Page 1 of Eclipse Pack

Chapter 1

BRONZE

Standing in the office, I look around, taking notice of the bookshelves, filing cabinets and the two desks. I know I have a lot of work to do to learn all the aspects of what is essential to the upkeep of the pack. I learned much at Alpha training, but it’s nothing like being in the pack and how my father, Alpha Chet, looks after everyone.

I don’t want to be one of those Alpha heirs that come back from training and throws new ideas around undermining everything the last Alpha achieved. Each time a new Alpha is placed in a pack, things change. It’s inevitable, but it’s what, how, and even why.

My father is an excellent Alpha to the pack and I know he wants to retire and spend more time with my mother. They have always placed the pack's needs first, and now I am of age they areready to do things they have wanted to do, and travel to other Kingdoms.

The office door opens and my father enters, giving me a solid look over from feet to face. “You have grown to be a good-looking male, son. I can see you’ve been training just by your size. Your mother and I are very proud of you and the reports we’ve been given throughout your Alpha training.

“I have plans to travel to the other packs, introduce you to the Alphas and that way you’ll begin an alliance of your own, rather than using my reputation and old alliances. It’s a good thing to create new bonds with other Alphas, and they are all younger, so will be more in-tune with you, rather than an old beat-up Alpha like myself.” Not giving me the time or opportunity to say anything, he continues, “I want to speak with you about Taria. I understand why you are not wanting to bond right away, but it’s going to get hard as time goes along. It’s not natural to not claim your mate when you find them. But I agree that Taria has to learn to be a competent Luna. She is kind, caring, and works hard, so I’m sure she will be an enormous benefit to the pack. I have had a few reports that her fighting skills are coming along, but it is slower than we thought it would be.”

“I want to claim her, but I need her to be fully understanding of her role. She is the most beautiful female I have set eyes on, and I know once we mate, we will be perfect for each other. My worry is that she has not had the responsibility she should have had at this point. Not her fault, I know, but it's something we can’t overlook. If we don’t teach Taria what’s needed, she’ll be overwhelmed, and I don’t want that to happen.” I lay it out the best I can for my father to understand why I’ve insisted on Taria having all the training I’ve stipulated.

“Don’t leave it too long. Let’s see if we can get Taria here with you so your mother can teach her all she needs to know about the pack. This will be her pack, not Blood Pearl, Blackshadow or any other, and I’m sure she’ll be excellent in her role as Luna.”

“Taria cannot visit Spirit Walker, as Lyle hasn’t found his mate yet. He is happy for her to go along and see how he operates, though, but only for a day or two. But I’m not sure Titan will let that slide. He’s becoming edgy, wanting his mate, Maya. He knows why we haven’t claimed our mate, and he truly understands, but at the end of the day he is an animal, he’s a wolf and he wants what his instincts tell him.” I look at my father and get an understanding nod.

“Today I want you to go through the filing cabinets, file-by-file, so you know everything there is to know about them. We can discuss anything you feel you need to know, and any more information to grasp a full understanding of any file. Once you have finished that, which could take you a week or more, I want to enlighten you on the library area of the office.”

“Okay, let me get started, and we’ll take it a day at a time.” I walk over to the filing cabinets, and open the top drawer of the first one, and seeing it’s bulging with files, I can’t help but think I’m pleased there are only two cabinets.

The days pass agonizingly slowly. The desk I was given to work from is piled with folders, which are stacked as read and to read. I’ve read nearly every pack member's full history from birth to death in some cases. One thing is more than obvious is the fact the only ones that leave the pack are the females that have found their mate. It is rare for a male to leave to go to another pack, unless it is for a higher position in the pack his mate comes from.

The carpentry shop which the pack opened in Wolfsfoot Town is doing exceedingly well. The three pack members that workwithin that business are bringing a nice profit to the pack, and enough to top up their pack payment.

Our pack has used investments and bonds to create an income that can provide for pack members. Each member or family receive a stipulated amount and if they don’t have a job of their own, they contribute to the pack by cleaning, cooking, gardening, warrior training, and even nursery nurse and doctor.

We now have the carpentry shop, and a clothing store which also does repair work. We give an allotted number of vegetables grown on the pack grounds to be sold at the grocery store, and have even started rearing chickens, pigs, and goats.

The door opens, and Savannah walks into the office. Now this female is doing her best to trap me in her bed. But she has no chance at all. My heart, mind and soul belong to Taria and I would never risk losing her.

“What do you need, Savannah?” I ask with a bored but firm voice.

“I thought we could get together; you know, spend some quality time together.”

“You have been told no it’s not happening more times than I can count. It’s not happening, Savannah, now or in the future. I have found my mate, and she will be here soon to take her rightful place at my side. She will be your Luna once my parents step down, and do you really want her to have a grudge against you from the beginning?”

The stupid pouty look she has makes her look like she’s eating something inedible, but she seems to think it makes her appealing. Stepping towards my desk, she hasn’t noticed my father appear in the doorway behind her. As she reaches thedesk and leans forward to place her hands on it, she jerks when my father, her alpha, snarls.

“Savannah, did you knock on the office door? Or did you just let yourself inside without being told you could enter?”

I lift an eyebrow as I’m waiting for her to lie so I can call her out for it, but it looks like she’s swallowing the lie to avoid a punishment from her alpha.

“I entered, Alpha Chet. I’m sorry I just wanted to speak with Bronze as I’ve not had the opportunity since he came home from Alpha Training.”

Oh my, she is simpering, and I’m interested to see what my father’s response will be. I lean back in my seat and fold my arms over my chest, and wait.

“You walked into the Alpha Office, without knocking, because you wanted to speak to the Alpha Heir knowing he has a mate who is working hard to achieve what’s needed to be the best Luna for the pack in the future… Is that right?”

While my father deeply cares for each member of our pack, he has no tolerance for foolish behavior. Savannah is on the verge of being punished by him, and I can sense that it's about to happen.

Savannah is looking at her feet, placing her weight back and forth, not knowing what to do or what to say as she has been caught out disobeying the command that her Alpha gave at the pack meeting when I arrived home.

“You will only receive half of your pack salary this month. You will work in the kitchen and if I hear one word of complaint that you are lazy, disrespectful, or anything else, you will be placed outside the pack boundary to survive alone for a specified time.You will only be allowed back into the pack if you survive, and if you show remorse for the bullshit you are pulling. Now GET OUT and report to the kitchen.”

After Savannah ran out of the office, and my father’s blank expression shows me he is relaying his orders. I smirk as I speak, “Well, that was interesting, but I have to admit, I’m grateful. I have had nothing to do with her apart from her being a pack member. She has chased me since,” sighing, “since forever, but I’ve made it more than clear I am not interested. She knows I have found my mate but still came in here. It was harsh to tell her you’d put her outside the pack boundaries.”

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