They meet the rest of their group at the table by the big fireplace in the tavern. Sunny hugs Jess and looks over the other two making sure they are in one piece. “We will be taking three of the horses for the ride to the pack lands.” David says to the group. “Do you think they will be fine around so many wolves?” Jess asks. David chuckles softly, “They were bred and raised in one of the close by packs. This took a bit of bargaining for me to buy them. But they are the best horses I have owned.”
This makes Jess smile, “This is good to know. One less item to worry about.” Sunny looks from Jess to Zane and tilts her head to the side, “What else must we worry about going on to this pack's lands? I know the Alpha is a prick. Do you worry the rest of the pack will be the same to me?” Jess shakes her head, “No, Luna will have talked with the pack and they will know to give you a wide berth. Their son is the one I am thinking will cause the problem. When we went for a run on the first day here. He and a few of their pups tried to claim the neutral land as part of their pack lands.”
Sunny shakes her head. “Well let us break bread and be on our way. The sooner we are there the sooner we can handle the problem if one arises.” The rest of them nod and everyone eats cooked veal steak with rye bread and oat porridge. A guard from the king shows up to the inn. They are almost finished with their meal. The guard speaks to Ember softly. Ember nods his head to their group. The guard bows and walks over to their table. He then bows to the group, “I have been sent by the King to hand this invitation to Sunny of Silverville.” Sunny places her hand out with her palm up. “Tell the King I shall respond post haste.” He bows after handing her the letter and leaves them. She opens the letter and reads “ I cordially invite Sunny of Silverville and her companions to join myself at the palace of Goldengrove in two months time.”
She smiles softly before asking her group what their thoughts were on this matter. Annoce smiles at her, “I am up for this if you wish to do so. Though if the kender comes we shall have to have someone to watch him.” “I would enjoy seeing the palace as well. Though you know these two will not allow me to travel without one or both of them.” Jess speaks. “I will not allow you to go without me.” David speaks. “So it seems we all shall go. I need but a moment to respond and find someone to send this to him.” Sunny writes a letter to the King in answer and walks to Ember, “Do you have someone you trust that will take a letter to the King for me? I wish this to arrive unopened.” He nods and speaks to his mate. She nods and takes the letter, “I shall take this myself to ensure he receives this.” “Thank you. Here is a silver piece for the trouble of doing this.”
Our group leaves after this has been handled. They head for the stables. Belam greets the group by bowing. “How was your stay? Is there a service you need today that I may help with?” David nods to him. “We will be needing three of our horses' saddles. We will be leaving the other three in your care for a bit longer. We should be back in a day or two.” Belam nods and takes care of the request himself.
“Here they are master dwarf. Ready for you. Please be careful out there. I have heard stories of wolves running people to the ground of late. Though they are leaving the young alive.” Belam says to the group. They look to one another before David says, “Thank you for the warning we will be careful. Do you know if these are true wolves or are they more than wolves?” “I would think they are more than wolves meself. Through others will tell you they are no more than wolves.”
They all thank Belam and mount up to head for the pack lands of Whitesnow. Where the group is heading is less than a half day's ride from the town. As the day moves forward Jess, Zane and Raken run next to the horses. Annoce rides beside Sunny and David brings up the rear with Latsol. As they are about to cross into the pack lands Jess stops in front of the horses making the group halt.
The Alpha Efren and Luna Summer greet the group with low howls before bowing their heads to let the group onto their lands. The group bows back to acknowledge this before starting to move again. Jess runs up to Summer and rubs against her in greeting. This makes Efren growl and Jess bares her teeth at him. Summer glares at him before mind linking him “If you do not behave you will be in the den by yourself for the next month.” She then blocks him from answering her. She nods her head for the group to follow.
As they follow her to a beautiful little village. The main house looks to be made from pine trees and stone. There is a stable near the house where the group dismounts and takes care of the horses. Once that is seen to and everyone whom will be speaking is in human form again. They all walk to the main house. There is some growling heard not far from them. Matthew is not happy to smell or see Jess and Zane again. Summer looks over to see whom is being disrespectful of what she asked from the pack. Seeing that it is her son she lets out a fierce growl. His ears go back to his skull hearing that from his mother. He turns tail and runs to another area of the pack.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Summer sighs, “I am sorry about my boy. He seems to dislike you though he has not yet met you in person Jess.” Jess laughs at this, “He did not want us in the neutral lands even said they were your pack lands to try and run us off. He thought we were rouges though we are not. I think he was also unhappy to hear that we know you.” “I also did not help his opinion of you by threatening a month in silver chains if any of them attacked your group. I was unhappy to hear where they were when you ran near them. They are trying to expand the lands now that it is almost time for us to hand over the reins to them.”
Jess chuckles hearing this and shakes her head. “You and I were no better at his age. We tried to do the same though mom wanted to make us take a wolfs bane bath. We ended up behaving cause we watched your cousin take one. How long did it take him to recover?” Summer laughs at the memory of this. “Took him near two moons to recover. Knowing this we stopped our wild ways when we saw what he looked like in wolf form. He is still missing some fur to this day.” Sunny shakes her head as she listens to them.
Once they enter the main house the group is invited to sit at a round table. Seeing the table makes Jess wonder why it is round and not a normal table. “Before you ask about the table Alpha Jess this was my mates wish. So we had it made for her.” Alpha Efren says. Jess nods and sits to Sunny’s right, Annoce to her left, Zane sits on Jess’s other side and Raken stands behind them. Latsol is made to sit next to Annoce and David stands behind the two of them.
The Alpha sits across from Sunny and Luna Summer sits in his lap. His beta and gamma sit on either side of him. The Delta stands behind the Luna and Alpha. As they are about to start Matthew and Simon walk in. Matthew growls seeing the group seated at the table. Jess growls standing, “You will behave pup. You can not take me.” Summer knows what is going to happen, lays a hand on her mate and whispers in his ear, “He needs to learn and Jess will not do permanent damage to him.” Efren nods to his mate and stays seated to watch this unfold.
Matthew starts to transform but Jess moves so quickly to pin him to the wall by his throat. She holds him tightly so he has no breath. This stops him from transforming. She growls in his face, “You still have much to learn pup. I was invited by your Luna and Alpha to be here. What you have done could be taken as an act of war. Is that what you truly wish pup? I could have thousands at my call however you do not know. But you are acting as if I came here to take this pack. Behave or leave. This is your last warning pup.” She lets him fall to the floor and sits back in her seat.
Summer smiles softly at her and nods approving of the lesson she had just given to Summers' son. She then looks to Matthew with a disapproving scowl. “If you my son are going to cause more problems then the ones we are about to discuss leave. I will not have you causing more trouble. We have enough on our plates as it stands. Do I make myself clear you two?” Simon bows his head before helping Matthew to his feet and says. “Luna, I will behave. As for him, I think the show of power with so little effort is showing him he needs to train more. I am sure he will behave for now until there is a chance for him to see what he is like against your guest.”
Jess chuckles softly before saying, “He may do a mock battle with my Beta Zane after our meeting is done if of course Alpha Efren does not have a problem with what is proposed. The rules will be simple, the fight to first blood.” Alpha Efren smiles as this gives the boy a way to save face. “I am happy to hear those terms. I do not have a problem with him testing himself against Beta Zane.” After that was settled Matthew and Simon sat down.
The omega brings drinks, bread, and cheese for everyone. Once they had left Alpha Efren says, “The dragons are happy to have the egg returned and understand your group wishes to help. Their elders are talking about this and we will have an answer in a day or three. They do tend to lose track of time. Time has no meaning for them. They live for thousands of years. As for the meeting of the pack you asked for me to set up. This will take place on the morrow. We will be heading for half a days run from here. I assume your whole group would like to be present for this meeting?” He looks to Sunny knowing Jess holds her in high regard.
Seeing this makes Jess smile. He is trying to make things right after the first encounter. Sunny says, “Yes, we wish to be there for this meeting. Jess and Zane know the old packs Alpha by smell however I have seen his face in human form. He tried to have us make weapons of silver for him and him alone. We did not agree to this and he tried to have us killed. Jess and Zane helped us and we helped them.”
Alpha Efren nods, “The meeting is tomorrow at daybreak. We will need to leave here around midnight. Are your horses willing to follow wolves?” David laughs softly making those not of their group look at him. “The horses were raised by a pack and bought from them. They are able and willing to follow wolves. They have followed Jess to safety. They will follow her without a problem.” Alpha Efren nods at this. “We should all rest for the rest of the day. This way when we have to leave we will be ready.” Matthew clears his throat before they can leave. “Shall we have the mock battle now or after the problem is solved? I just wish to test myself against your Beta.” “I think it will have to wait. You and your father will be leaving with them for the meeting.” Luna Summer says. He nods and sighs. They all agree to this and are led to three rooms. The day goes by quickly.
As the time draws near Annoce kisses Sunny awake slowly. “Morning love. It is time to eat before we leave for the meeting.” “Morning love. I wish I could have slept longer in your arms. However, I understand we need to move.” Sunny says softly. She kisses him softly before standing up and gets dressed. Annoce does the same.
Everyone meets in the great hall and breaks their fast with venison and bread.Once everyone is fed they mount the horses and the others shift to wolf form. There are 30 wolves going to this meeting. The horses do not even flinch seeing this. Alpha Efren takes the lead. The horses follow at the back of the group. The plan is to have Sunny and Annoce ride up when the meeting starts.
They ride in silence until they are almost there. Jess stops beside the horse and gives a small woof to let them know to stay where they are. Most of the wolves stay around them. Jess and Zane follow Alpha Efren and his son Matthew. As they move forward the group they are meeting shows themselves.