Page 38 of Eclipse Pack

Steering the conversation away from me, I start a whole new subject when I ask how Ember had obtained her bat. Listening to how she was supposedly failing at her warrior training, I think that Wesley and Ember are pulling my leg. No confidence and being the butt of jokes, and almost bullying, which does not sit well with the female I see before me. Getting the gift of the bat from Bronze seems to have given her instant confidence, and a way to channel the aggression that wouldn’t come naturally. Hearing some of the stories about her training has us laughing loudly, and nearby tables smiling along with our laughter.

Discussing how many bats Ember now has, the different sizes and materials, shows that she has taken the idea and not only run with it, but turned it into a science. When she tells me how it has helped her form a friendship with a female called Hannah that works in the carpenter’s shop, it brings up a whole new string of events.

Learning Hannah’s story of her brother trying to force her into an arranged marriage, how she ran to escape it, also the fact thathe was still trying to make it happen, I decide I’d like to meet her when I get to the Eclipse Pack.

“Oh, you don’t have to wait till then,” Ember beams. “We can meet her today, if you like. She works at the Eclipse Pack carpenter’s shop here at Wolfsfoot. She stays over rather than travel every day. Alpha Heir Bronze tried to get her to stay at the Eclipse packlands until the Elijah threat was put to bed once and for all, but she wouldn’t hear of it. I think she would have made her own bat if anyone had tried to disrupt her life any more than it already has been.” Ember glows at the thought of having more than one female running around wielding a bat.

Looking around the dining hall, I see Wylder and Giselle. Calling them over, I advise them I plan to visit the carpenter’s shop in the town. I require them to remain at the packhouse, as they will take over my protection detail when I return, so Wesley and Ember can get some rest.

I look again and see my Wolfsfoot protection detail dotted around different areas of the hall. None have anything to eat in front of them, so I guess that they are all still on duty. Approaching the one I know as Drake, I ask him if it would be okay for them to accompany me to the town to meet one of the Eclipse Pack carpenters. Seeing his eyes sparkle, I know he’s asking his alpha if it’s okay.

Getting an affirmative answer, I smile and head back to let Ember know we can go when she’s ready. By the time we’ve cleared our trays, I look around and see that the protection detail is by the hall doorway waiting. Confirming with Drake that he has okayed the journey with Alpha Gabriel, we set off.

I have great difficulty trying to picture the bundle of energy that is Ember as a demure, frightened female. She has been in conversation with Drake quite a lot during our travels, and heseems to have had a few suggestions to offer where her warrior training is concerned. I need to delve into her training further as it’s okay having the bat, but her wolf can’t use one.

Arriving at the carpenter’s shop, I wait until the shop has been given the all clear and then Ember and I walk in together. Seeing Ember, a female runs over and hugs her furiously. Trying to disentangle herself causes the female to step back, looking confused.

“Ember, whatever is the matter?”

“Hannah, I’m on Luna protection duty. You can’t do that while I’m on duty!” Ember’s eyes are wide with concern that she could be in trouble.

“You’re such an idiot, Ember. You’ll need to come up with something better than that if you think you’re going to stop me giving you a hug in public.” She goes to hug Ember again, but Ember steps back.

“You must be the Hannah that I’ve heard so much about. I am Luna Taria of the Eclipse pack.” I use my soon-to-be-title to reinforce Ember’s position.

“Luna? Alpha Heir Bronze’s Taria? Oh, my Goddess. I’m so sorry, Luna Taria. Ember, I didn’t know. Wait. How did you become one of the Luna’s personal bodyguards?” Hannah looks so completely baffled that I suggest she take a breath, introduce me to the rest of the shifters here, and then let Ember explain.

Having met the other two carpenters at the shop, Cameron and Logan, they take great pride in showing me what they have made and have available for sale. Their work is of an excellent quality and the construction methods are all very traditional. The males puff out their chests as I praise their talents and whenI compliment them on the exquisite detailing and scrollwork, they both point to Hannah.

“All the fancy stuff and the intricate carving is done by the marvelous Hannah. We can turn the stuff out and it will stand the test of time, but when it comes to getting people to buy it? That’s all down to Hannah’s exceptional skills.” Cameron beams at Hannah and makes her blush.

Hannah gives a little curtsey before stating, “It’s a team effort, Luna Taria. If they didn’t produce such high-quality furniture, I’d have nothing to decorate. They sell themselves short too many times.”

“Well, I think you’re all doing a fantastic job together, and I look forward to commissioning some pieces when I’m settled in at the Eclipse Pack. You’ll be able to add that to your shop title then.Cabinet makers to the Luna. How does that sound?”

“That would be awesome. We could have little brass plates made that we could attach to every piece of furniture we make.” Logan has come up with an excellent idea there and I tell him so.

“Logan, that’s nothing short of genius. As soon as I’m officially declared Luna of Eclipse, I’ll expect you to see me and we’ll get some pieces made for the alpha apartment. Get the brass plates organized and ready and I’ll be the first to have them on furniture.”

“Yes, Luna Taria, I’ll get on to the brass plates immediately. Thank you for the honor of being your cabinet makers.” He dips his head as do Hannah and Cameron. I almost buzz with excitement at having made their day.

Next, Ember insists that Hannah shows her how they are doing with the science of her bats. Taking me to a large cabinet at the back of the shop's display area, I see a detailed carving of severalbats flying, with a full moon in the background. It has a very lifelike effect to the carvings and is almost picture quality. On closer inspection, what I thought was black paint turns out to be burn marks to make the bats black.

“Hannah, those graphics on the doors are out of this world. You are truly talented. It makes you believe that when you open the doors, bats will actually fly out.” I am stunned at the quality and dedication it represents.

“The cabinet is full of bats, but they only fly in Ember's hands,” says Hannah, opening the doors where there is a selection of Ember’s bats displayed. Each one is totally stunning and without doing so consciously, I reach out and stroke one. They both laugh.

“Everyone does that when they first see the cabinet. No one has been able to resist it,” Ember says, grinning. Eventually, having exhausted the topic of bats and their potential for calming situations, or solving them in a quick and violent way, we close the cabinet doors.

Stealing Hannah away from her work, we sit in their waiting room at the rear of the shop so I can get her opinion of what is going on with her brother, and why he thinks it’s okay to sell heroff like a piece of furniture.

“I don’t have an answer for you, Luna Taria. I don’t know where his head is with such an idea. We were never close as siblings, but we always behaved like brother and sister, I suppose. He’s a year older than me though I never looked up to him as a sister should to an older brother. He was never there to stop a bully, never warned off any overly zealous suitors. I looked after myself whenever I needed to. It would never have entered my head that he would try to sell me as a piece of meat, just to raise his standing in the eyes of others. I would have thought if he’d beenhanging around with a crowd of decent males that it would have had the opposite effect.” She looks thoughtfully at Ember and me.

“I have to agree with you there, Hannah. Even in the Blood Pearl Pack’s darkest days, before I was born, I don’t think the males even then would have sold a female. Goddess knows they treated the females badly, but I have never heard of them selling them.” I’m sure my momma would have told me if that had been happening. She told me everything to explain how she had ultimately challenged the alpha of that time to better the lives of the females, and selling she-wolves was never mentioned.

“So, how do we keep you safe from your brother, Elijah was it? I understand you not wanting this to run your life, but how do we make it go away. Short of sending a few shadow warriors to end his miserable life, that would be the simplest way.” I grin at that last statement as it was meant in jest, but I’m horrified when Hannah replies.

“Yeah, do it. He’s made my life a misery so why should he even have a life. If they can get me close enough, I’ll even do the deed myself.” Hannah wiggles her eyebrows at Ember. “Come with, and I’ll borrow your bat for the coup de grâce.”

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