Intuition

A large, muscular, white wolf pushed through the doors of the hotel. Eve, who had felt him approaching, was waiting for him by the reception desk. He met her gaze and allowed the warmth in them to sooth his anxieties. Eve gestured for him to follow her into a small room beside the elevators.

Once in the storage area, she closed the door. In mere seconds, Flint stood before her in his human guise. Eve handed him the robe she’d been carrying. The pair didn’t speak right away. Instead, they allowed their mate’s presence to calm their raging emotions. The Alpha held her close to him, burying his face in her hair for several long minutes.

“It’s Bastian.” He breathed.

“I knew it.” Eve pressed her cheek to his chest.

“Who else, right?” Flint pulled back to look at her face.

“What happened out there? We all lost someone.” She probed as he touched her chin thoughtfully.

“A rogue said it was a message for me and dropped the bodies from the trees.” He answered.

“A message for-” Eve cut herself short. “He’s trying to divide us from the other packs.”

Flint nodded and pulled the robe on his shoulders. The Luna plunged into thought as her heart began beating faster in her chest. Not only was the treaty with HillCreek creating strain throughout StarLight, but now they were becoming alienated from their allies.

“Well, what are we going to do?” She asked.

“Honestly...” He exhaled sharply. “I don’t know yet.”

Flint saw the fear in her eyes and he felt it in his chest as if it were his own. He cupped her face and kissed her. As his lips melded with hers, the electricity there coursed through them both. Even when the world seemed to be crumbling around them, the sensation of being together still remained.

When they parted, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the waiting area beside the lobby. Jay was already there but he didn’t seem to be answering the questions being thrown at him from all around. He simply sat beside his mate with his jaw tight and his body tense.

Flint cleared his throat, drawing all eyes to him.

“We all lost someone.” He began.

“Why?! How?!” Daniel growled.

“A group of rogues. They pulled them into the trees.” He explained.

“They said it was a message.” Jay stood and met Flint’s gaze.

Flint could feel how angry his mate’s brother was at him. Jay had been holding back his fury, but he was struggling to do so. Like the rest, GraySky pack had lost a member.

Before there could be more arguing, someone entered the room. Graham came in with a newly unbuttoned collar, revealing his bruises without thought.

“What happened? We lost someone.” He asked in a tight voice.

Until she saw him, Eve had forgotten StarLight had a new Beta. When a pack member is lost, the Alpha and Beta feel the loss through the mindlink. Their mates feel everything they do, explaining the Luna’s sense of the death.

“Rogues killed one of each of us.” Ben stated.

“How?” Graham furrowed his brows.

“They pulled them into the trees to evade the other warriors on the line.” Jay explained.

“You said this was a message. Well, message fucking received!” Daniel growled. “I should have never brought my people here!”

Eve had been trying to remain quiet. It felt like all her energy was going into focusing on her breathing and Flint’s warmth hand around hers. However, at the aggressive tone of the NorthWood Alpha, her wolf began to thrash around in her mind.

“Maybe StarLight shouldn’t have solved your rouge problem? Or maybe SilverCrest shouldn’t have suggested we do so? Maybe, maybe, maybe!”

Eve stepped toward the Alpha as she spoke. Flint followed closely behind her. The power inside her chest was rising and her mate could feel it. He was cautiously waiting for what she was going to say.

“How about, as leaders- No, scratch that! How about, as adults, we stop placing blame and figure out what to do?!” She lifted her chin and narrowed her gaze. “And if that doesn’t suit you, Alpha Daniel... Leave. Feel free to contact us when you’ve come to the same conclusions.”

She managed to maintain her breath, though it threatened to run away from her. Daniel was furious. He took a step forward with a red face and a tight jaw. Eve immediately moved to step up to him. The hold she had over her aggression was at its limit.

Before she even lifted her boot off the floor, Flint took her by the elbow and pulled her back. He moved in front of her in a defensive stance. He growled and a wave of power accompanied the sound. Eve and her mate had a formidable presence at that moment.

Daniel took in the sight of the StarLight Alpha and Luna. As much as his wolf craved to show his dominance, it was clear that he would lose. His mate touched his arm, trying to help center his thoughts. Daniel took in a deep breath through his nose.

He looked at Jay, whose steadfast expression told him that he would be of no help. He looked at Noah, who lifted his nose as he turned away. Daniel held his mate’s hand tightly as he angrily stalked to the exit.

All eyes turned back to the Alpha couple of StarLight. Flint ignored them and spun to face Eve. He pulled her close to him, allowing his presence to soothe her. The electricity between them was as calming as it was fierce.

Flint inhaled her scent and waited for her wolf to settle down a bit before he turned back to the group. Eve’s family was watching her with a varying mix of curiosity, confusion, and worry. Noah absorbed the scene with interest. His Beta nodded to him as if he’d been given an order before he simply left the room.

“Your packs are going back to your territories and finalizing their moves to their new homes. For now, the threat has passed. The rogues made their point and fled like cowards.” Flint’s voice was deep and firm. “We can’t accomplish anything else right now. Go, attend to your packs. I’m officially calling for a summit meeting in two days. Sunset.”

Jay and Ben shared a long look and a silent conversation. The Alpha of GraySky eventually looked at Flint and nodded stiffly. Noah nodded and left the lobby.

“I have to-”

“Go. I’ll stay here.” Eve’s whisper interrupted her mate.

Flint followed Noah. Becca immediately stepped up to her daughter and took her by the shoulders. She closed her eyes and focused for a moment, absorbing the feeling of the power that had settled in the pit of Eve’s stomach.

“What’s happening?” She asked as her eyes opened sharply.

“The baby is powerful. I just need to calm down.” Eve tried to reassure her.

“Eve-” Jay was interrupted.

“Are you alright here?” Ben drew her attention.

“Dad, I’m okay. I’m just pregnant with the next Alpha in a very long line of Alphas. He’s strong.” Eve spoke as her mother moved so her father could step in front of her.

It took several minutes for Eve to convince her family she was alright and to get them to leave. Joshua tactfully went to the vending machines with Anna trailing behind him. Graham, thankfully, stepped into the main lobby to make a phone call.

Once alone, she sat on the stiff sofa and tried to calm herself. It had been a long day full of conflicting emotions. And still, the lingering feeling that there was more to come continued to loom over her.