Chapter 46: Wizards Problem

No matter how closely Daflon examined the two jeweled necklaces, he still didn't know which ones to buy Crystal. Would she prefer large rubies strung in a waterfall shape, or should she like a string of diamonds that could delicately wrap around her neck? Both seemed the right choice, but which was better?

"Bring me your Master!" A loud, powerful female voice boomed across the merchant carts.

Daflon shifted his hand, the blade hilted at his waist before leaving his jeweled dilemma to investigate the demanding stranger. Making his way through the startled crowd of shoppers, Daflon found the Silver Heart Pack Warriors and their Alpha Andrei gathered at the foot of Wulf Mountain.

Looking down the long staircase carved into the Mountain, Daflon saw the gate guards attempting to settle the angered warriors who were beginning to frighten the various beings that came to seek the Wizards Society's aid.

"Go!" Alpha Andrei yelled at the two gate guards trying to calm the worried crowd. "Call you, Master! You Wizards killed my Beta Stella! Are you such cowards that you will not admit the crime you have committed!"

Daflon watched as the Silver Heart Alpha eyes began to turn wolf-like and her canines began to elongate. She looked as if she would turn and tear the two unknowing guards to pieces. Even the shaved side of her head seemed to start to grow.

In a blink, Daflon watched as a Silver Heart Warrior thrust a spear at the gates lock, and for the briefest of seconds, Daflon thought the warriors had broken past the spell-bound lock, but the magic held. Bouncing the spear off the metal frame and sending the frightened crowd in a frantic retreat.

Daflon brought two fingers to his lips and whistled a birdlike sound. A minute later, Rose and Thomas shifted into their human forms beside him.

"From your report, Rose, you killed a werewolf from the Silver Heart Pack while escorting Princess Dolores, but I was under the impression that this werewolf was only your standard Omega....not the beta of the warrior Pack," Daflon said, his tone irritated and controlled.

"I swear if she was a beta, I did not know." Rose's voice quietly sang.

"Hmm," Daflon rubbed at his jaw. "Alpha Andrei must be claiming that the dead warrior is a Beta in order to make this problem between us more profound."

Daflon weighed his options on the right next move to take. He needed to get to Jasper or at least send a message to him. With the werewolf warriors blocking the gate, he had no way down the Mountain besides flying, and that was the only thing he couldn't do. Plus, he needed to stay here and make sure nothing more happened.

Daflon shifted his eyes to Rose and Thomas, opening his mouth to give a command when Alpha Andrei's arrogant voice roared his name.

"Ah, so the mighty Sage escort has granted us with his presence. Daflon was it?" Alpha Andrei jabbed. "It would seem that the great Wizard Society is a bunch of cowards, for no one dares to come out and meet me. Tell my escort Daflon where is your young new Master?"

The corner of Daflon's lips pulled up at her taunting. He always did enjoy a game of wit before the battle. "I see this guest has brought many wolves to see us. She and her Pack must have many questions that need answering."

Alpha Andrei's eyes turned to slits as fury coated her words. " I did not come for your nonsensical answers, nor do I have any questions! Bring me your Master! Let me see the coward!"

"Forgive me but do you have an appointment to meet with our Sage?" The Silver Heart Alpha growled, and Daflons smile grew. "Ah, well, can you at least give me your name so I may tell my master?"

Alpha Andrei growled once more before speaking. "I am the Alpha of the Silver Heart Pack Andrei. Your wizard killed my Beta, and I am here for payment! I do not need an appointment!"

"Ah, yes, that's right. But you see, you are blocking my way towards my Master. I must ask you to leave for today and come back another day. I will tell the Sage that you wish to speak to him." Daflon instructed.

Alpha Andrei quieted before signaling to her Pack to disperse. "I will be back here tomorrow, and if your coward of Sage does not show himself, I will tell everyone that the bastards of the Wizard Society are made up of cowards and murders!" Alpha Andrei threatened before spitting at the ground, joining her Pack in the forest along Wulf Mountain.

Daflon shook his head as he watched the Silver Heart warriors disappear into the woods. Laughing at the situation, he turned and found Crystal standing behind him, her brows up in question.

"Were those the wolves of the Silver Heart Pack?" Crystal softly asked.

Daflon nodded, moving closer to her to brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"They were so loud. I could hear their noise at the top of the Mountain."

Daflon chuckled. " I don't know where they get the confidence to come here and demand compensation. Does this Alpha not see what she has done?"

Crystal captioned her thoughts as she spoke. "Perhaps she wishes to negotiate with us; however, Jasper is not here. We will need to report this to him. Let the wolves be for today, and tomorrow you can send someone down there to negotiate."

"Negotiate?" Daflon raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Why self defense, of course." Crystal gave Daflon a *how do you not know this* look. An expression Daflon has seen many times since knowing this beautiful creature.

Crystal sighed. "They want to know about why Rose killed her werewolf, correct? Well, the answer is self defense. The Silver Heart Warrior attacked first, and Rose defended herself."

Daflon smiled and kissed the top of Crystal's head.

"Now, Rose, come with me. We must send a note to Jasper right away, and you're the fastest bird I know." Crystals feathered voice ordered as the small group of three followed her back to the top of the Mountain.

****

Down the Mountain in the Grey Tail Pack Territory, Dolores practices hand to hand combat with the newly appointed Beta Brock.

"You mustest tell Ellie until I leave. Understand?" Dolores, breathless, grunted as she danced around the training ring blocking Brock's powerful left punch.

"I understand, Princess Lo." Brock groans as Dolores lands a solid right hook to his core. "I will inform Princess Ellie of her title of Alpha after you leave."

Dolores jumps back, breathing out an exhausted thank you. The two wolves end their training and silently make their way to the watering station Dolores had built. As acting Alpha, she wanted to start by creating a training center with everything they needed to train the Grey Tail Pack.

The last few weeks, Dolores and Ellie have been learning how to manage a Pack with the help of Brock and Jasper, and everything is finally beginning to come together. More and more wolves have started training, and the village houses are beginning to slowly be repaired.

Ellie has even begun to grow more confident. Even some of the Grey Tail Pack wolves have started to see her as one of their own. The realization is comforting to Dolores because she knows Ellie will not want to take over as Alpha, thinking that Dolores should be the Alpha but knowing that the Pack accepts Ellie will help with the transition.

When Jasper steps out into the training ring, Dolores dumps a bucket of water over herself to cool her sweated, swollen body. Brock excuses himself as Jasper makes his way to Dolores, leaving Jasper and Dolores alone, something they haven't been able to be since Dolores became acting Alpha.

Heat fills the space, and suddenly, Dolores is too aware of her now hardened nipples that can only be visible thanks to her wet tunic. Jasper's fiery eyes dance with delight, and the tip of his tongue slowly slides across his bottom lip. Dolores's entire being turned to liquid lava as he closed the space between them.

A breath apart, Dolores parts her lips in a silent opening for him when a familiar sing-song voice clears her throat. Turning together, Dolores and Jasper see Rose standing beside them, a fine line of red across her face and her tiny hand outstretched with a letter.

Dolores jumps back from Jasper, her own line of red now covering her cheeks. Jasper clears his own throat before silently taking the letter from the girl. The three remain quiet as Jasper tears open the sealed envelope, his eyes quickly moving down the page before reading aloud.

"The Alpha of the Silver Heart Pack Andrei Rhodes has brought her warriors to the foothills of the Wizards' Society, demanding an apology from us for killing her Beta." Jasper's tone turned cold as he continued. " When told the death was out of self defense, the Alpha cursed the Wizard Society, calling us bastards, cowards, and murders to all the guests seeking aid before making her way to the Ivory Tower near the Silver Heart Pack territory and destroying the building."

Guilt replaced Dolores embarrassment. She knew she was the reason Jasper was here and not at the Wizards Society where he belonged, and now the Wizard Society was attacked by the Alpha of the Silver Heart Pack. Sensing her guilt Jasper dropped the letter and pulled Dolores into a hug.

"This is not your fault Lo." He whispers into her ear.

"I swear, Sage, the attack was in self defense." Rose inserted.

"For hundreds of years, no Werewolf had ever attacked an Ivory Tower." Jasper angrily snarled. "We have always maintained a good relationship with the Werewolves of this country. This attack can only be seen as Alpha Andrei's disdain for me as the newly appointed Sage."

"What do you do now?" Dolores asked.

"We will have to teach her a lesson, my sweet."

Dolores's tone became worried. "If you're going to attack the Silver Heart Pack, I do not think that is wise. They--"

"Oh, I certainly won't do that." Jasper interrupted. "I will teach them in a way that is befitting a great Wizard such as myself to solve this problem."