Moonlight: The Big Bad Wolf (Black Swan 4) (21 page)

Elora's hair had grown several inches since she was on active duty. He reached up and pushed it back from her, face cupping her head with his hand. When he opened his mouth to speak, she cut him off. "And I have the most impressive secret weapon in the history of the world."

"Speak."

"Litha." Ram looked stumped. "If I call her, she can find me with the signal of my phone. If I can survive for thirty seconds, she can grab me and get me out."

"And what if she happened to be busy doin' her funky spells? Or seein' a movie? Or sleepin' or showerin' or fuckin'?"

"Then I'd be fucked."

"Funny."

"Life is risk." She gave him a small peck on the lips.

"But you can count on the way I feel about you."

He pulled her close so that their naked bodies were perfectly aligned, and reveled in the way she fit him like she was custom made. When it came to the scent and feel of this woman, her wry humor and unlikely talents, her constant faith that the best was yet to come, he would never get enough. And, since he knew he'd come close to losing her, he had vowed to treasure every second.

Since you've been snugglin' so close, and I'm no' complainin' mind you, but since so much of Helm's milk is runnin' free, I thought I might have a wee taste. Out of curiosity?"

She laughed. "Go ahead. It's not like you're not really a baby."

***

CHAPTER_9

The community building wasn't nearly large enough to hold everybody. It wasn't often an issue, since the entire tribe gathering together all at once was a rare occurrence. Except for those who volunteered to patrol the borders, all the wolf people were present, those who lived in the settlement and those who lived in the mountains. The meeting place was a dry canyon with naturally amplified sound. No microphones needed. The rock walls were also a shield from wind.

Large ground fires dotted the area and served the assembly in three ways. Visually, the collective clusters of flame lit the geological strafing in the rock face cliffs in a beautiful rendering of nature's random abstract art. Physically they provided warmth for those close by. They also alerted the psyche of each and every attending werewolf that it wasn't an ordinary night. It was an event.

Some of Stalkson Grey's strongest, and most trusted young males stood on promontories above the congregation. Their presence reassured everyone that the extended pack was safe and well-guarded. Grey stood on an outcropping raised a few feet above the heads of his people. The tribal elders sat on boulders on either side of him.

When the king faced forward, ready to speak, everyone grew quiet so that the only sounds were an occasional pop of sap coming in contact with flame.

"I've gathered the wolf people of Elk Mountain because we've come to a crossroads. The old ones sit to my left and to my right so that all know they guide me with their wisdom. The little ones are here so that they will bury the memory of this night deep in their hearts and carry it to future generations. The rest of us have a decision to make.

"It's a decision that begins with a story - the story of our ancestors who left this world for fairer hunting grounds, where game is plentiful and people of the wolf are free. You all know this story. You heard it many times in childhood and probably grew up to believe it was a legend. But we have learned that it was an actual, historical event."

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"There came a time in the distant past when those like us were presented with a choice. They could stay and watch the world grow smaller around themselves and their young, or they could migrate to another world that is real, but hidden from our awareness, and start a new life there.

"Some stayed. We are evidence of that. But many chose to go.

"We find ourselves with a quandary. We do not have enough young females to replenish the tribe with a new generation. Our young males long to pair with mates according to the natural order of things, and bring young into the world. Parents long to be grandparents. But this cannot come to pass without life-bringers.

"This is a trying time, but fortune has been kind. Our friends at The Order of the Black Swan have sent emissaries. They have shown a light onto a path that was dark and hopeless. They have promised to help find a new home that is suitable to our needs and then provide us with a way to follow the tracks of the old ones.

"There are worlds where land and females are plentiful."

Another crescendo of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Stalkson paused and looked over his people.

"There are some unknowns, some questions still to be answered. I cannot promise that we will all be reunited elsewhere. Depending on how many want to go, we may need to assimilate into other tribes in different locations. Before we go, we will have an understanding with the wolf people who are scattered on the winds, and be welcomed into their tribes and onto their lands. Families will be kept together. For now, that is all I can promise.

"The choice is yours. There will be no objections if you wish to stay. Nor will anyone think less of you. But if you want to go, you must declare your intention. We will require names and ages and mating status. If you are part of a family group, we need the number who must stay together. If you are a young blood in need of a mate and you are willing to go alone, we need to note that for the record.

"Please go home and talk amongst yourselves. Tomorrow WhiteDawn will be in the community center to create a manifest list. Those who want to be included in this journey must go and enter your names. Those who want to stay need do nothing but go about your business.

"You may ask questions. If I have the answers I will tell you."

Silence persisted for only a heartbeat before the single young males began offering their pledges in loud excited voices, "I'm going."

"I'm going."

"Put my name down now."

The unmated laughed and gave each other shoulder nudges, pats on the back, fist bumps, and high fives. Stalkson felt a hint of optimistic joy seeing the flicker of hope renewed in the eyes of those who had come of age with no prospect of cultivating a family. They had looked far too resigned and sorrowful for far too long. An adult male without a mate was a shadow of the wolf he might have been.

Most of the young males had never had a heterosexual encounter, but the gleam in their eyes said they were overeager to experiment with mounting a female.

One of the women spoke up. No doubt she was mother to one of the unmated who had issued a public proclamation and was alarmed by how quickly their lives had been irrevocably altered.

"Forgive me for saying so, Alpha, but you're asking us to give up everything familiar without knowing our destination. Are we to follow blindly?"

Conversation broke out among the people and quickly became too loud for Grey to be heard above them. He let them talk to each other for a few more minutes then held up his hand. The power of his authority was absolute among the wolf people of his tribe. He expected their instant attention and silence and that is what they gave him.

Stalkson Grey was calm and composed, unmistakably commanding, immeasurably handsome. Those who were close enough could occasionally see firelight catch in the steel blue of his eyes as they listened, captivated by the authority of his manner and the rhythmic cadence of his speech.

"If I asked you to follow me blindly, I would hope that you would." Another murmur moved through the crowd and many heads were nodding in assent. "But that is not your future or mine.

"I will personally accompany the Black Swan representative on a scouting mission to find new lands that are suited to the best interests of our people. While I'm away, my son, Windwalker, will be charged with fulfilling the duties of alpha. Your problems and concerns will still be my problems and concerns, but he will take care of you in my stead.

"When I return, I hope to have word for you on what awaits us in the new world. What I must carry with me, when I go, is a count. How many? Who?

"As you go to your respective homes tonight, consider this. The future of the wolf people has weighed heavy on my heart for many seasons. It is only a matter of time until humans become jealous of our land. Their numbers increase like cancer. They have no respect for the land or for other species.

"When the wind blows from the east we hear their voices and machinery at the edge of Elk Mountain reservation. They rape the land beneath our feet by horizontal drilling. When that is gone, they will find a way to break the Jefferson treaties. We do not want a war with the humans. We want to live in peace, to run, to hunt, to nuzzle our mates and keep our children safe.

"There is one more thing. Human technology makes it more and more difficult to keep our privacy and our secrets safe. They now carry cameras on their phones and many videos of wolf people shifting. They have been made public and can be seen on computers that are owned by many humans.

"Right now people assume that the pictures are the result of technical magic, cleverly manipulated. The photographers are called liars and are laughed at. But the day will come when they begin to suspect that it is not a trick.

"We could stay and try to hide our ways and adapt by integrating into human society and keeping our natures secret."

The tribe reacted angrily to that idea, shaking heads, collectively saying, "No."

"Understand, then. We are living the twilight of this way of life in
this
world. We cannot be children or cowards and refuse to face the inevitable because it is unpleasant. The way I see this, we can either make a choice about our future or the future will make a choice for us that is far less agreeable."

One of the elders rose and said in a voice that seemed too loud and clear for his old body, "Spirits be with our alpha. Guide him on his path. Keep him safe and strong."

***

CHAPTER_10

Deliverance left Glen outside Sol's office as requested. Litha was only a microsecond behind with Rammel. In two minutes she had returned with Storm. He gave her a peck on the cheek and told her he would just be a couple of minutes if she wouldn't mind waiting.

"I'll see if Elora and the baby are free. Call me when you're ready." Litha walked a few steps down the hall and speed dialed Elora. Storm knocked on Sol's office door. When he looked back, Litha was gone. She could have taken the elevator like everybody else, but she had gotten very comfortable with saving time by getting where she wanted to go virtually instantly.

Sol swiveled around to greet Glen and his team and ask how it went. After a couple of seconds, Glen realized the question was being directed at him. That was going to take some getting used to.

"As well as could be expected, sir. The king was receptive to the idea of migration. He wants to leave it up to his people whether they want to go or stay. We told him he could go with Deliverance to scout possible situations."

"And he's okay with the fact that Deliverance is a demon?" Sol asked.

"Well, um, we... or, I should say,
I
didn't mention ethnicity."

"Ethnicity?" The question was dripping derision. "You didn't tell him."

"No, sir."

Sol steepled his fingers as he stared, or glared, at Glen depending on interpretation. When Glen started to feel the tingle of self-consciousness under the Sovereign's intense inspection, he distributed his weight evenly so that he wouldn't embarrass himself by shifting back and forth, which according to the training would imply nerves or anxiety.

"Anything else to report?"

"He, the, uh, king, will advise when he knows how many of his people would like to be considered for possible migration."

Ram and Storm waited quietly at ease while Sol continued the uncomfortable, silent scrutiny that the two of them had been subject to
so
many times. The familiarity of shared experience made Ram look over at Storm to see if he was thinking the same thing. Catching the movement out of the corner of his eye, Storm responded with the tiniest nod and hint of a smile.

Finally Sol lowered his hands. "You're dismissed, Catch."

"Thank you, sir." When Glen turned around, he allowed himself a microsecond's glance at Storm and Ram and thought he saw a hint of amusement on their faces.

When he closed the door behind him, Storm and Ram both sank into chairs without asking for permission. Given their long history with Sol and the cob-in-the-ass way he'd treated them when they were active duty knights, it was kind of fun to just plop down and dare him to say anything about it. They grinned at each other like they had just shared a victory.

"Would you gentlemen care to report your evaluation of Catch's performance in the field?"

"Flawless," said Storm.