Intuition

Elkin Adler was a sixty one years old wolf, who was recognized as the most knowledgeable doctor on the mountain. He was born in StarLight and his loyalty to the pack had never wavered. Yet anytime Flint was involved with him or his name, there was palpable tension.

One night in 2013, an argument broke out at the Dolan manor between Flint and Elijah. At age twenty three, Flint had given up on attending the Call and finding a mate. He had been hoping to find her for six years, since his first Call, but he thought she had abandoned him.

Elijah overheard his son explaining this to Selena. Without a mate, an Alpha can not lead. One’s other half is required to temper their power and aggression. He was unwilling to hear of it and forbade Flint from abandoning the Call. The argument turned explosive.

Flint had struggled to contain his wolf’s anger for his entire life. On this night, he failed to keep the animal at bay. Elijah and his son attacked one another and not even Selena was able to pull them apart.

The fight spilled out of headquarters and into the open. Many pack members stopped what they were doing to observe the scene with shock and awe. Flint and Elijah were not holding back. Their pack watched as the wolves tore into each other.

Flint’s wolf lunged harder than necessary. Elijah’s body was thrown through the air. His back slammed into a utility pole and a sickening crack sounded through the air. Even in his wolf form, Elijah lay crumpled and severely injured.

Selena rushed to help him and Flint’s surprise pulled his inner beast back under control. Elijah transformed into his human body and he was clearly severely wounded. He was taken to the hospital with Selena.

For hours into the night, Flint raged in his apartment. Waiting to her about his father’s condition was more nerve wracking than the fight had been. When Selena finally called him, she explained Elijah’s condition.

The Alpha would walk again, thanks to the treatment of Elkin Adler. However, there was nerve damage that would never fully heal. Elijah would most likely walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Flint knelt at his father’s feet when he was finally released from the hospital.

This cemented Elijah’s position as Alpha for the next three years. It also drove Flint into a depression that caused him to drink more liquor and bury his emotions in random flings. Any time Flint and Elijah stood together in a room, his father’s thin black cane served as a reminder of his actions.

Now Eve and her mate learn that Elkin Adler, the best doctor on the mountain and the man who saved Elijah’s spinal function, had been Selena’s physician when she was pregnant. To get more information on what Eve could expect of the Dolan power growing inside her, the Alpha couple would need to speak with Elkin Adler.

Flint explained the story to Eve on the way home from the country house. Elkin had been one of Flint’s biggest detractors since that day. The doctor claimed that Flint was too explosive to be a good leader. The two had been avoiding each other ever since.

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The following morning, Eve and Flint loaded their suitcases into the SUV. Their first stop would be the pack house in the Valley. It would take more than three hours to get there but having some time with no business to discuss didn’t feel like a chore.

The radio, along with being in the company of their mates, eventually lulled them into a state of calm. The discussion about the doctor had wound Flint up last night, but it seemed those worries were gone as soon as GreenTree faded from the rear view mirror.

“How does Anna like it in Monette?” Eve probed casually.

“She doesn’t seem unhappy at the pack house. Still, she’s ready for progress.” Flint replied with a shrug.

“You spoke to her yesterday, right? Any news?” She asked curiously.

“She said there was nothing emergent. I told her she could explain everything she had found when we get there.” He explained.

“When are we going to find Briar’s family?” Eve probed.

“Their store will be closed when we get there and I’d rather not ambush them at home. It gives them the advantage.” Flint answered.

“Ambush...” She looked at him curiously.

“No one will get hurt unless they fight us, Eve. It’s not like that.” He laid his hand on her knee to comfort her.

The Luna nodded though she could feel that her wolf did not agree. The animal was restless and suspicious of the rogues in the valley.

Something isn’t right. The she-beast stated gruffly.

Everything is fine. We’re just on edge. Eve thought to herself.

We have a feeling. There is more here than we think. The wolf answered obstinately.

Like what? She asked curiously.

Danger. I don’t know from where but it is coming. We should not have gone to the valley. We were safe on the mountain. The animal answered in frustration.

We are safe here too. Flint is with us. Eve looked at Flint and allowed the soothing electricity from his touch ease her fears.

The Alpha could feel her nervous worry. Flint glanced at her to see his mate watching him with a peaceful expression.

I will not leave you alone, little thing. Flint’s wolf entered her mind with ease.

I know. The she-beast answered.

Eve smiled to herself and turned back toward the window. The ride was smooth and calm. It was as if they both knew that this trip would change things. And neither one was willing to let go of the serenity they found each time they were alone together.

Eve tried to get a sense of Monette as they drove into it. The place seemed to be bigger than the town of GreenTree but smaller than the city of Calgary. There were residential areas, a shopping district, and a few factory warehouses.

The pack house came into view in the mid afternoon. It was a large, three story brick building with hardly any yard to speak of. The area seemed to be zoned for business because there was a sober living house at one end of the street and a daycare at the other.

"Here we are." The Alpha cut off the engine in the short driveway.

"This is where the pups were staying a few months ago?" Eve examined the place.

"We have a handful of these houses in different areas. They're licensed as StarLight income based living facilities." He nodded.

"There is no open land here." Eve noted thoughtfully.

"Human's don't require it. They like concrete." Flint grabbed their bags out of the back seat.

"I don't see why. Everything is kind of... Gray." She thought aloud.

"In the world of humans, colors matter less. They prefer their tall buildings and busy streets." He smiled at her naïveté.

"Why?" Eve furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Humans don't have a why. Just a how." Flint shrugged.

The door to the pack house opened as they approached the porch. Anna stepped out to greet them. Her cocoa skin tone and honey eyes were the same, though it seemed as if she had cut her dreadlocks a bit shorter than the last time Eve had seen her. As always, the specialist wore a calm, collected expression.

"Alpha. Luna." She greeted them respectfully.

"Anna." Eve smiled at her.

"Come inside." Anna helped to take one of the bags. "We have much to discuss."