Wolfsfoot (Kingdom of Wolves #1)

Shit, caught unaware, I’m behind from the start, but thatdoesn’t stop me from giving my best effort. Once I’m back down again I look atBrod who is grinning so broadly that he’s showing all his teeth.

“You cheated.” I puff, trying to get my breath back.

“Nah, you’ve got to be ready for anything at any time, Tati.It’s the only way we survive, especially as we are rogues.” I understand whathe’s saying, but looking at him I can’t help but feel sorry that his family isnot in a good pack where he would have grown up with lots of pups his age.“AGAIN!” Brod shouts and leaves me on the back foot again.

The morning flies past as we climb trees and find hidingplaces that are not obvious. Inside fallen and rotten tree trunks. Insideanimal dens, and even two caves, we found dug into a mound near the river.

“Let’s go eat, I’m starving.” Brod suddenly says and jogsback towards town. I follow along and we talk and laugh until we hit the mainstreet, where we walk calmly.

Passing the town council house where I’ve been working, weturn down the small street, passing three houses before we are stopped by Fraginaand two other females. I’ve not seen the other two before, so I don’t know ifthey are from town or not.

“What have we here?” Fragina snarls, curling her upper lip.

“I’m not sure, Brod what do you think we have here?’ I curlmy lip right back at her. Bitch is going to get hurt. I’m not taking thisshit from her, Tati.

“We have someone that wants to get put out of the territory,and you know what that means Fragina, don’t you? Being put into no-man’s-landis what you’ll get because being ejected from a rogue territory tells its ownstory.” Brod stands tall, and he shows no fear, although he’s only young.

I notice the two with Fragina didn’t like that statementfrom Brod and have taken a step away from her. I think they are wise to do sobecause unbeknownst to Fragina, Brod’s father is standing behind her and theother two females.

“I’m going to get rid of you, send you back where youbelong.” Fragina snaps.

“Are you now?” Brod’s father calmly states and when Fraginawhirls around and gives him a coy smile, fluttering her eyelashes, I can’t helpbut burst into laughter.

“You can cut out that crap. I’m not interested and neverwill be interested. You’re going to answer to the town council because I’m sickof all the shit you keep throwing around town.” Brod steps over to his fatherand gives him a high five, which he grins at, but returns.

“We did nothing.” One female says as she’s stepping back onestep at a time.

“No, you didn’t, so get home now before I speak to yourmomma and we both know you’ll not sit for a week if she hears about this.” Boththe females run and leave Fragina standing alone.

“I’ll speak to the council tomorrow, so expect to be calledfor a meeting, and Fragina, in your shoes, I’d start packing.” She growls butwalks away quickly, leaving Brod and his father grinning together.

It was a good lunch at Brod’s house. His father and motherare great people. They laugh easily and although they try to keep a tight holdon Brod, you can tell they do it for the right reasons. Brod, however, just amblesalong doing his own thing, not always realizing the chaos he leaves behind him.

Walking home, I enjoy the freedom and fresh air. I don’tthink I’ve been as happy as this since before my parents died. Getting out ofthe Blackshadow Pack was the best thing I ever did.

Yes, it was, but I don’t think you could have done ituntil I came to you. I’m not sure you’d have been confident enough on your own.

‘You are right, Ebony. I was too frightened, but when Iheard what they were intending to do to you it gave me the strength to do whatI needed.’

Do you want to be Alpha and create a pack from the town?

‘I’m not sure, Ebony, but I think we have to learn what wecan, to decide knowing all the facts.

Hearing a motorcycle, I smile when I see Flint ridingtowards me. Waving, he passes slowly, then pulls over, nodding to the seatbehind him. I grin, run up, and climb on, grasping hold of him tightly andlaughing when he hits the throttle and we leave a trail of dust behind.

Sitting in the farmhouse kitchen, I listen to all Flintinforms us of, and have to say my stomach rolls when he fills us in on whathappened with the mates.

“Where are the mates?” I ask because I can’t say I’ve seenthem, but then they’ve only been here for hours.

“You won’t have seen them because they’re in the old houseon the opposite side of town. The house is nice, just old, and I think they’llfit in here nicely.” Lykos replies, looking over at Flint.

“Good, good.” Flint rubs his hands together on the tabletop.“I’m going to send more to you in the future, more than likely, so if you haveany empty houses, make sure they’ll be ready for anyone moving into them.”Lykos nods, and Akela pats my hand when she sees I’m confused. “I’m going totrain Connell to take over the pack. I’ve got to go to the shifter council andspeak to some council members, get them on my side. We need to get rid of AlphaTorrance one way or another, and I know Connell doesn’t want to kill hisfather, but he may not get a choice.”

Akela responds. “The man isn’t right in the head. He’skilling people, and no one is stopping him. He would have beaten that man todeath, yet Torrance wasn’t abiding by shifter laws. How do we know how many hehasn’t done that to in the past?”

“I had to get Gabriel Goldman out of the pack, sent him tomy house where he’ll be put to use for council work. He wasn’t safe because hisfather is the Beta, and the Alpha had been keeping his eye on Gabriel. It didn’thelp that Gabriel was getting fiercer in his arguments about what washappening, and why everyone was allowing it. Gabriel’s father has kept him awayfrom the Alpha and in that way, he’s been lucky to stay away from any Alphacommands unless they were given to the whole pack.”

“Gabriel was the one who gave me the money to help me getaway, and he watched me leave, informing no one. I’ll always be grateful to himfor that.”