Blackshadow (Kingdom of Wolves #2)

Running free to the border, Knight stretches his legs and I can feel his enjoyment as it runs through our veins. Turning our head slightly, Caleb’s wolf Magnum, who is a good size brown wolf, with cream paws and tip on his tail, tucks in behind us and to one side.

Reaching the first patrol, Knight gives me control and I generate clothing as I make the change. “Anything to report?” I quickly ask as I reach Armon and Weldon.

“Nothing. Everything is quiet. We’ve covered our patrol and have stopped in different places each time. We saw a squirrel,” Armon grins.

“Come on, I’ll walk with you for a while.”

Weldon turns and walks toward the east border of the boundary, and I step in on the side of him. Listening and looking everywhere as we walk. The atmosphere is calm and all I’m hearing are birds and other animals scurrying around.

“I’m going to try out for the Beta position,” Armon says, gaining my attention.

“Well, if you do, remember, it’s not just about fighting. Once you have your name on the challenge sheet, you’ll be watched, even when you don’t realize, for how you act toward the pack, how you conduct yourself during any interactions or conflicts. A Beta needs to always be on his toes, making sure not only I as Alpha, but the pack on the whole is safe, and everyone’s needs are being met.”

Weldon adds to the conversation. “I want to say that removing that whipping post was a good thing, Alpha Connell. Many of us would have burned it to the ground but knew the last alpha would have killed us for doing it.

“I know he was your father, but he had turned evil and it was a good thing that he was removed. We have lost families and a lot of she-wolves to other packs and areas. Maybe when packs see how you are turning things around, some will come back.”

Recognizing the desire for the pack to flourish in his tone, I grip his shoulder and give it a slight squeeze. “I’m doing everything I can to turn the pack around. But if you think of something that could help, then don’t be fearful or reluctant to come forward and speak to me.”

Weldon nods, giving me a look of respect before continuing to walk the patrol line. It’s a long walk from one end of their patrol to the other and when we get more warriors, I’m going to decrease the area each patrol has to cover. There is no way they can stop intruders from crossing the border when they have such a huge stretch to watch over.

After visiting the other patrols, letting them see I’m not unapproachable, I turn to Caleb, who has been two steps behind me all the time. Not saying a single word for hours, yet being seen at my back.

“Caleb, did you think the border patrols are stretched to the limit?” I ask.

“Been like that a long time, Alpha. We lost a few warriors after they wouldn’t do what the last Alpha wanted and he murdered them. Others left the pack and took their family with them. Most had sisters or mothers they wanted to protect.”

“We were too young to stop him, Caleb, and we had a lot of growing up to do ourselves.”

“Yeah, and that bastard had us under alpha command too, so we had no choice but to do what he said. I hated him, Connell. He was an evil man, and he deserved to die a long time before he did.”

I don’t miss the slip of my title as he’s speaking, but he’s been a friend since we were pups, and I’m not going to reprimand him for that. In fact, I like it. “When we are alone, just call me Connell. We have been friends since we were pups. Let’s not change that, Caleb.”

Back in my office, I check paperwork and see the log cabin Merry had lived in was reported as needing repairs. I know I have to do something about this because although the cabin is owned by Merry, I don’t want a derelict building on the pack grounds.

Writing a letter, I give Merry the opportunity to sell the cabin to the pack or to come and have all the repairs done. Either way, I need to know and I want it done quickly. I’m sure she’s not going to like this letter, but she is settled with the shifter council now and has a beautiful home that I don’t think she’ll ever want to leave.

‘Zoella, come and get this letter sent out as urgent’ I mind link and place the letter in an envelope, seal it and write Merry’s name along with the address for the shifter council on the front.

Zoella rushes into the office, grabs the letter and rushes out again. Now, that was interesting I’m thinking, because she’s normally talking all the time, and nosey, but nothing, just grabbed the letter and went.

Hearing my name, I look up and see Brian and William in the doorway. “Come in, take a seat. You both look worn out.”

“We came back as soon as we had something to report,” Brian says as he takes a seat and runs the palm of his hand down his face. “The people we spoke to were interested in what we had to say, some of course, threw every negative question they could at us, and were not willing to listen to most of what we were trying to tell them. Hence, his face.”

Looking over at William, I see he has what would have been a nasty cut on his forehead. “What happened to you? When did that happen?” It had to be a nasty cut or his wolf’s healing would have had it dealt with by now.

“I had a run in with one of the assholes. He was determined to knock down everything we had to say. In the end, he accused us of wanting to steal she-wolves from them. I whirled around and told him what I thought of him and his dirty mind. One thing led to another, and I got this cut, but he got a broken nose, leg and three ribs.”

William is grinning like a fool, but I can’t say I blame him for his reaction as I’m sure I would have reacted, too. “You are a day early, so what do you have to report? Something good I hope,” rubbing the back of my neck where I can feel tension building.

Brian is grinning at William before he turns back to me and gets himself under control, which he loses as he busts out laughing. “Alpha Connell, you should have seen William. He launched himself at the asshole and got four punches in before he realized what hit him. He got all those injuries, and William got a cut on the forehead from the asshole picking up a rock and smacking him with it.”

It takes a few minutes, but they both calm down and get to business. William speaks first, “We gave them a choice of coming here and seeing for themselves what the pack is like, and what you as the Alpha offer, or they can stay as they are indefinitely as this is a one-time offer.”

“I gave them the outline of my being with them, coming here and settling in as a pack member. I told them what I’ve seen, how you all behave, what jobs could or would be offered. I even said they could build their own cabins or cottages once they were established, but they’d have to speak to you on all issues,” Brian says as he leans forward with a serious expression. “I think there were more than a few she-wolves interested in coming over to speak with you. They are sick of being scared all the time, and it’s not a pack they are living amongst, so their feeling of safety isn’t high. I honestly think if we as a pack can offer them places to live, to become warriors or anything else they would like to be as a contribution to the pack, then we’ll pull quite a few to us.”

“This is good to hear. So how did you leave it?” I ask.