by Terry Spear
“I can see Simon’s disapproving look. He’s a responsible pack leader. He will be way too dull for you, sister.” Then Griffin smiled. “Come on. It is time for the bowling games to start. Let’s have some fun. Shall we?”
Simon wanted to run as a wolf with Letta. He hadn’t intended to prove to Letta’s brother that he could enjoy being a typical fae where the humans were concerned, but he went along with it. “All right. A couple of games and then Letta and I are going for a wolf run.”
They transported to the bowling alley then, where the lights were tuned off and black lights were on. Then LED disco lights and multi-colored lane lights came on.
“Isn’t this great?” Griffin asked. “I love glow bowling.”
Letta laughed. “This is great.”
Simon had to agree.
Neon-colored balls were rolling down the lanes to knock down neon-colored pins. Many of the people were dressed in either fluorescent clothes or white clothes, which made them glow. The fae weren’t there to glow. Simon, Letta, and Griffin were invisible to the humans as they watched the neon balls rolling down the lanes.
“You, first,” Griffin said to Simon, as if he were the guest of honor in starting the fae games with the bowlers.
Simon didn’t believe humans losing a bowling game was any big deal. Games like these didn’t mean anything to him. A tug-of-war contest between wolves, now that proved real teamwork, and strength, and competitiveness.
Simon transported to the middle of one of the lanes and as soon as the ball rolled toward him, he hit it with the side of his foot, knocking it into the gutter. He hadn’t thought he’d feel any real pleasure in messing up the guy’s game, but the astonished looks on everyone’s faces did amuse him. He was fae, after all. He bowed to Griffin and then transported back to where he and Letta were standing.
Griffin motioned for Letta to have a go at it, but she shook her head. Her brother went to another lane and waited right near the pins. Then he knocked the ball into the gutter before it reached its target.
“I told you this place is haunted,” the bowler said.
“I keep thinking something’s wrong with the balls or the lane but the next time we play, they’re fine,” another man said.
“Yeah, which makes me think they’re haunted. This place, I mean.”
“We should go to the other bowling alley.”
“I go there too,” Griffin told Simon. “I wouldn’t want the owner to lose all his business here. What fun would there be in that? I don’t mess with the beginners. They have a hard-enough time trying to hit anything. No little kids either. Even if they’re really good. I just go after the overconfident guys. I’m headed to the movies. Good to see you, Letta.” He gave her a hug. And then he shook Simon’s hand. “Treat her well or you’ll be hearing from me.” Then he vanished.
“Scorpion fae. He has to show how tough he is. Are you ready for the run?” Letta asked, sounding relieved that they were finished here and her brother seemed to approve of Simon.
“Yeah. And then we can return home so we can tell the pack we’re mating. I’m sure everyone’s eager to hear you play your music too. I know I am.”
They walked through a couple people in the bowling alley standing in their path. That was one of the things he liked about being a fae. If humans got into their way, he didn’t have to wait for them to move, he could just walk straight through them. The two women shivered.
“I felt so numb all of a sudden,” the one said.
“Yeah. And it’s happened to me before when I’ve been here.”
Simon smiled and took Letta’s hand and transported her to the woods.
They shifted and began running through the predominantly evergreen forest. He loved being here with her like this in a new wilderness. They ran for a good hour when they heard a couple of wolves howl, his brother Aegis, and his council member Steel. Simon howled back and turned to head in their direction. He wondered what was wrong now. No one would have come after him if they hadn’t had trouble back at the pack. He thought about humans who might hear the haunting sounds of the wolves in the area when he didn’t think any real wolves lived out in these woods.
When they reached the wolves, he greeted them. They all shifted. “What’s wrong?” Simon asked.
“There’s fighting among two wolf packs who are there for the Gathering. The leaders both claim that Hannah is theirs and they want to lay claim to Letta because she was bitten by one of their own,” Aegis said.
“Oh, really. When only one pack could truly claim the woman. Since that’s never been an issue that we’ve heard of, I wonder where they got that idea.” Simon put his arm around Letta’s shoulders. “What about Mark and Bryan? Do they want them too?” He figured they wouldn’t.
“Nope. They just want Letta and they’ll put up with having Hannah,” Aegis said, smiling.
“All right. We’re done here. It must have taken you some time to find us.”
“Yeah, we followed your dust trail to the beach in South Padre Island, then to the cabin near here, then we finally assumed you were off running in the woods and we were trying to catch up to you. I figured we needed to just howl to get your attention.”
That did the trick.
“All right, let’s go.” But Simon was thinking he needed to keep Letta under lock and key or someone was sure to attempt to steal her away from him.
“It’s her scorpion fae magic I think they’re the most interested in,” Aegis said.
“Her singing,” Steel said. “And that she’s a healer.”
Letta folded her arms and raised a brow. “Not for my beauty, kindness, and intelligence?”
“That’s why I love you.” Simon kissed her and then returned her to their world and to the village.
When they arrived, Simon could see how serious the altercations were. The two pack leaders had shifted and were tearing into each other as wolves. He couldn’t believe it. Especially since neither of them had a chance to take Letta home with them. He suspected Hannah didn’t belong with the packs either.
“A little early for the wolf competitions, isn’t it? They start tomorrow,” Simon said.
The wolves stopped fighting and stared at Simon and Letta.
“And if you’re fighting over Letta, I need to put this matter to rest,” Simon said. “She and I are mating, which means she’s not going anywhere. There are no rules that state a fae bitten and changed by a wolf will become part of the pack that the attacking wolf belongs to. You don’t have conclusive evidence that Hannah even belongs with either of your packs.”
“And I don’t want to belong to a pack where the only reason I’m wanted is because the leader wants her,” Hannah said, pointing at Letta.
Letta only smiled at her. Simon was really hoping Hannah would find her pack and leave. Soon.
“I think she belongs with our pack,” an older man said. “Hannah, I mean. We had a woman leave with a baby girl some years ago, and there was speculation that she had left a spouse who had been cheating on her, which is practically unheard of among wolves. She never returned. She didn’t have any family with our pack. She had married into it. He never looked for her. We never found any evidence he was seeing another wolf. We think his mate just decided she’d made a mistake and didn’t want to be with him. It’s the only case I know of where one of our pack members left with a child, and Hannah is about the right age. That wasn’t the baby’s name, but I’m sure someone else would have changed it.”
“And your claim to Letta?” Simon asked.
The leader smiled. “She has nothing to do with my claiming Hannah as one of our own. Just like we have no claim to the fae seers she changed. They’re all welcome to join our pack as we can always use new blood as long as the wolves are hard workers like the rest of us, and agreeable.”
Simon had no intention of telling him that Hannah was neither of those things. “It looks like you have a home finally, Hannah. I’m glad for it. If all the fighting is done here, we’ll
have dinner.” Then he took Letta’s arm and led her to the cottage.
18
That night, they had a special celebration. It was usually the opening ceremony and whichever pack was hosting the event would provide the evening meal and entertainment. But tonight, Simon wanted to make it extra special.
“I’ll be moving in with Valoran and Killington,” Myla said, when they returned to the cottage. “Hannah will be leaving to join her pack, and the two of you will need your privacy.”
Letta frowned. “We don’t want you to leave the home that’s been yours all along.”
“I spoke with them and they’re moving here to stay with you, Myla,” Simon said. “Unlike me, they both like to cook. They can help you make meals. We’ll move into their cottage.”
“Are you sure?” Myla asked.
“Absolutely. This was the spot you chose for our cottage. You liked the way the summer breezes flowed through the windows.”
Myla smiled. “You want their cottage with the river view.”
“I didn’t want to have to move you out when you’ve made this cottage your home. But I’m sure Letta will enjoy the view and sound of the river nearby.”
“I will,” Letta said.
“Our brothers don’t care anything about being by the river, except they love to fish there as wolves. But it’s not that far from your cottage anyway.”
THE FEASTING, drinking and dancing followed Simon's announcement that Letta was now his mate and co-pack leader. It made Letta feel as though she truly belonged to the pack after all the stuff that Gia and her brothers had pulled. They were eating and drinking, but seemed glum. The word must have spread about their traitorous deeds and they appeared to be outcasts among all the wolf packs. It served them right for what they had pulled and Letta realized this was a greater punishment then killing or banishing them.
Campfire stories were shared of the games won and lost of years past, young and old alike listening in or participating in the storytelling.
When Letta was growing up, her grandfather had told those he was raising all about the good deeds and the bad that their kin had done and she felt saddened to think that instead of playing competitive games with other scorpion fae clans, they had resorted to killing each off. She enjoyed hearing all the funny stories about the wolf packs.
Simon pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her, helping to warm her. He kissed her on the cheek, as if he realized she might feel somewhat like an outsider and he wanted to prove to her that she wasn’t.
“The games are held to promote friendly and fun competition between the packs," he said to the gathered wolves. "May we always remember this as we start our one-hundredth wolf pack Gathering tomorrow.”
Everyone cheered.
“Is it all friendly competition?” she asked Simon, surprised. She couldn’t imagine some wouldn’t feel grievances against the winning teams. They were fae.
“No. Sure, we have sore losers and tempers can flare, but for the most part, everyone has a good time. I just wanted to remind everybody what it is all about.”
“Can we hear the lady’s music?” one of the other pack leaders asked.
“Letta?” Simon asked her, and she appreciated that he just didn’t expect her to play her music for the packs gathered there.
“Sure.” She brought out her flute and began to play with all her heart, the heavenly melody filling the woods with mystery and a haunting beauty. She always felt swept away with her music as if she fell under its influence as much as everyone listening did.
When she finally finished the piece, everyone groaned to hear her end it. But the music was designed to end the night on a happy, relaxing note.
Tomorrow, if she played her music, she would play something that was riveting, making everyone want to move to the music. Not because her music forced anyone to do so. It was just that inspiring.
Simon helped Letta up and they retired to his brother’s cottage that was now theirs. Ronan and Aegis had already moved Letta and Simon's clothes over, though Letta didn’t have very many that she’d been able to bring with her.
“After the games, we need to go shopping for you,” Simon said.
“Myla can go with me. You don’t have to if you don’t like to shop.”
“No. I’d like to this time.”
And she was glad he wanted to be with her for any reason.
THAT NIGHT at Ena and Brett’s castle, the puppies howled in their little puppy voices. They were separated, Duchess with Muriel, and Duke with Jacob, and they were having a fit about it. Ena had put a pillow over her head, but she couldn't stand it. She finally got out of bed and paced. “Doesn’t this bother you?”
Brett sighed. “They’ll settle down.”
“This is driving me crazy.” She threw on her robe and left the chamber, stalked down to Jacob’s room, and knocked on the door.
He answered it, the puppy cradled in his arms. “I’m so sorry, princess. I don’t know what to do.”
“Put the two of them together.”
“Muriel won’t let me have Duchess too.”
Jacob following Ena, she took Duke and headed down to Muriel’s chamber and knocked. Muriel quickly came to the door, Duchess at her feet. “Come on, Duchess. The two of you are going to sleep or else. They both will sleep with Brett and me. At least for a few days until they get used to their new pack and surroundings.”
Jacob went back to his chamber for Duke’s bed and he grabbed Duchess’s bed out of Muriel’s room, and she carried Duchess, then they all entered Ena and Brett’s room with the beds and puppies.
Brett was sitting up in bed and watching them. “So we’re taking the howling puppies now?”
“Yes, so we can get some sleep.” She hoped.
The puppies curled up together in one bed and everyone watched them for a moment, before concluding that the puppies were staying put and not going to cry and whimper any longer.
“Night all,” Ena said.
“Night, my lady,” Muriel said.
“Night, princess,” Jacob said, and he shut the door while Ena climbed back into bed.
“They better not make a peep.” And they didn’t. Not one little sound at all. Except for whimpers while having doggy dreams and a little bit of snoring, but that, Ena could ignore.
AT THE WOLF Mountain Gathering early the next morning, different kinds of food were served all over the square, including Maya’s blueberry pancakes and maple syrup. Killington and Valoran helped her prepare stacks and stacks of them.
Wolves sampled them and other foods that had been made to feed everyone before the start of the games. Sausages, ham, sweet breads, and apples and oranges were served. Even hash browns, which Letta ate too many of.
Simon smiled at her. “I can see what you’re going to vote on.”
“The potatoes? Yes, and Myla’s pancakes.” Letta had gone back for seconds on those and honeyed ham slices too.
“The tug-of-war competition is first. We have several packs that have signed up for the game. The wolf pack that wins each of the competitions will face off with the winners later. The winner of those contests will begin to compete with each other after that, the freshest teams first until the final winning pack is announced. The music competition starts right before the nooning meal. You will play your music, won’t you?” Simon asked.
“Yes. But just for fun. If I win, it would be nice, but I just like to play. I always played for our clan before we went to bed while the king told us stories. And also before the nooning meal to get everyone ready to tackle the rest of the day.”
“Maybe you can do that with our pack.”
“I would love to if everyone is agreeable. Well, except for Hannah. She’s rarely agreeable so I wouldn’t discount playing on account of her.”
“She’ll be leaving our pack soon.”
“Oh, yes. I keep thinking she will be here forever. I hope she likes her new pack, but even if she doesn’t, I’m glad she’s going to be lea
ving.”
Tomas approached them and Letta wondered what was up with him now. “Because of what we’ve done, my brothers and I weren’t sure if we were allowed to participate in the tug-of-war games or not.”
“Are you good enough at the game that you can help the pack win?” Letta asked before Simon had a chance to respond.
“Yes. We pull our weight.” Tomas didn’t seem perturbed with her for asking, though now that she was also a pack leader, he shouldn’t be.
That was something she had to get used to also though. Helping Simon to make rulings, even though she was such a new wolf. “I’d say that you should participate then.”
Simon agreed with her. “I don’t see why not.”
Looking serious, Tomas inclined his head, then hurried off in the direction of his brothers, both appearing eager to hear what had been decided concerning them.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him being enthusiastic about anything since the collar incident,” Letta said.
“I still don’t trust them.”
“Do you think they’ll try to throw the game and lose?”
“No. They’re too competitive for that, and the rest of the pack might just throw them out of the pack themselves. It was interesting to see that they were treated like omega wolves last night though, outcasts, the word having spread about their deceitfulness.”
“I agree. If they thought to join another pack, they may be rethinking that plan.”
“It’s hurt their chances of securing a mating with a female wolf also,” Simon said. “Not only for what they pulled, but because you removed their ability to fae transport.”
“Serves them right.”
“I agree.”
“Are you going to help the pack win in the tug-of-war contest?” Letta asked.
“You bet. It’s up now. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Good luck.” She found a place on top of a tall stack of rocks that were used to monitor games and other activities where she could stand and watch as the wolves lined up along the rope, getting ready to pull it until the rope went far enough that one side or the other would win. Each side had a mix of wolf builds, but most were hefty, muscled wolves—all male.
