Chapter 21
TARIA
Having spoken to Tati about my idea for Drake staying over at Eclipse to train and then assess Adaline, she agreed that it would make perfect sense. She confirmed that he was going to be part of my escort, so when she put it to Gabriel, he agreed immediately. The journey to Eclipse was thankfully uneventful and with no rogue interference this time, I am feeling even more justified in my taking out Savannah.
You need to stop going there. Your actions were above reproach. Let it lie now.
‘I can’t help it. I’ve never killed anyone before and it’s not like she was a rabbit for food!’
Eeww! I wouldn’t want her in my mouth. The thought alone makes me want to vomit. Seriously though, I’d be more concerned if you hadn’t had any doubts.
I frown as I respond, ‘I don’t see myself as a cold-blooded killer type, somehow.’
Neither do I, more of the smiling assassin type.
Maya thinks she’s a comedian. ‘OH! That’s so not true. An assassin, indeed.’
You were smiling right up to the point her vertebrae snapped. I am so proud of the way you did it, too. No messing around. No taking time to think of any consequences. She made a threat, and you countered with direct action. That was a future issue resolved right there.
‘If one person calls me the smiling assassin, I’ll know it came from you.’
Arriving at the Eclipse Pack border, I’m greeted with reverence and although that was to be expected, the number of smiles and head tilts makes me feel very welcome. Knowing that I won’t be able to meet with Bronze until tomorrow's ceremony, I’m escorted directly to Alpha Chet and Luna Sage at their private residence, away from the packhouse.
As we approach a beautiful cottage, I see a couple standing at the door, but more surprisingly, I see Wesley at the gate. I never noticed he was missing from my escort, so he must have gone ahead to announce my imminent arrival and also check security. I like that and make a mental note that he has taken on board everything we discussed.
Mate! Mate! I smell our mate! Maya is bouncing around like a puppy seeing his first rabbit.
‘Of course you can smell him. These are his parents. Calm down and behave in front of them.’
Before I reach the gate, Luna Sage can’t contain herself any longer and launches herself down the garden path and straight into my open arms. I see no other options, other than to defend myself, and fighting with the luna on her own doorstep would probably be considered the height of bad manners in any pack. As I doubt that she has any ill will towards me, I hug her back as she takes me in a surprisingly fierce grip.
“Oh, Taria. We are so pleased you’re finally here. Come inside and let’s get better acquainted. I always wanted a daughter. Not that I didn’t want Bronze, I love him to pieces, but another female in the household was always a dream of mine. I’ve got so much to share with you and so little time.”
“What do you mean, so little time? I’ve only just got here.” I’m totally confused by that.
“We’re due at the Shifter Council in just a few days and I want to be sure I’ve done all I can to get you settled in before then.”
Alpha Chet steps up and also gives me a hug. “Welcome Taria. Both to our home and to the Eclipse pack. Forgive my Luna. She has been looking forward to this day for a very long time.” He looks at her and I see the love in his eyes. I can only hope that Bronze will look at me the same way in years to come.
Speaking with Drake and the rest of the Wolfsfoot escort, I thank them for their protection and release them from any further commitment to me. Drake, of course, is staying to do the training and assessment of Adaline, and once the ceremony and bonding are completed tomorrow, I want to be part of that too.
Joining Alpha Chet and Luna Sage in their cottage, they show me my room and then we retire to the living room. Luna Sage is talking at one hundred miles an hour, and after only a minute or so, Alpha Chet steps over to her and gives her a gentle kiss on the lips. She looks at him adoringly and then speaks again. “I’m talking too fast, aren’t I?”
“Yes, my love. Poor Taria’s eyes are as wide as an owl’s and I’m sure she hasn’t been able to digest a third of what you’ve said so far. Take a breath and start again. I’m going to make us all a drink.” Giving her another kiss, he leaves her all starry-eyed and smiling as he leaves the room.
“He knows that kissing me always stops me in my tracks,” Luna Sage tells me. “I sometimes do it on purpose just for the hell of it. Now. I’ll start again, but if I’m talking too fast, just stop me. I do get over-excited sometimes.”
“I’ll just put my hand up, if that’s okay?” I say laughing and wonder if I could make the kiss thing work with Bronze?
We spend time talking about anything and everything. I am going to miss them both when they leave, as I feel a connection to them that is warm and comforting. I know things have to move forward, so accept that I will not have them here in the pack, but I will keep in touch with them on a weekly basis.
“I think that’s enough for now, don’t you?” Alpha Chet interrupts politely. “It’s been two hours and poor Taria must be on information overload by now. Let’s think about having our evening meal, shall we? I’ve had Ash prepare a cold buffet for us and the Luna’s protection detail. I made sure that the Wolfsfoot team had a good meal before they got ready to leave and had plenty to take with them. I spoke with Alpha Gabriel and they can take their time on the way back, so they’ll have enough for a decent meal in the forest later and a hearty breakfast tomorrow.”
Two hours? Where did that time go I think to myself? Following Alpha Chet through to the rear garden, I see tables laid out with a variety of foods. Various meat platters, salad bowls, breads, and fruit. It looks amazing.
“Your chef has done you proud, Alpha Chet. Everything looks wonderful.” I can’t wait to get a plate and taste it.
Almost as good as a freshly killed rabbit. Almost! I hear Maya mumble.
It doesn’t take long to demolish my first plate of food and go back for more. My second plate doesn’t have anything that I had eaten on my first, either. There is such a variety and I’m loving it.
Seeing Luna Sage watching me, I stop and look guilty. “I must appear very greedy, Luna Sage. I apologize. All the extra training and running around here and there has made my appetite into a monster. I eat more than I ever have, but haven’t gained an ounce in weight.” I watch sheepishly for her reaction.
“You go for it, Taria. I envy you your youthful metabolism. I can put weight on just by planting a lettuce seed, never mind eating anything. Between you and Bronze, I’m sure we’ll have some very healthy new generation pups.” Luna Sage gives me an outrageous wink and I blush furiously.
Seeing Wesley at the edge of the garden, I call him over with a gesture.
“Luna Taria. What can I do for you?” I know he is my Gamma, and it’s his job to protect me, but he always speaks in such a way that I feel he is so much more. It’s difficult to explain and especially as I have known him for so short a time. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was an unhealthy infatuation, but it’s not like that. It is the typical Luna and Gamma relationship. It’s just that as yet I’m not used to it.
“I want all of you to take turns at getting something to eat. You first, and don’t eat too fast, you have time. Enjoy a plate of this wonderful food while we’re in a safe environment. You are doing me proud. I want you to know that and that I appreciate it.”
“Thank you, Luna Taria. I will pass that on to the team.” His eyes glow as I see him mind link with the team. I will be able to do that tomorrow once I’m accepted into the pack.
Hearing Alpha Chet speak Drake's name, I look around and see him talking with Drake and a couple of pack members. Being nosey, I walk over and Alpha Chet introduces me to Dixon, the current Chief Warrior, and Adaline, who is to be assessed by Drake as Dixon's successor.
“I’m pleased to meet you both. I’ve been looking forward to having a conversation with each of you for some time. Dixon, we need to talk about my personal bodyguard as a matter of urgency. I can’t have someone on my team that isn’t classed as a warrior, so how do we get around that?” I tilt my head as I look at him and see some confusion. “I want Ember qualified as a warrior and if we have to create a new warrior class or ‘warrior bat test’, then so be it.”
“Ember is part of your personal guard?” Dixon exclaims. “When did that happen, and by whose authority?”
“While we were at the Wolfsfoot Pack, and by my authority. Why are you so surprised? Has she not demonstrated enough ability, courage and strength of character that you could believe she can hold that position?”
“She has become quite advanced with her bat, however, should she become disarmed, my concern is that she would be overpowered easily,” Dixon responds.
“Very well. So, what have you done to address your concern?” I look him in the eye and wait for his response. Seeing nothing forthcoming, I turn to Adaline. “Should you become Chief Warrior Dixon’s successor, what do you propose to implement to aid in Ember’s skills to protect me?”
“I would work with her wolf, River, to ensure that should she ever lose her bat in combat, she would be able to shift seamlessly and let her wolf takeover. I’m sure that her wolf has the same determination to succeed that Ember has shown since she came into possession of her bat. River would be my immediate focus. Secondary would be Ember’s combat skills without her bat. I’m sure Chief Warrior Dixon would have come up with a plan to aid Ember in defense of his Luna, had he not been so surprised by her sudden promotion to your personal guard.” Adaline looks toward Dixon, who is recovering from my unexpected enquiry.
“Luna Taria,” he mutters, “forgive my surprise, but what drove your decision to place your life in Ember’s hands? I agree that her abilities with her bat are exceptional, and I have been working with her personally to further her skills, but to put them into a real-life scenario could be risking your life to a stick in the hands of an angry female.” Sounding genuinely worried.
I shake my head at him. “Chief Warrior Dixon, you need have no worries on that score. That angry female and her stick defeated four Wolfsfoot Pack warriors soundly, and held off several more, while the rest of my protection detail were held captive. She was nothing short of hell on wheels when it came to the crunch, and you would have been proud to be her tutor had you seen her.” Once again gesturing for Wesley to join us, who I notice has waited to have his meal after the rest of his team has had theirs.
“Wesley, please take time out to give Dixon and Adaline here your opinion of the fight that took place in the Wolfsfoot Pack packhouse when you arrived as my escort. Leave nothing out and speak freely, especially on your thoughts as to Ember being on my personal protection detail.” I listen carefully as he describes how everything went belly up so quickly on their arrival, and the fact that they were refused outright to be able to communicate their arrival to me.
Watching Dixon’s reaction to Wesley’s narrative, I am reminded of Silas and his perception of Dahlia. I think he suffers from a similar case of seeing Ember as she was and not what she has become. Adaline, however, looks less surprised and more impressed.
“Adaline, would you take over the training of Ember and River, please?” Looking again to Dixon, I say, “This is no reflection on you. Chief Warrior, I think you have done a very thorough job, but as I have become Ember’s mentor and you are going to be changing roles in the near future, I’d like to have a sense of stability in her training.”
“Luna Taria, I am not certain to receive the promotion to Chief Warrior. I have a lot to do before Alpha Heir Bronze makes that decision.” Adaline looks at me nervously.
“I doubt very much that you want my first memories of you to be that you failed me,” I state.
“That would not be acceptable, Luna Taria. I would not want to disappoint you in the least.”
“I am sure that when we train with Drake, you will impress him greatly, and convince Alpha Heir Bronze that you are the only suitable candidate.” Smiling at her, I see her pride causing her to stand taller and straighter.
Grinning at her mischievously, then I ask, “And exactly how fast and how high can you climb a tree?”