Chapter 14
brONZE
Sitting in the alpha’s office with my parents, I don’t know how to begin this conversation, so I’m going to dive right in. They have always been supportive, so unless I’ve missed something important, I don’t see them having any issues with what I want to discuss with them.
“I want Taria to join me as soon as possible.” There, it’s out. “I know we said six months, but I think she’s already shown that she is capable of taking on the Luna position. Everyone that speaks of her has nothing but praise and positive things to say. What do you think?”
Watching as they look at each other, then look at me and back at each other, I feel sure I’ve missed something important. But what? Suddenly they both grin and high five each other like a couple of teenage pups.
“Fantastic idea,” my father states.
“When do you want her here?” Asks my mother.
“Seriously? That’s it? No discussion, arguments, just ‘when’?”
“Arguments? Oh no. We’ve been hanging around waiting for you to come to your senses for the last few weeks. You have been working hard while running things, and we’ve allowed you more control over the pack. The sooner Taria gets here, the sooner you can officially take over the pack, and the sooner we can be out of here and start our retirement.” My mother sounds ecstatic at the prospect.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” taking over the pack… I hope I have not just told my parents I want them gone!
“I’ll call Flint and let him know. He can get accommodation arranged for us with the Shifter Council. Let us know when Taria will arrive. We’ll hang around and get to know her for a week or so, and then we’ll be out of your hair. You can always call us if you need anything but I’m sure you’ll both be fine.” My father stands to leave and offers his hand to my mother. “Come on, ex Luna Sage. Let’s go make those future plans we’ve always talked about.”
“Whoa… Hold on… Just a minute,” I stare at them both as if they have gone mad. “This isn’t how I was expecting this to go.”
“Welcome to the world of leadership. Expect the unexpected. You don’t want us hanging around when you take over, Bronze. That will affect the transition from one alpha to the next. It needs to be a clean break and we’re only staying to get to know Taria. If she was already your marked and mated, we’d be gone in an instant.” Mother smiles at me and, taking my father's hand, they walk towards the door.
Well! I’m so taken aback, I just slump back in my chair and sit there, gulping air like a fish out of water.
I’ve summoned Beast and Star to attend your office immediately. We need time to digest what you’ve just instigated and as you still owe me two runs, we’ll have one now. It will be good for you to take a back seat for an hour or so and let me have the reins.
‘Yes. Okay. Let’s do that. I’ve been preparing for this moment all my life and now that it’s here, it’s happened so suddenly.’
A knock on the door, and before I get chance to say enter, Dixon and Adaline burst in.
They both scan the room and when they see I’m alone, they speak in tandem. “What’s happened? Are you okay?”
Standing in front of my desk, they both look anxious.
“Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Why would they think I’m anything but fine?
Dixon flops into a chair, and Adaline drops into the other.
“We both thought there was something seriously wrong. We’ve never been summoned by wolf to wolf in that manner before. We thought that Bronze was incapacitated and that’s why Titan was reaching out. Don’t do that! My heart can’t take the strain,” Dixon does look a bit pale.
Adaline shakes her head at me. “Men! Always so dramatic, but I have to agree with Dixon. It was so out of the normal for you that you had me worried. What was so urgent, anyway?”
“I need to go for a run in the forest and, obviously, you need to accompany me. I can’t run alone.”
Dixon looks aghast. “You scared me out of ten years of my life because you want some exercise?” Adaline and Dixon stare at each other, then me, and it’s just as I stared at my parents when I thought they’d gone mad.
“Let’s go for a run, and I can explain while we’re in the forest. I need to get away from everything for a while.” Standing, I lead the way out of the office, away from the packhouse and into the woods. Shifting, Titan takes over and we run. I relax back into my mind and let him run while I link with Adaline and Dixon to explain where my head is at. Giving them their due, neither interrupt and only when I’m done do they say anything.
Adaline is excited and her focus is on Taria and the relationship side of things, though she does make it clear that she is aware of the bigger picture of when I take over the pack.
Dixon, on the other hand, immediately goes into the logistics of the pack handover and what do I want to do as the new alpha. Traditionally, a new alpha will announce some form of change, if only to show the pack he is the new force to be reckoned with. I think my announcement of change will be the members of my inner council, so that the pack is aware of who else they can turn to for help if needed. I’m well aware that no matter how good an alpha you may be, there is always someone too shy or nervous to approach you directly.
Giving Titan free rein certainly helps me relax and get things squared away in my head. Perhaps it’s just the freedom of the forest, though.
Hey. Don’t try and steal away my contribution.
‘Ha. Snooping on my thoughts, eh? I wouldn’t dream of deflecting the credit that’s due to you. It was a great idea to get away for a while. And don’t think for one minute that I missed those rabbits that you chased down.’
That’s my reward. You can’t deny a wolf his rabbit once in a while.
‘I suppose that won’t suffice once Maya is here! You’ll want more than a rabbit then, you sly wolf.’
There may be talk of pups, yes.
‘Talk? You’ll do more than talk.’
Realizing we are approaching the edge of the woods where we started, we shift back and I return to the packhouse and the alpha’s office.
Alone again and clearer in my thoughts, I decide to call a meeting of my inner council. Time to get them introduced formally, and then let them know that their services may be called on sooner than originally planned. Mind linking with them all, I give them an hour to clear their schedules and be in my office.
I’m not surprised when the first to arrive is Eve, ten minutes early. She sits outside the office quietly, but the warrior at the door lets me know she is there.
Opening the door, I look at her, raise my eyebrows and tell her to come in. She is such a lovely, warm female and the way she manages with Coal, her pup, makes me wonder why she isn’t gray beyond her years. He runs her ragged. I never see her mate having any dealings with him, though. That might be something I’ll look into at a later date.
“Take a seat, Eve. How are you? And how’s that little terror of yours doing?” I see the defensive look flash in her eyes.
“I’m fine thank you, Alpha Heir Bronze. Coal is…well, Coal. A handful at times, but most of the time, at home anyway, he’s an adorable pup. He wouldn’t thank me for calling him that, though.”
“There was no harm done the other day, and it wasn’t as big a problem as it was made out to be. I’m sure other pups have done as much, if not worse.” I give her my warmest smile and I see her shoulders relax slightly. “I don’t recall seeing his father lately.” There. I’ve put my foot in it now, I think to myself.
“No, you’re not likely to, either. He stays at the border when he’s not on duty as a border warrior,” she spits it out and I see the regret as soon as she’s said it. “I’m sorry Alpha Heir. My issues with my mate are not your concern.”
“Eve, I think you’ll find that everyone’s issues are my concern. Especially my Inner Council members. If I expect the best from you, I need to know that you are at your best, mentally and physically.” Linking to the warrior outside, I inform him to hold the rest of the council until I’m ready. “Why would your mate stay at the border and not come home?”
“Honestly, it’s not a problem. I cope well enough on my own. Thank you for asking, though.” Eve is looking more than a little embarrassed, but I have a lot of respect for her and I’m not letting this drop.
“What’s going on, Eve. Tell me,” I throw a little of my alpha aura at her, and I see her begin to respond automatically.
“He never wanted pups.” It’s out before she can stop it. “He never wanted pups and never told me that fact until I was already in pup with Coal. His wolf, Lobo, let it slip one day, and when I confronted Miles, he told me it was true. When I told him I was in pup, instead of it being a happy day, it turned into the beginning of the end for us. We’re together in name only.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Eve, I truly am. No matter what his feelings are, though, he is a father and should live up to his responsibilities. He needs to be teaching his son how to be a good pack member, and father for the future of the pack and his family name. Abandoning his mate and son is not the way forward. I need to reflect on this and see if there are others in your position.” I will look into others, but first and foremost I will be looking into Eve’s situation.
“Please, Alpha Heir, I am coping very well without him. I don’t want him back in our lives.” She almost pleads with me and although I sympathize with her, I still don’t see that this is the best thing for her son.
“We’ll talk about this again, but for now, let's see about getting the council meeting underway.”
Once everyone is seated around the conference table, I apologize for keeping them waiting and begin with the introductions. I sense some surprise from Xander as I introduce Eve and Adaline as council members, and I hope I haven’t misjudged him. I see Ethan has noticed something there, too. Taria will be my final council member when she joins the pack.
Explaining to them all that their role as my inner council will be advisors, eyes and ears, ideas, and if and when necessary, to keep me grounded. Oh, and anything else that I may think of in the future, has them smiling.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm when I tell them I am going to speak to Taria about joining Eclipse sooner, rather than later. There are congratulations all round when I notice both Adaline and Dixon behaving as though this is the first time they’ve heard the news. Brownie points for those two, I think to myself.
The only thing left to do now is speak with Taria, probably the only one that doesn’t know yet, and see if she’s okay with all this, too.