Surrender (Werewolf)

Chapter 29

The day was wearing on and Wyatt and I had arrived on Alpha Clint’s territory before Sundown. Both of us were in our wolf forms, Emma on Wyatt’s back. Just inside the grounds we were met by a pack of wolves. None of them I recognized from Clint’s trip to our pack a few weeks ago.

The large black wolf with a splash of white between his eyes, who I assumed was the second or third in command of the other wolves, bared his teeth at us and took a threatening step dorward. Wyatt quickly blocked his path by jumping between us. He growled back and then….he shifted.

He was in full nudity in front of me, waiting patiently while the black and white wolf also shifted. He was a tall man, with broad muscles and a strip of white through his black locks. He was fit for his age. If I had to guess, he was probably mid forties. A young boy his side who had also shifted, looked very much like him minus the strip of white. He had to be the tall man’s son.

“Who are you?” tall man asked. “State your purpose here.”

Wyatt was quick to speak. “I am Beta Wyatt Ford of Kieran Knight’s pack.” He nodded toward me and Emma then. “This is his mate Clare and our friend Emma. We’re here to request an audience and refuge with Alpha Clint Collins.”

Tall man turned toward his son then to the other wolves who had still not changed. They seemed to be having some kind of silent conversation. After a moment of silence, the man turned back to us.

“If you are from Kieran Knight’s pack, why did he not notify our Alpha of your arrival? We know nothing of it. As you know it’s customary to…”

“Yes, I know!” Wyatt said impatiently. “It’s customary to announce our coming, but we didn’t have that luxury. We were in a bit of a hurry. Please, tell him we are here. It is imperative that we speak as soon as possible.” 

Tall man glance beside him again to the other wolves then nodded. His eyes met Wyatt’s again. “Alpha Clint isn’t here. He’s on business with a neighboring pack. I’ll notify Luna Kaelyn you are here. If she wishes to see you, you’ll be allowed through.”

Seeming to be the very best response we would get, Wyatt nodded to him and three wolves quickly ran off toward the estate, possibly to retrieve Kaelyn. At first I didn’t understand why they didn’t just mindspeak to her and have her come on her own, but then I realized that Alpha Clint probably ordered his wolves not to let Kaelyn walk around their territory on her own. Trespassers could break through and if there were enough of them, they could take her easily.

There seemed to be a stare down and a quiet assessment of us while we waited. Emma was stiff and quiet on Wyatt’s back, not daring to move. Tall man kept looking between Wyatt, Emma and me, trying to figure out our story and possibly how we all ended up together there.  What circumstances could have warranted us coming unannounced. 

“Arlo, what is this about?” Kaelyn’s voice rang through the trees with the three wolves by her side. She was looking directly at tall man. So that was his name…Arlo. It was only a second before her eyes landed on us. She froze only for a moment, took us in, surprised, then rushed over to us.