Hammers in the Shadows

Part One: Shadows and Ice - Chapter Seven

He mumbled an affirmative as he tucked into his sandwich and I could hear the growls of a hungry cat as he applied himself to his food, only pausing slightly to gulp at some milk that had also been placed in the cooler for him.

As I had expected it was around seven in the evening when I pulled the truck up to the gate at Wild Valley and handed them my slightly worn looking visitor's ID as well as Shawn's ID.

The wolf from the guard house nodded before lifting the gate and directing me to drive up to the Packhouse.

When I pulled up I saw that Zane was standing outside waiting for us. Tessa was also standing there with him as they were waiting. Paul and the other pups were there as well since they had been informed and they could probably feel him coming as well. Once I had stopped and started climbing out of the pickup Zane moved forward and gave me a good hug, "Good to see all of you again." He turned and scooped Shawn up and gave him an equally welcoming hug, "Good to see you as well Cub. Paul and his coterie are here to see you as well. Adam asked me to come and greet you and say hello. Tessa is going to take your things to one of the rooms in my pod. This is until we decide where you are going to end up sleeping. Technically the room is Izzy's but since she spends most nights in mine she said you could use her room. Might have some active toddlers at night occasionally but I am sure you can handle them, right?"

Shawn nodded and then ran over to Paul hugging his friend and lead pup tightly. I could hear him crying a bit as the slightly smaller pup held him tightly.

"Thank you Zane, this isn't easy, especially now with the situation at the Pride." I said opening the collar of my shirt slightly to expose the collar I was wearing now.

"Not a problem Mark. When I changed packs, it was damn hard. I loved and still care for my old pack but it was the right thing for me. I needed the change though I didn't expect my entire team to come with me. I will take care of your cub and ensure he calls you at least weekly. I asked Tessa to keep an eye on him and all four of my junior wolves agreed to. Have no worries. He will be under my protection and care." He glanced over as the pups and cub were trading hugs.

I gave a soft smile, "I love that cub Zane, he helped me when I was still learning to be what I am. He's still precious to me, he's not even a teen yet and already has found a team to be part of."

Zane looked at me and then over at Shawn before he gave a rather abrupt laugh, "You should have seen me when I discovered Tessa and Oscar had became my junior wolves thanks in part to my actions. As a human, I kept thinking servants though that is wrong. It took me a long time to finally accept they were part of my team and family. Tessa did more for my healing than you can imagine. She held me through my nightmares, fits, and even pity parties. I do understand. We will take care of him and Tessa is going to take a personal interest in ensuring he is doing well." He glanced over at Tessa and she was talking to Shawn, Paul, and the other pups. When she eventually had a pup, she was going to be a damn good mother.

"I just hope that nobody here realizes that he's the son of a Pride Lord and a Matriarch... I don't want him to become a pawn in somebody's power games." I said voicing a private fear of mine.

Zane snorted roughly, "Not to worry, he has Adam, Brook, and me watching over him. That isn't even mentioning their team and mine. I know Tashi cares for him as well and half her Pride is enamored of the young cat. If anyone tries I will break out my half staffs and turn them into a bent nail before handing them over to Brook for straightening or removal. I would say Adam but he is nicer than Brook is when it comes to things like this." He gave me a toothy grin since we both knew getting on the bad side of Brook was not a good idea.

I nodded grimly remembering one of the early training sessions that I'd had with Wild Valley's female Alpha. At the end, I'd felt like I had the first time I'd trained with Olaf. "She's very good with that staff of her's and I don't envy anybody who gets on her bad side. Hell, remember how much she and Anna worked out together?"