Bear Naked 4: The Sons of Garm

Chapter 42

The next day Fenrir was back, with no explanation for his absence the day before. Connor suspected, as Arthur suggested, it was just more manoeuvring. After Amanda's transformation he wanted a day for people's memories to become hazy before he tried to reinforce his own power. And the arrival of the Skinwalkers gave him yet another excuse, to make them wait.

"I'm pleased that the Skinwalkers saw fit to send an ambassador after all," he said to Tommy, ignoring Moth. "Since the decision we make here will affect your future as well." His tone betrayed a veiled threat. Treat with us or suffer.

It was Moth, not Tommy that answered. "The elder has sent us with a message, no more."

"You let the women speak in council?" One of the Grimweir asked.

"We do," Tommy answered simply.

"And the message the elder would have you deliver?" Fenrir prompted.

"Neither he nor any of the Skinwalker tribe will have anything to do with you or your council so long as you ally yourself with these narco-terrorist," she snarled, pointing at the gathered Fleischer wolves.

There was an instant uproar among the Fleischers.

"I don't even know what that is," Koby Fleischer replied in a loud voice. "How can I be one?"

"Are you trying to accuse us of something?" Another man said. Connor's eyes narrowed as he recognized the alpha of the pack they'd faced in Idaho. Marty, he thought the man's name was.

"You know what you are," Moth snarled, showing no sign of intimidation.

"I don't know what they are," Fenrir replied in a mild tone. The crowd of Fleischers settled into a simmer at his words.

"Ever since this pack was driven from our land, since we've refused to help them further, the humans of our lands, our reservation are flooded with new drugs, cheap meth and heroine. And it's their doing."

"Everyone's got make a living," Koby said with a shrug.

"Bullshit! You are destabilising our entire territory to punish us."

"Shifter's aren't effected by drugs," Lukas commented. "What goes on in the human population is hardly our concern."

"Our kin are effected," Moth insisted. "And our human tribe. That might mean nothing to you, but it means something to us."

"Some of us find ways to make a living that doesn't bring suffering to others," Aaron shouted. Connor started and looked at his dad. Dad was usually the cool, reserved one. Not this time. "I can't say what the Fleischers do in their own territory, but these rumours of drug deals and sex trafficking, if they are doing them in other territories, with the intent to harm another's territory." He looked at Fenrir. "You want all werewolves to work together? Let's start by investigating this claim. I have a background in human law enforcement."

"You'd love that, wouldn't you?" Koby sneered. "To arrest one of us. Sheriff Leidulf and his shiny badge gets to play the good guy. They have no evidence. They need to keep their damn mouthes shut."

"They use intermediaries, are careful not to come into our territory themselves," Moth admitted. "But we can guess where the drugs come from easy enough."

"You see, they admit it. They've no proof."

"Anyone who lives in the neutral lands knows its true," one of the Ritters barked out. Koby gave him a hard stare.

"It doesn't matter," Tommy said as he stepped up next to Moth. "We've said what we came to say. We won't deal with you. We won't deal with the Fleischers. And if we catch any white werewolf in our territory without our leave, they won't leave unharmed."

Jazzy rose and went to Moth and Tommy. She faced backward, away from Fenrir and towards Connor and Amanda. "She speaks for the elder, and most of the older wolves in our territory. But I carry a message from my alpha and most of the younger wolves as well. Tyee says, 'if my white brother needs me, I will come. We will all come. We are not afraid."

The Fleischers were still simmering, muttering angrily and at times calling out.

"They can't just come under the flag of peace, make wild accusations and go," Marty yelled. "They can't."

"Oh," Fenrir said in a low drawl. "But they didn't. You heard them. They didn't come to treat with us." He turned and walked away with Lukas hard on his heels.

A cold wave washed over Connor as the implication hit him. He was on his feet. "No! No! They came under the flag of peace."

Amanda was on her feet beside him. She pushed ahead of him, staring murderously at Fenrir's retreating back. "They are our guests," she yelled. "They stayed in our tent. You break peace with them, you break peace with us."

Fenrir stopped and turned. "I have no intention of breaking my peace with you, or with them." He turned and disappeared into his tent.