Page 25 of Blood Pearl
“I think I probably will, but it’s finding the time, as there is so much for me to catch up with at the moment. I am grateful you have come back to assist with the training and the patrols, as I’m finding by the end of the day I’ve not covered all my daily tasks, never mind extra ones. I also need to get Alpha Heir Bronze back to his family and pack,” Aurora states, and leans back in her seat, rubbing the back of her neck, trying to ease the tension in it, I’m sure.
I continue speaking with Aurora for another half an hour before heading out to the training field to check on how everything is going. I’m sure Roul will be happy to get some assistance as he isn’t the most patient of wolves.
Standing on one side, I watch Roul putting some of the pack members through their paces, and I have to admit to myself they need a lot of work. I know that Aurora has all her members train, but it seems they have not been taking it seriously.
Two hours later, I walk away from the training field with Roul at my side. “What you are going to have to do is push the pack through to get their fitness right. They have not kept their training up, and they have not recognized the fact that their lives depend on this training.”
“I agree. I’ve pushed them hard during my time here, but they still need so much effort on my part to get the training done. I’m going to speak with Alpha Aurora, as it really needs addressing,” Roul replies.
“What needs addressing?”
We both turn to see who the speaker is, and seeing it is Taria, we give her a slight nod of respect before Roul responds. “The training of the pack members' needs addressing. Why have you not been training?”
Taria looks shocked at the question. “I’m going to be a Luna, so I don’t need to train.”
Roul laughs and I’m more than slightly shocked at her haphazard reply. “You don’t think you need to train because you are hoping to be a Luna? Are you for real? You expect the pack to fight and die for you without you even being able to protect yourself?”
“Well, yes, the pack should protect their Luna,” sniffing as she sticks her nose in the air and walks away.
“I will address this with Alpha Aurora. Something has slipped past her because I’m sure she would want her daughter to be able to fight if it was needed.” Roul gives me a look that tells me I better or he will, and that would not be pleasant.
After eating, I am shown a room in the packhouse which I will share with Roul. We have shared many times, and it is no worry for me to continue doing so. I make my way to the office where I need to speak to Aurora about Taria. This could go one of two ways, and I hope it goes the right way, but I am ready for anything.
Knocking on the office door, I wait for someone to say ‘Come in,’ before I enter, closing it behind me. Raina is at the long table sitting opposite Aurora and they are both looking at a map laid out between them.
“What can I do for you, Gerry?” Aurora asks, and I take a seat before replying.
“I needed to speak with you about Taria.”
Sitting back in her seat and giving me her full attention, “What about Taria?”
“Did you know she is not attending any training sessions? She expects to become a Luna, and that pack to protect her.”
I can see the shock on Aurora’s face, and she turns to look at Raina. Raina, however, does not look shocked, and that does not go unnoticed.
“What do you know about this Raina?” Aurora snaps.
“She won’t train. I have spoken to her frequently. Warrior Wallace has tried to get her to training sessions, but she won’t train,” Raina replies, looking rather sheepish.
“Why was it not brought to my attention before?”
Raina shrugs, “We have tried, but you always were too busy, gave an excuse, or just seemed disinterested.”
I am sure Raina is seeing the shock, disbelief and disgust that crosses Aurora’s face. But what she does next surprises both Raina and me.
“I apologize Beta Raina for not listening and following through with what you were reporting. Maybe if I had paid more attention, things would not have happened as they have with the capture of my pack members. For them to be grabbed on their way back to the pack after a picnic excursion is unthinkable. On our own territory, in the light of day. I am disgusted with myself for not being more alert to things happening within the pack. Again, I apologize and I will to Warrior Wallace also,” taking a deep breath Aurora continues. “Please bring Head Warrior Wallace to the office, along with my wayward daughter. It is time to put this right.”
After Raina has left the office, I speak my thoughts. “None of us are perfect, and being an alpha of a pack is a highly responsible position. Everyone knows how hard you have worked to bring your pack to the standard it is today. You should not beat yourself up about things that you could not avoid. I don’t think you could have seen that Taria has become somewhat entitled and has needed to be grounded.” I chuckle at the look on Aurora’s face, but continue, “I am sure, however, that you are about to ground her and take her entitled crown from her head. It’s going to be interesting to see how she handles it.”
The door opens, and Warrior Wallace, Beta Raina, and Taria walk into the office. Wallace and Raina I can see are eager to see what happens, but Taria, after giving Aurora a bright smile, throws herself into a chair and lifts a questioning eyebrow.
Aurora slowly takes to her feet, giving Taria a blank look before turning to look at Wallace. “Warrior Wallace, I made you Head Warrior because you are the best person for the job. I apologize for not listening to you when you brought something to my attention. I will remedy that at this time. In the future, please persist until I listen, because being busy is not an excuse to ignore your advice or report.”
Warrior Wallace gives Aurora a tip of the head, showing his neck and the respect he feels for her. “I will do that Alpha.”
Turning to Taria, who is frowning at what is happening, Aurora leans forward, placing her fisted hands on the table, giving a push of her alpha aura as she does so. “YOU…will attend training sessions daily. YOU…will do exactly as you are told when you are told. YOU…will have more respect for the people of the pack. I will not continue to ignore your training. A Luna needs to protect her pack just as much as the Alpha does. She fights to the death to save pups that are in her care and if she doesn’t and hides, the pack will rip her apart for her disrespect and cowardice.”
Taria has lost all color in her face, and to say she is shocked would be an understatement. Sitting back in her seat with her shoulders hunched, she looks exactly as the entitled wolf she is. Nobody saw this previously, and why it has shown now I don’t know, but I am pleased to see it being handled.