Wolfsfoot (Kingdom of Wolves #1)

“Yeah, he made a run for it when he saw me running up tosave you.” Brod chuckles loudly, finding this highly amusing. “Tati, you wererunning for it and that darn bird was right behind you, ready to peck yourlegs. It was pretty funny.”

Maybe we need to eat that bird, then people won’t laughat us. Ebony’s voice pipes up in my mind.

“Your eyes just got a gold rim around them. Was Ebonytalking to you?”

Looking at Brod, I roll my eyes. “She was. She said I needto eat that rooster so nobody will laugh at us in the future.”

“You touch my rooster and you’ll be in trouble and so willEbony. Don’t care if you are Alpha. No one touches Ro without trouble comingback on them.” Turning fast when I hear Lykos, I can’t help looking guilty, asI have to admit I was thinking about it.

“What are you doing here, Brod?” Lykos asks.

“I came to visit Tati and Ebony. If you need help, I can dosomething while I’m here. I’m not scared of hard work.” Brod states, pushinghis chest out.

“Well, you can help Tati feed the pigs and goats. But if youdon’t do it right, you’ll be in trouble later.” Lykos lifts an eyebrow at me,with a hint of warning.

“I’ll make sure it’s done right, Mr. Lykos.” Brod takes holdof my hand and leads me towards the animal pens and I look over my shoulder atLykos, who has a damn large smile on his face.

Once we are at the pens, the pigs are rooting around and Ilook over the top of the fence, thinking I’m not sure I’m cut out to look afterany animals. When Brod chuckles before handing me a pitchfork and pushing thewheelbarrow to the gate, he grins. “Come on Tati, we got to muck out first.”

When I give him a disgusted look at the thought he laughs,“Let’s get it done or Mr. Lykos will not let me come again. We need to pick upall the sh…… poop, put some fresh straw down over on that side, and then fillthe trough.”

It takes around forty minutes to do both the pigs and goats,but with Brod giving me a running commentary of what to do and how to do it,plus telling me some of the gossip from town, it feels much less than that. He’scute, shame he’s not old enough to be a mate. I hear Ebony say, and I haveto agree because I think he’s going to be one heck of a good mate to someone.

Once done we pack away the wheelbarrow and pitchfork, andhead back to the farmhouse. Inside the kitchen, Akela hands us a tall glass ofsoda once we’ve washed up and sat at the table.

“Okay, Brod, tell me all the gossip you heard before youcame out here. Any idea who’s going to cause a problem for Tati?” Akela asksand leans against the sink, folding her arms under her bust.

Finishing his drink, Brod places his glass on the table andthen looks at Akela. “I heard Fragina isn’t happy that we now have a dominantfemale in town. She’s wanting to be the top bitch. I heard my momma say thatshe was going to watch her closely because she didn’t trust her. Momma is havingone of her afternoon tea parties, and you know that means they are going to begossiping about everyone. Maybe you could come for tea, Mrs. Akela, then youcan find out all the juicy gossip yourself.”

The look on Akela’s face when called out about being agossip, has me throwing my head back and laughing loudly, and can’t stop thetears from that laughter eventually running down my cheeks.

Akela has a flushed look on her face but I can see she’sfinding it amusing too, and when I look at Brod he’s grinning with one side ofhis mouth and it has him looking cute and cheeky.

“What’s happening in here?” Lykos asks as he enters thekitchen, kissing Akela on the forehead before washing up at the sink.

“Nothing,” Akela replies but gives Brod and me a stern look tonot say anything about her wanting to gossip.

The rest of the morning I work in the vegetable gardenalongside Brod and Akela, and we get it weeded, watered, and staked some tomatovines that were getting too heavy and needed the support.

Brod leaves after lunch and I sit on the garden benchenjoying the sun when Akela and Lykos come out and join me.

Tell them now about home. I hear Ebony say and Iagree now is an ideal time.

“When you told me you’d like to see me as a daughter, Irealized last night at the meeting that I was looking forward to coming home.Home, something I’ve not had since my parents died. That has me thinking thatif it’s okay with you, I’d like to call you Poppa Lykos and Momma Akela if thatwould be alright?”

Akela throws her arms around me and shrieks with delight.Followed by Lykos wrapping both of us in his arms and chuckling. “We’d lovethat Tati. We never had pups. We were not true mates, we were chosen mates, andit’s always hard for chosen mates to have pups, as you know. But if I’d knownthat not having a pup meant we’d get you as a daughter, I would have gladlywaited.” Lykos says as he leans his chin on the top of my head.

The rest of Sunday rushes past, but it’s not because we areoverly busy. We eat, rest, and talk about nothing important. Watch the sunsetbefore heading to bed. When I shout ‘Night Momma Akela, night Poppa Lykos.’ Ifeel for the first time in a long time that I belong.

Tuesday, and we are making our way into town for the councilmeeting. I’m a little nervous, but knowing that Mayor Thomas Stringbold will beat the meeting eases some of my worries as he was quick to show his support forme.

Akela takes my hand in hers, giving me an encouraging smile.“It’s nothing to worry about. We told you we’ll be with you every step of theway. We’ll help you become the Alpha you are both meant to be, and I’m sureothers in town will step up to help, too. You already have an admirer in Brodand you can bet he’ll not let anyone hurt you behind your back. He’s a realfirecracker, that one.”

Entering the Mayor’s house, we are led to his office, and Ilook at the two men and the woman I’d seen on stage at the town meeting.

“I was rather remiss at the town meeting Tati. Please let meintroduce my fellow town council members, Agnes Stonefold, Gregor Redmaine, andWallace Webber.”

The three give me a nod and smile, then take a seat on oneside of the table that I presume they hold meetings around. Akela takes a seat,then looks at me to sit next to her. Once I’ve sat Lykos sits on my other side,patting my knee once he’s settled in his seat.