She looked out at a sea of nodding heads, even if there were a few grumbles, one was louder than others . . . Tilly, their Healer, stood at the front frowning. Sheba cocked her head to the side and addressed her personally. “Tilly, I’m aware you need to keep your stocks replenished and you are a special case. We’ll assign a guard for you each morning to accompany you to get what you require. You are allowed to go only when you have said guard with you. You are not immune from renegades just because you are a Healer, and the Pack can’t afford to lose you.”
Tilly harrumphed loudly but didn’t argue, which was rare. She’d argue black was white just for the sake of it at times. Then she’d laugh it off saying it was her Celtic blood and she enjoyed a good “rammy”, whatever the hell that was.
Sheba then turned to the side, focusing on where the younger Wolves had congregated, knowing her next words would definitely not go down well. “I know you normally walk to the Lunar most nights for a few drinks, and especially on the weekends, but I’m banning that.” She paused as shocked faces turned to shouts of protests. Hell, she frequented the club herself most weeks but she didn’t walk. Raylon would drive her and they’d kick back and relax with a few drinks and catch up with each other on non-Pack stuff, usually with her friend Arabella and the Pack’s Enforcer, Dion, joining them. It was one of the rare times they could truly just chill for a short time before heading back home and dealing with everything that comes with running a Pack once again.
Her ears were thumping with the cacophony of shouts as the younger members of the Pack, and some not so young, shouted and grumbled.
“What? No, you can’t do that. We go there all the time.”
“No, why? We do it every night. We’re always safe.”
“No way.”
“Alpha! No. You can’t do that.”
They were just a few of the very many comments that flew at her all at the same time. Raylon stomped over, slapping a few heads and snarling loudly. Sheba held up her hand, shaking her head. “I didn’t say I was banning you from going, I just said you’re not allowed to walk there or back. It’s not safe right now and my only concern is this Pack’s safety. You lot are wandering along the highway and then through the forest in the dead of night while there are rogues roaming around. That is not safe. If you go out you will go with a designated driver and you will do what normal kids do—drive. Got it? If you can’t do that then you will not go at all. I’ll be alerting Myla to the new rules and she will be checking, and if anyone breaks them, then you’ll have Raylon to answer to.”
She paused, letting that little snippet sink in as her Beta prowled back and forth before the group, giving them the evil eye. His muscles rippled beneath his t-shirt that strained as if it were about to burst at the seams, his arms crossed over his impossibly wide chest. His dark eyes almost lost in the ebony dark skin of his face as he towered over them, and each and every one had to strain their necks to look up at him, but they quickly lowered their gaze before mumbling, “Yes, Alpha.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s agreed.” Sheba nodded grimly. “I wouldn’t like to see what kind of punishment Raylon would hand out to any of you if you broke these rules, because I’m pretty sure he’s already thought up some harsh new ones to implement. Isn’t that right, Ray?”
Her Beta stopped, uncrossing his arms to place his fists on his waist and growling, “Sure have.”
Groans rang out from the crowd as many parents’ suppressed laughter broke free. Raylon’s punishments were legendary and they knew if anything would deter their offspring from breaking any rules it was the threat of Raylon being the person handing out the retribution. Hell, if it kept them safe that’s all that Sheba cared about, and with rogues in the area she was taking no chances with these kids.
She may be a new Alpha but her father’s blood ran through her veins and she’d do anything to protect each and every member of the Pack. Sheba would not allow any damn renegade Wolf to harm anyone under her care. She would tear their damn hearts out first. Her emerald eyes scanned the area, ensuring her people had taken in her words and the seriousness of the situation. The looks on their faces conveyed all she needed to know. They’d listened and she just prayed to the Goddess they’d heed her warnings and stay close to camp until they’d gotten this rogue problem sorted out.
How long that was going to take was anyone’s guess but for her land, her Pack, she was taking matters into her own hands and she’d be clearing out the forests surrounding the camp pretty damn soon. Any renegades found would be dealt with harshly, and if they put up a fight, then on their own heads be it . . . death would be the result.
Sheba might be the Dark Moon Pack’s first female Alpha, hell, she was the only female Alpha in the area, but she would be ruthless and deadly with anyone that posed a threat to her,
