The Silver Dagger

Mate

"Are ye sure it's Beta Medoro's sister? He's such a wee prick."

Aiyana pulled up a smile despite the pain that was nearly making her cross-eyed as he turned to face her.

"It's only a guess. I've never been to Italy, but it reminded me of pictures I've seen and she felt like she was in that direction." 

"Sit here," Doc said, indicating the chair next to the X-ray.

"Ah never would have thought tae look there, it's so warm," Colum said as he sat.

"Okay, let's take a look," Doc said. Aiyana stepped to the side and out of Colum's line of sight supposedly to give Doc more room, but truly she was moving closer to the wolf-strength pain medication in the cabinet just beyond the X-ray machine.

"Aiyana, sorry, Bhanrigh Aiyana," Salma said, entering the room with Nate right behind. "I like that better than Queen. This is so exciting, but there's so much to do. First, you have to choose an Alpha to be directly under you - it's like a Beta, but they're called an Alpha because your position is higher. Nate would be a good choice since it would be odd to have a male Luna."

If she didn't know what Salma had done to Nate, she would still want to scream, but perhaps not so badly.

"Aiyana, what happened?" Cliff asked from his bed.

Aiyana turned to answer him but before she could, Salma continued as if he hadn't said a word. "You'll need advisers, especially at first. I'd be happy to help. You'll probably want to redecorate the pack castle too. I know several excellent interior designers."

She tried to catch Nate's eye so he'd get his mother out of there before she informed the woman that all her plans had failed but he was busy frowning down at his mother.

"Mom, she hasn't even seen the castle yet."

Salma dismissed her son's comment with a wave of her hand. "Did you see the way the Scots are dressed? I bet the castle is worse - all dismal and dreary. They haven't had a Luna in years. It's no wonder they're virtually rogues."

Was Salma crazy? She was talking about redecorating the place where Colum had grown up right in front of his face and calling him a rogue - possibly one of the worst insults you could give to a werewolf. Her wolf bristled. Despite what Colum and his Beta had done, her wolf liked him and she did too. He didn't look like he was going to attack - which actually said a lot about his character - but she put a hand on his shoulder just in case. 

"Luna Salma, you are talking about my pack. I'm sure..."

It was as if she'd abruptly dropped into a crowded auditorium. She somehow knew her body was still where it had been, but if felt like her head was somewhere else - somewhere she could gaze out over the whole world and almost see the wolves that made up her pack - and it was her pack. She sensed that they felt her too, that they knew they had a new leader. Surprise, fear, and cautious optimism came through the connections. Should she introduce herself? How should she introduce herself?

"Leave!"

Colum's loud command pulled her back into the room. His power was strong. Her wolf nudged her. General. He'd make the perfect General. Was it wise to trust him? He had been one of the first to recognize her as queen. He hadn't fought it like his father and he had taken a dagger for her. Could that have been planned to gain her trust? It wouldn't be easy to gain the support and trust of his pack without him. Trust - it went both ways. There was so much they needed to discuss.

"Tell them Aiyana."

She missed the first part of what Salma said so she had no idea what she was supposed to say. Maybe it had been something about Salma being her mother-in-law. Thank goodness she wasn't.