SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Twenty Seven
Still; the further away from GreenTree the SUV went, the more keenly he felt her absence. He turned onto another narrow mountain road as a calm acoustic song played from the radio. He turned the volume down in annoyance.
Flint took a few deep breaths and closed his mindlink to the pack a bit. He needed to compartmentalize his feelings in order to think over the situation. The first thing he would be faced with would be the differing opinions of his fellow Alphas on the HillCreek treaty.
SilverCrest had been holding the summit meetings since the alignment of the packs. Unlike the packs closer to the valley, the SilverCrest members lived most their lives in wolf form. They owned an old ski lodge that closed in the late seventies. It was aptly named Snow Slide and this is where their young were raised. It was also where Flint was heading.
Once born, SilverCrest pups are left with the members who are too old or ill to shift. They are raised in the old ways until they released their wolves. Selena had explained it all to her son when he was young. She was always very proud of her connection to the SilverCrest pack.
Being on top of the mountain meant that they never had to deal with humans or rogues. They kept to themselves and therefore, Flint assumed they would have no opinion on the treaty. As usual, SilverCrest would most likely take the role of mediator.
The GraySky pack was StarLight's closest ally and the previous home of Flint's mate. Jay, the Alpha, was Eve's brother and he had been against Flint and Eve's mating last year when it happened. However, he had always been a loyal and clever leader. When the treaty was signed, the GraySky pack were the only wolves that supported it.
NorthWood would be the most challenging of the pack mentalities to deal with. Their Alpha, Daniel, had been managing his own rogue problem when the treaty was signed. Apparently since the creation of the HillCreek pack, NorthWood had lost four of its warriors to attacks from half-breeds.
Alpha Daniel blamed the treaty. The rogues against his people were enraged by StarLight's validation of their enemies, when they couldn't get the same from NorthWood. Flint had decided on several talking points about the ordeal but he too blamed himself for moving too quickly.
Directly after the treaty signing, when HillCreek was moving to their chosen territory, Bastian escaped. Not only had he escaped from StarLight custody, but he did so with the help of Selena. Flint's mother's disappearance with the dangerous rogue had taken over in his mind as the most pertinent problem.
This was where he focused his concentration and the efforts of his people. In his mind at the time, it seemed to be the most logical thing to do. Now, however, he realized his mistakes. Flint pulled into the parking lot of the Snow Slide resort. He rubbed his face and took a deep breath before stepped out of the car.
Someone emerged from the car beside him. As the figure stood, he recognized his blonde hair over the roof. Jay's blue eyes turned to him. His expression was both curious and reserved. He nodded in greeting and Flint returned the gesture though he was clearly lost in thought.
"How's Evie?" Jay probed as he stripped of his clothes and threw them into the driver's seat.
"Fine." He grunted as he tugged off his shirt.
"Daniel is trying to make waves but the treaty did more good than harm. We'll talk to him." He tried to reassure his sister's mate.
"I know." Flint nodded, tossing the last of his clothes into the SUV.
A white truck pulled into the parking lot and came to a stop nearby. Daniel Morris was unmistakable with his copper, brown hair and serious expression. He was a bit older than Flint and Jay but his leadership was respected no more than the others. Flint shifted without giving the Alpha any more attention than necessary.
Jay watched as the large white wolf ran across the open, snow covered land before disappearing into the trees. He shook his head and approached Daniel, who was busy stripping of his clothes.
"Alpha." Jay nodded to him.
"Alpha." He answered.
"How are things in Dayton?" He probed.
"With the exceptions of our being on the verge of war, we're great. How's Acres?" Daniel replied stiffly.
"With the exception of division between the packs? Just great." Jay returned his tone.
"Cut the shit. I know where your allegiances fall." He stated.
"Okay. I'll 'cut the shit' as you so elegantly put it." He crossed his arms over his chest. "My allegiance is to GraySky. Don't mistake me."
Daniel boldly met his gaze. Jay flashed him a snarky grin before shifting, following Flint's trail into the forest. As always, the Alphas would meet in wolf form. There was no small talk or hidden agendas amongst the animals. Doing things this way simplified matters.
Flint stood deep in the woods, inhaling the crisp air. The scent of the SilverCrest pack coated the wind. However, one powerful, masculine scent rose above the others. Flint wasted no time in running toward it. After several hundred meters, he spotted a large gray wolf with a dark under-coat and a gray muzzle.
Flint came to stand in front of him, meeting his eyes. In all the years Noah had been Alpha, Flint had only seen his human form twice. It was clear that he was most comfortable when his animal was in charge. Before Noah, Selena's father had been the Alpha. When he died, this left the Beta to take over. Noah had ruled over the SilverCrest pack ever since.
Alpha. He sat in front of him.
Alpha Dolan. In trouble again. The old wolf answered.
No more than we can handle. Flint replied.
We weren't asking, Flint. You're in trouble. We have much to discuss. Noah sat in the snow decidedly.