Page 54 of Eclipse Pack

I can’t help the laughter that bursts from me as I look at the innocent and almost angelic look on Adaline's face as she tells me this. Realizing that she is completely serious, I try to make it sound like a coughing fit rather than laughter. “Well, good for you, and should this continue, I will be more than happy to have words with the entire border force, if necessary.”

“I appreciate the offer, but that would only confirm their belief if I had to resort to asking the Alpha for help.”

“No, Adaline, you misunderstand my intention. If it were to continue, those warriors would not only be questioning their Alpha’s authority but also his judgement. I will not stand idly by while that happens. I would willingly meet them in the training ring myself and deem it as a challenge to my leadership of thepack. You carry on as you are as I have every faith in your ability as my Chief Warrior. Dixon, as of this moment, you’re fired. Report to me in future as Delta Dixon. That has a ring to it, don’t you think, Drake?”

“Indeed, it does. Delta Dixon. If he could sing, it could be a stage name for his next career.” Drake smiles at his humorous comment and the rest of us look at him as if he has grown two heads.

“Drake! You just cracked a joke. Do you need to sit down? Should we take you to the infirmary?” Dixon shows his mock concern and reaches an arm around Drake's shoulders as though to support him.

“No, but you might if you carry on. Adaline, may I be the first to congratulate you on usurping this male from his obviously inherited position of Chief Warrior. How he got there in the first place baffles me, but the pack will now flourish under your skillful and pleasant leadership.” Shrugging Dixon’s arm from around his shoulders, “Dixon, congratulations on being sacked and also in your appointment to Delta, chief of all that is paperwork. Rotas, personnel reports, investigations, statements, more reports…” Drake walks away, still muttering about different aspects of any paper task he can think of.

When he sees Luna Taria approaching, he bursts into song, surprising all of us with how good his voice is. She stops and stares as he gets closer, thoroughly confused by what is happening before her. Bowing outrageously to her, Drake announces in a voice loud enough that we can all clearly hear him, “Luna Taria. May I present myself to you as the wandering minstrel that shall be forever known as…DELTA DRAKE!!”

Dixon launches himself after Drake and Drake runs away, still singing loudly. We are all laughing hysterically as Taria reaches us and looks at us all as if we are mad.

“Come, my Luna. Take me to our suite and show me the surprise you have for me. Chief Warrior Adaline, congratulations on your recent appointment. I will look forward to the infirmary reports from this day forward. Ember, you are without doubt the most accomplished bat warrior the Eclipse pack has ever, or will ever have. Now, if you will excuse us, I have a surprise awaiting me.”

Leaving two females, mouths hanging open, I take Taria’s hand and we head off to the alpha suite. When we reach the doors to our suite, Taria is almost bouncing with excitement, making me wonder exactly what is waiting behind the door.

“I can’t wait to see your face when you see these,” Taria opens the door and I step in. Seeing absolutely nothing different or out of place, I’m not sure how I should react.

“You don’t like it! How can you not like it? Isn’t it just so awesome?”

“I’m sorry, my darling, but what am I missing?” I feel an idiot right now. She is so excited and I can’t see what it’s all about.

“The dining table. Isn’t it awesome? They have gone above and beyond.” Following her eyes, I finally see that the table is not our usual one.

“Oh my. That is beautiful.” The table is slightly lighter than the old one, but that is where the similarity ends. This one is larger and has an amazing amount of detail carved into it. There are now eight chairs and two captain chairs, all beautifully detailed as well. “I wasn’t expecting that. It’s beautiful. We’ll have to start taking meals here now. We can’t let it go to waste, can we?”

“There’s more. Come to the bedroom.” Taria’s enthusiasm is infectious and I almost drag her there.

An enormous four-poster bed now dominates the room and has drapes at each corner. At the foot of the bed, there is a trunk in matching wood and design. Two wardrobes and a chest of drawers all stand along a wall and complete the majestic effect of the room.

“My parents will be jealous when they see these. The room was pleasant before, but this is just out of this world. How did you get it all done so fast?”

“It’s amazing what dropping the Alpha’s name can accomplish. I think the promise of a fat bonus may have clinched it, though, if I’m honest.” Taria is positively glowing as she watches me appreciate the craftsmanship that has gone into the woodwork. “Oh, and our shop in Wolfsfoot town is now officially ‘cabinet makers to the Luna.’ What do you think of that?”

“Taria, I don’t know how you got all this done in such a short time. You amaze me.” I am truly amazed that she could get such intricate work done in so short a time.

“Ah, well, now there’s the thing. I had to charm a few people and even bully one of them, gentle bullying, of course. The bed was commissioned by a customer who was delighted to wait for another to be built when I told him he would know that his next Alpha was conceived in a bed he had originally commissioned. This he found so amusing that he gave us the bed as a wedding present. I just had Hannah work her magic on it. I took the liberty of showing the original buyer the finished bed and he has upgraded his original order to something similar. The wardrobes were built ready for sale but I had them altered to fit the bed design, and the drawers were commissioned by a miserable old witch that wasn’t going to part with them until Itold her that unless she let me buy them off her, I would have her transferred to the packhouse to be my personal assistant to all things social. She couldn’t hand them over quick enough at the thought of having to attend crowded social events.”

“I wasn’t aware we attended any crowded social events, my darling.” I wonder what those are going to be?

“I know that. You know that. She doesn’t know that!”

Chapter 28

TARIA

Having spoken with Alpha Gabe and Luna Tati, we’re on our way to a stopover at the Wolfsfoot Pack to break up our journey to visit Alpha Lyle at the Spirit Walker Pack. I can’t wait to tell them at the carpenter’s shop how well received the furniture was. The bed doesn’t creak at any of the gymnastics that go on there, though that bit of information doesn’t need to be divulged.

Ember is excited to be seeing her friend Hannah again, although it hasn’t been that long, to be fair. Bronze mentioned his concern for Hannah as there hasn’t been much news coming through about her brother Elijah. Not having any siblings, I don’t know what a typical brother and sister relationship looks like. I’m fairly certain that it wouldn’t include selling your sister, though, surely.

Xander and Eve have been seeing a lot of each other, but there has been no mention of mates from them or anyone that knowsthem. I had a sly chat with Madison, who told me that Xander has been picking Coal up from the nursery occasionally. She also said that Coal has been noticeably calmer of late, but still is full of life himself. I had to get her to clarify that statement as it seemed a bit conflicting.

Madison said that Coal was still as energetic as always, but that his attitude was calmer. He wasn’t full of mischief, but was channeling his exuberance into his learning, and even helping some of the other pups.

All in all, the Eclipse Pack seemed to have very little drama going on. Whether this was down to exceptional leadership skills, or the fact that all the rogue dramas were centered on the other packs, was yet to be seen.

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