Page 60 of Eclipse Pack

As we get closer, I recognize Adaline’s wolf, Star and Ember’s wolf, River. River is certainly coming out second best at the moment, that’s for sure. When we are seen to be watching,Adaline calls a halt to their training, they shift to human form and then walk over to us.

“Good Morning Alpha Bronze, Luna Taria. River is picking things up very quickly with her wolf fighting. I don’t think it will be long before she will be as confident in her abilities as Ember now is. I wish I could get to the bottom of their original lack of confidence, but it’s like looking for rocking horse poop, trying to get either one to open up.” Adaline punches Ember on the shoulder and gets a raspberry blown at her for her trouble.

“If River gets half the confidence Ember has now, she won’t need to worry, Adaline.” Bronze turns to Ember. “If I’d known that giving you that bat would’ve made such a positive impact on your life, I wish I’d thought of it sooner. I am extremely proud of the warrior you have become, Ember, and I know that when you are with my Luna, I need not fear for her safety.”

Ember blushes furiously as she tries to stammer out a thank you to Bronze. I can’t help but smile at her reaction. “Ember, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so flustered before. Well, except when we were at Spirit Walker Pack and Alpha Lyle was around, eh?”

“Oh, Luna Taria! He was such a hunk of man and wolf meat. He made both River and me drool. I will never forgive the Goddess for not giving him to me, but he became just like a brother so quickly. I could have forgiven myself for committing incest with that Alpha!” Realizing how carried away she has become, she looks at us all, squeals, and runs back to the training ring, calling for Star to join them as she returns to River’s form.

All three of us can’t help but bend over with the laughter that bursts out at her embarrassment. Star returns and heads for the training ring and Bronze takes my hand and leads me away, saying, “Taria, never tell her that Alpha Lyle had similar feelingsor you’ll lose your bat warrior to the Spirit Walker Pack in a flash.”

Walking back towards the packhouse, but by a different path, I’m astonished to see building work going on. Looking at Bronze with a frown, he laughs at my expression.

“You didn’t seriously believe you could get away with doing something on the sly in my own pack, did you? Herb came to me so excited about your ideas that he couldn’t see past the fact that he was betraying a trust. Herb has only one loyalty, and that’s to his garden. He was mortified when I reminded him it was supposed to be a secret between the two of you.”

“How did you know it was a secret between me and Herb, may I ask?” I hope he hasn’t got spies watching my every move like Arric supposedly has.

“It wasn’t difficult to work out. It is exactly the sort of thing you would do for someone and so selfless, too. I wish I had your natural talent for appreciating people the way you do.” Leaning over, he kisses my forehead and, for some reason, this simple act has me gushing like a little girl.

“You don’t do so bad yourself, Alpha!” Squeezing his hand we intercept Herb who, upon seeing me, looks like he’s about to bolt.

“Herb, you traitor. What happened to secrets between a Luna and her favorite head gardener?” I give him a mock stern look as we approach, but change it to a smile when he looks like he may pee his pants.

“Oh, Luna Taria, I’m so sorry. I was just so excited and I was trying to get it done as a surprise for you before you returned from your trip. It wasn’t until I asked Alpha Bronze for the extramanpower, and explained why that he pointed out my blunder. Please forgive me, it was blurted out with all the best intentions.”

“Your forgiven. It looks like more than we originally planned, though. Have you enhanced the design somewhat?”

“My day is just getting worse. Yes, I did indeed tweak it a little. I included a larger pond and fountain, a lawned area for intimate picnics, an orchard with miniature fruit trees. In my defense, Alpha Bronze signed off on everything!” Herb throws an accusatory look at his alpha, who holds up his hands in surrender.

“I most certainly did sign everything off. I think it was a tremendous idea, from the original idea to the enhanced ultimate plan. I think Madison will be over the moon to have something so spectacular dedicated in her honor.” Bronze smirks, as he knows he has just put another nail in Herb’s virtual coffin.

“HERB! You even gave up the reason for it? I just can’t trust you ever again. I may even demote you to the lowliest weeder in the pack for this grievous insult to our friendship.”

“Wait until you see the plaque I’ve made, Luna Taria. It exceeds all my other efforts at…I’m going to shut up now and go do some weeding.” Herb looks at me and tries a half-hearted smile.

Laughing along with Bronze, we encourage Herb to walk us through his ultimate goal for the area, and I have to say I am impressed with his vision. It really is so much more than the original plan and the tweaks are actually minimal but with dramatic effect.

Herb soon forgets that I’m pretending to be angry with him as his one passion takes over and he floods us with what flowersand shrubs will bloom, where and when. His vision for a year round garden of color is astounding.

Chapter 32

BRONZE

Talking to Flint, I find it hard to believe what he’s telling me, if I’m being honest. He has called to update me on his, and Roul’s investigation into a potential spy within the council ranks. They’ve ruled out a council member, which was always a tenuous idea, at best. What they have come back with, though, I think is pretty absurd.

“Our information is from an excellent source, Alpha Bronze,” Flint’s use of my title has the hairs on the back of my neck bristling.

“Shifter Councilman Flint. Quite frankly, I don’t care if your excellent source is the Goddess Selene herself. Miles has not been at the council warrior training school long enough to have been supplying council information to that moron, Arric. If you and Roul can’t see that, then so be it. You will have a leak far longer than necessary if you believe such garbage. I stronglysuggest you think again as to how much of an excellent source, your excellent source actually is.” I’m trying not to lose my temper with this information that I’m being fed, but I’m starting to lose the battle with my temper.

Hearing a gentle, rhythmic tapping on my door, I breathe a sigh of relief and call ‘enter’. Recognizing Taria’s knock, I wave her to me as she walks in. Pointing to the phone as she is about to speak, she realizes I’m on speaker phone. I tap my knee and she looks surprised that I want her on my lap while on a call.

Flint waffles on about his source yet again and I hit the mute button, quickly explain what he is trying to convince me of, and then put the microphone back on. Taria listens for a couple of minutes and then interrupts Councilman Flint.

“Excuse me, Councilman Flint, I have just arrived so haven’t heard everything that’s been discussed so far but I have a few questions, if I may be so bold?”

“Ah, Luna Taria, of course you may.”

“You’re talking about a potential informant within your ranks, correct?” She sounds positively sickly sweet, but from where I’m sitting, I can see the steel in her eyes. A pity Councilman Flint can’t, I think to myself as I wait for her to drop the bombshell that she is obviously preparing.

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