Chapter 171
Aizen and Arnold are having an early light breakfast. Aizen insists on reviewing some of his notes because he has questions. Arnold loves when he does the two of them have full conversations about packs together. I actually really enjoy listening to them bicker. Knight is stretching, and I’m trying my best not to get a second smoothie from the kitchen. I might have another one when I get back.
“Ready?” Knight asks when he catches up.
I motion him to follow. I speed walk before getting to the woods and greet those who are out and about this early in the morning. They all smile and wave at us. When I hit the edge, I start off slow, and he keeps step with me.
My body feels wired. I’ve got an insane amount of newly found energy, and Midnight is loving the open forest. I let her push against me to run as fast as she’s willing to take us. She strays off the trail, knowing that Knight is right behind us. We’re about half a mile in when she stops us dead in our tracks. f shut my eyes hating that tingling sensation she gets when something stupid is about to happen.
“I can’t remember the last time I had to run like this,” Knight laughs, skidding to a stop beside us to catch his breath. I hold my hand out to quiet him down. He immediately straightens up and looks around. “What am I missing?”
-There are several alphas here.- Midnight warns. They don’t belong.-
“Alphas,” I answer and finally catch the scent. While the wolves here have a sweet seasalt scent, the intruders have a more piney scent. It’s crazy that she can tell from this distance.
I shiver when Midnight pushes closer. My claws come out of my fingertips, and I can feel the exciting rush of the near shift. Knight stands behind me with his back to mine. A woman steps out from behind a tree a few yards away. I can see the silhouette in the morning mist, but the unmistakable glow of her red eyes tells me that Midnight was right.
There are alphas out there and I’m a little less angry about needing a guard here in the packlands. Just about that part, not about him bringing a girl he once screwed thinking I wouldn’t know why she would be hostile towards me. I really want him to own up to that without me having to smack him around for him to tell me.
“For someone who hasn’t been a wolf for very long, you’re quite the beast.” She raises her hands to show she’s unarmed. “Phoebe Rizen. We’ve been looking for you for quite some time. It wasn’t until you turned that we were sure it was you.”
“Well, you found me,” I say, and shiver when my skin breaks out in goosebumps. “Who are you?”
“My name is Sloane Teller. Alpha of Molten Stone up in Dartmouth.” she says that as if I’m supposed to know who the hell she is.
“Long way from home. Did you bring your neighborhood? What do you want?”
“Easy, Angel,” Knight warns me. “We’re outnumbered.”
-Food.- Midnight scoffs.
“It’s all right, Rogue King. We know we wouldn’t stand a chance against a silverback. Much less a pregnant one.” She comes closer. When she gets too close, Midnight growls at her. “You’d think you’d recognize your own, Sweetheart.”
The woman is older. A lot older than Knight’s parents. As soon as her eyes change to their natural shade, I see the resemblance. The dark blue eyes staring back at me are the same ones I see hanging on the hall walls in the packhouse. This is so not happening to me right now.
“Fuck.” I growl. “Just what I need. Another blood relative is trying to get their piece of meat. All the other dead ones didn’t warn you off?”
“Shit,” Knight laughs.
“That’s not what I’m doing here,” the woman/smiles.
“If you’re here looking for an heir, we’re not interested.”
1/2
08.07 Sat 21 Jun
Chapter 171
“I’m not here for anything. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m here on behalf of the thie wolf coimell, but that can wait. The others are here to ensure that make contact. They sent me to appeal to your cause. You have no idea what you’re committing to, Phoebe. I want to speak with you both. No weapon No guards. No Tech. Just the three of us. That’s all I ask for.”
“I know what Traditionalists are. You all claim to be pacifists, but you’re trained to infiltrate arid kill to prevent wars, Spies. You’re fucking dumb if you think I’m going to let come near me and my mate without protection.
“I might be new at this, but I happen to be excruciatingly paranoid when it comes to my survival and my family’s. You’re here now, so talk before I’m late and my Beta sends out patrols to look for me. The wolves here don’t take kindly to intruders.”
“It would be in all of our best interests for us to talk,” she insists.
“I want you to leave,” because honestly, what if I had come alone? Or with Amy, who probably would have left me here to die.
“Phoebe-” she begins to protest.
“I think you should go,” Knight growls, cutting her off. “You’re surrounded by Alpha–ranked rogues. If you wanted to talk to my Queen, you should have called. You’ve been watching. Waiting for a moment to catch her alone. That alone would warrant none of you walking out of her territory alive, but I’ve upset her enough today. So get the fuck out of here before I have the last say. She said it once. She doesn’t need to be repeating herself.”
He pulls me back to stand in front of me. I look around, feeling the presence of more wolves. A young guy, who looks like a teenager, rushes to her and whispers something in her ear. She glances between Knight and me before she nods.
“This will not be the last time you see me, Little Wolf.” When her eyes land on me again, they turn pitch black the way Knight’s do when he’s upset. “You will not keep my granddaughter away from me, abomination. You and your father have plenty to answer for.”
She spins around, and in seconds, she sheds her skin and turns into a wolf. More of them follow and leave with her. I never questioned what happened to my grandfather’s mate. I always assumed she was dead. I look up at Knight, confused, out of my mind.
“What the fuck?” I ask and look around. Midnight relaxes enough for me to go back to normal. “No one told me she was alive.”
“I don’t think anyone knows she’s alive,” he says without looking at me. “Or that she converted to Traditionalism.”
GAMES
