Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

I quickly swear Gamzin into the Delta position, and I inwardly smile when his chest puffs out to its fullest and he receives slaps on the back from everyone in the office.

Once everyone has left the office, I pick up the phone and make the call to Flint. I know our shifter council is not the council that oversees the area that the Wolfsong Pack is a part of. But they are all shifter council members and I’m sure will come to some agreement as to what to do about Alpha Soren Wolfgang.

“Alpha Connell, what can I do for you?” Flint asks as he picks up my call.

“I have an issue that needs your urgent attention.”

“Tell me?” Flint stonily asks.

I fill him in on what has happened regarding Hope, her father, and the traitor Zoella. I also update him regarding the Beta, Gamma and Delta positions I’ve now filled and how well the new pack members are fitting in.

“I’ll speak to you later regarding Alpha Soren. Keep me informed if anything develops. Also, speak to Alpha Gabriel as he is between you and what could be an invasion force.

“We still have no answers as to what is happening with Alpha Aurora, but she has closed her borders and is not responding to our calls at this time. She has her mental block firmly in place. I do, however, think it is within her pack, and nothing that you or the other packs in our area need to worry about.”

“I will speak to Alpha Gabriel in a few moments. Hope is organizing the mating ball and I will have a date for you within the week. I just need to know how much time is required to get this all put into place, because this has to be a success or Hope won’t have the confidence to do anything in the future.”

“Is she settling in alright?” Flint asks, and I can hear a touch of concern in his tone.

“She is organizing herb and medicinal gardens, the mating ball, and looking into the Luna House with an eye to using it as a headquarters, or if it should pass on to a mated couple. All in all, Hope has jumped in with both feet and given me her trust. Nothing, and nobody will have me break that trust. We are fully mated, and I’ll make sure she is happy and protected or die trying.” The menace in the last part of my statement surprises even me, but it is the oath I give to myself and to Hope.

Chapter 22

HOPE

I’m fairly excited to see the Luna House, mainly because it was Connell’s mother’s. William and Noah are walking beside me and Swift, of course, has tagged along.

“Why are you not training with Chief Oscar today?” I ask Swift, giving her a frown, because she’s not done any training today that I know of.

“Later this afternoon, as Chief Oscar is busy. He told me, Swan and Iona, that he’d train with us later, but hey, you’ve got to come along too.” Swift laughs when she sees what must be shock on my face.

“I know I have to do it, but I’m not keen on fighting, as you well know. This threat from my father has made me itchy, and if I have to free myself from someone grabbing me, then I’ll do it.”

William and Noah look shocked. “What do you mean you have a threat from your father?” William asks.

I explain what is happening with my father, and about my history, my mother’s story and they both look fit to bust by the time I’m finished with the telling of it all.

“We will all be on alert, and I’m positive the patrol warriors will be put on high alert. If I know Alpha Connell at all, he’ll have the shifter council and other Alphas alerted to a threat.” Noah states with a face set like stone. It’s such a different look for him, as he’s usually light-hearted and full of fun. But here is the warrior that I know he is, even though Swift thinks he could fight better than he does at the moment.

“Noah and I have been training in the evening. I’m sharper than I was, and Noah has better techniques. We are going to make sure you are safe, Hope. Your asshole of a father won’t get you, and believe me, if he takes you, I’ll come for you no matter what I have to face. You are my sister in all ways but blood, and I’ll make sure you are safe.” Swift throws her arms around my waist and hugs me, and I can’t help but hug her back. Noah and William have soppy looks on their faces watching us, which brings me back to the job at hand.

“Come on, let’s look inside this Luna House. Make my mind up if I’m keeping it or letting a mated pair have it.”

We hardly spend any time in the Luna House. It’s small, musty smelling as though it’s not been used in a while, and it has an aura about it that I don’t like. Sadness is what it says to me, and after throwing open every window in the house, I step outside and look at Noah and William. “I don’t want it. I don’t like it. I’m happy for a mated pair to have it. I won’t ever come back here.”

Swift gives me a questioning look, and I shrug my shoulders. “The house is sad. You can feel it, and I don’t like it. It needs love, laughter and a pup to give it a lived-in feel, and something to give it warmth and character. It has two bedrooms, so is good for a newly mated pair or a pair with one pup, or two pups of the same sex. Mind you, I’m not sure there are many mated pairs in the pack. I’ll have to find out.”

“If you don’t like the aura of the place, you’ll never like it. It will be nice for a mated pair, though,” Swift replies. “The office next to Alpha Connell’s is a pleasant office, plenty of space and it’s near if you have to ask a question, or you just want to pop in, you know, to close the office door for a while.”

Noah and William chuckle, and I stare at Swift because I’m not sure what she’s talking about, but when it hits me I slap her arm and giggle. “You are naughty, ” I reply, and Noah waggles his eyebrows, which has Swift blushing.

Walking around to the garden, I wave at Silas and head to the potting shed. Thankfully, I’ve sent William, Noah and Swift off because I know they’d just trample all over the garden.

“Hello, Luna Hope. Are you having a good day?” Silas asks as he follows me into the potting shed.

“It could have been better, but it’s all going to be okay. Well, I hope so, but I came to check on how the seeds are doing. Do we have anything popping through yet?” I ignore the small frown he had when I started my reply, but he brightens quickly as he shows me the seedlings.

I spend an hour with Silas, planting seeds, repotting seedlings, and talking about the garden. It’s a very enjoyable hour and I’m always going to be happy coming here and speaking with Silas. He is knowledgeable and has the aura of a father figure, which I’ve never had, but welcome.