Intuition

The next few weeks passed slowly. Flint focused all his efforts into locating the traitor who was helping Bastian. He immediately looked up the relatives of Adam Hurley.

He began by confirming they were all dead before searching the land they used to own. The address the package had come from was Adam’s old cabin. It had been uninhabited since the owner’s death. There were no discernable scents, as if no one had even stepped foot into the building for quite some time.

Eve had been splitting her attentions between the search for the traitor and the upcoming Call. She had to arrange the schedule, decide on the placement of the stage, as well as deciding on the seating arrangements for the other Alphas. Blair was helpful but the Luna’s mind kept drifting back to the threat Bastian posed to their pack.

Duncan, Flint, and Eve decided on the security protocols of the run. They had chosen to section off the southern territory for the Call. Every available warrior with a mate was expected to show up and patrol a very small area.

Two years ago, Flint would have thought the number of wolves on duty was overkill. Now, on the other hand, he couldn’t help but be glad that Jay was sending GraySky warriors to bolster their numbers even more.

The evening before the Call, Eve found herself staring into her closet. She had been feeling anxious all day. Not just because of the upcoming event, there was something else. Something she couldn’t define. Eve tried to push these feeling away as she grabbed a hanger from the rack.

She looked over the black dress and frowned. She had bought it for this occasion but she wasn’t sure if she would still fit in it. Luckily, the flowy fabric slid over her stomach with a minimal wiggling. She wrapped the navy blue ribbon around her ribs but she couldn’t reach behind her enough to tie the back.

Just was she was about to give up, she felt her mate’s hands take the ribbon from her. She let out a breath of both frustration at her size and relief that Flint had come to help her. The Alpha tied it loosely before turning Eve to face him.

“You look beautiful.” He smiled and kissed her forehead.

“I look like I swallowed a watermelon.” She huffed.

“No, baby. You don’t.” He chuckled.

Eve straightened the lapels of his jacket. He always wore a black suit and dress shirt to pack events. Getting him in a tie was something that hardly happened, but the Luna didn’t mind. Even without the formal garment, her mate was perfect to her.

They got into the SUV and made their way to the stage early. It would take nearly an hour to reach the area for the Call but the ride was smooth and calm. The Alpha couple had to put the danger looming above them out of their minds in order to continue forward with the event ahead of them.

Blair was already there when they arrived. She was directing workers as they set up the area with decorations and tables. Flint was fielding phone calls from the other Alphas while Eve dealt with the general concerns of their people.

GraySky was the first pack to arrive. They were excited and nervous. The feeling in the air reminded Eve of her own run during the Call last year. She and Ellie had both been anxious about finding their mates. Now, the memory of her fears made her smile at herself.

She greeted her family happily. Flint smiled as he watched Eve’s mother flit around her and touch her stomach excitedly. His mate managed to pull herself away from her folks when the NorthWood pack began arriving. Daniel shook Flint’s hand with a stiff expression. He was obviously still unsure about attending an event on StarLight territory.

The buffet tables eventually opened and the sun began to set. Alpha Noah stepped out of the tree line and into Flint’s view. He stood from his chair and nodded to him. Eve followed his gaze to see that the SilverCrest pack had made it in time.

“I’ll be back. Stay here.” Flint placed his hand on the crown of his mate’s head.

Eve nodded and Flint walked away. The crowd seemed to part for him, displaying that one didn’t need to know who he was to sense his power. He approached the SilverCrest Alpha, hoping to talk with him.

“Eve put robes on the trees in the first acre. Your people can turn and mingle with the others if they choose to.” Flint informed him calmly.

We were told. How is your Luna? Noah ignored all unnecessary conversation.

“You can see her.” He gestured to the stage. “The power is still growing. It pours out of her when she’s overwhelmed.”

Noah examined the Luna on the stage. She was talking to Alpha Jay from GraySky with a happy smile on her face. She glanced toward her mate and saw the wolf observing her.

The two met gazes and Noah could feel what Flint was talking about. Even from such a distance, he could feel her strength. Eve nodded in his direction to acknowledge him. Noah did the same before watching Eve turn back to her conversation.

The Elders have made their decision. His voice crossed Flint’s mind, making him tense in anticipation.

“And?” He urged him to explain.

We don’t know if they will give you the legend. We think so, but they haven’t told us. They will answer you themselves. Come to the territory on the next half moon. The wolf spoke bluntly.

“I’ll be there.” Flint agreed.

Noah nodded and walked passed him. He crossed the clearing before disappearing the the crowd of pack members. Flint made his way back to the stage. Again people stepped aside, making way for him. He nodded to them in passing but his gaze kept falling on his mate.

Eve was now seated with her family members. They were all talking at once, it seemed. Jay was telling a story and Eve was correcting him. Their matching blonde hair and electric blue eyes were shared by their father. They were unmistakably his children.

Becca was laughing at them and twirling a around her light brown curl of hair around finger. She was clearly nostalgic having her family together again.

Faye, Jay’s Luna, was clearly making fun of the scene. She tapped her long nails on the table top and murmured something to Eve, giving her an honest grin. Eve laughed at her and Flint noticed she had her hand resting on her stomach. She was already protective of the pup.

Ben was smiling and sipping his drink. The silver in the hair over his ears and in his kempt goatee had clearly been gained at work. He seemed unbothered by the chaos his family seemed to exude. More than that; Ben seemed utterly content surrounded by it.

Flint smiled at them. Seeing his mate with her family, and feeling the way she did in their presence, always left him with a warm sensation in his chest. As Flint stepped on the stage, Blair approached him.

“We’re on schedule, Alpha. Three minutes until your speech. Twenty until the moon peaks.” She informed him quietly.

“And the patrols?” He probed.

“Nothing of interest to report.” She answered.

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.” Flint sighed.

“Yes, Alpha.” Blair replied before she walked away.

Eve touched Flint’s back and he turned to face her. She straightened his lapels and smiled up at him. It had only been a year since she’d met him and so much had changed. The memory of finding Flint had been playing in her mind.

She recalled the first time she heard his howl on the wind. It was deep and rumbling, like an oncoming avalanche of power. Eve remembered the way he looked at her after he shifted into his human form. He was in awe of her existence, followed by a look of accomplishment. The first time he said her name, the sound sent shivers down her spine.

Flint kissed her lightly, bringing her out of her thoughts. Just like it had since the last Call, his touch sent waves of electricity through her muscles. At times it could be warm and comforting. At others, it could make her heart race and her blood boil with excitement. Eve touched his chest, relishing the steady thumping she felt under her palm.

“It’s almost time.” She whispered as she reluctantly pulled away from him.

“Let’s do this thing. Then we can go home.” Flint nodded.

He looked at Joshua and touched his watched. The elder immediately rolled forward in his wheelchair and touched the microphone. He took it off the stand and held it more comfortably.

“Pack members of the range. Welcome to StarLight territory.” Joshua’s voice served to quiet the crowd and draw all eyes to the stage. “For those who don’t know him, I’d like to introduce Alpha Flint Dolan.”

Whispers spread quickly through those gathered. Flint had a reputation for violence and impulsivity. Most of the members of the other packs hadn’t seen him since the last Call. Finding his mate had cooled his temper to a certain degree. He was more able to hone his anger and use it without losing focus.

Eve had been trying to show StarLight this, over the year she’d been there. She thought she was making progress but all this upset with the rogues had Flint’s old reputation sliding back into the minds of his people. He had shouldered the blame for Denise and Randy’s deaths. That hadn’t helped either. The tournament for Beta had distracted them, but not for long.

Their minds were already back on the treaty, the remaining rogues in the valley, and the threats hanging over them. Graham was still healing from the Alpha’s ‘demonstration’ at the end of the last round. The pack was split in their opinions on Flint’s unnecessarily aggressive behavior.

Eve felt the power inside her and thought she should put it use. She projected a calming feeling through the mindlink. It was warm and the crowd of pack members were seemingly put at ease.

She had never done this with such a large group before, and she was surprised at the ease with which it happened. Eve was sure the Alpha power was the reason for this. Flint stepped up and took the Microphone. As Joshua wheeled himself back a few paces, Eve took her place beside her mate.

“I want to start by thanking the packs of the range. Coming together for the Call this year was more difficult than in years past. Still, here we are. Together.” Flint placed the microphone back in the stand.

The audience clapped cheerfully. The moon overhead was distracting to some. Their inner beasts were already fighting the urge to run.

“In a few minutes you will shift into your strongest form and go to find your mates. As the Alpha of Starlight, I wish you all luck. I hope the moon goddess sees fit to reveal your mates to you. It’s a blessing beyond belief.” Flint took Eve’s hand and intertwined their fingers. “Without any more chatter than needed, let’s head the woods.”