Chapter 6
TARIA
Sitting at a table in the dining area, waiting for Councilman Flint, I realize that, without thinking, I have a full view of the room, exits and entryways with my back to a wall. This was discussed in one of my training classes with Chief Warrior Dixon, but I didn’t know that I was doing it until just now.
Maya speaks out saying, I have noticed. You do much more than you think.
‘Why haven’t you told me this?’
You shouldn’t need me to tell you. It is good that you do these things without conscious thought. You are being more wolf. It’s a good thing.
‘You’re mocking me, Maya. You’re trying to make me want pups!’
That would not be a bad thing, replies Maya, and continues , but I am not mocking you. It is good that your mind is working that way. It shows that the lessons are worthwhile, and you have taken much onboard with little effort.
‘What else have you noticed that I haven’t?’ I ask Maya.
How many warriors are in the room?
‘Seven.’
How many could you beat in a fair fight?
‘Five.’
How many females in the room?
’Twelve.’
If you had to exit the room quickly, how would you do it and how long would it take you?
‘Via the kitchen and less than twenty seconds to be on the lawn outside.’ I reply without thinking.
Less than fourteen days ago, you would not have known this. Now you are aware of your surroundings, and the people around you. I am proud of my human to have come this far. Maybe I will ask the Goddess to leave me here after all.
‘OH! Maya! That is an awful thing to joke about. The next time you are hunting, I’m going to trip you as you’re about to catch a rabbit.’
And I will shift back with no clothes, Taria, my human.
Letting my laughter slip out as a horrified giggle, I see Councilman Flint approaching.
“It seems that you and your wolf are entertaining each other while I’ve kept you waiting. I’m sorry I’m a little late. I was on a call with Bronze, and he again asks if you could give him a call when you have time,” Flint grins at me as I sigh, and join him as we go to the serving area and fill our plates with food.
“I need to have a talk with him about his communication style. It isn’t necessary for him to keep passing messages through people. He could just pick up the phone.” Giving Flint a frustrated look, he grins again. We sit back at our table and begin to eat while continuing our conversation. I can’t help but notice that Flint is eyeing the amount of food on my plate.
“He genuinely can’t wait for you and him to become mates.”
“Oh, really?” I bluster as I’m shocked that Flint would make that statement.
“No! Not like that. I meant as a couple, intellectually and emotionally. I wasn’t referring to sexually.” Flint blushes furiously as he whispers that last word, and I can’t help but try to keep him on his toes.
“So, he doesn’t think I’m attractive in that way? That’s a shame because I know that our wolves are very drawn to each other, and have already agreed on pups.”
“You are doing this deliberately now, I can tell. Changing the subject, how do you feel about everything that has been thrown at you so far? Are you coping with the barrage of information, advice, and training?” Flint raises his eyebrows, and I can see how much he wants to get away from being harassed.
“Funnily enough, that was what Maya and I were discussing just before you joined us.” Throwing the same questions at Flint that Maya had asked me, he was only able to answer two correctly. The exit question and when he stated that he could beat all the warriors. I couldn’t argue that point, but he was three off with his guess as to how many warriors there were.
Seeing him side eye my half empty plate, I grin. “All this extra training, fighting, running around.”
“I understand that. I just don’t know where it goes until it gets burned off,” he says. “It’s not as though you have anywhere that looks remotely like a calorie storage area .”
“I take that as a compliment, I think.”
While we eat, Maya and Bruno take the time to wolf chat and I’m sure there’ll be some juicy bits for me to catch up on later.
Wolf chat is not for your ears, Maya states.
‘Well, that told me, didn’t it?’ Maya shuts me out and obviously continues her chat with Bruno. Flint must know what just happened as he smirks at me.
“Wolves, eh? Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em!”
Finishing our lunch, we take our dishes away and go our separate ways. I have some calls to make, so head to my room for some privacy, peace and quiet. My first call is to Blood Pearl, and Pops answers.
“Hi, Pops. How are you?”
“Hey, Sweetpea. I was just talking about you. Me and your Momma were wondering how you were getting on.”
“I’m doing great, even if I say so myself. Maya has been telling me some of the stuff I’m doing subconsciously, and I can see it more and more as I think about it.” Going over the lunchtime with Gerry, he sounds pleased with my cautionary table choice and my observations. Passing me over to Momma, I feel emotional when I hear her voice again. It seems like forever since I’ve seen her.
“Hi, Momma. Are you okay?” I feel near to tears and have to make an effort not to start sobbing.
“I’m good, but more important, how are you doing? It’s very strange knowing you’re so far away. I’m not used to this.”
“I’m kept so busy I hardly have time to think. Last time we spoke you had to dash off. What happened? Is everyone there okay?” I don’t remember how long ago it was when that happened.
“Oh, that. It was another skirmish with the rogues. We got information that they were going to try and snatch female warriors for that alpha of theirs. He’s got himself a ‘queen’ but is looking to surround himself with a female royal guard, apparently. I think he’s a sandwich short of a picnic myself. A right royal looney-tune. I don’t know what his endgame is supposed to be, I’m sure. We only allow one female warrior per patrol now. The females aren’t happy about it, but it’s reduced the number of breaches we’re having. Trying to form a royal guard by kidnapping a single female and losing three or four of their warriors has calmed the rogue attacks somewhat. Anyway, never mind him. What news have you got for me?”
Explaining my heightened awareness yet again and how well I’m doing with my fight training has her gushing with pride. I can’t say that I don’t brag a little either. It feels good to shout out my own praise, I have to say.
Finally running out of things to say, I tell Momma that I have to call Bronze. I swear she giggles. Pops has definitely had a positive effect on Momma, she’s a lot happier in herself and so much more relaxed. It’s a pleasure to hear her voice so chilled out, and not all tense and sharp.
Taking a swig from the bottle of water I keep on my nightstand, I settle my back against my headboard and try calling Bronze. I feel quite girly and giddy as I wait for him to pick up.
“Hello. Alpha Heir Bronze speaking.”
“Hello. Possible Luna Heir Taria speaking.”
“Taria, wow. I’m sorry, I didn’t look at the caller ID, I just snatched it up. It’s great to hear your voice. Are you okay?” He sounds genuinely pleased to hear from me, which is always a good thing.
“I’m good, but I have a bone to pick with you,” trying to sound as stern and as serious as I can.
“Oh, okay. What is it?” It must have worked, because he sounds very worried.
“Stop asking people to ask me to contact you. Pick up the damned phone and just call me. You’re going to have to have better communication skills than this if you have any hope of getting pups out of me.” Bursting out laughing, I hear a sigh from his end and then he too, laughs.
“I’m sorry, I know why I started to do that, but I can just make the call in the future. How are things progressing? Very well, I’m sure.”
Repeating myself for what feels like the tenth time today, I tell him about my day. During our conversation, we stray from one subject to another, and it all seems very easy and relaxed. When he mentions getting a second desk for the alpha office, I question why he needs another desk.
“Well, for you, of course. You’ll want your own desk, surely?” He sounds surprised that I’d not thought of it myself.
“Of course I’d want my own desk, but I was rather hoping I’d have my own ‘Luna’ office to go with it. I don’t mean that we stay apart all day, every day, but I am going to need a private place to meet with people, discuss Luna issues. I will want to meet all the pack members at some point early on so I get a feel for them, and vice versa. We’re both going to be busy, active pack leaders, so there’s bound to be times when we’ll both need the office.”
“You raise a good point there, Taria. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll speak to my father and ask how they got round the problem. I’m not saying that you won’t have an office, I think you’re right, you will need one. I just never came across it before now.”
“I’ll leave you to puzzle over that one then while I go and carry on with my exploration of the gardens here. I’m looking forward to this. Right, I’m off and I’ll wait for you to call me next time. Bye.”
“Bye, Taria.”
Popping into the bathroom, I get a quick freshen up, and then head out to find out all I can about the gardens here. I understand that they are well established and quite diverse. I guess if I head out through the kitchen, I’m bound to find a herb garden, and that will be as good a place as any to start looking for the gardener.
Seeing a female tending to the herb beds, I approach her to ask for the gardener. I heard somewhere that the gardener was called Silas, so I doubt it’s going to be her.
“Hi. My name is Taria and I’m looking for Silas.”
She jumps a mile and lets out a squeal when I speak to her.
“I was miles away then. You interrupted a wonderful daydream. I was on a beach with my soulmate and we were … Well, never mind what we were…I’m Dahlia. Pleased to meet you. You’re the Eclipse Luna-to-be, aren’t you?”