Wolfsfoot (Kingdom of Wolves #1)

‘I see Ebony. But watch where you’re going as you nearly hitthat tree.’ Laughing when I feel her enjoyment of it all.

Hearing a deep, growly voice, I’m a little taken bysurprise. Ebony, slow down now. We are nearly at the border. Let Tati takecontrol.

I immediately recognize that Polaris is speaking, and it’sthe first time I’ve heard his voice. It’s deep and flows over you, leaving youfeeling like you’ve been given a gift.

Ebony slides back into my mind and allows me to comeforward, but I hear her sigh.

That was good, Tati. Polaris is a good wolf. He playedwell. It was good of him to allow you to hear his voice.

‘Yes, it was’. I agree and slow to a trot beside Polarisuntil we near the border.

When Drake shifts, I follow his example and stand besidehim, looking around at an open strip of land, I see no one but I can feel eyeson me.

My eyes roam the forest tree line opposite where we arestanding, but see no one. Then this feeling of annoyance runs over me. I squintmy eyes and use my wolf ability to see further into the trees. That’s when Inotice three female shifters walking towards us.

“Stay calm,” Drake states, and I can feel he’s relaxedbeside me.

“Well, if it isn’t Drake Redwood.” The woman is tall, around5’ 10” I would guess. Dark hair and eyes and is obviously fit. She has an aurathat says she’ll not suffer fools.

“Hello, Aurora. You knew I was coming to meet you, so cutout the bullshit.” I side-eye Drake at his comment, because, shit, does he wantto cause a war!

Aurora throws back her head and laughs. “You brought yourcandidate to meet me. I can feel her power. She’s an Alpha, I’m sure. But itall depends on what sort of Alpha you’ll make as to any assistance I may give.”

“Not sure I want your assistance.” I can’t help but say,giving her a blank look.

We do not bow down to this woman. Stand tall and strong,Tati. We do not bend to a woman who is not as strong as us. Yes, she is Alpha,but not our Alpha. She is Alpha by conquest, not by blood.

‘I’ll not bend Ebony’. I respond, letting her know I agree.

Drake sucks air through his teeth and gives me a firm look,but I shrug my shoulders. I’ve had enough of being told what to do when to doit, what to wear, what not to wear, how to speak, don’t look up, and do nothingunless told. If the town wants me to be their Alpha, then I’ll be their Alpha,not a minion.

Cackling has me looking up and Aurora is finding this highlyamusing. “In a female wolf shifter life, we are taught to bow down to the malesin all things. Baby-making machines a lot of the time. Here in my pack, we havefound our own way. The council doesn’t like it much, but they don’t have achoice because if they push too far they’ll lose all access to many females.

“We have male shifters in the pack. They are not beneath orabove the females, we are pack, and we do for each other. We all traintogether, work together, live, and thrive together. Some have found mates;others don’t want to find theirs. But above all, we live free.

“I’ll need to know what you want from your pack if youcreate a pack, what you want your pack to be. That’s before I’ll give you mysupport. But you’re too young and don’t have enough knowledge yet to make thosedecisions.

“What I can do is allow you to stay with my pack for amonth, so you can see, speak to and observe how the pack works. My pack, notother packs. We all run our packs differently. Let me know Alpha female, whenyou make your mind up, that is.”

Before I can even respond to her, she nods at Drake, turns,and runs back to the forest behind her. Watching her disappear into the trees,I know we are still being watched, but I’m not concerned because if she’d meantharm, she would have done it and not invited me to her pack.

“Come, Tati, let’s get back. It’s going to be late by thetime we return. If we shift and run straight with no playing, we’ll make itback before Lykos and Akela turn in for the night.”

Shifting into Ebony, I move to the back of my mind and allowher to take over. Running back to the farm with Polaris at her side. Theexcursion is going to leave me tired tomorrow; I think because the ten hoursround trip without stopping for food to refuel will take a toll on my body.

I’m thinking over all Aurora said to me, and I wouldn’t givemy support to anyone without knowing what sort of person they are, so thatdoesn’t upset me at all.

The idea of staying at her pack for a month appeals as theBlackshadow Pack is not an example of a pack for anyone, and it certainly isnot the way I will run my pack if that happens.

Seeing the farmhouse come into view has me feeling relief.It’s not taken long to love being here and having Poppa Lykos and Momma Akelain my life.

The next day, Lykos informs me that the town council ishaving a meeting on Friday regarding Fragina’s behavior, and I will have to beat the meeting, along with Brod and his father.

The week begins with training, working at the counciloffice, and helping harvest the corn with Poppa Lykos. Old man Sterling isaround and rubbing his hands when he sees how well the corn did this season.

Friday morning and I dress in black pants, and a whitet-shirt, with a pair of ballet flats. I don’t want to go to this meetinglooking over-dressed, but not overly casual. I don’t know why I’m worryingabout what I look like and decide that clean and neat is enough.

Walking into town, Lykos and Akela are fairly quiet, but Ismile when they are holding hands and give each other little smiles as theywalk. I want that one day with my mate, and I’d give up any Alpha position orpack to have it.