Chapter 4

• “Hold on.” My beta said as he ran a hand over the back of the horse. “I still don’t get why you are traveling to meet Leonardo. I thought you two hated each other.” The man said and I laughed as I got off my horse.
• “We do,” I responded. “But, remember I told you he might be messing with the spirit codes?” I explained to him how some of the warriors had caught some Blueblood wolves with some crates just a day earlier. When I was done with my explanation, my beta, whose name was Holden, gave me a droll stare.
• “Knowing Leonardo, his warriors can’t be that easy.” He told me.
• “They didn’t tell us they were from his pack. It was the emblem on their crest that gave them away.” I explained to Holden.
• “And now you want to pay him a visit because you suspect foul play?” My beta asked with a laugh.
• “If you are going to keep being a jokester, I can ask Niamh to come with me instead,” I told him. Niamh was Holden’s mate and my omega as well.
• “I never said I didn’t want to come, Julian. Chill.” Holden told me. I ignored the look on his face and gave him a pointed look.
• “You know what to do,” I told him.
• “Fine. I will prepare for the journey.” He replied and gave me a sly grin. I waved him off, heading out of the stable. I ran into Niamh at the council house and she hugged me.
• “Is Holden home too?” She asked and I nodded, smiling at her.
• “Yeah, and he doesn’t know this yet, but you are coming with us to Leo’s pack,” I told her. I watched as her eyes grew serious. That was why I liked her, she never joked about anything which concerned me or the pack.
• “Is this about the crates?” She asked and I nodded. "Let's hope it's just a misunderstanding though," Niamh said after I nodded.
• I smiled at her as I thought about her character. Niamh was one of the people who saw the good in everyone. It came with its disadvantages, but it also proved useful when dealing with clan issues.
• “You have not spoken to him in many years and the last time you did, you both nearly killed each other.” She reminded me and I winced, the scar Leo left on my back suddenly aching.
• “I am sure if I diplomatically approach him, there wouldn’t be much of an issue,” I told her, and Niamh’s brow arched.
• “Isn’t that what you both told each other before you decided to cause a clan war with your fight?” She asked and I gave her a grin as I remembered the conflict she was talking about. I explained to her that we were both older and more mature. Besides, I also had stronger warriors so a war was out of the question.
• “But we are going to be on his land.” She reminded me. I patted her cheek and her eyes narrowed.
• “Do not worry, Niamh. I promise to be on my best behavior.” I promised her. She opened her mouth to talk but I gave her another pat. I told her where she could find Holden and went inside the packhouse. I ran smack into my little sister.
• “Oh, Julian. You are here.” I said and immediately noticed the hickey on her neck. “What the fuck is that, Jane?” I asked her in anger. Her hand covered it and she laughed uneasily.
• “Uh, I have no idea what you are talking about.” She said in a nervous tone.
• “Do not make me repeat myself,” I shouted at her a little.
• “He is a nice guy!” She shouted at me.
• “Oh, so it is a guy? Just what have you been doing in my absence, little sis?” I asked her.
• “I am not little.” She barked at me.
• “You are 18. So, you are little.” I retorted.
• “I am a grown woman.” She countered.
• “Did he tell you that?” I asked and rolled my eyes as she turned red. “How old is he?” I asked in a calm tone.
• “Twenty-one.” She answered. I bit back the words I wanted to say and asked her another question instead.
• “Is he in the warriors? If not, what is his job in the pack?” I asked her. When she answered that he was a soldier, my mind went to the recruits and I remembered that we only have five of them. Out of the five, only two were above twenty. “Tall?” I asked her again in an attempt to filter who her lover was. Jane narrowed her eyes and her arms landed on her hips in a pose that screamed 'don’t fuck with me.'
• I gave her a warm smile.
• “I know you are weeding him out in your head.” She said in an accusing tone.
• “What? Me? Never.” I told her in a very serious voice.
• “Don’t play with me, Julian.” She warned.
• “Just tell me his name then. I just can't wait to see the man who is giving my little sister a hickey and have a little talk with him.” I told her.
• “Just like you talked with Raef?” She asked and I held up my palms.
• “It isn’t my fault Raef was a scaredy-cat. I just talked to him.” I answered her.
• “You showed him your wolf. That’s not just a talk, that is intimidating.” She accused me and I grinned, dropping my palms.
• “Tell me his name, sis. Let’s see if this one has balls.” I told her. She opened her mouth but she was cut off by the entrance of Finn. Finn was Holden’s little brother and he was also his assistant. He was also 21 and was a deputy general soldier.
• “Finn!” I told Jane and her eyes widened. She stepped on my foot rudely.
• “Stop it.” She said and pointed a finger at me.
• “You just confirmed it, baby sis,” I told her, ignoring the stab of pain her shoes had caused. Jane grabbed my arm and started pulling me outside. “I just remembered I have to show you my garden.” She said, dragging me away.
• I turned back and saw that Finn’s eyes were trained on Jane. I read nothing but devotion and admiration all over. I halted in the walk which made Jane look afraid.
• “It is just a talk, Jane. I am not going to bite his head off.” I assured her.
• “Promise? I like him.” She told me. I grinned at her and nudged her cheek.
• “I can see that and I can see that he likes you too,” I told her. I held back in the gag that came when I saw her face change.
• Finn was still by the steps of the clan house but before we could reach him, Holden and Niamh reached us.
• “One of the Bluebloods talked. The crates were being taken to another kingdom.” Niamh told me.
• “Another pack we suspected, but they refused to talk after that.” Holden had his serious face on as he spoke. The one that spoke nothing of the joker he normally was.
• “Our trip to Leo’s pack has to be sooner than ever now,” Niamh said to me and I nodded. I let go of Jane's hand and watched as she rushed over to Finn.
• “Prepare everything we need. We leave at dawn.” I told both of them.