Chapter 27
brONZE
The last few days, my new life as both Alpha and as a mate, has been quite a whirlwind. Even though my father had taken a step back before my official take over, I hadn’t understood how much he was still doing. The admin alone takes more time than I realized. He popped his head into the office earlier and just grinned when he saw how much paperwork I was trying to wade through. He never said anything, laughed, and left.
It's been quite a conscious effort not to rush my alpha duties, too, so I can spend more time with Taria. I think she understood that sooner than I did, as she has been coming to the office with mugs of coffee, from her new machine I don’t doubt, and just hanging out while I’ve been busy.
The Goddess has excelled with our fated mates. Maya has become the missing link from my existence that I never even knew was missing. I have always felt whole as a being, but I know now that I have only been waiting for Maya to arrive.
‘Wow. That is very deep coming from one who only measured life in time spent chasing rabbits.’
You may scoff, but I know that is also how you feel. You have been a different shifter since Taria arrived. You have also been very considerate of my and Maya’s needs. That in itself was a pleasant surprise.
‘Just a minute, there. I have never been inconsiderate to you. When have I not taken you into account? I even asked for your input for my inner council, did I not?’
I didn’t say you were ‘inconsiderate.’ I said you had been ‘very considerate.’ I was thanking you, in my own way.
‘Oh, okay. I took it you meant something completely different.’
Knocking on the door ends that conversation and I call for whoever it is to enter. Eve walks inside and I gesture for her to take a seat at the desk, giving her a smile. I’m confident I know what is coming and I’ve been preparing myself for it.
“Alpha Bronze, I have rejected Miles as my mate, as you ordered.”
That is not what I was expecting. I hadn’t felt the order completed and was expecting an argument over it. That was something I could not have tolerated or overlooked, not for Eve or anyone. An alpha order is nothing short of law and must be obeyed. Some can fight against it, but it is ultimately obeyed by the very essence of the shifter.
“I would think that would be something of a relief, considering he did nothing to help you or your son. Being tied to someone so useless, Eve, was not allowing you to be the shifter you could be. I know that you can be so much more than you have been seeing yourself.”
“Alpha Bronze, I was brought up in the belief that you mated for life, in good or bad. It is hard for me to see past that.” Eve looks like she is going to be in tears shortly.
“ In good or bad does not relate to the partner or relationship. It means fighting through good or bad times together. Miles chose to be a bad mate. It was a conscious decision by a male to ignore his responsibilities to his female and, even more importantly, to ignore a life he created, his son, Coal. Males and females have failed bonds. That’s an unfortunate part of life. Choosing to ignore his responsibilities as a parent is unforgiveable. You could have been utterly awful to Miles and I would still have insisted that he be the best parent he could be. You were a good mate to him. You have not been to the pack and asked for help with bringing up your pup. You have been the best mother any pup could ask for. If you weren’t, you would not sit as a member of my council. It is that strength of devotion and purpose that has put you there. I am not the only one to see it.”
Seeing the tears run down her cheeks, I mind link Xander to come at once to the alpha office. I know he is not on border patrol today, so hope he is somewhere near the packhouse. I also tell the warrior on guard to let him know that Eve is present and upset. I don’t want him arriving and having a confrontation with me because he thinks I’m the cause of her tears. If Taria and I are correct and he’s going to be Eve’s next mate, he will be protective of her.
It's only a couple of minutes when I hear a knock and this time the warrior opens the door to allow Xander to enter as he is expected. Xander's attention is completely focused on Eve as he walks directly to her and kneels by her side. Without a word, he takes her hands in his and looks into her eyes.
“What can I do to help?” He speaks so few words, and yet they speak volumes in their heartfelt tone. Eve stands and pulls Xander to his feet as she rises. Putting her arms around him she rests her head on his chest and sobs.
Walking quietly to the door, I stop and look back. Xander looks at me and gives a gentle tilt of his head. Leaving the office, I instruct the warrior on guard that no one enters until they have left.
Crossing the hall, I go to my Luna’s office and knock before entering. Seeing Taria look up from behind her desk, I grin and give a mock bow. “Our matchmaking skills have no bounds, my darling. I have just left the good maid Eve, in the strong and caring arms of Sir Knight Xander.”
“Oh, come hither, good sir, and spill thy beans promptly.” Jumping up, she bounds around the desk and launches herself into my arms. “How did that come about? And so quickly, too.”
Sitting in one of the chairs, with Taria comfortably ensconced in my lap, I give her the brief story and, surprisingly, get reprimanded because it is so brief.
Feigning my horror at being scolded, I point out to Taria, “I would have thought you’d be ecstatic that it happened so fast? I was half expecting a long, drawn out game of cat and mouse before they finally got together. They are both quite shy and reserved in normal day-to-day life, so this has been quite bold for them.”
“I am ecstatic,” she says unconvincingly, “but was hoping for something a bit more romantic and perhaps a bit more drama. Maybe Xander could have stormed to the Shifter Council warrior training school and made an example of Miles. That would have been both romantic and dramatic.”
Laughing at her idea, I reply, “And probably got himself into some serious trouble at the same time. Eve has gone through enough drama, don’t you think? An attentive and supportive approach from a male could go a long way to giving Eve and Coal better lives. It will be interesting to see how Coal develops with a male to guide him.”
“My romantic side can get carried away occasionally, can’t it?”
“Don’t ever try to suppress it. It’s a very endearing character, and it shows just how much you care about those around you.” Giving her a long, lingering kiss, I feel myself getting aroused and decide it’s time I went back to some of my official duties again.
“Before you dash off, Alpha Bronze. I have a surprise for you in the alpha suite. It can wait until later, but you can’t go there without me. I forbid it.” Seeing the laughter playing across her face, I have to smile.
“You forbid the Alpha to enter the alpha suite, is that what you’re saying, Luna?” I ask her.
“It does sound a bit pretentious when you say it that way, I suppose.” She says as scrunches her nose up and tips her head on one side. “Please don’t go to the alpha suite without me, oh most powerful leader and key holder of my locked heart. Is that better?”
“Much. I’ll wait for you to grace my presence when I retire to my suite.” Watching as she sticks her tongue out at me has me laughing as I leave her to resume my next task.
Seeing my warrior nod from across the hall, I know my office is empty, so I make my way back. I sincerely hope that Eve and Xander work out, as I think they would be good for each other.
Once I’m settled behind my desk again, I run through my mental to do list.
Take Maya hunting again should be priority number one.
‘You’ve been for runs and for hunts. You’ll get plenty of opportunity for more.’
We need more time together to mate. She wants pups but is not doing the things we need to do to have them.
‘Oh, please, that is so not true. You have mated as much with Maya as I have with Taria. Don’t be so greedy or she may decide that you are too demanding and cut off your wolfy desires altogether.’
Humph! Wolf needs are more frequent than human needs.
I can’t help but laugh as he throws himself down at the back of my mind in a tantrum of self-pity with his back to me, refusing to look through my eyes.
Taking my phone, I place a call to Alpha Lyle at the Spirit Walker Pack. We haven’t spoken in a few days and I need to see how things are over there.
“Hello, Alpha Bronze. I was only thinking of you and Luna Taria this morning. How’s mated life suiting you both?” Lyle sounds confident and full of life. I was half expecting a frazzled and frustrated Alpha.
“Everything is first class. We couldn’t be happier. You sound remarkably well. I was expecting you to be rushed off your feet.”
“It’s absolutely manic here, to be honest. The rogues seem to be testing the border somewhere different daily. I don’t know where he’s getting the bodies from. As fast as we kill them, he sends more. I think he has a secret cloning factory and is turning them out on some production line. Our losses are light you wouldn’t think we’re at war with anyone,” Alpha Lyle’s voice is almost joyful as he tells me this, and I have to agree when it comes to the question of where Arric is getting his forces from.
“Our warriors are trained far superior to anything he has, but even so, he can’t continue taking losses without there being an end to his army at some point. I don’t see what can be gained by throwing his forces at any border if he isn’t even weakening defenses.” I think Alpha Lyle has to be missing something within their tactics. Not just Alpha Lyle, but perhaps Alpha Gerry of the Blood Pearl pack is also missing a vital clue.
“If you have any spare warriors, I can always use a few more. I can step some of mine down from the patrol rota so they can get some extra rest.” Alpha Lyle sounds hopeful and I mention bringing Taria for a visit and maybe bringing some warriors with me. I could probably spare a dozen or so, maybe some of the females with their rucksacks and toys would like a change. I think they’d be up for the challenge.
“We could come over for a few days, and I could leave some warriors with you when we return. How does that sound? I’m sure Taria would be up for a visit, she was disappointed that she couldn’t make it before.” I know Taria would relish the chance to visit and meet Alpha Lyle. I’ll have to warn him about her matchmaking abilities, though. He is still single, after all.
“I’ll speak with Alpha Gabe and Luna Tati and we can stop over at the Wolfsfoot Pack to break up the journey each way. Look forward to seeing you soon, then.”
“They’ll both enjoy the company, I’m sure. I’ll see you soon then, Alpha Bronze.”
One task completed and another created. I’ll have to get Dixon and Adaline to sort me out some warriors to travel with, and some to leave there for a while. I’ll do that now while it’s fresh in my mind.
Leaving the office yet again, I almost crash into Dixon as he comes out of the dining hall.
“Sorry, Alpha Bronze, I was thinking instead of looking.” Dixon looks shocked that he almost walked into someone, let alone his Alpha.
“You saved me a hunt. I was just coming to find you and Adaline. Do you know where she is, by any chance?”
“You have to be joking, Alpha Bronze, right? Where has she been every hour for the last few days? Adaline, Ember and Luna Taria have had a monopoly on Drake since he arrived in the pack lands. No one can get within fifty feet of him without having to battle through them first. I swear by the time he leaves, those three will be Shadow Warrior qualified. I’m scared to death to do any more weapons training with Ember. Thank the Goddess that Luna Taria gave that task to Adaline as soon as she arrived. Have you watched Ember recently?”
“Well, let’s see what he’s got Ember and Adaline doing, shall we? Luna Taria was busy in her office a few minutes ago, so we only have to battle the two of them. As Alpha, I get to fight Adaline!”
“That is so not fair, especially as you're the one that created the whole bat monster in the first place. I said that on the day you turned up with it and she immediately went from shy mouse to raging dragon. Do you recall how she marched into the training ring and offered to take on all challengers?” Dixon shakes his head as he remembers the day.
“It’s because of that, I’m claiming my Alpha right NOT to fight Ember!” Laughing, we head for the training area and our fates. As we approach, we can hear wood on wood and it makes us both cringe. When we can see the training ring, we see Adaline and Ember battling it out, only this time, Adaline has a bat and Ember has a staff. Listening to the two weapons collide with such force has both Dixon and I wincing. If one of those blows lands, there will be at minimum some broken bones.
Drake appears by our side as if from thin air. “Neither one has landed a blow as yet, and it is not from holding back. They are both excellent with either weapon. I made the mistake of letting Ember get my guard down once, and I paid the price. Since then, I have not held back either and have only injured her twice in all our sparring. I hear, Alpha Bronze, that you are responsible for the bat?”
“You shouldn’t put too much faith in rumors, Drake. However, this time, the rumors are true. I thought having the bat would boost her confidence in training. She was always being beaten in her classes and even when the females that were training with her left her an opening, she didn’t see it. I gave her the bat and told her she should protect the pups if we were ever under attack. My attempt to boost her confidence took an unexpected turn and created the bat warrior you see today.” I look at the sparring and wince at the ferocity with which they are training. Once again, I dread to think how much damage any one of those blows could cause.
“Adaline! Ember! I call a truce. I need to speak to you.” I watch as they step back and give each other a bow, then walk towards me. As they walk, I can’t help but hear them arguing over who won that session. “Nobody won. I declare it a draw between two superb warriors. You should be proud of yourselves and thankful that one of you isn’t dead or fatally wounded. I think you need to reduce the amount of anger in your training.”
They look at each other in total confusion and they both speak at the same time. “That was just a fun session, Alpha Bronze.”
Adaline continues, “There was no anger, Alpha Bronze. Anger defeats the point of the training as it reduces focus and increases recklessness. I would stop any training session where a warrior tends towards anger, step in myself so I could make the point clearly and painfully.”
“And have you had to make your point at any time?” I ask, almost dreading the answer.
“I have indeed, Alpha Bronze. Three times to date. All male border warriors who didn’t believe that a female should be considered for the Chief Warrior position. I believe their opinion changed after they had spent time at the infirmary.”
I can’t help the laughter that bursts from me as I look at the innocent and almost angelic look on Adaline's face as she tells me this. Realizing that she is completely serious, I try to make it sound like a coughing fit rather than laughter. “Well, good for you, and should this continue, I will be more than happy to have words with the entire border force, if necessary.”
“I appreciate the offer, but that would only confirm their belief if I had to resort to asking the Alpha for help.”
“No, Adaline, you misunderstand my intention. If it were to continue, those warriors would not only be questioning their Alpha’s authority but also his judgement. I will not stand idly by while that happens. I would willingly meet them in the training ring myself and deem it as a challenge to my leadership of the pack. You carry on as you are as I have every faith in your ability as my Chief Warrior. Dixon, as of this moment, you’re fired. Report to me in future as Delta Dixon. That has a ring to it, don’t you think, Drake?”
“Indeed, it does. Delta Dixon. If he could sing, it could be a stage name for his next career.” Drake smiles at his humorous comment and the rest of us look at him as if he has grown two heads.
“Drake! You just cracked a joke. Do you need to sit down? Should we take you to the infirmary?” Dixon shows his mock concern and reaches an arm around Drake's shoulders as though to support him.
“No, but you might if you carry on. Adaline, may I be the first to congratulate you on usurping this male from his obviously inherited position of Chief Warrior. How he got there in the first place baffles me, but the pack will now flourish under your skillful and pleasant leadership.” Shrugging Dixon’s arm from around his shoulders, “Dixon, congratulations on being sacked and also in your appointment to Delta, chief of all that is paperwork. Rotas, personnel reports, investigations, statements, more reports…” Drake walks away, still muttering about different aspects of any paper task he can think of.
When he sees Luna Taria approaching, he bursts into song, surprising all of us with how good his voice is. She stops and stares as he gets closer, thoroughly confused by what is happening before her. Bowing outrageously to her, Drake announces in a voice loud enough that we can all clearly hear him, “Luna Taria. May I present myself to you as the wandering minstrel that shall be forever known as…DELTA DRAKE!!”
Dixon launches himself after Drake and Drake runs away, still singing loudly. We are all laughing hysterically as Taria reaches us and looks at us all as if we are mad.
“Come, my Luna. Take me to our suite and show me the surprise you have for me. Chief Warrior Adaline, congratulations on your recent appointment. I will look forward to the infirmary reports from this day forward. Ember, you are without doubt the most accomplished bat warrior the Eclipse pack has ever, or will ever have. Now, if you will excuse us, I have a surprise awaiting me.”
Leaving two females, mouths hanging open, I take Taria’s hand and we head off to the alpha suite. When we reach the doors to our suite, Taria is almost bouncing with excitement, making me wonder exactly what is waiting behind the door.
“I can’t wait to see your face when you see these,” Taria opens the door and I step in. Seeing absolutely nothing different or out of place, I’m not sure how I should react.
“You don’t like it! How can you not like it? Isn’t it just so awesome?”
“I’m sorry, my darling, but what am I missing?” I feel an idiot right now. She is so excited and I can’t see what it’s all about.
“The dining table. Isn’t it awesome? They have gone above and beyond.” Following her eyes, I finally see that the table is not our usual one.
“Oh my. That is beautiful.” The table is slightly lighter than the old one, but that is where the similarity ends. This one is larger and has an amazing amount of detail carved into it. There are now eight chairs and two captain chairs, all beautifully detailed as well. “I wasn’t expecting that. It’s beautiful. We’ll have to start taking meals here now. We can’t let it go to waste, can we?”
“There’s more. Come to the bedroom.” Taria’s enthusiasm is infectious and I almost drag her there.
An enormous four-poster bed now dominates the room and has drapes at each corner. At the foot of the bed, there is a trunk in matching wood and design. Two wardrobes and a chest of drawers all stand along a wall and complete the majestic effect of the room.
“My parents will be jealous when they see these. The room was pleasant before, but this is just out of this world. How did you get it all done so fast?”
“It’s amazing what dropping the Alpha’s name can accomplish. I think the promise of a fat bonus may have clinched it, though, if I’m honest.” Taria is positively glowing as she watches me appreciate the craftsmanship that has gone into the woodwork. “Oh, and our shop in Wolfsfoot town is now officially ‘cabinet makers to the Luna.’ What do you think of that?”
“Taria, I don’t know how you got all this done in such a short time. You amaze me.” I am truly amazed that she could get such intricate work done in so short a time.
“Ah, well, now there’s the thing. I had to charm a few people and even bully one of them, gentle bullying, of course. The bed was commissioned by a customer who was delighted to wait for another to be built when I told him he would know that his next Alpha was conceived in a bed he had originally commissioned. This he found so amusing that he gave us the bed as a wedding present. I just had Hannah work her magic on it. I took the liberty of showing the original buyer the finished bed and he has upgraded his original order to something similar. The wardrobes were built ready for sale but I had them altered to fit the bed design, and the drawers were commissioned by a miserable old witch that wasn’t going to part with them until I told her that unless she let me buy them off her, I would have her transferred to the packhouse to be my personal assistant to all things social. She couldn’t hand them over quick enough at the thought of having to attend crowded social events.”
“I wasn’t aware we attended any crowded social events, my darling.” I wonder what those are going to be?
“I know that. You know that. She doesn’t know that!”