I’ve only briefly spoken to the others about my encounter with the demon, informing them that thanks to Aurora’s mystical powers, she was able to impair the demon long enough for us to escape—something I wasn’t able to do. Though the spirit manifests as a dog-like creature in physical form, it’s still heavily tied to its essence of darkness, and can’t be killed so easily.
The growls and yelps of the younger wolves continue to ring out in the arena, and I nod at Dillon to continue training when I decide that I’ve had enough for the day. It’s already dragging toward nighttime, the sky growing dark and gloomy, and I’m meant to meet with my subordinates before even thinking about going back home.
I can’t wait to get back and meet Aurora, perhaps with a warm embrace tonight.
“I’m off to the pack den,” I tell Dillon on my way to the exit. “Put both their names on the list. They’ve just qualified as border patrol soldiers.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Dillon concedes with a courteous nod. “I’ve also doubled up on the soldiers posted outside.”
“Good,” I say as I pat Dillon’s shoulder. “We can’t risk the safety of the pack, even if the demon has been quiet for more than a week.”
I glance over my shoulder one last time at the wolves who continue to spar and practice their fighting skills, my parting comment coming with a sense of ease. We might not know when the demon will attack again, but we’ve taken sufficient measures to ensure that we’re not only prepared but that no one is allowed to leave Girdwood alone. Even if it’s for work in Hope, the pack members have been placed into pairs to travel out there.
The full effect of nighttime falls over Girdwood by the time I arrive at the pack den, and I take a moment to breathe the biting, crisp air littered with snowfall before heading inside.
“The main man is here!” Thane, one of my three trusted subordinates, cheers as he raises a glass filled with amber liquid into the air.
“It’s about damn time, El,” Dawson grunts playfully as he swivels around in his barstool, holding a beer. “We were concerned that you wouldn’t come.”
I blow a playful scoff through puckered lips. “And miss whatever the fuck this is? Not a chance!”
It’s the first time since we discovered Andrew’s body that the four of us are gathering for something less momentous or profound than a meeting to discuss our pack duties.
But even though we’re just getting together for a few drinks, none of us can stop ourselves from discussing what’s going on around us.
“The workers agree that it’s safer to travel during the day,” Dawson says. He’s in charge of the working schedule of those who have to go to Hope for jobs.
“Unfortunately, we can only hunt at night,” Thane, who’s in charge of hunting rotations, says with a hint of glumness inhis voice. His green eyes take on a glint of sadness as he stares into his empty whiskey glass.
I pat him on the shoulder as reassurance. “It wasn’t your fault, Thane. Andrew knew the dangers when he decided to go out there alone.”
Thane nods despondently, and I can tell that he’s still upset that he couldn’t stop Andrew from going out to hunt alone that night. Now that I’ve heightened restrictions as the leader of the pack, no one can question any of my subordinates’ decisions. They’re each in charge of running a different sector that allows the werewolves to mingle with the humans while living a life in Girdwood devoted to the Moon Goddess.
“Perhaps we need to throw another feast,” Brooks suggests. Because he’s in charge of arranging our rituals and feasts during auspicious occasions, he seems cheerful about his suggestion.
Unlike when he had to prepare last night’s ritual between my mate and me.
The difference is visible since he’d been at the meeting to discuss the mating ritual without saying a word, only taking down notes and nodding his agreement, with his lips pressed into a firm line.
I know he has his reservations about me becoming bonded to Aurora, but I would have never allowed him to change my mind. Nonetheless, it’s water under the bridge now, and it’ll soon be forgotten.
“Sure. Perhaps we should,” I agree. “It will show a united front and ease the pack’s concern about the demon.”
Thane and Dawson both agree with nods of approval.
Brooks drops his steely gray eyes to his beer and murmurs, “And their concern about the main alpha of this pack choosing an omega for a mate...”
His remark is snide and laced with venom as he sneers.
Raising a quizzical brow, I turn to Brookes and set my empty glass on the table with a deliberate clink.
“You think I made the wrong decision?” I scoff purposefully, to which Brooks shrugs.
“I’m not saying anything, Elias,” he mutters before pursing his lips.
Glancing at the other two, who stare at Brooks through narrowed eyes, I turn to the man and level him with a raised brow. “Say what you’ve been wanting to say ever since I returned with Aurora. The floor is yours, Brooks. I think we can all agree that open communication is what works for us in this pack.”
Brooks lifts his head, steely eyes disdainful as he clears his throat. “The omega might prove to be more harmful than helpful to the pack,Alpha Elias.” He adds my rank bitterly to punctuate his scorn.
