Storm Born Book One

Chapter 18

Making his way slowly through the village Thomas's mind was distracted the boy in the cell had affected him deeply, what had that boy gone through to make him that way? had he not cared for his life? He would surely die if the Alpha could find no reason to keep him alive it sat poorly with Thomas his redemption was something he had run over and over in his mind since the day they met he wondered what the Alpha had seen that convinced him to keep him alive. When he made him his defacto Beta, He had thought it was because of a lack of options he had fully expected to be replaced at some point but he had kept him as his beta and seemed to have given him his full trust and for that he alone he would always be loyal to him. But what of those wolves what had Gregor done to them to make them so willing to die for him?

"The pack should be returning soon Wolf" a voice came from behind startling him.

"Shaman you startled me" 

For an old woman she was stealthy it was an annoying habit he thought. The old woman got pleasure from startling people, and he often caught her with an amused twinkle in her watery eyes. 

"Why are you still awake?" he asked.

"I thought I would see the packs returned, the same as you."

"I have to be here you do not," He smiled warmly at the old woman. he had grown quite fond of her over the months appreciating her no-nonsense demeanor it reminded him of his grandmother and home.

"Young man I have seen much in my years but nothing as breathtaking as a full pack on a moon run, I am glad I have lived long enough to witness it again. I do not have to be here, I wanted to be here." 

It certainly was a sight, he was young but not too young to remember the last time he had witnessed one he had not taken part, he was only a child when he had snuck out of the pack house to witness the pack leave on their run. He was sorry to have missed out on this one. He would have liked to have run with his Alpha and the pack but someone had to stay behind and he had volunteered along with a dozen of the warriors and some of the omegas to see that children left behind were safe. The pack's children, were all asleep on makeshift beds in the great hall it being easier to watch them if they were all in one place they had all ended up roughhousing with the warriors and sneaking into the kitchens for a midnight feast that he and the others had decided to ignore, He had also wanted to keep an eye on their prisoners.

"How is the boy?"

"He's fine shaman do not concern yourself, I have just come from him, the Luna made him and the others some food".

"He is a tough one, he seems filled with hatred what will the Alpha do you think?"

" I do not know Shaman" he sighed.

"You would have him live?"

" It sits poorly with me to see the death of one so young,"

"Ah you hope for redemption?" she spoke softly, it was silent for a few moments before she spoke again," He saw much to redeem in you, you have his trust and his friendship and he will sorely need your support, do you think he wants to end lives?"

Thomas couldn't think of a reply to give the old woman, from what he had seen of his Alpha he was a man who would save you if he could, he was not a man to willingly take a life, just as he did not think that he was a man who would avoid doing so either if necessary. He turned to face the forest, he could hear a distant rumble and feel a tremor in the ground beneath him.

"They're coming Shaman".

In what seemed barely moments he could make out a large dark mass on the horizon as over two hundred wolves raced across the valley. Footsteps behind him alerted him to another's presence, he did not have to turn around to know it was Luna and His mate. Nelda walked up to him and linked her arm through his cuddling into his side, his wolf practically purred at her comforting touch, and the stress he had not realised he had been holding melted away.