Hammers in the Shadows

Part One: Shadows And Ice - Chapter Three

He cocked his head slight. "I take it you aren't sure about being Guardian?" He asked me, "You've been through the Academy, and both of you have passed through with flying colours, hell you were the damned Valedictorian of your class! There's no reason for you to be unsure of yourself Mark."

I gave a short, ugly chuckle, "That's not the reason I hesitated Adam. Anna and I have already agreed on how we're going to do things and it will involve an older rank being resurrected from history." I took a breath and then carried on, "Anna will be the Matriarch, that much has already been decided, it was decided almost from the day that she was born. On the other hand, instead of being subservient to her as the Pride Guardian, together we've decided that I am going to be... Pride Lord, a rank equal to her's" I finished in a single burst sitting back and feeling Caspian crooning again and rubbing his head against mine.

He nodded and smiled, "You certainly worked hard enough to deserve it Mark." He finally stated with a smile. Now as for your problem with your neighbours," He slid a Compact Data Card across the desk to me. "I was wondering if you needed help, so I made a copy of the Inter-Pack Treaty that we have down here. There are some Packs up closer to where you are that are a part of it, down here, Night Depths was the last hold out, and you know how that ended up. Some pay only lip-service to it, even so, if they go to far they stand a chance of having their pack removed." He said, leaning back in his chair as I slipped the card into the port on my tablet, that I'd brought with me. "Read it, and discuss it with your mate, and even your Council. You will need a minimum of five packs, or prides supporting you to join, though from what I've seen you have already met that quota. I've discussed it here, and we'd also like to extend to you a formal note of alliance between us here at Wild Valley and your Blackwater Pride. Part of that note of alliance is a clause on mutual defense against aggression." He completed with a note of finality in his voice.

I quickly read over both documents, and dashed off a signature with the tablet's pen on each. "I am signing these on behalf of Blackwater Pride, though until they are ratified I can't do much more than that, though I have a feeling that during our next Council meeting it might get buried under an excess of other business since Anna and I will probably be taking our new positions as Shanna and Olaf will most likely be retiring. The best I can hope for, under those circumstances is for the Alliance, and the Inter-Pack Treaty to be signed at the following Pride Council meeting."

Adam nodded slightly, "I understand Mark, look over what is in that package, before you give it back to me. You've barely had three minutes to look it over and yet you've already signed it," He took my tablet from me and erased both signatures. "I know that you are desperate, but you have to think, and discuss this with your mate before you do sign them. However, pending that consideration I am going to assume, that for the interim, you are agreeing to both agreements."

I nodded again and then stood and held out my hand, "Thank you for the generous hospitality over the past two years Adam. I enjoyed my stay and I like to think that I learned a lot while I was here and I definitely know that Anna and the rest of my family learned a lot too." I chuckled softly when Apollo tilted his head and croaked at Caspian, who was on my shoulder. "Good luck with your ravens, they'll serve well here, as they have back home." I told Adam before turning to leave, Anna and I had a lot to do so that we could leave early the next morning.

The next morning, it was early when myself, Anna, and our family walked out the front door of the Packhouse towards our SUV with our wolf-dogs. Before we climbed in I turned around when I sense that we were being approached from behind.

Coming down the steps of the Packhouse were Adam, Brook, and Zane.

Zane moved forward with Izzy, their pups, and the rest of his team. Rico was on patrol and so was Simone. The rest were there.