Around the Pack #2
Would he be? We are allies, and I guess we are becoming fast friends due to bonding over our trauma, but I can’t help noticing that Forest is a genuinely kind man.
He has many exceptional qualities. If he had been my mate instead of Jordan, my life would have been so much better.
Forest would have never abused me; he would have never locked me in or shunned me. It’s just not the man he is.
I sigh inwardly. What good are these thoughts doing me? I promised Forest to help him get revenge and to help him take over his pack, and he promised he would get back at Jordan for me. We have a deal. I had better not get used to the situation.
“Hey, guys!” Griffin yells the moment Martin announces the break. “We have a guest.” He grins. “And it’s not me.”
Martin’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Luna!”
“I am sorry for interrupting,” I smile. “Griffin was so kind as to show me around some important places.”
“I wasn’t being kind,” Griffin grins. “The alpha was just too worried about having his luna stroll around by herself.”
I look at him, amused. “That too,” I say.
“Did you watch our training?” Martin asks.
“I did.”
“And what’s your verdict?”
“Forest told me his warriors are good, and he is right. There is a lot of potential,” I answer honestly. “I think with your new training, you will really hone their strengths.”
“Did you hear that?” Griffin yells towards the group, grinning brightly when the warriors pretend like they didn’t just listen in. “Of course you did!”
“I was actually hoping I could talk to all of you, for a moment,” I say.
“Go ahead,” Martin says.
“You and Griffin are included,” I say.
When Martin looks at Griffin, the latter just grins. “Just you wait.”
Martin grabs his towel and leads me to the benches and tables where the warriors are resting, inviting me to sit down with them.
I take out my notebook and pen. “After talking with Forest, we thought it would be best to ask all of you directly. You know best,” I say, making sure to emphasize I am here because I need them, because there is something they know better than any other.
“The luna’s strong point is organization and strategy,” Martin says, obviously wanting to back me up and explain why I am here.
“I’d call it strategic warfare,” Griffin teases. “It’s actually scary. Just one afternoon, and she already reorganized our finances to something more beneficial for the pack.”
“In my previous pack, I had the chance to learn a lot about security measures,” I explain. “And I want to know from you where our weaknesses are and what you think we’d benefit from.”
I can see the surprise in the warriors’ faces. Finally, one of them finds his voice. “Why us, Luna?”
I scan his face, roaming my mind for his name.
I studied the list of advanced warriors last night.
“Because you are part of the security, Lukas,” I say.
“You are actually the main protectors of the pack. You are on schedule, you guard and go on patrols. You know the pack’s weak points like no other. ”
What I said obviously strokes their egos, but I also meant it. It’s not a lie. They do know the pack’s security problems. “Is it really okay if we speak?” Lukas asks.
“It is,” Griffin says. “I can go first: We don’t have any cameras.”
“Yeah, that’s a problem,” Martin agrees, with the other men nodding.
“Nowhere?” I ask. “Not even at the open spots to the North? There is no pack in that direction; it’s vulnerable for potential attacks.
“That and the hiking trail that comes from the human town and passes close by. I know it leads to a mountain, but I guess sometimes hikers must get lost and accidentally stumble onto pack grounds.”
“Both of them are true,” Martin says. “And both of them are a problem.”
One of the men raises his hand, and I nod at him. “Please, go ahead.”
“Some of us think it would be good to learn first-aid,” he says, his voice careful as if he is scared of my reaction.
I make another note in my book. “I heard that one already when I talked to the pack doctor. We definitely need to arrange something there.”
Martin turns to Griffin. “You were at the infirmary?”
“You have no idea of the shenanigans the luna was up to.”
I look at him, amused. “I am not sure I would call it that.” I turn back to the warriors. “What else?”
Another man raises his hand. “We don’t have any sentinels,” he says. “We all learn the basics of everything, but we don’t have anyone specialized in certain tasks.”
I frown. “You don’t?”
He shrugs. “It’s always been like that, but we all know that becoming a sentinel is a little more than being a warrior.”
“It definitely is,” I agree. “It’s important we can have warriors and specialized warriors.
I will talk to Forest about it. He is thinking about putting together a few groups and having them learn a certain trait.
” That’s a lie. I haven’t talked to Forest about it yet, but I am sure he will be on board.
However, I need the warriors to think that it’s his idea, not mine.
They need to see him as a reliable leader, not so much me.
“I have a meeting with Alpha Forest later,” Martin says. “I could ask around the warriors to see who wants to join a potential sentinel training or first-aid training.”
“Add strategy training and potential spy training to it, too,” I say before turning towards Griffin. “Maybe you have warriors you can recommend for the job.”
“Got you, Luna.”
I spend some more time with the group, listening to their suggestions and problems, and making sure to write all of them down.
I have an overall image of the pack now, of its structures and its weak points.
From here on, it will be on Forest to build up his warriors and bond with them.
My task here is done. I just wanted to make sure he had a good head start and to get the opportunity to build up some trust as well.
Besides, I wasn’t lying; I know a few things about safety measures.
When Martin calls everyone back to training again, Griffin and I make sure to return to the pack house. I am not going to Forest’s suite directly. Unlike yesterday, we decided to meet at breakfast directly. I am with Griffin after all, and the pack already knows me a little by now.
Griffin and I have barely made it into the pack house and the dining hall when Forest’s father comes stomping towards me. “What were you doing with the warriors?” Harry snarls.
I raise my brows at his accusatory tone. “Excuse me?”
He glares at Griffin. “That man is no good.”
“He is not?”
“I saw you sneaking around. I won’t allow the future luna to act promiscuously and betray my son!”