Wolf Council

  WOLF COUNCIL

  WOLF MOUNTAIN PACK BOOK 2

  MAC FLYNN

  Copyright © 2022 by M. Flynn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Continue the adventure

  Other series by M. Flynn

  1

  Who knew the werewolf world had such a complicated, and deadly, hierarchy?

  First, however, I had to figure out the hierarchy of roots and my foot. The score was two-to-zero in favor of the tree roots, and as I tripped over my third one a sense of defeat began to settle over me.

  I scowled at the back of my guide’s coat. “You’re sure you saw it over here?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  “How sure is pretty sure?”

  “The area looks vaguely familiar.”

  I snorted. “That’s because we’ve been on this path before. About ten minutes ago.”

  My guide jerked to a stop so quickly that I ran into him. I wrapped my arms around his waist to keep from falling. Chris looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. “Here? Now?”

  I rolled my eyes before I pushed off from him. “No and no. We’re supposed to be out in the middle of the woods looking for those mushrooms you saw, and the only part we’re getting right about that is we’re out in the middle of the woods.”

  My eyes explored the thick forest that stood around us. There wasn’t a sign that mankind existed, even among us. After all, we were both a part of wolf-kind now.

  Chris scrutinized the area, as well, and after a moment he furrowed his brow. “We have been here before, haven’t we?”

  I pointed at the dusty ground beneath us. The loose dirt showed two pairs of tracks, our tracks, and they were ahead of us. “Pretty sure we have.”

  Chris folded his arms over his chest and frowned. “I don’t remember the path turning in a circle.”

  I snorted. “Remember that path that disappeared behind us when we were helping rescue Duncan? I’m pretty sure this forest has a sick sense of humor and we’re not in on the joke.”

  A hint of a smile appeared on his lips. “In that case we are the joke, but the joke’s on the woods.” He stepped off the path and strode toward a large tree.

  I snatched his arm and yanked him to a stop. “What are you doing?”

  He glanced over his shoulder at me and jerked his head toward the tree. “The mushrooms. They’re just over there.”

  My eyes flickered over the silent woods. “Greylock, I mean, Ethan told us not to go off the path. Even he didn’t know what would happen if we got lost in here.”

  Chris turned to me and set his hand on mine. “It’s just a few feet, but if you feel that way then watch my back.”

  “I’ll do better than that,” I retorted as I grabbed his belt.

  Chris’ eyes widened. “Wait, seriously?”

  I could see a slight flush of embarrassment on his cheeks along with a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Keep your mind out of the gutter for a few minutes,” I scolded him as I unbuckled his belt and pulled it off him. I grabbed the leather in both hands, clenched my teeth, and focused all my werewolf strength into my arms.

  My reward was a tiny tear in one end of the leather, and then nothing. I lifted the tear up to my face and frowned. “Damn.”

  Chris’ eyes twinkled with mischief. “Is there a reason why you hate my belt so much, other than the obvious one?”

  I held out the belt to him. “I wanted to make a rope out of thin strips, but it looks like I haven’t trained my inner dog to obey me yet.”

  Chris took the belt and grasped it as I had done. In one quick motion he tore the leather in two. He held one strip out to me. “Hold this.”

  I took the piece with a glare. “That’s cheating.”

  The corners of his lips raised higher as he tore the strap into more strips. “How?”

  “Because reasons.”

  Chris chuckled as we traded strips and he created ripped the half piece in two. “Your logic baffles me as much as your beauty.”

  “What did I tell you about flattery?” I scolded him as I tied the pieces together.

  “That it brings a lovely shade of red to your cheeks?” he teased as he did the same with his own strips.

  “That lovely shade wants to stay lovely, and-” I took his strips and tied them together, creating a rope some fifteen feet long, one end of which I held out to him “-that means wrapping this around your waist and coming back to me, with or without the mushrooms.”

  He grasped the end but leaned down and pecked a light kiss on my lips. “And leave you alone to warm a bed all by yourself? Not a chance.”

  The heat on my cheeks increased, but I gave a light push against his chest. “Just go get those fungi so we can get out of here. All this quiet gives me the creeps.”

  Chris gave me a salute and spun on his heels to face the shrooms. He marched into the woods with his tether about his waist and the other end firmly clasped in my hands. I may not have had the strength to tear the leather, but I sure as hell had the determination to keep a hold of him.

  Chris reached the small pile of mushrooms without incident and plucked them from the ground. As he did so a faint wind rustled the leaves over my head. I tilted my head and looked up at the dancing leaves. They waved back, but the hairs on the back of my neck told me it was more a flailing warning than a friendly hello.

  “Chris,” I whispered as I returned my attention to him. “I think you should hurry.”

  He stood with a bag of his treasures and frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not sure, but I get the feeling the forest doesn’t like you trespassing.”

  Chris hurried back to me and as he stepped a foot back on the path, I let out my first breath since he’d stepped off. That’s when an unfamiliar scent, brought by the slight breeze, hit my nostrils.

  I paused and frowned. “Do you smell that?”

  Chris lifted his nose and after a moment of sniffing he shook his head. “No, but your sense of smell is still stronger than mine. What do you smell?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “It smells like an old chair that’s been sitting in an old lady’s house for about fifty years.”

  Chris smiled. “So, it smells like lemons and stale saltines?”

  “With a hint of cookies, but the ones with raisins,” I added.

  His eyes twinkled. “I happen to like raisins on cookies.”

  I folded my arms over my chest and sadly shook my head. “Pity. And here I thought you had good taste.”

  Chris wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest. His smile curled into a rather lecherous one. “I think I have very good taste.”

  A rush of heat raced down my body. Chris leaned down and pressed our lips together in a long, lustful kiss. His free hand reached around and stroked my butt. I leaned into the sensual touch and a moan escaped me.

  A twig snapped behind me.

  I spun around and Chris stiffened at my back. Duncan stepped out of the brush with his hands clasped behind his back and a whistle on his lips. His eyes fell on us, and he feigned surprise. “Why, there you two are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”

  I snorted and rolled my eyes, but a low, deep growl rumbled from Chris’ throat. His low, irritated voice brushed past me. “What’s needed?”

  Duncan grinned. “We have a guest who wants to meet the two new members of our family.”

  I arched an eyebrow. “Do you guys often have guests?”

  He shook his head. “Not often, and this one is even more special.” He jerked his head in the direction of the manor. “But you’ll find out.” He turned and walked back into the woods.

  I looked up at Chris who shrugged. “I guess we should go find out.”

  We hurried after our new protege and soon reached the luxurious lawn of Greylock Manor. The house was bathed in the soft glow of twilight as the sun set in the distance. I paused and admired the view of the light through the treetops.

  Chris stopped beside me, and I smiled up at him. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired to this view.”

  His eyes were ever on me as he grinned. “Me, either.”

  I snorted and pushed my hand against his chest. “There you go with that flattery again.”


  He leaned down and brushed his lips against my ear. “You deserve it.” My cheeks glowed like a pair of forest fires in the dead of night.

  “Come on, you two!” Duncan called from the front stoop. “We can’t keep the emperor waiting.” He slipped inside.

  I wrinkled my nose. “The emperor?” I repeated as I noticed a fancy Rolls Royce parked in the circular driveway. The driver, complete with cap and studded jacket, leaned his butt against the hood.

  Chris and I looked at each other before we both shrugged and passed through the door Duncan had left open. We found our pack settled, or rather, unsettled about the living room furniture. Duncan and Bonnie stood behind the couch while Greylock draped one arm over the mantel.

  Seated before them in the largest chair available was a man of some seventy years old, but from the hairy scent I got off him, I guessed he was a werewolf of some greater vintage than those lines on his face showed. He wore a heavy blue business overcoat over a trim business suit of roughly the same color. His black shoes were shined to a reflective polish and the little bit of white hair that covered his head was combed back over the top.

  At our coming he smiled at us, and he spoke with a slight English accent. “These must be your two new members.”

  Greylock pushed off from the mantel and leaned on his cane. “They are. Christopher Dayton and Alexandra Shaw, may I introduce you to Lord Warren Brix, leader of the Wolf Council.”

  Brix inclined his head to us. “It is a pleasure to meet both of you, and to know that Ethan’s pack has grown in number with two such fine additions as yourselves.”

  Greylock arched an eyebrow. “You flatter all of us, Lord Brix, but I must wonder what brings you to the manor after such a long absence.”

  Brix chuckled. “Can an old friend not visit from time to time?”

  “Not when the meeting of the council is due in only a few days’ time,” Greylock countered.

  The leader of the council sighed. “I see nothing gets past your sharp mind.”

  Greylock smiled. “Or the dates on my calendar.”

  Brix pursed his lips. “That is precisely the matter on which I have come. I would like you to host the council.”

  2

  Greylock frowned. “I have already sent you my intention not to attend. Why do you desire for me to hold the meeting at my home?”

  A bitter smile appeared on Brix’s lips. “Because not only are you the only one who was not going to attend the meeting, but you’re also the only one who hasn’t asked to hold the meeting at their own estate.”

  Greylock gestured to his guest. “Then perhaps you might be willing to hold the meeting because, as I wrote in my letter, I had a choosing to coordinate and new members to train.”

  Brix returned his attention to Chris and me and studied us with his old brown eyes. “And what better training than a chance for them to see the workings of our informal government?”

  Greylock arched an eyebrow. “I hardly see that as a reason for the council to be held at the manor.”

  Brix pursed his lips. “Truth be told, there are other reasons I wish for you to hold the meeting. However,” His eyes flickered over not only Chris and me, but Duncan and Bonnie, “perhaps that is a conversation best spoken in private.”

  Greylock swept a hand over the members of his pack. “Anything for my ears can be spoken before my pack. We have no secrets here.”

  The council leader bowed his head and sighed. “Were that true of the other members of the council…”

  Greylock frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Brix lifted his chin and his eyes to Greylock. “There are… rumors spreading that some pack members desire for the council to be broken and the allegiances likewise dissolved.”

  A ghost of a smile appeared on Greylock’s lips. “Those stirrings have been around since the creation of the council.”

  Brix closed his eyes and shook his head. “Not like these. While a few of the council members do disagree with many decisions, the murmurings come from those within the ranks of their own packs.”

  Greylock raised an eyebrow. “Are you meaning to imply a rebellion among them?”

  Brix nodded. “I mean to imply just that, and more. I have received letters, without return addresses and printed out on a computer, that have warned me that such coups are not only possible but being planned.”

  Duncan scoffed. “Then why have a meeting at all if some of the members are going to be too busy putting down rebellions?” Bonnie glared at him and jabbed her elbow into his ribs.

  Brix folded his hands together and inclined his head. “A perfectly reasonable question.” Duncan grinned at Bonnie, “And the risk of a coup is precisely why I desire for the meeting to held here.”

  “You seek to avoid animosity by instead breeding trust,” Greylock guessed.

  Brix nodded. “Just that. Though the meeting is our annual responsibility, and the itinerary has already been sent out, I will bring the matter of these disorders to the attention of the members in a special session, or more, if needed.”

  Chris scoffed. “Talk is cheap.”

  The council leader nodded. “I agree that talk can be useless at times, but that must be the first step in any reconciliation.” He returned his attention to Greylock. “Will you do me the greatest of favors by not only attending, but by granting us leave to use your house as the place of meeting?”

  Greylock pursed his lips, but after a moment he bowed his head. “I agree.”

  At his approval Brix’s face looked years younger. The old man rose and smiled at Greylock. “You cannot begin to know how much I appreciate this. Whatever you need to accommodate the others, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

  A few mumbled words escaped Duncan’s lips. “Some bulletproof walls would be nice…” A warning look from Bonnie made him clap his mouth closed.

  Greylock moved toward the man’s side, but Brix held up one hand. “I believe I know the way out, and I won’t detain you any longer. I’ll also notify the others of the venue. Until then-” He held out his hand.

  Greylock shook the offered hand. Brix was beaming as bright as a star as he inclined his head to us and hurried out.

  The door had hardly shut before Bonnie whipped her head to Ethan and her eyebrows crashed down. “Are you sure that was such a good idea?”

  Greylock turned to her and clasped his hands over the top of the cane. “Would you have me turn an old friend away during their hour of need?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “The only thing that council needs, is a good kick in the-”

  “I think our new friends are a little confused about what just took place,” Duncan interrupted as he gestured to Chris and me. “Maybe we could explain things to them?”

  Greylock’s strange eyes settled on us newcomers to the furry party. “The wolf council, as you may have guessed, is a presiding board comprised of the leaders of the local wolf packs.”

  I snorted. “I’m also guessing everybody gets along about as well as a divorcing couple in their fifth year of fighting over who gets which half of the dog.”

  The corners of Greylock’s lips twitched upward. “I’m afraid so.”

  Chris arched an eyebrow. “What’s this about coups happening in the packs?”

  “That’s something new,” Bonnie spoke up as she took a side-saddle seat atop the head of the couch. “Though it’s no big surprise. A lot of new werewolves wouldn’t know loyalty if it bit them in the tail.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds like the werewolf chiefs haven’t been choosing their packs very well.”

  Greylock eased himself into the high-backed chair formerly occupied by the council president and set his chin on his hands. “Many of the pack leaders have, against their better judgment and the warnings of others, sought quantity over quality.”