Shining Through Shadows

Unpleasant Company I

Zachary

“It’s worrying to know that this is happening so close to our borders, Alpha.” Travis said as he scratched the back of his neck. He tried to keep an unbothered look on his face, but I could tell that he was indeed worried. We arrived at the main house about an hour ago from patrol and were now in my private chambers, discussing how to proceed from there.

“It is.” I acknowledged his observation and poured two glasses of the finest scotch I owned. He took the glass without hesitation and nodded his head in gratitude.

“We’re not enough to keep up constant border patrol. With all the servants here and our chosen mates and pups… How can we protect them if our borders are vulnerable?” He gulped down the entire glass and dried his lips and beard with the back of a hand.

Travis was my oldest and, perhaps, only friend. He was a loyal companion and served as my beta even though we were not a traditional pack. He was the one patrolling the borders with me the day I found Lydia frozen in the snow…

Sadly, Travis was right about everything he had said. Our borders were vulnerable because of a slight increase of attacks from the real rogue wolves wanting to claim our land.

Sources of food were sparse in the north and, since we weren’t a particularly big pack, we tended to take better care of the resources we had.

“We’ll have to rethink our defenses, perhaps change the schedule entirely.” I said as the scent of roasted venison wafted into my chambers from underneath the closed door. She chose venison…

“When are you expecting them to arrive?” Travis asked as he too noticed the mouthwatering smell.

“Soon,” I said as I placed my used glass on top of the grand circular table covered in different maps and papers. “Let them pass our borders with two of our scouts following close behind. I expect them to be gone before midnight. No trouble tonight, we cannot afford to lose any more members of Duragh.” I explained, my eyes locked on the several x’s marked on the map. The black ones for each of the people we'd found, left for death, the red ones for the members I’d lost to the damned rogue wolves.

“As you wish, Alpha.” With that, Travis left me with my own thoughts, theories and different tactics running through my mind as my eyes flickered from one end of the map to the other.

The mere thought of my brothers arrival had the shadows within me threatening to come out. I knew why they came and why they were visiting so often. And it was not out of concern or love for their older stepbrother. Not that I would ever return such feelings.

They were here to assess me. To see how far my moon madness had progressed. They wanted to know when they could put me out of my misery and claim something else that belonged to me; Duragh.

Wasn’t the Citadel of Mistra enough?

Duragh was everything I had left to live for. Except for…

Two rapid knocks on the door forced me back to reality. Louisa hurried inside my chamber and gave me one of her worried expressions.

“Sweet boy, you cannot greet your guests with that sour face.” She walked toward my closet and pulled out a crisp, white shirt along with a pair of dark blue slacks. “Now, get dressed. They’ll be gone before you know it.”

I stared at the clothes she had placed on top of my bed, releasing a deep breath through my nose. I prayed she was right this time.

“Oh, and Lydia is serving tonight…” She added before she left me to change. Lydia? Goddess, no. I didn’t want her anywhere near my brothers…