Trying to maintain some semblance of his authority he looked at the paper she tossed at him stating, “It seems pretty obvious.”
“I didn’t ask you to identify it,” Phoebe practically snarled. “I told you to explain it. Why did you deny the application?”
“Why would you want to adopt two pups in the first place?” he snorted. “Their family can take care of them.”
“They don’t have any family,” Phoebe snapped. “Their aunt and uncle were killed three years ago in a rogue attack. Their grandparents passed the year before that. Their mother was from a different pack.”
“Was she?” Graham frowned.
“She was your exclusive maid. Do you even remember what she looked like?” Phoebe snorted in disgust. “Have you compensated those pups for their loss before you sent your yes man to turn off the water and power to their home? A home they were still living in. They nearly froze to death!”
Graham winced. He did remember signing the order to turn off power to the abandoned home but he had been assured it was empty.
“Those pups have been living with me for the past six months so why can’t I adopt them?”
“You aren’t even mated!”
“And why is that I wonder?” Phoebe growled. Máni had never made herself known since she awakened but now she pressed close to the surface adding power to Phoebe’s anger and enhancing her aura.
Graham involuntarily shuddered as her anger washed over him. It made his wolf completely withdraw. Feeling his wolf become submissive irritated him. He was alpha and everyone was beneath him especially a wolfless female.
What made it worse was that she was right. He should have been aware the pups’ parents were gone and that they had no close relatives within the pack. They should have been placed in appropriate lodgings and whoever adopted them compensated for raising them.
None of that had been done because he hadn’t bothered with the paperwork. Compounding the issue was the fact Kristie overspent her weekly clothing allowance and he had to get the money from another part of the pack’s finances.
“It’s not your place to question your Alpha,” he forced himself to stand giving him a height advantage since he was little over six feet and Phoebe only five-four. “The pups will be taken care of. They don’t need you. Understand?”
The pups had been given a room in the packhouse that was hardly larger than a closet. Somehow they crammed in two camping cots and a pair of trunks inside. According to the pups it was drafty and dark since it only had one small window and no one bothered to install a light bulb in the single overhead light. Even worse the pups’ had mandatory bed checks.
After bedtime the patrolling security made periodic checks to ensure the pups were actually in bed. It had been bad in the beginning but now the patrols were getting more lax allowing Blake and Emma to sneak away returning to her cottage where she kept their room ready.
Her heart ached knowing her anger made life difficult for pups that already had enough tragedy in their young lives. Máni whimpered in her mind sharing her guilt. Their anger was completely justified but they expressed it in the wrong setting. Even so Phoebe continued to care for the brother and sister providing them with new clothes, much better than the shabby hand-me-downs from the pack’s donation closet.
Turning away from the packhouse Phoebe made her way back to her cottage. Her mind raced with meal ideas. She smiled already looking forward to company. Normally her meals were solitary affairs unless Bridget stopped by so the pups would most certainly be a welcome change.
Máni perked up. Phoebe could practically feel her tail wagging in anticipation. One day they would find a way to keep the pups close. She just had to be patient and avoid Luna Kristie’s notice.
“There you are Phoebe.”
‘Speak of the devil,’ Máni huffed.
Inwardly she cringed as she turned, “Hello Luna.”
Kristie was almost a half foot taller than Phoebe with a lithe body punctuated by an hourglass figure. Her long, blonde hair was neatly highlighted and professionally styled as were her nails. It was clear she spent a lot of time and money on her appearance.
Yet her aura was minimal. In fact Phoebe barely felt it even when Kristie tried to exert influence over her. Máni confirmed the Luna’s aura was exceptionally weak so Phoebe knew she didn’t imagine it. Despite this, or maybe because of it, Kristie resorted to rather extreme measures to keep her authority over the pack. Phoebe struggled to maintain a neutral expression keeping her disgust contained.
“How can I help you, Luna?”
Kristie smirked, “We’re having some very important visitors next week and I don’t want those annoying little spawn to bother them. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes Luna. I’ll arrange some activities to keep them busy and out of the way.”
“Good.” Kristie smiled tipping up her nose. “Poor Phoebe, I do pity you.”
“Pardon?”
“If only the Goddess had been kinder to you and gave you a wolf then you wouldn’t have to deal with those snot-nosed kids.”
With a condescending smile Kristie walked away. With a sigh Phoebe tried to calm herself. A luna was meant to be the heart of the pack and ensure the pack’s future. How could she not like pups?
‘She is no true Luna,’ Máni gave a dismissive snort. ‘A Gamma maybe. Delta most likely.’
‘Hmm.’ Phoebe really couldn’t argue considering the alpha had been her fated mate. ‘I don’t see why she has to act like that. She’d get more respect if she was more personable.’
‘She is in a position she was never meant to have so I suppose an inferiority complex is natural,’ Máni said. ‘Especially since her wolf is submissive to us.’
‘It is?’
‘Oh yes. Imagine how much her pride must smart every time her wolf shows its belly to you…a wolfless she-wolf.’
Phoebe frowned. This was not the first time Máni mentioned something similar. Although her wolf continued to hide itself other wolf spirits instinctively sensed her presence and reacted in various ways. Higher ranks acted subservient causing disconnections to their human half while the lower ranking wolves showed difference and respect.
Phoebe found they had a calming influence on others defusing arguments even if she didn’t directly intervene. Yet despite this others continued to think she was wolfless but as Máni wasn’t inclined to explain it was a mystery she never expected to solve.
‘Well we’ll just have to stay out her way.’
‘Or she could stay out of ours,’ Máni countered. ‘Next time…I vote we don’t save her.’
Phoebe chuckled remembering the night as if it had happened yesterday. It had been the night of the Winter Solstice and the pack was celebrating the longest night of the year in fine style.
* * *
Avoiding the party as usual Phoebe’s quiet night was interrupted by Máni suddenly declaring an urge to go for a run. Since the majority of the pack would remain at the party there was no reason to be overly cautious.
Phoebe headed to her garden. Satisfied they were alone and unseen she slipped out of her clothes folding them neatly and stuffing them in a small bag she hid under her mother’s rhododendron. The cold, night air caused her pale skin to prickle with goose bumps as she stepped beyond the garden gate and into the woods beyond but the discomfort faded as she shifted. Her first shift had been painful but now it was exhilarating as she gave into her wolf and dropped to all fours. Thick silver fur kept her warm and her senses sharpened.
It was an odd sensation as Phoebe and Máni switched places. Still aware, Phoebe’s consciousness faded to the background as Máni pressed forward. The switch wasn’t strictly necessary but it was more efficient to allow her wolf to take the lead in this form where Máni’s control was instinctual and automatic just as Phoebe’s was in human form.
Stretching Máni sniffed the air and assured them they were indeed alone. A light snow gently fell, landing on their fur but not melting. Delighted with the picturesque night Máni turned in circles with her tail held high. Leaping straight up, she snapped at the lazily falling flakes before sprinting off with freshly warmed-up muscles. It was exhilarating to run like a ghost through the dark woods. Their breaths came out in clouds that quickly vaporized behind them as they ran onward through the snowy landscape.
Máni suddenly slowed and stopped. She sniffed the air, hackles curling back as she caught the faint scent of arousal in the crisp air. They were relatively close to the packhouse but still far enough away for it to be unusual to meet another. Cautiously she eased forward until her sharp vision located the pair currently engaged in illicit activities.
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