I frown. “You don’t?”
He shrugs. “It’s always been like that, but we all know that becoming a sentinel is a little more than being a warrior.”
“It definitely is,” I agree. “It’s important we can have warriors and specialized warriors. I will talk to Forest about it. He is thinking about putting together a few groups and having them learn a certain trait.” That’s a lie. I haven’t talked to Forest about it yet, but I am sure he will be on board. However, I need the warriors to think that it’s his idea, not mine. They need to see him as a reliable leader, not so much me.
“I have a meeting with Alpha Forest later,” Martin says. “I could ask around the warriors to see who wants to join a potential sentinel training or first-aid training.”
“Add strategy training and potential spy training to it, too,” I say before turning towards Griffin. “Maybe you have warriors you can recommend for the job.”
“Got you, Luna.”
I spend some more time with the group, listening to their suggestions and problems, and making sure to write all of them down. I have an overall image of the pack now, of its structures and its weak points. From here on, it will be on Forest to build up his warriors and bond with them. My task here is done. I just wanted to make sure he had a good head start and to get the opportunity to build up some trust as well. Besides, I wasn’t lying; I know a few things about safety measures.
When Martin calls everyone back to training again, Griffin and I make sure to return to the pack house. I am not going to Forest’s suite directly. Unlike yesterday, we decided to meet at breakfast directly. I am with Griffin after all, and the pack already knows me a little by now.
Griffin and I have barely made it into the pack house and the dining hall when Forest’s father comes stomping towards me. “What were you doing with the warriors?” Harry snarls.
I raise my brows at his accusatory tone. “Excuse me?”
He glares at Griffin. “That man is no good.”
“He is not?”
“I saw you sneaking around. I won’t allow the future luna to act promiscuously and betray my son!”
nineteen
Play Dirty
*ROSEA*
“Alpha Forest personally asked for Griffin to act as my guard today,” I say. I put on the best smile I can muster. “I am truly grateful that my mate has such protective parents,” I add with a warm tone.
I see how Harry moves back a little, as the pack members around us just stare at me in surprise. I guess Harry has a reputation for a lot of things, but being protective of his son is not one of them.
I gesture towards Griffin to lead me on to our place. He follows my wordless command, his lips tugging slightly as he tries not to grin. By doing so, I am forcing Harry to trail behind me. “I met with the warriors today,” I explain. “I wanted to see how theytrain. And Beta Martin was so kind as to invite me to watch them and to talk to them.”
I stop to greet one of the nurses I recognize from the infirmary, and one of the young women who works at the orphanage. “It’s nice to see you again so soon.”
“Thank you, Luna,” the nurse says. “It was such a great honor to meet you!”
“I hope you will visit us again soon,” the woman from the orphanage adds.
“I will come by later today, after I have talked to Alpha Forest,” I tell her. “There are a lot of plans we need to discuss.”
From the corner of my eye, I notice how Harry’s annoyance is growing, much to my delight. I squeeze the young woman’s shoulder gently. “Take some rest and have a nice breakfast.”
“Thank you, Luna!”
I shake the nurse’s hand as well and exchange some more words with her before Griffin and I continue our walk towards our table. That’s when I finally decide to turn my attention back to Harry. “You know, Harry, Forest’s happiness is also of the utmost importance to me. I have no intention of betraying him. Also, if I did, he would feel it through the bond.” I turn around to nod politely at some of the warriors. “I visited the training and also the orphanage, nursery and infirmary to get a feel of how the pack runs.”
As if he knew his father was trying to get at me, Forest makes his entrance. One look at his surprised expression shows that he had no clue Harry would try something, which makes his overall reaction so much more believable.
With a few strides, he is next to me, putting a protective arm around my shoulders. For the second time today, I remind myself that I can’t get used to this. He is doing it for a purpose. Just like me, he has an agenda.
“Hey, babe,” he smiles, planting a kiss on the side of my head. “Something wrong?”
“Harry is worried because I met the warriors earlier this morning,” I explain.
