Way of the Wolf: Equilibrium

Chapter 38 ~ To Follow Tradition

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Chapter 38: To Follow Tradition

The pack did well in keeping up appearances; laughing and talking amongst themselves as my parents, and their Betas, led the council alphas and their companions, into the garden. We should have known they wouldn’t come alone, not if they thought we might need to be handled. Broad muscle toned warriors walked behind them, sharp eyes never staying still.

We showed we didn’t wish this to end in a fight. Pups ran around near the treeline in a mix of fur and skin under the watchful eye of Bjarke and Freydis who were doing their best to stay out of the way. The bear of a wolf peered over, shifting his stance so he stood between his mate and pup, and the new arrivals. Brown eyes caught mine and he gave me a stiff nod of acknowledgement.

If things went bad, would Bjarke get involved, would he fight with us and risk the attention of the council when his pack had done so well in staying far away from politics?

“You’re nervous,” Braden muttered, eyeing me with steel greys.

“Of course I’m fucking nervous.” Rocking on my feet, I took a deep breath to push away the rumbling growl that wanted to tumble out. “You should be too, if you’re smart enough.”

The male grumbled, his gaze flicking to the council. I scoured his expression for any crack in his armour, searched his eyes for any sign of recognition as he studied the gathered wolves. Noting the very moment his eyes moved to Tomàs, there was no change. No recognition. No shift in his scent or quickening of his heart. Glancing at Ebbe for his thoughts, a small amount of the butterflies in my stomach faded away when he gave me a jerky shake of his head. He didn’t notice anything off either.

Grey eyes met mine again and Braden lifted his lip to bare teeth. “Did I pass your test? Do you trust me now?”

“You will have to do far more than prove you’re not a complete liar to gain my trust.”

We glared at each other. My fingers twitched by my side and it took everything in me not to bare my teeth and growl. Ebbe quickly stepped between us, easy smile in place as he gripped Braden’s shoulder and chirped, “I’m hungry. Why don’t we get some food and wait with happy faces until you’re summoned to speak to the old wolves with too much time on their hands?”

Before I could scold Ebbe for his description of the council, ready to point out my Uncle was barely a year older than me and amongst their number, a gurgling noise broke out. As if awoken by the mere mention of food, Braden’s stomach didn’t stop growling obnoxiously until he groaned in embarrassment. I couldn’t help but smirk. That’s what the table of sandwiches, soups and biscuits was for after all, defusing tension. Wolves were always hungry.

Taking Ebbe’s hand, I too forced a smile in place and motioned for Braden to make his way to the table boasting food. Wolves moved aside for us, eyeing Braden and Ebbe with open distrust and me with curiosity as I scratched at an itchy healing wound on my bare arm. Maybe we weren’t so different from Signy and Jakkon’s pack after all, I’d never noticed how much we ourselves were wary of outsiders.

My thoughts scattered as I took a paper plate and picked at random food without really looking. The atmosphere in the garden made it hard to shake off the tingling feeling shooting up and down my spine, warning me that a threat to the pack was here. Ebbe brushed his arm against mine, subtly placing himself against my back to stave off the worst of the eyes I could feel watching my every move.