Amber
A long breath escapes through my teeth as the inconstant beeping of my alarm penetrates my sleep-addled mind. Rubbing my eyes, I look around my dimly lit room, the first rays of the morning sun just showing through my window, another breath leaves my lips. Untangling myself from my bed covers, I moved to my closet and rummaged through the offerings to find something to wear. Wonder what Mat has in store for me this morning, I think, as I go about my morning routine.
Mathew Reddy, the Captain of The Guard of the Bloodmoon Pack, was the third most powerful person in the pack, behind my father, the Alpha, and myself, as my father’s successor. It was unheard of for any female in shifter society to become Alpha of any pack, let alone the Bloodmoon Pack. It’s the Pack, the one that stood above all others with its alpha known as the Shifter King. I guess that going to have to change to Shifter Queen when I take over, I thought with a mental smirk. I wonder how many of those chauvinistic pigs on the council will die of apoplexy when that happens. A malicious glee tinted my mental voice as that last thought passed through my mind.
«That isn’t something the future ruler of all shifters should be thinking,» my wolf chided in my mind.
«Maybe, but if I have to endure another one of Council Member Armstrong’s lectures on ‘the proper decorum of a lady,’ I’m liable to disembowel the man» I send back, my mental voice a growl. In place of answering, I could feel my wolf’s agreement, and the sad thing was that Armstrong wasn’t the worst. Oh, he had some antiquated ideas of the role of women in shifter society, but at least he understood the political realities that currently obtain, the same couldn’t be said for the other seven members of the council. Surprising since the two most influential people in terms of both strength and political power in the Otherworld are female. I guess they forget that little fact when it’s convenient, like whenever the topic of the succession comes up. That thought brought a smile to my lips as I made my way to my attached bath.
If they could, I wouldn’t put it past them to trying to convince dad that my cousin Jeremy would be a better successor. The only thing preventing them from doing just that was the same document giving them their power also stipulates that only a direct descendant of Eric BloodMoon, the first Shifter King, can sit on the Shifter Throne, which hasn’t been contested because either by fluke or design, every successor has been male. Of course, there that edict from the otherworld council that should make things interesting, I thought as I finished getting ready for the day.
Descending the main stairway from the second floor of the Pack House, which was the personal living quarters of the current Alpha and Beta of the Pack and their families, I make my way to the administrative area of the first floor where all the senior-level leadership of the Pack had an office. As my father’s acknowledged successor, I technically have an office in this wing, but the number of times I’ve been in it can be counted on one hand, as evident by the stacks of paperwork covering almost every inch, really if anyone wanted to get in contact with me all they had to do was shot me a text or email or if such a hypothetical person needs something immediately, they could just call me on my cell. Living in the twenty-first century is such a beautiful thing I thought dryly, the only problem is that most of the older generation hasn’t adapted too well.
As I walk down the hallway, I notice light pouring out of one of the offices closer to the end. “Do you sleep,” I ask, leaning against the doorjamb.
“A good morning to you too, Amber,” the mountain of a man behind the desk responded without taking his eyes of the report he had in his hand. Pushing off the doorjamb, I make my way over to one of the empty chairs in front of his desk and waited for him to finish.
“For your information,” Mathew said when he fished the report, “I got a full eight hours of sleep last night.”
“That good to hear, after all, it important as you advance in years to get a good night's sleep,” I say with a smirk, for his part Mathew only scowls as he fished a file folder from the mess of reports on his desk.
“I was going to let you off on something easy and just have you patrol the northern board this morning, but because of that comment, I think I’ll have you supervise the recruits during their training this morning.”
“Knowing you,” I say, taking the file, “you were just looking for a reason to farm the responsibility off on me anyway.” Leafing thought the file I add, “after all the only two people in the entire pack qualified to judge the readiness of recruits for the guard are you and me.” that, I reflected, is only one in a long list of reason the Bloodmoon Pack is different from every other pack in the world.
While every pack in the world has an Alpha, Bata, and Captain of The Guard, that make up the pack’s senior leadership, with the Captain’s position being the only merit-based nonhereditary position, the Bloodmoon Pack was slightly different in that the Alpha was the Shifter King and was alpha to every shifter on the planet and the Bata taking on the role of a typical pack’s alpha. The position of the Captain of The Guard was generally the same; however, he would have to provide security for both the pack and the Shifter King, meaning authority who’s his position was akin to a regular pack’s Bata.
«The only reason you have the qualifications to act in the capacity of the Captain of The Guard of a normal pack is because of the amount of time you spent with the guard as you grew up» my wolf reminded me as if I need it.
«well, it was either spend time with the guard who didn’t care that I was a female or spend that time listening to the councilmembers make thinly veiled insults about my gender. Which do you think I would choose to spend my time doing»? I shot back.
«oh, I’m not complaining in fact that training we received will defiantly help us in the future, but you do have to admit that it unusual for a pack to have two people that have the qualifications to be the Captain of The Guard.»
“I absolutely cannot understand why you would say something like that,” Mathew said, breaking into my conversation with a smirk playing at his lips.
“I’m sure you can’t, “I say with a snort at Mathew’s hurt tone. I have to admit he is a good actor, I thought, closing the file and pushing out of the chair. Placing the file back on the desk, I turn to leave, but not before saying, “I assume these guard hopefuls are in the barracks.”
“They are,” Mathew said, and with a smirk more heard than seen, he added, “have fun.” I shake my head that isn’t the additive I would have used to describe my coming experience if the quality of past recruits was any indication.
Making my way out of the Pack House, I cross the vast field, which serves as a gathering place for the pack, to the barracks on the other side. Some of the guards milling around the front came to attention at my approach; the only one that didn’t were to busy sparring on the training fields.
“Where are they,” I ask no one in particular.
“Inside your highness,” the guard closest to me, Andrew, said realizing without me having to ask who I was talking about.
“I feel sorry for those kids, having the Ice Queen as their instructor,” I head one of the guards, standing just outside the nearest training field, whisper as I enter the main barracks.
“Shut up, you moron, do you want her to hear you,” another guard said equally as quietly.
Ice Queen, so that what the guards are calling me these days, I thought as my eyes adjusted to the dim light inside the recruit’s barracks. The noise level in the cavernous room notably decreases on my entrance, and the sound of the heals of my shoes hitting the floor echo around the room as I make my way down the line of bunk beds. By the time I had made it to the end and done a heal turn, everyone had lined up in front of their bunks. I see my reputation proceeds me; mirth evident in my mental voice.
“Sophia, Jacob, Ethan, Aiden, and Olivia. Front and center.” I say into the ringing silence, my voice crisp. It only took a few seconds for the named recruits to gather, “In Captain Reddy’s infinite wisdom, he has deemed the five of you worthy of my training. Follow me,” the tone of my last words making them an order. Moving back to the only entrance I add before walking through it, “Everyone else as you were.” Leading my five recruits to one of the deserted training fields, I have them spread out in a semicircle in front of me.
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“at least you can follow orders,” I remark my tone harsh, unforgiving and out of the corning of my eye I could see a few seasoned guards winces remembering their first day of training. “however, the guard is not just about following orders,” I continue, “for the next three months you will be put through many situations requiring you to think on your feet. To make sure you survive the next three months this week, I will be putting you through the most intense training you have experienced ever, and believe me when I say all five of you will want to quit before the second day is through and run home to your mommas.
“This is the Bloodmoon Pack guard; not only are we charged with the protection of the pack, but we’re also charged with protecting the Shifter King and his family. Due to this, if I find during these three months that you are unsuited for the guard, I will dismiss you then and there. You may appeal to Captain Reddy; however, I hope you have a good case because you will not enjoy the experience of wasting his time.
“now then with that out of the way, I want you all to give me one hundred pushups, one hundred curls, and one hundred pull-ups. Your goal for today is to complete all three tasks within five minutes. Starting now.”
One of the guards who had been watching on the sidelines walked up to stand beside Amber as the recruits went about their assigned tasks. “don’t you think you were a bit harsh on them.”
“no harsher than Mathew was when we went through this, Andrew.”
“so, you're using this to get back at the Captain for what he put us through?”
“no, well somewhat, but more importantly, these recruits need to understand while there is a certain prestige that comes with being a member of the guard; it is also a dangerous position. Not only are they changed to protect the pack like any other pack’s guard, but they also have the lives of the Shifter Royal family to look after.”
“discounting the fact that a certain success to the Shifter Throne can go toe to toe with the Captain and even win seven out of ten sparring matches.”
“of course,” I responded in a tone that made what Andrew said seem obvious. “then there’s the fact that a certain second in command of the guard can also hold his own against the successor. Which now that I think about it reflects poorly on the successor’s battle prowess that she can’t consistently beat the Captain of The Guard or his second in command in sparring matches.”
“it doesn’t reflect poorly on your battle prowess, but it shows that the leadership of the guard is just as good,” Andrew responded, “and let’s face it how many Alphas, or Batas for that matter, can say they can match their Captains of The Guard in a sparring match.”
“I see we’re done referring to each other in the third person,” I chuckle, looking down at my watch. “well, it looks like their time limit is almost here; let see how poorly these recruits did.”
###
A blast of cold air greets me as I push open the front door of the Pack House, a sharp contrast to the warm afternoon air. As I move down the hallway, nodding at the few pack members employed to keep the large building clean to the administrative area, I notice Mathew's door closed, which usually meant he was in a meeting. Instead of doing the usual thing and wait for his meeting to end before entering, I throw open his office door, and before anyone could say anything, I throw the file folder in my hand on his desk.
“they’re not horrible, but they’re not great either.” I say flopping down into the same chair I had occupied that morning. “which isn’t all that surprising considering who their captain is.” A smirk plays across my lips as I watch Mathew fight back a fiery retort.
“At least, unlike a certain uncouth person who will go unnamed, I would never have such reprehensible manners as to intrude into a meeting with our august Alpha,” Mathew said.
Before I could respond, the third occupant of the room let out a snort, “It’s good to see some things never change. Now that I think about it, I would be more worried if you didn’t snipe at each other, and it makes those weekly status meetings so more entertaining.”
“I’m so glad we can provide you with some entertainment, dad,” my tone dry, and both adults burst out laughing.
«Your father has a point» my wolf added her two cents, and the crucks of the matter was that she was right It wasn’t that I disliked Mathew, he’s a great guy that I have a lot of respect for, it was just my way of getting back at him for the hell he had put me through when I was younger. I will admit that I had used my father’s position to enter the guard a lot younger than the minimum age requirements allowed for, and Mathew had been a little more enthusiastic than necessary in his training to try and counteract the apparent show of nepotism. Plus, I thought, it’s always fun verbally sparring with someone who has the wit to reciprocate.
“I see both of your observations of the recruits are the same as always,” dad said, bringing me out of my thoughts, “so how bad are they this year.”
“well, I can only give my impression of the group I was training this morning,” I responded and continued when the adults nodded acknowledgment of my disclaimer, “the foundation is there and most if not all of them seem to have the drive to go all the way. Really what they need right now is training and experience, other than that I don’t have any major complaints. However, with all that being said, I would watch Jacob closely; I get the feeling the only reason he joined the guard is that it was expected of him.”
“Unfortunately, that’s to be expected,” Mathew said with a sigh, “and it shouldn’t come as a surprise his family has a long history of serving in the guard, Luna, his great grandfather was Captain of The Guard when your grandfather was Alpha. It was bound to happen that one of them wouldn’t want to join the guard even though it’s the family tradition.”
“I know, and don’t get me wrong, he does have the potential to be one of the best guards this pack has seen in a while, but he doesn’t have the passion for it. This means we either need to figure out a way to spark that passion or find a way for him to save face with his family when we kick him out of the guard. As it stands, I’ll have no choice but flunk him.”
“What do you have planned,” dad asked content to listen to Mathew, and I hash out a plan.
“I was thinking about it on the walk over, but it depends on who’s in charge of the wilderness survival portion of the training. I feel confident that Jacob will pass my portion of the training, but Jacob will flunk wilderness survival if we don’t pair him with the right instructor.”
“It looks like Randy is the next one up,” Mathew said after shuffling through the papers strewn across his desk. I could feel my lips form into a grimace at the name. “I know you don’t like the guy Amber, but he is one of our best wilderness instructors.”
“I know I can’t stand that womanizing man whore. While he is a good instructor, we need someone who can get blood from a rock, and objectively I don’t think he’s our best option.”
“then who do you think would be good,” Mathew asks.
“as much as I hate to ask this but, what’s Brie got up to these days?”
“Last I heard she was overseeing the patrols in S5, over by that new development,” Mathew responded, and I grimaced. With all the humans working in the area, it required our best Guard Commander to oversee that area. Letting out a sigh because there was only one solution that could work, but I didn’t like it.
“Here’s the plan, we give Randy some meaningless assignment that sounds to everyone like an important one, I’m sure someone as resourceful as you, Mathew, can find such a task. We don’t want to hurt Randy’s already oversized ego because, as you said, he is one of our best wilderness survival instructors. In Randy’s place, we give my group to Brie.”
“Then who’d oversee her sector. We can’t leave that area without leadership; it too important at the moment.” Mathew asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll take it,” I say with a resigned sigh, “it about time I got some experience in leadership, and besides you and Brie, I’m the next most qualified person to oversee that area.”
“As much as I hate the idea of recalling her because you know how it’s going to look to the armchair critics, you’re right; she’s probably the only person who can find the passion in Jacob to say with the guard.”
“I’m glad you can see it my way, which is always the best way.”
“Such modesty from the future ruler of the shifter race.” Mathew’s smile matches my own.
“So, what were you two talking about when my uncouth self, barged in,” I ask positive that the matter was settled.
“Nothing much, just your father’s trip to the packs down south,” Mathew responded, his smile turning into a smirk at my grown.
“Has it been a year already. This means I get to deal with those chauvinistic pigs on the council for a whole week while you and mom go galivanting off.”
“Amber,” my father’s tone warning.
“What I could’ve used a lot stronger language to describe those people, it not like any of them have endeared themselves to me or earned my respect, and don’t give me the BS about them being the Shifter Council and should be respected.” Snapping my figures in an epiphany, “I know when I’m Shifter Queen, my first order of business will be to remove all the current members of the council and replace them with more progressive thinking members.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble, honey, but an appointment to the council is a lifetime commitment.” dad commented.
“So, what your saying is that I have to engineer their deaths somehow,” I respond with an evil glint in my eye, “without it looking like I did have them killed. Harder but still doable.”
“We’ve lost her, Alpha,” Mathew said when he saw my father about to say something. He had seen the glint in my eye before and knew I was in my little world, and trying to reason with me was the epitome of futility.
“In that case, let’s go over my security arrangements for this trip while my daughter plans shifter domination.”
“Shifter domination? More like world domination.” Mathew said with a laugh. “if there is one thing about your daughter that I can wholeheartedly agree with, it’s that she doesn’t think small. As for that matter of your security during this trip, I thought you should have at the very least four guards on you and Her Majesty at all times. As for when you’re traveling…”