Page 58 of Eclipse Pack

I’m reasonably certain that the Shifter Council would frown on such behavior as well. Although if I get irate enough to follow through on the idea, I’m sure that I wouldn’t give a care as to what they did or didn’t think on the matter.

Having arrived back at Wolfsfoot Pack by mid-afternoon, I have been thinking since we dealt with the rogue force sent to kidnap my Taria, my Luna, I spirited myself and Alpha Gabe away so I could vent my feelings and get it off my chest.

He hasn’t said a word, just sat and let me vent, giving me an occasional nod or frown. I realize that he is just appeasing my mood, but I’m also grateful for it, too. Having finally run out of steam, I stop pacing and I throw myself into a chair.

“I can understand how you must be feeling. If someone was threatening Tati, I would be the same. I don’t recall ever hearing of anyone that has tried to do what this idiot is doing. It would take an enormous force to overwhelm all the packs and even then, I’m not sure that everyone would bow to him.”

“I would take any survivors and become rogue before I bowed to him, Alpha Gabe. I would fight to the death and take him with me.” My temper is rising again and when I see Alpha Gabe trying to hide a smirk, I can’t help but grin. “Okay. That’s enough for the moment. I’ll put it in a pigeonhole for now, or until he tries again. If he does try again, though, I swear the gloves will be off.”

“Let’s go find our Lunas and get something to eat. You must be starving after expending so much energy, cursing the name of Arric so vehemently,” Alpha Gabe stands and leads the way out of his office, and we go in search of Taria and Tati.

After enjoying a substantial lunch, during which we compared Flick, Spirit Walker Pack’s cook to our own Chef Ash, we told Alpha Gabe and Luna Tati how we had upgraded the cook position to that of chef. This was in recognition of how Ash had consistently gone above and beyond her duties or responsibilities. Luna Tati thought that was a great idea and dragged Taria off to the kitchen to promote Flick.

Seeing Alpha Gabe's eyes change slightly, I know he is receiving a mind link message, then he states, “Flint is trying to contact us, and I mean us, not just me. He must know you’re still here.”

Letting our Lunas know that we will be in the office when they are done with Flick, we head to the alpha office and Alpha Gabe puts a call through to Flint.

“Flint speaking,” His voice comes across short and sharp, so he must be under some stress. He does not normally answer a call so brusquely.

“Hello, Flint, this is Alpha Gabe. I have you on speaker as Bronze is with me too. What can we do for you?”

“Ah, Gabe. I didn’t look to see who the caller was, sorry. I’m glad I’ve caught you both. It will save me saying everything twice. I’m sure Bronze has been bending your ear about another attempt to kidnap his Luna?”

“He has mentioned it in passing, just a casual word or two,” Alpha Gabe answers, then grins at me.

“I’d be very surprised, Bronze, if you haven’t been ranting in Gabe’s ear since you arrived there. I would not be happy if I were you. Anyway, the rogues that were captured spoke very freely to an Eclipse interrogator, so I’m told. Not too sure why Lyle didn’t have one of his own interrogators do it,” Flint muses.

“I can clear up that little mystery, Flint,” I interject. “You remember Ember, Taria’s personal bodyguard with the bat? She asked for the opportunity, and Alpha Lyle graciously allowed her to do the questioning. She has quite the reputation among not only our packs, but apparently, among the rogues, too. They sang like canaries after she hit the first prisoner with her famous bat.”

“No, no, no. You mustn’t tell me those things. I cannot know of any torture taking place, even if it is of rogue prisoners,” Flint’s voice takes on an edge of panic.

“Flint, no one mentioned torture. One of them lunged at her and she subdued him in self-defense. You mustn’t read too much into things.” I grin at Alpha Gabe as Taria has already told the story of Ember’s persuasive measures with great gusto, and there was certainly no lunging or self-defense involved.

“Ember is indeed becoming quite a legend in her own lifetime, isn’t she? Alpha Lyle mentioned some of her positive attributes during our conversation. He was quite taken with her, by all accounts.”

“Yes, Flint. Taria and I got that impression and we didn’t think it was all one sided either. Ember paid considerable attention whenever Alpha Lyle was present. I think it was unfortunate that there was no mate spark there. That could have been quite the union if there had been.” Those two could have produced quite a litter of strong-willed pups had the Goddess seen fit to pair them I think to myself.

“Well, back to my reason for this call. She uncovered that the rogues not only had spies in all the packs, but that they had spies in the Shifter Council. I have Roul looking into the council warriors to see if he can uncover anything from that perspective. Looking into the Council itself, I find it hard to believe that one of us would be capable of such betrayal.” Flint is trying, but failing, to sound convincing.

“Well, we don’t have to look too far back in Council history to find betrayal, do we, Flint? I don’t mean that as an insult, just that with the Alpha Torrence and then the Eve Planter scenarios, you’ve had your share of drama. I wouldn’t for one moment think that any of your newest recruits would be the spy. Merry,however, could be a good spy catcher. She can be very sly and sneaky at times, so I’m told.” Alpha Gabe is only speaking what I’m sure any of us pack Alpha’s would be thinking. “There may not even be a Council spy. It could be Arric spreading misinformation to try to ‘divide and conquer.’ Though I admit that Arric being that clever sort of negates the idea, but it could have come from one of his subordinates. They can’t all be as stupid as him.”

“I hadn’t thought of that approach, Gabe, so I’m glad that you called me back.” Flint sounds relieved, and it’s not often that we Alphas give him some mental relief. Quite the opposite, in fact.

“Looking at it objectively, Flint, if there was a spy, would it be Merry or Lykos? Not a chance. Neither would it be Roman or Cinder Walker. Chet and Sage haven’t even arrived there yet, so they are out. That only leaves Porter, Ulmer and yourself. You are not the spy. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if you were. Ulmer? I think he’s shamed himself enough that we can discount him doing anything like this. Porter? You know him better than any of us, so would you have any doubt about his loyalty? That’s a question only you can answer. I’d put my money on it being a council warrior if I were the betting type.” Having thought it through as I speak, I’m one hundred percent convinced of the warrior theory.

“It would have to be a high-ranking council warrior though, to pass on any valuable information,” Flint theorizes, “Though we have nothing of any value to pass on. We are not involved in any of the border disputes.”

“No, but you are sending reinforcements to two packs. That could be valuable information. Or one of those warriors could be passing information that they glean from their deploymentto a pack? Who wouldn’t trust a council warrior with some juicy gossip? They could almost be above reproach at pack level.”

“I think you could be onto something there, Bronze. I’ll let Roul know of this new theory, but I believe he’ll be ahead of me on this. He’s much more distrustful of others than I am. Well, keep your Lunas safe from Arric and his hairbrained scheme of taking one as a mate. I’ll be in touch should I or Roul find anything.”

Before either myself or Alpha Gabe have a chance to say goodbye, the line is dead and Flint is gone. Looking at each other, I can see the cogs are turning in the same direction. Who, in our own packs, could be a spy or, more accurately, a traitor?

Leaving early the next morning, we make good time returning to the Eclipse Pack lands. As we travel, I have a moment of inspiration and mind link with Gamma Wesley. Stopping for one of our breaks, I openly task Wesley with deviating our return route to foil any kidnap attempt that may be in the wind.

A couple of hours later, Wesley announces that we are approaching a likely spot for a short break. Slowing us all to a walk, he leaves the cover of the treeline just in front of us and returns once he is satisfied it is safe for us to leave the safety of the forest.

Quietly observing Taria as we walk out into the open alone, she stops and presses her hands to her mouth. The view before us takes your breath away. There is a beautiful clear pool surrounded by lush greenery and accessed by a small sandy beach. The thing that makes it spectacular, though, is the waterfall that cascades from a high cliff where the river is hidden by more lush greenery. It looks as though the water is cascading from the trees and bushes and not from a river at all.

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