Blood moon

Chapter 74. breakfasting together

They still couldn't find anything that was good enough, they still couldn't find a trail to follow, they weren't able to track George or his mother, it was eating away at them, in the house it only increased the tension when they had to give Hunter the report.

Hunter had become a demanding alpha, he did a lot of things the others hadn't done, he was constantly on the move instead of just staying in the house, but that was because Harley helped with all the paperwork and running the company, which eased half of his burdens.

At times his eyes would turn so bright red it was almost impossible not to watch them burn, but when it came to those moments of frustration and anger, her moon would appear, as if she knew he needed her, she would make any thought in his head disappear, Hunter Halland didn't have the courage to say no to her.

They were sitting in the yard one fine day, breakfast had been served at the picnic table.

—You shouldn't work so hard, take a moment for yourself, you look like you're not sleeping— Andrea Smith pointed out, it wasn't far from the truth.

The young werewolf was having trouble sleeping and concentrating, for a while now he could feel his wolf's energy inside him, he was uneasy, he didn't know how to calm him down, although they weren't in a direct attack, his wolf seemed to think that there was an imminent war and he was ready to do whatever was necessary to defend the pack, that left him breathless, what could he do now, what should he tell her, he didn't want to worry her.

The woman's hand reached across the table to his and he shook it. A rush of energy went through both of their bodies, no doubt it felt good, as if they were at home in each other's proximity.

—I'm fine, it's just that we're having a lot of stress about not finding George Garroway, you don't have to feel bad about it, I'll work it out, I want to make you safe— she shook her head.

—That's not the point, I'm not denying that I'd like to see him caught so that nothing like that ever happens to anyone again— She bit her lip, knowing that she couldn't tell him that George wasn't a bad person, he wouldn't listen to reason, first she had to convince him that there was nothing wrong with his daily life, so that he would relax.

—Actually yes, he kidnapped you and threatened our pack, that's what an alpha does, he has to ensure the safety of everyone around him, I need you to be okay— his voice sounded stronger as they spoke.

—Listen, that already happened and none of us knew he was capable of doing something like that, you can't blame yourself for that— the girl shook his hand a little, so he wouldn't feel alone —Now you have us by your side and you'll protect us, besides, everyone knows he won't hurt me while I'm pregnant.

That was like a bucket of cold water for the man, what was going on with this woman? she had adapted very well to the pack or at least enough to know what the laws they had implied, the baby she had inside her would be the son of the two alphas, her blood lineage is pure, especially if her father was Hunter, no matter her gender she would be the one who would lead the pack.

—You seem very comfortable with that idea, but don't cling to it too much, he is a hunter, a predator and he is only looking for his own interests, if he finds a way to be the leader before you complete the nine months, he will kill you, because for him the most important thing is to be in control— the werewolf pointed out.

—Hunter, don't be a fool about it— the human tried to reason.

—I'm not being a fool, I'm a realist and the truth is that you can't trust a werewolf who blindly wants power, our pack is consolidated in front of the others, plus it has an economic source for the company, it's ideal for anyone, because the system is already consolidated.

Andrea Smith understood everything he was saying, but it still seemed to her that the werewolf was certainly overstating his case.

—You need to empty your mind— the woman pointed out and put the man's hand on her flat belly —our baby is growing in my belly and you should worry about him. If you're going to become a father you should spend some time with us— she hoped that with that strategy he would let his guard down a little.

The young werewolf was totally interested in this conversation. Now he had a smile on his mouth, the way she was talking to him about the pregnancy, the check-ups and what the pack gynaecologist had said had caught the pack leader's attention.

—The werewolf had managed to relax— he said —She said she'd have to take a few pills.

—He said I'd have to take some dreadful bags of supplements, werewolves need a lot of nutrients while they're growing, apparently a normal diet can't handle them, plus it's not the worst part that those things are like a kilo for every meal, it's about the meat— the woman shook her head feeling a little disgusted.

—Meat? As in raw meat?— Hunter laughed, it was normal for a wolf in their animal state to be a homesteader, they often ended up eating the prey they hunted in animal form and that included being raw.

—Don't be silly— she said, tapping his chest with one hand —I didn't think that during my pregnancy I would have a craving for raw meat for the baby.

—And it won't be the strangest craving you have— Harold Halland pointed out.

They all seemed surprised to see him, he had had to go to give the message to the other herds that were under attack by George Garroway, he had not asked them for help or men for the fight, they all had to be able to take their own leadership, if you could not fight your own battles perhaps you were not worthy to be the leader, but he wanted to keep them on notice in case he wanted to ask them for help or attack them.

He hoped the packs would stand firm in their support of the Hallands, they had done a lot of business together in the past, but it wasn't easy to decide on the loyalties of the werewolves, especially the younger ones, because they had a very different view of what business was now.

—Dad, that was quick, or did you come back earlier?— Although the words sounded friendly, Harold understood perfectly well his son's underlying threat, he wished him deep harm, he was almost certain of that, if he didn't bring good news.

—The other packs were a little uneasy at the idea of war, they don't want the possible deaths to attract the attention of the police or anything that might hunt us down, you know they are interested in keeping a low profile and are happy about your appointment as leader, although they did ask me for an invitation to the consecration ceremony— as soon as the older man said it he knew he was in trouble, he could see it in his youngest son's eyes.

—Ceremony of consecration?— asked Andrea, surprised, no one had told her anything about it.

—Yes, every wolf that wants to lead a pack has to go through that, he has to officiate a praise to our goddess, he has to fight with anyone that comes along and defend his position, he has to show that he has the strength to fight for his pack, because every life here belongs to him as his own— when Harold spoke, Andrea felt like listening to a different person, he sounded peaceful and inspiring, very different from the manipulative and malicious man from before, that made her think if that was the real attitude of her werewolf.

—Father, you know that inviting them is also an opportunity for them to try to conquer us— Hunter felt very uneasy about the possibility of having so many enemies gathered in the same place with his moon, they could hurt her or the baby, and if he protected them, he probably wouldn't be able to protect himself.

—I know, but you have those red eyes they don't count on, and the rumours haven't reached them— the older man declared.

—But they will come and they won't see it as a warning of our power, but an opportunity to challenge me and emerge victorious, what if that puts Andrea and the baby at risk— the leader asked calmly, finishing his breakfast.

—They know that taking a hostage is an offence against the goddess, the ceremony must be bloodless, unless it is from a battle.

The young werewolf had a bad feeling about it, he was convinced that bad things would happen, and they would happen soon. He had to find a way to master his powers, otherwise they would all tear him apart. Seeing the battle in his eyes, Andrea plucked up the courage to hold his hand, not wanting mundane worries to fill him with anger.

—Let's go for a walk, I don't want to be locked up in those four walls any more— the man seemed to take a long breath.