Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

“Oh, she’s leaving, but maybe not as she wanted to leave.”

Caleb returns with Zoella in front of him, and she’s looking more than sheepish. Caleb steps into the office after her, and closes the door, folding his arms over his chest and looking furious. “Alpha Connell, you’ll be interested to know that Zoella has her rooms all packed into boxes and bags. She was all ready to leave before she came to speak to you.”

Snapping my eyes to Zoella, I can see the shame written all over her face. “Why would you do this? I have tried to be a good Alpha, changed how the pack is run, giving you all respect, from myself, and for yourselves. Why would you disrespect me and the pack this way? If you wanted to leave, you only had to speak to me, and it could have been done nicely, instead you have done this, and caused bitterness, and ill feeling.”

Zoella is stepping from one foot to the other, looking down at the ground, and her aura is throwing out shame. “I’m sorry Alpha, I just wanted to go live with my friend.”

Knight surges forward and my eyes flash a darker brown with flecks of silver, letting everyone in the office know that he is taking over. Pearl, what is going on here? Knight snarls at Zoella’s wolf.

Human is stupid. She thinks going to live with friend will be easy. She’s lazy and doesn’t want to work, or help. I’m trying to get the Goddess to hear me because I’m ready to leave my human. She brings shame to me.

Because we’d not kept this to an internal link, Caleb and Walim have heard Knight and Pearl speaking. Of course, Zoella now knows that her wolf has had enough of her too.

Taking back control, I speak, ‘Pearl, I’m so sorry I didn’t see what was happening. You should have spoken to Knight if not to me.’

I couldn’t Alpha Connell as she shut me down each time I tried.

‘What do you want me to do, Pearl?’ I want to give Pearl the opportunity to be heard, to know what she would like to happen.

Remove from the pack.

I stand from the chair and step around the desk, never taking my eyes from Zoella and Pearl, who is still in control at this point. I give Pearl a small nod and smile, showing how sorry I am before I speak. “I, Alpha Connell Torrance, reject Zoella Worth from the Blackshadow Pack. She is no longer a pack member, and at this point in time, a rogue.”

Zoella screams and we feel the bond break as she is removed from the pack. Holding her chest, shock flashes across her face, and tears stream down her cheeks, falling to her knees, she shouts, ‘Pearl!’ and that’s when we all see the glow of Pearl in her eyes and the way it fades until it’s gone.

Knight again surges forward, and I feel the hurt he is feeling. Pearl has gone to the Goddess; she was called home. You will suffer for the rest of your life without your wolf.

Now I’m in shock because when Pearl asked me to remove them from the pack, I didn’t know she would leave Zoella too. There is more going on here than just being lazy and wanting to go to her friend. Looking at Zoella who has struggled to her feet, I open my mouth to ask her, when she looks up with dead-eyes and speaks.

“I’ll be gone in an hour,” walking away with no other explanation.

Caleb is standing, looking as shocked as both Walim and I. “What has she been doing that her wolf would want to leave? It has to be more than she is telling you. I’m going to look deeply into what she’s been doing. Walim, starting this morning we’ll go through every inch of Zoella’s office but have someone stand in front of the office door right now so no-one can get in, and remove, or move anything.”

Walim gives Caleb a nod before rushing out of the office. “I agree. Something else has occurred for her wolf to leave her like that. To ask me to remove her from the pack, knowing she’d be called home to the Goddess, and leave the pack she loved.”

“I’ll find out. I have an itchy feeling, but I need to speak to Chaz.” Before I can even ask why, he’s gone. Shaking my head because this has turned into a shitshow, and one I never saw coming.

Walking over to the safe, I take out the journal, and write the next entry.

Alpha Connell Torrance.

Things at the Blackshadow Pack have been consistently changing since I took over as Alpha. The pack is showing more confidence, excitement, and pride, which I’ve never seen from them before.

I have taken new members into the pack from the Northern Parklands, and they were rogues, but shifters who have been wronged by their former packs, family or both.

So far, the pack has gained twenty-three new members from these rogues and they are fine members. From these members, we have a gardener, hunter/tracker, warriors, kitchen and household helpers and after a Beta Challenge, a second Beta in Walim Blackclaw.

Today I have removed Zoella Worth from the pack at her wolf Pearl’s request. Upon that removal, Pearl was taken home to the Goddess. We now must investigate why a wolf would ask to leave their person. It takes something horrid for a wolf to want to leave and return to the Goddess.

I feel elation for the pack’s progress, but regret for losing Zoella from the pack and Pearl to the Goddess Selene. But the Goddess knows what she’s doing and with that in my mind; I know she’ll find a better human for Pearl in the future.

Signed—Alpha Connell Torrance

‘The new members have arrived Alpha Connell.’ I hear Caleb’s mind link, and I quickly place the journal back into the safe and make my way to the front of the packhouse.

The minibus has people stepping out, and they look tired and ready for a good meal. Knight shoots to the front of my mind, nearly knocking me off my feet with the force of it. “MATE!” he screams and I push him back as he surges us both forward.

Taking a deep breath, I smell lavender, honey, and chamomile. It’s soothing but alluring. My eyes flick around the new people and I see a young woman, light brown hair tied in a bun at the nape of her neck, wisps which have escaped hanging around her face. She has brown eyes and a few freckles across her nose and cheeks.