Gypsy Moon

Chapter Fifty-six: Lilian

. . . . . . (early November)

Mrs. Morris video called me about the rogue attack and I relayed to Gyam and Aiden as she spoke. Gyam had half a dozen warriors at his side and was racing for Dei's village before she ended the call. Abruptly, with some loud crashing and a scream. Sinah and I waited breathlessly as I tried to call her back.

We both sighed in relief when she answered, clearly still afraid, but managed to tell us Dei had arrived. Then Dei screamed. Even muffled through Mrs. Morris' house and then filtered through the phone, his screaming made chills run down my spine and Sinah growled in alarm. Mrs. Morris whimpered but quickly explained Inage's trick to us.

We all listened intently to the sudden snarling and howling outside her home. She crept to a window and pointed the phone camera out so we could see the commotion. We could see Aiden fighting with a filthy brown wolf, his jaws around the rogue's throat, blood gushing from between his teeth as the rogue twitched violently in his death throes.

A wolf screamed nearby; the sound cut short abruptly. Aiden released the corpse he had and turned his attention away, moving just out of sight from the window. His roar a few minutes later made Mrs. Morris gasp, and she hurried to a different window. Aiden was standing over Dei, facing a dirty person on his knees in front of them.

Gyam and his warriors stepped into view, and the milling wolves eliminated our sight.

"It sounds like the fighting has stopped, but I can't see what they are doing now."

"It's okay Mrs. Morris-" I paused as Sinah's eyes clouded abruptly. "Hang on." I opened my mind to the link.

/:A rogue wants to submit to me. Opinions?:/

/:He seems strong, could be an asset. Submit.:/

/:Even submitted rogues are a danger. Kill.:/

/:He was cast out for defiance, Alpha. Kill.:/

/:Can't be defiant after being submitted. Submit.:/

/:His submission seems to be a personal decision. Submit.:/

/:Don't forget we are a pack filled with exceptions. Submit.:/

/:Send the other two to Lilian. Submit this one.:/

/:The hell did you just volunteer me for, Gyam? I vote submit, since he does.:/

/:I missed the lesson on this one, does someone want to explain?:/

The link was muddled for a moment as a few other wolves gave their opinion. I realized they were the wolves that had gone with Gyam. Aiden's voice was clear after the link fell silent.

/:I will submit him and explain to Kyle.:/ The link closed and Sinah and I sighed.

"Mrs. Morris, I believe it's safe now."

"Yes Ms. Roth, thank you. Dei is waving, I am going to bring him something to wear." I nodded as she hung up.

I opened another app on my tablet and made a quick note. Sinah giggled and rubbed her belly absentmindedly as her eyes clouded in a mind-link.

"Gyam says he's on the way back. He wants you to put the other two rogues that surrendered through your interview." I nodded absently.

"If they don't pass, they will have to submit as well." I chewed on my stylus as I thought.

"He said one should pass." A buzzer sounded at the door, and I threw Sinah a look. She giggled and stepped into the bedroom, closing the door behind her and locking the bolt. I went to a side cupboard and pulled out a small handgun before activating the intercom.

"Delta? Your mate arrived and left again to meet with Gyam. A human has shown up, asking for you." I tucked the handgun into my hip holster, Kyle and Gyam insisted I carry it whenever I leave the alpha wing. The rounds were hollow silver, loaded with rock salt soaked with wolfsbane oil, not a lethal dose in a single shot, but they burn like acid and should stop a wolf coming towards me. And they'd do some wicked damage to a human. I pressed the button for the intercom.

"I'll be right down." I stepped into the hallway and hit the call button for the elevator. A tall man waited in the Alpha office when the doors slid open smoothly and he bowed slightly.

"The human is hysterical, but he was driving the Alpha's SUV when he arrived." I nodded and sat at the massive desk. The pack knew I was armed, and could fight, but Aiden made it very clear that the only time I should have to defend myself should be after the rest of the pack was dead.

Gyam followed Aiden's threat with the suggestion that the wolf that lets me get hurt has to do my job until I recover. Aiden almost laughed himself to tears when Gyam's threat got a bigger fear reaction from the pack warriors than his had gotten. The pack is very careful to make sure at least one wolf is available to protect me now.

"Show him in please, Ethan." He nodded and opened the door to reveal a trembling human between a pair of very large pack warriors. Ethan moved to stand behind me as the other two led the terrified human into the office and took up guard positions near the door. He cowered as he sat in the chair in front of me, looking very small in his fear.

"Don't be frightened."

"The hell! I ain't gonna say s**t to anybody!" I blinked at him.

"Good to know. Saves me some work." I smiled calmly at him. "Why don't you tell me what brings you here this evening?" His eyes flicked over the four of us gathered in the room.

"Your boss told me to deliver his car."

"Then why ask to see me?"

"He told me to." I nodded encouragingly and he fidgeted. "I have to deliver the paperwork for the bikes he bought when my manager gets them ready tomorrow." I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Bikes?" He nodded timidly.

"Six custom ATVs, four custom electric dirt bikes. And the ATV they bought before leaving." I blinked rapidly.

"Aiden bought ELEVEN custom vehicles!?" The teenager nodded vigorously, his own amazement winning out over his fear.

"Ten custom, one floor model, he said they would mod that one later." I rolled my eyes and pulled up another app on my tablet and sent a message to Summer. We were going to need a separate garage somewhere on campus for the outside toys.

"Of course, he did." The kid looked even more amazed by my acceptance of the incredible expense. "Will you be delivering the paperwork alone, or will your manager be accompanying you?" He twisted his fingers nervously.

"Um, I mentioned I have a friend who can do... extra mods... on the bikes." I bit my cheek to keep a straight face.

"Let's focus on one issue at a time, please..." I trailed off, pinching the bridge of my nose. The warriors were not being quiet about their excitement over Aiden's purchase. The kid just looked at them with huge eyes, I noticed him checking out their pack marks and I mind-linked Kyle.

/:I love the bike shop kid.:/

/:Aiden liked him too.:/

"Please request that your manager send you alone tomorrow." He nodded jerkily. "Escort will be arranged to take you home tonight. Call when the paperwork is ready, and a car will be sent for you." He nodded, his fear returning. "I am assuming you are bright enough to keep your mouth shut?" He shivered and glanced at Ethan, nodding nervously.

"Can I ask a question?" I lifted an eyebrow at him.

"Are you sure you want to?" He stared at me. I held his gaze until he looked down, shaking his head fearfully. "Very good. Greg and Sean will take you home. See you tomorrow." The pair by the door smiled as the kid stood and turned towards them. I rolled my eyes at them behind his back as they made sure they showed off their canines in their smiles.

I noticed his glance flick down at the gun on my hip as I moved around the desk and Ethan opened the door. He kept his mouth shut and I led the group towards the packhouse door. The rev of an ATV engine greeted us from the east as I pushed open the main door. Kyle swung down and looked behind him, waving a signal to someone in the darkness behind him.

To his credit, the teen managed not to scream when Gyam stalked close enough for his enormous wolf to be visible. He did cry out a little when Gyam growled at him for stepping too close to me though.

"w-w-wh-wa-ah?" I sighed patiently and tilted my head towards Greg and Sean as Gyam slowly moved behind me, towering over me.

"Go home, keep your mouth shut, come back tomorrow. Ask questions then. If you really want the answers." He nodded slowly and scampered to follow the pair.

As soon as the car was out of sight, half a dozen dirty, bloody, naked men walked into the light, two of them clearly prisoners. I bit my lip and Gyam huffed a laugh over my shoulder as I made a note on my tablet for Summer to move construction of the shifting house a little higher on the 'to-do' list.

The two prisoners knelt sullenly in front of me and Gyam dismissed the warriors with a nod. They bowed and filed into the packhouse.

"Are these the two you volunteered me to deal with?" Gyam nodded and Kyle stepped out of the packhouse with a couple pairs of basketball shorts. "Well, I know what Aiden wants me to do with them, but for the love of the Goddess, let's start with baths."

. . . . . .