Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

“Yes, he did, and it’s arranged that tomorrow he and any others can try out as warriors on the training field. If they are good enough, they’ll be placed on the patrol rotation. But they will all be expected to learn how to fight and fight well. Any of the females can learn to fight too, if they want, that is. But I expect them to have basics to survive at least long enough for a warrior to get to them.” Connell stops in his tracks and we both watch a woman shouting in the face of none other than Suella.

“Oh, my. That’s Suella. She was where all the men went to get relief,” I tell Connell, but my cheeks are bright red. I think it’s my embarrassment that has him realize what I mean by relief.

“Right, well, that is Iona. She is one of my patrol warriors and she is mated to another patrol warrior, Hallec.” Pointing to a male who is doing his best to get the screaming woman away from Suella. “Come, let’s see if we can find out what’s going on and diffuse the situation.”

Walking over with Connell, I’m surprised when a small group has quickly surrounded the arguing women, and some look like they would enjoy these two having an all-out fight.

Baildon, Gamzin, Swift and Noah appear from the left of us and quickly wade into the argument.

“What’s going on?” Baildon asks.

“This piece of wolf shit tried to seduce my mate,” Iona snarls, and she’s ready to change and rip into Suella by the looks of it.

“I didn’t know he had a mate,” Suella whines, looking around and trying to get some sympathy.

“You are new here and if you want to be welcomed, you’ll keep away from the males, because you do not know who may be mated and who may not. But if I see you around my mate again, I’ll rip your heart out.” Iona is stepping closer and closer, and my mouth drops open when Hallec picks Iona up bridal style, gives Connell and me a chin lift and stomps away with his mate who is still throwing threats toward Suella.

“Baildon, Gamzin, Suella, in my office now,” Connell snaps, and walks away after giving me a kiss on the forehead, telling me to clean up, and that he’ll see me at the evening meal.

Swift, Noah and I watch the three of them walk over to the packhouse and disappear through the front door before we consider moving from where we’re standing.

“What the heck? Will that woman never be satisfied?” I ask, looking directly at Swift.

“If she comes near Noah I won’t warn her, I’ll just rearrange her face until it looks like her ass,” Swift snarls, and Noah chuckles, which he cuts short when he sees the serious glare Swift is giving him.

“Was she not mated to anyone?” Noah asks.

Gagging, Swift replies with such a look of disgust. “She has warmed the bed of every male in the Northern Parklands. Well, maybe not all, but all the ones in our vicinity. She did nothing to find food, clothing, water, or heat. All she did was lay on her back or knees. Makes me sick, and you better stay away from her, too,” glaring at Noah as though he’d done something wrong.

“Me? I’m not interested. I have the best mate I could wish for. You heard me, Swift, before I knew you were behind me. I told her to take a walk because I wasn’t interested and never would be.” Noah I notice rubs across his chest.

“Will Hallec and Iona be alright?” I can’t help but ask Noah.

“Yeah, they have been mated for a long time. He’ll calm her down and things will be good. Iona won’t forget, mind you. You can also guarantee Suella and her will never be friends.”

Remembering I have to get washed and changed, I say bye and rush into the packhouse as I want to be ready and downstairs when the evening meal begins.

Chapter 18

CONNELL

Striding into the office with Baildon, Gamzin and Suella behind me, I take a seat behind my desk. “Close the door Gamzin,” I state, and point at the seats for them to take one.

Baildon is watching me closely, Gamzin is calm knowing he’s done nothing to be in trouble for, and the idiot Suella is making eyes at me, totally ignoring the fact I have a mating bite on my neck.

“Let’s get down to business. Suella, what happened with Hallec? Don’t lie because he has been a close friend and one of my inner circle since we were pups,” glaring at her so she knows she’s in deep trouble.

“I’m new here, I don’t know who is mated and who isn’t. I was only talking to him and that woman came up screaming and shouting.”

“Iona is a pack patrol warrior. She is calm under pressure. Knows how to assess a situation, and has never in all the years I’ve known her, which is again, since we were pups, reacted irrationally. Now you need to tell me everything, and hold nothing back. I can just as easily banish you from the pack as I allowed you to join.”

Gamzin looks at Suella and gives her a look that most would shrivel at, but she is either senseless, or stupid, or both. “Did you mess with that male? I told you before we got here you had to respect the pack members and their bonds, or you best stay where you were. Now you’ve been here no time at all and caused trouble with a mated pair.”

I sit back in my seat and watch Gamzin rip Suella a new one. Baildon is watching with about the same amount of amusement as myself. I’m sure both these males have been with this female and, by the scent of other males coming from her, she has had sexual relations with more than these two.

When they have finished bickering I lean forward, placing my elbows on my desk. “Suella, this is your one and only chance. You stay away from mated pairs, you stop the flirting, and if you want to be the pack whore, then I’ll provide you with a cabin where you can stay. But, you will not be included in any pack activities, OR allowed anywhere in the packhouse, OR around any pups, and you will stay in your cabin when we have any guests, or dignitaries visiting.”

The shock on the she-wolf’s face would be comical, if this wasn’t serious, but I’m not going to back down. This is, I hope, the wake-up call this female needs.