Page 3 of Blood Pearl

“Beta Raina, please get Councilman Flint a drink of cold water.” I have bottled water in my office fridge and know Raina will take one of those and pour it into a glass. All done, without leaving the office and myself vulnerable. That’s exactly how Raina will see it, and what makes her a good Beta.

I wait quietly for Raina to get the drink and place it in front of Councilman Flint. He is watching me closely, and I can feel his wolf near the front.

Aztec links and informs me of what she is hearing. Bruno, Flint’s wolf, is asking me what’s going on. I did not reply, and I’ll block him if he continues.

I give nothing away, and although he will know my wolf has spoken to me, he won’t know what has been said. Tapping my pen on the desk, I give Raina a smile as she places the water in front of the councilman.

“I’ve had someone contact me, giving me interesting information about pack members missing from your pack. Now it seems they are being held against their will. What do you know about it, Alpha Aurora?”

“Well, Councilman Flint, whoever has contacted you may be full of malice. If it was one Rona Whitewater, that is! Seems she may be looking for some payback for being put in her place a few weeks ago.” I give him an eyebrow lift questioningly but can tell he’s not believing a word I’m saying. “What exactly are you wanting to know, Councilman Flint? You and I both know that speaking about certain topics can cause danger to both parties.”

“We need a conversation, and we need one where I can help you with whatever is happening. With or without the council. I will stay here with you for a few days and if you need me longer, then I will stay longer. What I need is honesty, total honesty.”

“Councilman…”

I'm taken aback when I'm interrupted. “Call me Flint, forget the councilman bit for now. While I’m here I’m Flint, a friend of the pack and yourself.”

“Okay, Flint. You can call me Aurora. I am not sure how much I can tell you, because walls have ears, and those ears could get ten members killed.”

Flint shoots to his feet, paces the room a little, then turns to me. He says nothing for a moment, then surprises me when he walks out of the office and shouts over his shoulder, “Where’s my room?”

“Raina, show Flint to a room, and then come back.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I watch Raina and Flint walk to the stairs before closing my office door and retaking the seat behind the desk. I run my hands through my hair, which I’ve cut short, so it takes less looking after. I just don’t have the time for pamper sessions right now.

The office door opens, and Taria walks inside. She gives me a smile as she throws herself into a seat. “Well, Momma, I’ve a little information for you. It seems Jackson was part of the Blackshadow Pack. He was friends with Bellamy. Bellamy was a lifelong friend of none other than the current alpha. Alpha Connell.

“Evangeline and Bellamy were bullies to Luna Tatiana of the Wolfsfoot Pack. Bellamy was a pack climber too, although he was in Connell’s inner circle. He wanted to be Beta or even take on Connell for the Alpha position once the old Alpha died. It’s all gossip, of course. None of us know for sure, not unless you speak to Alpha Connell or Luna Tatiana.”

“Maybe it’s not a bad thing that the councilman is here. He will know more about what is happening with all the packs and no-man’s-land. Maybe it’s time we remake the allied links we’ve always held with our neighboring packs?” I reply, but I’m thinking it through as I’m speaking.

“Momma, maybe it’s time you took a mate. It’s been a long time on your own. I’m grown and ready to find my own mate. You need someone you can lean on for a change.” Taria has surprised me, but her words have some value.

“I’ll think about it.” It’s the only reply I can give her because I vowed to myself I’d never take another mate.

Raina walks into the office and gives both myself and Taria a searching look, and when she’s satisfied with whatever she sees she reports. “Councilman Flint is in his room. He’s contacting his warriors, I think. I won’t swear on that, but it’s what it sounded like as I left him.”

“It’s what I expected. I think I’m going to have to enlighten him on our situation. We cannot afford for the council to come down on us, giving us a hefty fine or removing me as alpha. But I will confirm it was Rona Whitewater who ran and told what was happening and in doing that she endangered pack members. That gives me the right to ban her from the pack, and unless she is taken into another pack, she’ll be a rogue.” I rub my forehead because things like this never sit easily. I’m supposed to protect my pack, not throw them out to fend for themselves.

“I’m going out on patrol. Do you want me to have Warrior Vernon take my place here?” Raina knows what my answer will be, but she asks anyway.

“No, it’s okay. I’m not leaving the office for probably most of the day. If you need me on the border, link and I’ll come. Do not take risks, Raina. With your warriors or yourself.”

“I won’t. I’ll take warriors Crispin and Charlie with me and be back this afternoon.”

Giving me a tip of her head showing her neck and respect, I nod and she leaves the office. Taria is sitting with her eyes closed and looks like she’s napping. I give an enormous sigh, and that has the reaction I wanted.

“Okay, I’m going. I’ll see you later. If you need me, I’ll be with the warriors. I’ve stepped up my training and Warrior Wallace thinks I may make the elite team if I keep improving.” Taria rushes out of the office before I can respond, but she knows I would rather she didn’t become a warrior, but I also know she’d make an excellent one. Things may change drastically when she finds her mate.

A light tap on the office door has me calling out, ‘Come in.’

Flint steps inside, closing the door behind him. “I’ve spoken to the two warriors I trust most. They are coming here to help in any way they can. Now we need to sit down and be honest with each other, Aurora. If you have pack members held against their will we need to get them back safely.”

I lean back in my seat, close my eyes and speak to Aztec. ‘What should we do, Aztec?’

We can trust the councilman. We need help to get pack members back. Gone far too long now, Aurora.

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