Chapter 2

Tristan POV

I listened as Alpha Adam spoke about the increase in rogue activity around the kingdom, several of the others chiming in about attacks that they had experienced as well.  They appeared to be working together in larger and larger groups and attacks were becoming more strategic and less like the random rogue issues.  I was hoping that getting the alphas together could generate some ideas on how best to deal with the rogue issue.

 I asked Alpha Adam to bring his Elite 8 along to discuss what they'd seen while out hunting rogues, to get any insight AND to brush up the training for my royal guards.  I was actually looking forward to finally meeting them, the strongest warriors of my kingdom.  With these rogues pushing forward, it was even more important now to have my guards ready for a fight and who best to oversee their training than the Elite 8.

I had gotten regular updates on them since their inception.  I knew that the other alphas were curious about them as well, especially about their female warrior.  Tales of their abilities and relentlessness had been spreading through the packs for the last few years, especially tales of the youngest female warrior that almost no one had actually seen. No one outside her pack had seen her wolf and lived to tell about it and when they traveled they wore specially designed armor and cloaks. She always kept hers up around others and she never spoke in front of them. It was rumored that a rogue had cut out her tongue even which made me laugh every time I'd heard it.

I knew who their female warrior was and I had seen her wolf.  Of course, that was over 13 years ago but I was glad when I heard she had taken my parting words to heart.  

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I hugged the tiny pup to my chest rubbing her head as I whispered in her ear, "You are a smart and brave and beautiful little warrior.  Never forget that little wolf." 

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She had been my shadow for the week she'd been there and I'd felt a closeness to her that I hadn't felt before then or since.  I was glad when I'd heard she had finally shifted almost a year after they'd found her and even more glad when I learned that the alpha had adopted her.  He was a great alpha with a good family and a strong pack and she deserved that. 

We had already discussed a few more minor issues this morning before starting in on the rogue problem.  As the conversation dwindled down I decided it was time to hear from the Elite themselves on what they'd seen while out hunting them.  I linked Alpha Adam to call his team forward for presentation.  A benefit of being king was that I could mind link anyone in my kingdom.

Since it was their first time presenting as a team I was told they had arranged a special introduction and agreed to it, curious to see. When the door opened they stood there with their hooded capes on and walked in single file and bowed before moving to one side or the other.  The last one to walk in was Stormie, her smaller frame flanked by her brothers on either side.  Once they were in position Alpha Adam introduced each one in the order that they entered the room. As each one’s name was said, they stepped forward and removed their hood, nodding slightly. First was Marius to the left, future head warrior. Then to the right was Cormac - future warrior trainer. Next, to the left again, was Andres, future warrior trainer. Then to the right future Gamma Alton. To the left future Beta Matthew. Then Stormie’s brothers - to the right was Aerick and to the left Alpha heir Arkin. Lastly in the middle was Stormie. When he introduced Stormie, he introduced her as his daughter Stormie and the youngest ever to make warrior. A gasp went around the room when she removed her hood, the light reflecting off her bright white braid and blue grey  eyes.

She was even more beautiful that I'd imagined.  Her eyes were wide, her features delicate and her lips... I mentally shook my head as I tried not to stare at her.  I became aware of the buzz around the room as there was a sudden amount of side discussions about Stormie - were the rumors true?, was her wolf white as well? what was the mark on her forehead? There was also a lot of discussion about her size and her being female and how there was no way she could be a famed Elite warrior. She raised her eyes to me, staring directly into my soul. 

After a minute I quickly silenced the room. I cleared my throat and asked for them to relay their findings to the group. Arkin, the alpha heir and leader of the Elite 8, stepped forward and spoke about what they had seen, what they had learned from interrogation and what they suspected. After he finished speaking Stormie stepped forward and nudged him.  When he turned to face her she signed something with her hands and then Arkin signed back.  I watched as they argued back and forth for a minute, garnering the attention of the room until Alpha Adam stood up and told her enough. She huffed and growled at him before signing something and crossing her arms over her chest, glaring fiercely.

I remembered talking to the alpha previously about Stormie only recently getting her voice and not being comfortable talking especially in large groups so I linked her as she glared at the floor.  As king I could link with any wolf.

'What were you arguing with your brother about?' I linked her.

Her head popped up, her eyes wide as I tried to keep a smile off my face from her suprise.

Her reply came back in a clear, soft and melodious voice.  'The last rogues that we captured said that there was an alpha aiding the New Force.  They couldn'te tell us who - they didn't know a name or place- but they said that they were hiding or hosting the leader.  My brothers and father didn't want to bring it up as there was no proof besides their words.'

I could feel the anger roll through me as my wolf fought to get out and tear the alphas here apart until one admitted to betraying us.

'Be calm.  We will find answers.  Don't show your hand just yet,' came her voice again in my head, acting almost like a balm cooling my anger.  I was surprised my wolf had calmed so easy but she was right.  I decided to call for a break for lunch.

"It has been a long morning.  Let us take a break for lunch and meet back after," I ccalled out as I looked over to my father on my right.  

I linked him, my beta and gamma as well as Alpha Adam and told them to meet me in my office and to bring the Elite 8.  There was much to discuss not out in the open. 

Stormie POV

As we walked in everyone settled around in his office, my father and Arkin taking seats across from the King while the others took a seat on the sofa and chairs further in the room. I was the last one in the room and refused to sit, instead going and standing by the large window that overlooked the garden.  Even seeing it from here brought me a sense of peace. Once the door closed Tristan outright asked my brother and father if the information I had shared him was true.  I turned to give him the stink eye, huffing in annoyance and linking him that of course it was true. Arkin noticed this and called out to me, signing to stop the attitude and asking me why I would tell him when they didn’t have any proof.  He knew what I had told Tristan, there was no need to ask what it was.  I signed back to him furiously telling him that the King needed to know and that we could go out and get proof but that maybe he would know where to start looking.

We went back and forth a bit before Tristan growled at us to stop and explain. I growled back at him.  I understood he was king but there was no need to be a jerk and constantly growl.  My father did not agree with me and admonished me for growling back.

'That was extremely disrespectful.  Enough with that.  We are not at home and neither of us will continue to allow your attitude' my father linked me.

My shoulders sagged in defeat and I turned giving them my back and looking out over the garden again.  Arkin explained what we knew and what those who we interrogated had said. He explained that he didn’t want to accuse someone without proof and that saying something in front of everyone wasn’t a good way to get additional information or get proof.   I could feel Arkin's eyes on me briefly before continuing.

“Stormie thinks you might know which packs to start sniffing around,” he explained as we all felt going from pack to pack would be too much and take too long before someone caught on.

I let my mind wander as I heard Tristan begin discussing what Arkin shared with him with his father, his beta and gamma as well as my father.   I knew they would ask Arkin for some input on some of the packs that we had gone through to help with rogue situations and  that they would be able to rule out several based on what we knew of their people and the land.