Avoiding Alpha

Chapter Twenty

“The Sanguis pack are after my mate - due to her father - we are tracking them, I fear they are responsible not only for the killing and kidnap of one of my best men, but the slaughter of some of my pack.” He gave further details, including Tendra’s position before she was found by him, and the new Alpha’s eyes widened in disgust as he heard the treatment she had received.
“You’ve lived through hell my dear.” He acknowledged.

“No, it hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been hell.” She smiled up at the man in front of her and offered him a little smile. She had never forgotten that while her life had been far from normal, it was nothing compared to others. She was adamant that she would remember this for as long as she lived. It was something she remembered every time she had had to clean her wounds from a beating; that she was not the only one to be in this situation and she had to get up and continue in life. Because she wasn’t so special as to be unique, she couldn’t mope, she had no right and lots of duties. She loved her brother and had to care for him.

                The new Alpha regarded her for a moment and finally respect coloured his expressions. He nodded his head in her direction and offered her a return smile. “You are free to walk my lands.” He declared, “And another thing; you have my aid.”

“My sincerest thanks.” Ray was honoured to be given such aid, with so little on his part.

“I do not forget Alpha Ray. A boy returned to my pack last summer was saved by you.”

“How is the boy? I had no idea you knew it was me.”

“You lingered long enough to see him found by me, I saw you turn and leave when I had him in my arms. He does well. He is training to be one of my warriors and he longs to see you again.”

“Maybe one day.”

“Maybe. Go Alpha, your mate is restless.”

                Ray turned to Tendra to see that she was looking a little twitchy, eager to get away from the strong man and to carry on following the scent before it disappeared.

“Ray.”

“Myco.” They nodded at each other and the Alpha Myco left them to roam his lands. Tendra set off at once, through the greenery once more.

“What’s with the little boy?” She finally asked as she was trying to discern which way the scent went.

“I found a boy, very thin and beaten just outside my territory. He was unconscious and I brought him to mine, gave him some water and revived him. I cleaned him up, gave him a meal. He told me from which Pack he belonged but he was very weak and he fell asleep again. I took him to his pack and made a wolf call. Thinking they had been threatened his pack came to the clearing in which I had placed the boy. Myco picked him up and I walked away knowing he was safe.”

“What had happened to him? Had he been taken?”

“He wasn’t awake long enough for me to find out. And I did not want the Alpha of his pack to think me the one responsible for his condition so I didn’t stay long enough to question it.”

“Is that why he will give aid?”

“That may be a part of it, but not all, we try to have amicable relations with joining packs. We don’t cross their territory but as long as there is no trouble there is no reason for problems. In the competitive world that we live in, space and freedom are the prizes to all fights, allies are always best to have. I have always tried to be respectful of their pack, just in case. The last thing I want is them to turn on me, the best I could have hoped for is that we get their aid as they would have gotten mine had they ever had need of it.”

                Silence lolled back into their troop and the warriors had further fanned out to cover Tendra further as they eventually started to come to the ending of Myco’s pack. The hairs on her arms started to stand on edge and the rotten smell that clung to the air particles as well at the leaves and the petals of all that surrounded her, got stronger and it was so repulsive she found herself fighting back bile to keep from throwing up.

“Tendra?” He asked as she swallowed hard and made for the bush in case she was sick. She wasn’t, she held it back but Ray was behind her immediately.

“It’s stronger.” She replied.

“Well well well. There are very few who smell the scent, let alone follow it, well warriors and woman, welcome to the Sanguis pack.”

                Tendra looked up from the bush she was about to puke in and saw, spread out in a large semi circle - some on rocks, some in trees, other crouched low ready to spring like jackals into action - an army of men, barley clothed but wearing lots of weapons.