered where you have left your manners!” The call ends and I feel totally and completely humiliated. Like a child that has been rebuked by a favorite teacher.
Damn. My behavior was nothing short of petulant. This could be where Taria gets her entitlement from, I think to myself. Well, I won’t be calling back until I have adjusted my mood and feel capable of giving a heartfelt apology.
Food! I need food. That should help my mood. Leaving my office, without saying a word to Crispin, the warrior on my personal guard duty, I head to the dining area. Grabbing a tray, I pile it with snacks and finger food from the serving area. Realizing that by not speaking to Crispin, is just another example of my bad mood, I point to the serving area and tell him to load up. I will be in the dining area for a while, so he may as well eat while we’re here.
Attacking my food like a starved pup pulls me up short yet again. My mood must be so bad. Looking around the room, I see members eyeing me cautiously, and looking swiftly away when I catch their eye. What must they be thinking of me right now?
Looking down at the mound of food I have thrown on my tray, it looks awful. Everything is just dumped in a heap and there is more than I could possibly eat. I sit there, head down, drowning in my self misery.
“Grandmother would be proud of you.” The words make me jump as I heard no one approach. Looking up, startled, I see Xavier standing by my table with a tray of food. “May I join you?”
“You’re more than welcome, but I should warn you. I am not fit company today. My mood is as dark as midnight on a moonless night. I make no excuses for myself, just that you should have the chance to run for the border rather than risk sitting with me.”
Hearing Xavier laugh out loud, I watch him as he full on belly laughs while placing his tray and taking a seat. “Thanks for the heads up, but I think I can hold my own against a bad mood. At least you recognize this about yourself. Most don’t.”
“It has taken nothing short of a personal sledge hammer to make me see it. I wasn’t praying, by the way. Slipping into my own pity party, more like.” I take some of the food and begin eating.
“Well, Grandmother doesn’t need to know that bit. Anything you wish to offload to help lighten the load, I’m willing to grin and bear it.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. This is one of those times that I have to work through it on my own. Are you ready for your ‘search and discover’ mission? I am eager to find if they have more rogues than we currently believe.”
Talking to Xavier proves to be easy and when I suddenly find my tray empty, I look up, surprised. I’m also surprised by the amount of chatter and laughter around the dining room. It had been sullen and silent when I first made my entrance.
Xavier smiles at me. “The mood in the room picked up as your mood lightened. The pack picked up on your anxiety and anger. When that began to lift, so did their spirits. You look like the burden has been lifted.”
“I have to admit, I don’t recall what we have talked about for the last few minutes, but thank you, Xavier, for your patience and for listening to whatever it was.” I give him a genuine smile and I’m sure I feel my face crack with the strain of it.
“Few minutes? Try ninety. You can be quite chatty when the walls come down. I am pleased that you felt you could unload on me. Everything we discussed will not leave this table, I assure you. Now, I think you should go make that call to Councilman Flint. Perhaps the kitchen has some humble pie you can take with you?” Laughing at his own joke, I laugh with him.
“I talked openly then, didn’t I? If you will excuse me, I believe you’re right about that call. Thank you again.” Emptying my tray, I smile at Crispin and wait for him to accompany me back to the office. The guarded look I get tells me he, for one, is not convinced my mood has fully dispersed.
Placing the call to Flint, I hold my breath as he answers.
“Alpha Aurora.”
“Councilman Flint. Please accept my sincere apologies for my poor behavior earlier. It was unnecessary, rude and not in the least appropriate. I apologize, unreservedly.”
“Apology accepted. Now, I have read through the information and we have only a little so far. It seems wealth was the motivator behind your traitor. He was promised a substantial sum once Arric achieves his goals. Few shifters find wealth a motivation, we do not covet Yeworldly goods. The wealth he was promised, however, would promote a certain feeling or level of power over others.”
“And does Arric have the finances to honor such promises? As rogues, they have no businesses to gather funds, no infrastructure to support investment. Their only income would surely be theft. How could they possibly steal such wealth to fulfill these false promises?” I’m amazed that any pack member would be so gullible as to believe such falsehoods. To turn pack traitor for wealth has to be the lowest form of betrayal.
“We believe it highly unlikely that he has any financial backing of any shape or form.”
“Can you tell me what has happened in relation to Eve Planter? I can’t believe she would want me dead so bad as to hire mercenaries to assassinate me.”
“Eve is not your concern, Alpha Aurora.”
“I beg to differ, Councilman Flint. Eve Planter is most definitely my concern. She attacked me in wolf form in a Shifter Council meeting, she..”
“Alpha Aurora. Eve Planter is not your concern. Not now. Not ever. Let that be an end to this subject.” Flint's words carry an air of finality and after this morning's call, I decide it is best to let things lie. For now, anyway.
“Thank you for your time today, Councilman.”
“Always a pleasure, ‘Alpha’ .” He closes the call out. Not using his name has not gone unnoticed, then. To hell with the Council. How can Eve Planter NOT be my concern? Taking several deep breaths, I feel myself calming. I don’t need to go back to my earlier mood.
Placing a mind link to cook Ivy, I ask her to come to the office. It seems only a minute when a knock on the door and Crispin announces cook Ivy to see me.
Gesturing to a seat in front of my desk, I give her a smile. She has rarely been summoned to the Alpha’s office and looks nervous.
“I need a meal prepared for two people. It needs to be something very special.” Seeing the surprised look on her face and the knowing look growing across her expression, I damn near panic. “NO! It is not a two person romantic meal. It is a special meal as a reward for hard work and going above and beyond what was required. I need it to be served this evening, here in my office. I will have tables arranged in here and will require servers and a wine waiter, one who is competent, at least. The meal will be for Council Warrior Gerry. He has an unusually large appetite, and I do not wish him to leave this room in any form other than fully satiated. You may prepare anything that you see fit and that can be done to your highest standard in the time allowed. You may use anything in our stores and utilize any staff that you need. Any extra staff or foodstuffs can be costed to my personal account.”
“This is to be a formal setting with silverware and crystal, I presume, Alpha?”
“It is to be the very best of everything that we have to offer, no exceptions.”
“If you will excuse me then, I need to get started as quickly as I can. I will present you with a set menu within the hour. I will have starters, entrées and desserts fitting such an event. Thank you for this opportunity, Alpha. You will not be disappointed.”
“Ivy, I have never been disappointed before. I have every confidence that you will do me proud this evening.” Watching her hurry away to begin her preparations, I sit back with a sigh. Now to invite Gerry to his appreciation meal.
Having showered and prepared myself for the meal with Gerry, I open my door and Raina is standing there.
“You can get your ass back in there and make an effort. You are not presenting yourself to Council Warrior Gerry in jeans and a hoodie.”
“First of all, you are not my mother. Second, I am not PRESENTING myself to Council Warrior Gerry. I am gifting him a meal where I’ll be in attendance.”
“Seriously, Aurora, I couldn’t give a damn. As your friend, I’m advising you that you are not dressed appropriately. As your Beta, I’m ashamed that you would think this is ‘appropriate’ for such an event. You have more sense than this. Gerry will be suited and booted to the highest standard. You will not only embarrass yourself but will leave him mortified he has ‘out-dressed’ the Alpha that has honored him this way.”
Staring at her angry face, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so angry with me personally, not ever. Looking down at myself, I know she is right. As I spin back into my room, Raina’s voice follows me. “And it had better not be pants of any kind. And it had better be an evening gown. And heels! With jewelry! FEMININE, DAMMIT!”
Entering the Alpha’s office, Gerry is by the window looking out over the pack house gardens. I have stood in that very spot many times contemplating a problem. When he turns, he almost drops the glass he is holding. I turn to see what startled him, but see nothing.
“What is it? Are you ok?” I step toward him and he stares at me with eyes that huge and round, like an owl’s.
“Alpha Aurora. I don’t know what to say. You are nothing short of a vision of beauty. Forgive my forthrightness. I have always thought you attractive, but tonight you are simply stunning.” Without a thought, I give a twirl and a small curtsey.
“Why thank you. You look extremely handsome yourself. The suit is tailored to fit, is it not?” His suit does indeed fit in all the correct places and accentuates his physique perfectly.
“It was when it was made. It is far from new, I’m afraid. Can I get you a drink? I forgot my manners there for a moment.”
“Ha. It must be the day for it. I was reminded of mine today. I’ll have a white wine, please.” Before I know it, the wine waiter appears from the corner of the room and offers me a glass of chilled white wine from a tray. I hadn’t even seen him there.
Sitting at the table, Gerry having held my chair before the waiter had even thought to do it, we began looking over the menu that Ivy had provided. Gerry was transfixed by the dishes on offer.
“I don’t know where to start. It all sounds amazing.”
Smiling at his indecision, I decide to put him out of his misery. “Gerry, you don’t have to choose. It’s a fixed menu. Cook Ivy has prepared everything on the menu. You get to have it all. You don’t have to choose and you don’t have to miss out on anything, either.”
Seeing realization dawn, his grin takes on mammoth proportions. His eyes take on his owl impression again, and I wonder how many females can say that their main competition is food.
“You have a smile going on that suggests you’ve just thought of something. What are you thinking?”
“You had the same look on your face when you looked at the menu just now, as when I walked into the room.”
“And you’re wondering which I would rather devour?” He laughs aloud, and it is a deep, hearty laugh. The kind that has you laughing along with him and not realizing it.
“That was certainly NOT what I was thinking. I did wonder how many females had to compete with food.”
The first starter arrives and thankfully ends that line of conversation.
“Alpha Aurora, may I ask a personal question?”
“Gerry, I think in private, we are past the ‘Alpha’ or ‘Council Warrior’ titles, don’t you? And yes, you may ask. You may not get or like the answer, though.”
“Would you take a chosen mate, Aurora?” The question shouldn’t bother me, but it catches me off guard somewhat, I have to admit.
“I had my fated mate. He was attacked and killed by rogues when Taria was a pup. He was an excellent mate and would have made a wonderful father. Later, the Goddess gave me a second chance mate. You already know how that went. It has to beg the question, should I have a mate, ever? I don’t know if I would have the courage to take a chosen mate with my track record.” Placing my knife and fork on my empty plate, I take a few deep breaths and I regain my composure. I have told few people of this, but never experienced the sense of loss while telling Gerry. It was very much more personal, almost intimate.
“And you, Gerry? Would you take a chosen mate?” I rest my elbows on the edge of the table and rest my chin in my hands while studying his features.
“Without a second thought. For the right person, I feel I have so much to give. The feeling of a mate to share life with is something that I would give my right arm for. It would have to be soon, though. Flint has asked me to become a Council member. That would hinder my life with a mate. I have to give all or nothing, and I fear being a member of the Council would take too much of me.” He has a faraway look in his eye as he relates this.
“So. What did you think of the game pie? It’s my all-time personal favorite, hence why cook Ivy put it on the menu.”
Laughing with that deep, glorious laugh, he raises his glass. “To the game pie! Enough of deep and meaningful conversation. Back to the food!”
Finishing the meal and after a last glass to end the evening, we take our leave. Undressing in my bedroom, I have to admit to myself that I haven’t felt this relaxed and ‘comfortable’ in a long time.
And, damn it, Raina was right about the dress. It’s been too long since I felt so feminine.