Insight

That morning, Flint noticed something alarming. He was making a cup of coffee in his office at headquarters, when he realized he couldn’t feel Eve in the StarLight mindlink any longer. He panicked. Flint closed his eyes, desperately searching for her wolf.

Buried beneath the cluttered emotions of the pack, he felt something familiar. It was warm and dependable. He recognized it immediately as Eve’s presence. There was something preventing him from reaching her. Her wolf seemed to be wrapped in a blanket of clouds that even Flint’s beast couldn’t penetrate.

It was frustrating. He had been so close to her just hours ago. He thought that at any moment her wolf would break free and reach him fully. Flint was convinced of it. Now, it seemed like he was as far away from her as ever, if not further.

Flint grunted and ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back from his face. His phone vibrated in on the coffee table. The Alpha grabbed it and took a deep breath before answering the call.

“Yes?” He grunted.

“It’s Johnny. You okay?” The warrior replied.

“Why are you calling me?” Flint retorted.

“Whoa. Not good, then. Okay, well... Buck up, Alpha. I’ve got news.” He stated.

In the mindlink, Johnny was excited and relieved. Flint dared not jump to conclusions; he wanted to hear this ‘news’ before he let himself believe it.

“Tell me.” The Alpha ordered.

“The vine is blooming. The leafy pod things are opening but not enough to see the beans yet.” He stated.

“How long?” Flint probed as his heart pounded in his chest.

“I think I can be on my way back by tonight.” Johnny grinned.

The cellphone in his hand clattered on the floor.

“Hell yes! HELL YES!” Flint’s fists shot into the air. His muscles felt tight as he punched the air.

It took a moment for the hammering pulse in his veins to calm back down. He tried to catch his breath, but the smile on his lips was distracting. He couldn’t wipe it away. His laugh turned into a relieved sigh as he picked up his phone. When he brought the device to his ear, he heard Johnny chuckling.

“Great work, kid. I mean that.” Flint grinned.

“Thanks, Alpha.” The warrior answered proudly.

“How may days to get back? You said three.” He replied.

“No. I said three days in a car, with no stops or meals.” Johnny stated quickly.

“How many days?” Flint asked.

“Six.” He responded hesitantly.

“Why six?” The Alpha shook his head impatiently.

“They’ve been freezing their asses off for weeks on a mountaintop. Prey is rare and when they get the chance, they need to hunt. We’re running on empty here, man.” Johnny sighed.

Flint rubbed his face and took a deep breath. He knew there was truth in the warrior’s words. He reminded himself that the beans would be on their way by nightfall. This, alone, calmed him and helped him find some perspective.

“Okay. Do it. Just make it fast. Don’t stop if you don’t have to. Hunt in shifts on the way.” He eventually nodded.

“And don’t sleep for more than four hours at a time. I know the protocols for peak travel time.” Johnny finished his thought.

“Right. Any trouble with the hunters in the area?” He asked.

“None yet. I have to come down the mountain to get the signal to call in. I’ve seen a few of them, and heard them talking. They’re still after whatever wolves they can find.” He informed him.

“Keep your troop close.” Flint replied.

“Yes, Alpha.” Johnny agreed readily.

“I want a report tonight, once you have the beans and are on the way.” He stated.

“As soon as I get the cell service on route.” He nodded.

“Talk soon, kid.” Flint hung up the phone.

The Alpha released a breath and a smile crept back to his lips. Progress, any progress, felt like relief. Six days... He could go get Eve in six days. Flint stared at his screen for a few moments, before he dialed another number.

“Hello?” Blair answered the call.

“I need you to set a meeting for all the warriors. Today, if possible.” The Alpha informed her.

“I can do that. Who’s leading it?” She replied.

“I am.” Flint responded calmly.

“You- Alpha?” Blair was confused.

“You heard me correctly. I need to talk to the warriors.” He nodded.

“Yes, Alpha. I’ll send you the details.” She sounded surprised and happy at his answer.

Flint hung up and sighed. He hadn’t spoken to any part of the pack, in a group, in months. His last public appearance was at the Call, before he injured his own warriors. Flint looked at the open cabinet in the corner. He was out of clothes.

The Alpha took a hot shower and shaved his face. He then drove toward the manor to pick up something to wear. All the while, he felt for Eve in his mind. She was still there, just blocked away from him. Her heart was beating steadily beside his own. It’s rhythm helped to convince him that his mate was still healthy. That coupled with wishful thinking.

Upstairs in the place he once called home, Flint pulled on a dark suit. He tried to figure out what he was going to say to the warriors. The Alpha knew the pack was having doubts about his leadership. He could feel it. Yet, in times when there seems to be no where to turn.. One could always count on their pack. Flint believed that.

His cellphone vibrated on the bed beside him as he tied his shoes. Flint answered it quickly, knowing who was calling.

“I sent out a mass memo to all team leaders.” Blair skipped all greetings. “They’re going to bring their troops to the arena at five o’clock today.”

“Thank you. Now, I need you to call my father, Joshua, and Duncan. I want to meet with them, before the warriors.” He replied.

“Yes, Alpha.” She agreed.

Flint hung up the phone and took a deep breath. It was hard not to remember Eve standing in front of him in her bare feet, straitening his lapels. He could nearly see her honey blonde hair draped over her shoulders and her sapphire eyes glowing up at him. Flint shook off the moment and looked at himself in the full length mirror inside the closet door. The man looking back at him hardly looked like Flint Dolan, at least in his mind.

His emerald green eyes looked tired and his face seemed pale. Not having stubble on his square jaw was odd, even though before his mate’s kidnapping he preferred to remain clean shaven. Now he just looked like a hollow imitation, playing the role he’d been given. Flint sighed and ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back.

He was thrilled at the idea of having the vine and going to get Eve. However, this would be the difficult part. Facing the pack, giving them answers, asking for their help... However, this conversation meant that the Luna was nearly home. Flint could almost go save her. This thought pushed him forward, toward the SUV. Toward the arena. And in the end, toward his mate.