Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

Silas and Chester, I notice, are joined at the hip and always rushing about doing something for the garden. I also saw one of the women named Antica being involved with the garden too, but it seems Dahlia isn’t happy another woman is helping them.

Bladrick and Caleb are holding training sessions to check who needs the most training, and who, if any, can be placed on the patrol roster quickly.

Standing watching the training, I notice Baildon and Drew are excellent fighters, followed fairly closely by Chaz. The others are decent, but rough, showing their rogue status by not having the flow and ease in their fighting. They have a more, ‘blast into the enemy, and if you get hurt, then you do’ attitude.

Patrol warriors need to be aware of each other, protect the backs of their pack members as well as holding their own against an opponent. We don’t fight with the other packs in our area. We’ve had peace between us for a long time and I hope it intends to stay that way. One of the reasons I’ll run to help if we are called to assist in the defense of another pack.

Spirit Walker Pack are the ones that suffer the most direct impact from the rogues in no-man’s-land, and I hope, if we can build the pack, to send some warriors to assist. Maybe a system where they go for a month, then come back, and are replaced by others. If we were the ones being attacked, I would hope some of the packs would come to our aid.

Stopping to watch the training, I grin as I see Noah being thrown over Baildon’s head, landing on his back and the wind being forced out of his body with the impact. Baildon laughs, then holds his hand out to help Noah stand. I can see the bonds growing while I watch, and I can’t help but think this has been a good idea and will result in great pack members once they settle with us.

Caleb steps up to my side and watches the training for a few minutes before speaking. “I think we’ve some excellent fighters in the future with these, and pack members. They’ve only been here two days and look at them. They’ve fit in with ease.”

“Yes, I was thinking the same thing. The two she-wolves haven’t reappeared as yet. Baildon asked if he can go find them if they don’t arrive this week.”

Caleb looks at me before nodding. “I think that would be a good idea. He said he saw her as a sister, and she’s a healer. But, even without that, I’d not be feeling good about leaving two she-wolves to fend for themselves.”

A chuckle bursts from me when I see William chasing Walim around the training grounds, threatening he’s going to beat him when he catches him. But it has Walim laughing harder and putting on an extra burst of speed.

Stephen sticks his foot out and trips Walim, giving William the chance to catch him, take him down, and they wrestle, laughing all the while.

“Come on, Caleb. Let’s go to the office and check on the map of the territory. I want to put it forward that we build more cabins. We don’t want to build extra levels onto the packhouse. Mated pairs will be happier in their own homes, with the privacy that they can enjoy.”

“That’s a great idea, Alpha Connell.” Caleb walks beside me as we enter the main door of the packhouse, and I take in the smell of something that has my mouth watering.

Diverting from the path to my office, I make my way, with Caleb keeping pace behind me, to the kitchen. Opening the door, I see Nessie directing two new women on how to make bread.

“What’s that delightful smell?” I ask as my eyes scan the room.

“Oh, good morning, Alpha Connell, Beta Caleb. I think you can smell the cinnamon rolls.” Pointing at a tray filled with the most amazing looking rolls. I look at Nessie and she grins while handing me a plate to get as many as I want. Grinning, I place two on the plate, and after thanking her, I walk out of the kitchen, holding my plate as though I just won a major prize.

“That was a good move. These are darn good.” Turning, I see Caleb has a plate with a roll and a half on it. The other half is in his mouth already, and he’s chewing for all he’s worth.

“After the evening meal, I want you to arrange Bladrick, Noah, William, and yourself to be here for a meeting about building the cabins.” I stand and point out where I’m thinking of building, and he nods his head in thought, agreeing with me on the proximity to the packhouse, in case of anything happening where everyone needs to get to a safe place.

The packhouse is going to be the safest place and my idea of making the pack safer includes building a safe room for the pups, and non-fighting she-wolves. There will be less worry for us in defending them.

Flint walks into the office and takes a seat, acting like he lives here, and has a right to just wander in. I’m not going to argue with him because he’ll always deserve my respect for the help and guidance he has given. His support has been the thread that’s kept me sane after the way my father behaved, and the horrors he brought to the pack.

I lift an eyebrow questioningly at Flint, who gives me a deadpan look, but I notice the tiniest of twitches of his lip as he’s holding in his smirk.

“Can I help at all? I’ve nothing better to do at the moment. I’ve spoken with all the new people. They are all happy to be here and are more than eager to join the pack. Why don’t we get that done today?” Flint asks, and I’m sure he’s right, the sooner the better.

“Okay, we’ll do it when everyone comes for the evening meal. We can welcome them and then eat together. It’ll give that feeling of being included and accepted.” Taking my seat behind the desk, I speak once more. “I’m going to suggest that we build cabins around the packhouse. Near enough for everyone to get here in an emergency, but far enough, they’ll have privacy. What are your thoughts on that?”

Flint leans forward in his seat and beams. “That’s a great idea. I’ve spoken of this to other packs, but it seems most prefer a mansion of a packhouse where everyone lives in it. Trouble with that is it can cause drama among the she-wolves when jealousy rears its head, or fights among the males over anything and nothing.”

“I also want to build a safe room for the pups and nursing mothers, even she-wolves that are not fighters. That way, even if we are overrun, the next generation of the pack is safe, at least until allies arrive.”

“That is good too, Alpha Connell. You have great thoughts for your pack, and it will come back to you with bonuses in the future. The Goddess Selene sees all, and you are becoming a male and Alpha I’m sure she’s proud of.”

I rub my chest hearing that because it brings a pang to my heart, even thinking that I am mending what I had become in the past, because of my father, and how he had me treat people.

Later in the day, before the evening meal, I have a shower, change, and quickly make my way downstairs once more. Hearing my name, I turn to see Flint walking toward me.

“Alpha Connell, I just wanted to inform you that the Shifter Council meeting is to be held at the Wolfsfoot Pack. Spirit Walker Pack are having so much trouble with the rogues that we felt it unwise to ask Alpha Lyle to leave his pack for too long and Wolfsfoot is pretty central for all the Alphas. We have been able to supply four warriors from each of the other packs after Roman Walker visited and explained the issues that the Spirit Walker Pack is facing.”

“I agree. He’s not going to want to leave his pack land, not when it’s under threat. I wouldn’t want to leave my pack if we were having the issues he is. I’m hoping to send him extra warriors on a rotation to help him, because his warriors must need a rest from patrols. They are working on the border in fours at this time. That’s taking most of his warriors from the pack and from resting enough, as they are not having the time out to recuperate.