Chapter 97

Oliver

We didn’t check in at the hotel, because Phillip had insisted on letting us stay in his guest room in the packhouse. I took him up on his offer, because it was strategic. I could smell the strange off smell of Shadow Warriors, so I know this pack was safe, but there was nothing wrong with having an army of Frosted Ones protecting my mate should I slip up.

This wasn’t a vacation. This was a gods damned nightmare.

“I hear you in there.” Said Phillip with a light tap on the door. Autumn was asleep, but I wasn’t tired.

“I know you can.” I smiled. He slowly opened the door and held a growl.

“You smell of poison, undeath, and magic. I don’t see how my little one clings to you in her sleep.” Said Frigus, also coming in. “But what bothers me more is why you thought it was a good idea to not only initiate war with the third seat, but also drag it here.” He tossed a head on the floor. It rolled lazily, showing a facial expression frozen in horror and fear. Its eyes weren’t miss matched… but it was strange. He did smell like a Shadow.

“Shadow Warrior Dust brought this to me, and I am thankful it is not his brother…. And that this Shadow isn’t fully fledged.” Said Philip. His expression was cold as the snow outside, but he could not intimidate me. I was as firm in my expression as him.

“He tried to take Autumn. I just returned the favor.” I mumbled.

“You escalated it.” Said Frigus.

“And inaction would anyway.” I retorted. We were all quiet as my mate stirred, and I glared at them. “Keep it down. She has no idea, and I intend to keep it that way for her sake. I took his mate, and placed a pain curse on her. I’m surprised no one else had done this.” I mumbled.

“We did, but she had resistance to it…. but like I said you smell of magic. Almost as if you were a coven leader in power and title.” Said Phillip, putting a finger to his chin. “I suppose you ate the leaders of Ruby and Emerald, absorbing their powers. It’s probably why your body is so stable.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Your body smells like it makes and stores it. As a Dead One, I half imagine you’d rot or something, needing raw to sustain your blessing but your scent didn’t change after dinner… you may yet develop into a wolf even the witches fear.” Said Phillip.

“Father what of that cur?” Asked Frigus impatiently.

“If I know Brutus, I’d guess that he’s spied on you some time before trying something like that. I assume he’s intimidated he has no power over once in his charge… and I heard from my little birds you melted him to the bone during your first meeting…. But I didn’t know of the abduction attempt. As it stands, he must think it was Me who arranged this. Alpha Ash split the unit of Shadows, giving me their captain as well as the three highest ranking of the six I originally held. Now Brutus has two Shadows. He will not play another card for a while… The King will likely deny him another.”

“They are Warriors who share a strange citizenship with not only their original pack, but also with their assigned pack. It isn’t something to take lightly.” Mumbled Frigus.

Meat. Growled my wolf. His timing was annoying at best right now.

“I don’t. I have taken every precaution, but I really did come here for Autumn’s sake. She’s too good for me….” I mumbled stroking her hair. She hummed, and I reluctantly got up.

“What are you planning?” Asked Phillip.

“Well… it’s 5am, so training, then make my mate breakfast, then borrow a spare laptop to do my work and afterwards I intend to buy a nice suit for the wedding since she plans on using her mother’s dress.” I said sternly. “I figure they may be looking for my IP address.”

“Right. I’ll let you use my son’s old room. I know you don’t want to work where you sleep.” Said Phillip, and Frigus also seemed to agree.

“Thank you. I was also thinking that it would be nice for my mate to try and do some things for herself like a spa day.” I mumbled, and they also agreed.

“I doubt our town can compare to New Apple, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” Chuckled Phillip, and I got up. We shook wrists, but before he left, he gave me a warning. “Oliver, I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I wouldn’t have done this if he wouldn’t have started it first, and more importantly, I would never purposefully put my mate in danger. I can assure you that.”

I went downstairs with them, if only to make Autumn breakfast like I said I would. I rummaged around, finding some eggs, waffle mix, and ham. Fried ham would be heartier with oatmeal since it was so cold out.

“Can I have some?” Asked Edna, and I sighed.

“I suppose if I don’t you’ll tell your papa on me.” I joked.

“Ha, ha, so funny. Pass me a plate.” She complained, and I ended up making everyone up food before my mate came down rubbing her eyes. I missed my opportunity to go up with it, but getting her to eat something hot before they dragged her out around in the cold would be nice.

“Morning beautiful.” I grinned, and she ran down to hug me. She was warm, and I could feel her pulse. I turned off the stove, and handed what I’d made her moments before.

“Morning handsome.” She giggled. “Come eat with me.” She offered happily, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her I needed fresh. Eating anything else would just piss off East.

“I will after I hunt.” I smiled, and she shook her head.

“Alright, you’re missing out.” She smiled, and he was upset that I didn’t at least snuggle her before we left. She sat down and ate with her family, and I gave her a peck on the forehead. The tingles of her skin on my lips danced across them. It gave me goosebumps.

“If I stay East will loose his shit.” I complained, and he huffed.

“East behave.” She chastised him, and he looked like a dog that had been told he was bad.

I laughed, giving her one last peck, before leaving out the door, stripping, and running into the forest. It was so fucking cool that I could do that. I know the wolves here were spoiled that they could do this. No suits, not holding growls. In this pack they could be as our goddess made us….

I howled, probably ruining anyone else’s hunting too… but at the same time, I didn’t care. I was a wolf, able to be a wolf. I ran in the early morning light. I found a deer, but there was no way I could realistically share my prize if I caught it. Shit. That would be allot of meat gone to waste.

Before I could let it go, Phillip got it, killed it, and tossed me a leg. I heard you went hunting, so I figured I’d help. He linked.

Thanks…. But why help me. I asked.

Why not? You are my grandpup’s mate. Even if you weren’t a guest and family, it wouldn’t be right to let all this meat rot from your bite…. Or rise up and become something else.

That has never happened. I said a little surprised.

Your powers smell like they are still developing. I wouldn’t be surprised if that could be a thing since you’re somehow walking around as you are.

True, but I was made by divine intervention….

I know, but it never hurts to be safe. Oh, and I found an old computer. It isn’t IPear, but it should be fine. He linked happily, and we shared our meat before heading back. My bite melted the bone, and he looked a little surprised when he realized there was no crunching.

It doesn’t have to be special, just that it can run MoonPack Systems. I shared a small chuckle with him, going back. This place was honestly beautiful, and I brought my shit with me to this damn near magical place.

I couldn’t scent my mate when I got to his packhouse, as they’d done what they said. She was out shopping with her mother for a few things, and I wasn’t supposed to look. I put my clothes back on, found my phone, and went upstairs to Frigus’s old room. I could tell at some point he was in here as an adult, likely to help watch his mother, but his scent was damn near gone.

He hadn’t been in here for a long time. It was probably why he didn’t care if I used it or not. The laptop was already sitting on the table for me, and I went on ahead and logged in. I didn’t see much change, and everything seemed in order. Until I looked at my phone. It seemed the witches wanted to help my mate find a dress too, and three of them were on brooms to help with her protection.

I ordered that because I knew well that eventually she would be in danger. What he couldn’t anticipate however was that I had outside sources of might and magic that I could pull favors from.