Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

Silas stands from where he’s been digging a vegetable plot and gives me a nod. “I placed the list on your desk, Alpha Connell.”

“Oh, that’s good. I’ll look in a while. Now, what are we up to at this point?” I ask and have a sneaky look at Bladrick and Noah, who are working further to the top of the garden.

“We are digging the plot, ready for planting. I have some plants at the cottage as I have a small garden myself. I always have something growing, so I’ll check what seedlings I have that are strong enough to plant here,” Silas states, and he looks more than a little excited about it all.

“You need a new greenhouse, potting shed and equipment shed by the look of it, Silas. All three of these looks like they need demolishing. If we are going to revive the garden, then let’s do it right. Let’s do it the best way that we can.” I look around at the garden and see where the plots are marked with posts and twine. Making my way to the shed, I take out a spade and pick a plot, then start to dig.

Three hours later, I have dug three plots ready for planting. Noah, Bladrick and Silas have the others dug over and ready. The next job is taking down the old greenhouse, but looking at the time, we’ve all missed lunch and I need to get back inside to cover other things.

Giving the spade to Silas, I leave Noah and Bladrick working and head to my room, where I shower and change into clean clothes. Meeting Caleb as I enter my office, he gives me a grin before taking a seat in front of my desk. “Alpha, I’ve spoken to most of the pack. Not the warriors on patrol, but the pack working around the house. All would be happy to have new members, but are worried that they are rogues and if they would settle and fit in.”

Nodding as he speaks, because I understand where the pack is coming from. It is a worry at the back of my mind, but if we don’t take the chance, we’ll never know.

“All we can do is try. We’ll have to watch them carefully to start with. But they will have to join the pack, then I’ll be linked to them. As you know being linked, I’ll feel if they have evil intent and if they do, I’ll end them myself,” I growl as Knight surfaces at the thought anyone would threaten the pack.

“I agree. We can have them working alongside pack members. If they have warrior potential, then we can place them as we did Brian. Kitchen help can work with Dahlia and the others. One way or another, we can keep our eye on them.” Caleb leans forward in his seat as he speaks and I can see he’s given it some thought.

“Let’s see what Brian and William report when they get back, and I have to have the meeting with Flint on Wednesday. Now, come with me. We are going to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” I walk out of the office and directly to the garden shed, where I find a pick and spade. Throwing the pick to Caleb, I grin as he follows me, without asking what’s going on, to the whipping post.

Pointing at the post, I smirk. “Let’s get this gone. I never want to see anything like this on the pack’s property ever again.”

Working together, we give bows and grins to the pack members who congregate to watch what we are doing. Cheers, applause and tears of joy are thrown out as the post is dragged out of the ground, leaving both myself and Caleb sweaty and dirty once more.

Turning to the pack, I shout, “NEVER AGAIN WILL WE HAVE SUCH A THING. KNOW THAT THIS ALPHA ABHORS THIS TYPE OF THING AND I WILL NEVER ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.”

Cheers ring out and I walk inside, leaving Caleb, and anyone willing to help, to fill in the hole that removing the post has made. The laughter I’m leaving behind tells me what I’ve done is the right thing, even if I didn’t know it already.

Another wash up and I’m back at my desk, stomach growling as I’ve still not eaten today. I look at the list Silas left, and I add the greenhouse, potting shed and shed to it before mind linking Zoella to come to the office.

“What can I do, Alpha Connell?” Zoella asks as she rushes into the office.

“This list needs ordering. Everything on the list. Make sure of the sizes from Silas, but don’t let him scrimp on things. This is important, as it’s going to be the food we will provide the pack in the future.”

“Okay, Alpha.” Zoella takes the list, flicks over it quickly and gives me a smile. “Yes, I’ll make sure all this is ordered.”

“Oh, give it here a minute.” Holding out my hand to take it, before adding fruit bushes to the bottom. Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and more. I grin because I can nearly taste the fruit pies that will be made.

Leaning back in my chair when Zoella has left the office, I smile inwardly, thinking of the headway we have made in just the last few days.

‘We are going to have a good pack, Knight. I just don’t know how we are going to create more income to keep everything flowing.’

It will happen. Have faith in the pack and the shifter council. Flint will give direction.

‘I will Knight, and there is money going into the pack account each month. I’m not sure what that is, so I’ll ask Flint about that too.’

Hearing a knock on the door, I look up when Zoella enters. “Sorry to disturb you, Alpha, but I have placed the order for everything on the list. I wanted to remind you, we have the orchard that is overrun with weeds and rubbish which has been dumped over the last few years.”

“Good grief, I’d forgotten about the orchard. Good thinking Zoella.” I’m out of my chair and the room before she says more, and I dash out through the kitchen and to the garden.

Through the large gate on the west side of the garden, and into the orchard, which is thigh high in grass and weeds. There is rubbish dumped on one side, showing that some pack members have been using this place for anything but a food source.

Caleb stands beside me, not sure where he came from, but he chuckles. “Noah and Bladrick are going to be very unhappy when they see this place, because I’m sure you’re going to have them working in here next.”

Laughing as he is perfectly correct, I’ll be having them clear this orchard and prune the fruit trees. But boy, this is great and I reckon with the amount of fruit the pack will be able to harvest, we could have a shop in Wolfsfoot. Looking at Caleb from the side of my eye, I see his mind is racing, too. “Do you think we’d have enough fruit to sell some in Wolfsfoot? That would bring in a little income and give a job to one of the pack members.”

“That’s a good idea, and Silas is going to need helpers. He can’t maintain all of this and the garden by himself.”

Rubbing my hands together, then wincing when I burst a blister on the palm of one, I can’t hold back the chuckle. “Yeah, we gotta get more pack members so we can get all this in motion. For now, I’ve had enough. Let’s go get a drink and wait for Dahlia to serve up the meal. My stomach thinks my throat’s been cut.”