Page 53 of Eclipse Pack

Take Maya hunting again should be priority number one.

‘You’ve been for runs and for hunts. You’ll get plenty of opportunity for more.’

We need more time together to mate. She wants pups but is not doing the things we need to do to have them.

‘Oh, please, that is so not true. You have mated as much with Maya as I have with Taria. Don’t be so greedy or she may decide that you are too demanding and cut off your wolfy desires altogether.’

Humph! Wolf needs are more frequent than human needs.

I can’t help but laugh as he throws himself down at the back of my mind in a tantrum of self-pity with his back to me, refusing to look through my eyes.

Taking my phone, I place a call to Alpha Lyle at the Spirit Walker Pack. We haven’t spoken in a few days and I need to see how things are over there.

“Hello, Alpha Bronze. I was only thinking of you and Luna Taria this morning. How’s mated life suiting you both?” Lyle sounds confident and full of life. I was half expecting a frazzled and frustrated Alpha.

“Everything is first class. We couldn’t be happier. You sound remarkably well. I was expecting you to be rushed off your feet.”

“It’s absolutely manic here, to be honest. The rogues seem to be testing the border somewhere different daily. I don’t know where he’s getting the bodies from. As fast as we kill them, he sends more. I think he has a secret cloning factory and is turning them out on some production line. Our losses are light you wouldn’t think we’re at war with anyone,” Alpha Lyle’s voice is almost joyful as he tells me this, and I have to agree when it comes to the question of where Arric is getting his forces from.

“Our warriors are trained far superior to anything he has, but even so, he can’t continue taking losses without there being an end to his army at some point. I don’t see what can be gained by throwing his forces at any border if he isn’t even weakening defenses.” I think Alpha Lyle has to be missing something within their tactics. Not just Alpha Lyle, but perhaps Alpha Gerry of the Blood Pearl pack is also missing a vital clue.

“If you have any spare warriors, I can always use a few more. I can step some of mine down from the patrol rota so they can get some extra rest.” Alpha Lyle sounds hopeful and I mention bringing Taria for a visit and maybe bringing some warriors with me. I could probably spare a dozen or so, maybe some of the females with their rucksacks and toys would like a change. I think they’d be up for the challenge.

“We could come over for a few days, and I could leave some warriors with you when we return. How does that sound? I’m sure Taria would be up for a visit, she was disappointed that she couldn’t make it before.” I know Taria would relish the chance to visit and meet Alpha Lyle. I’ll have to warn him about her matchmaking abilities, though. He is still single, after all.

“I’ll speak with Alpha Gabe and Luna Tati and we can stop over at the Wolfsfoot Pack to break up the journey each way. Look forward to seeing you soon, then.”

“They’ll both enjoy the company, I’m sure. I’ll see you soon then, Alpha Bronze.”

One task completed and another created. I’ll have to get Dixon and Adaline to sort me out some warriors to travel with, and some to leave there for a while. I’ll do that now while it’s fresh in my mind.

Leaving the office yet again, I almost crash into Dixon as he comes out of the dining hall.

“Sorry, Alpha Bronze, I was thinking instead of looking.” Dixon looks shocked that he almost walked into someone, let alone his Alpha.

“You saved me a hunt. I was just coming to find you and Adaline. Do you know where she is, by any chance?”

“You have to be joking, Alpha Bronze, right? Where has she been every hour for the last few days? Adaline, Ember and Luna Taria have had a monopoly on Drake since he arrived in the pack lands. No one can get within fifty feet of him without having to battle through them first. I swear by the time he leaves, those three will be Shadow Warrior qualified. I’m scared to death to do any more weapons training with Ember. Thank the Goddess that Luna Taria gave that task to Adaline as soon as she arrived. Have you watched Ember recently?”

“Well, let’s see what he’s got Ember and Adaline doing, shall we? Luna Taria was busy in her office a few minutes ago, so we only have to battle the two of them. As Alpha, I get to fight Adaline!”

“That is so not fair, especially as you're the one that created the whole bat monster in the first place. I said that on the day you turned up with it and she immediately went from shy mouse to raging dragon. Do you recall how she marched into the trainingring and offered to take on all challengers?” Dixon shakes his head as he remembers the day.

“It’s because of that, I’m claiming my Alpha right NOT to fight Ember!” Laughing, we head for the training area and our fates. As we approach, we can hear wood on wood and it makes us both cringe. When we can see the training ring, we see Adaline and Ember battling it out, only this time, Adaline has a bat and Ember has a staff. Listening to the two weapons collide with such force has both Dixon and I wincing. If one of those blows lands, there will be at minimum some broken bones.

Drake appears by our side as if from thin air. “Neither one has landed a blow as yet, and it is not from holding back. They are both excellent with either weapon. I made the mistake of letting Ember get my guard down once, and I paid the price. Since then, I have not held back either and have only injured her twice in all our sparring. I hear, Alpha Bronze, that you are responsible for the bat?”

“You shouldn’t put too much faith in rumors, Drake. However, this time, the rumors are true. I thought having the bat would boost her confidence in training. She was always being beaten in her classes and even when the females that were training with her left her an opening, she didn’t see it. I gave her the bat and told her she should protect the pups if we were ever under attack. My attempt to boost her confidence took an unexpected turn and created the bat warrior you see today.” I look at the sparring and wince at the ferocity with which they are training. Once again, I dread to think how much damage any one of those blows could cause.

“Adaline! Ember! I call a truce. I need to speak to you.” I watch as they step back and give each other a bow, then walk towards me. As they walk, I can’t help but hear them arguing over whowon that session. “Nobody won. I declare it a draw between two superb warriors. You should be proud of yourselves and thankful that one of you isn’t dead or fatally wounded. I think you need to reduce the amount of anger in your training.”

They look at each other in total confusion and they both speak at the same time. “That was just a fun session, Alpha Bronze.”

Adaline continues, “There was no anger, Alpha Bronze. Anger defeats the point of the training as it reduces focus and increases recklessness. I would stop any training session where a warrior tends towards anger, step in myself so I could make the point clearly and painfully.”

“And have you had to make your point at any time?” I ask, almost dreading the answer.

“I have indeed, Alpha Bronze. Three times to date. All male border warriors who didn’t believe that a female should be considered for the Chief Warrior position. I believe their opinion changed after they had spent time at the infirmary.”

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