Cullen sat in his office staring out the window. He was still trying to wrap his brain around the latest information he had received. Originally he had believed that the raids his southern border was suffering were perpetrated by the La Rayne. Stephen La Rayne, alpha asshole, of that pack had always been trouble. When he wanted to torment the human population he had a tendency to do it on other people’s land so that the branch of the American government that periodically monitored and helped to hide the lycan population would blame someone else.
Cullen had been in the process of explaining to the feds that he knew about the raids, they weren’t originating from his pack, and he was in the process of getting the situation under control. “Muin,” he swore as he looked over the reports that showed the raids moving closer and closer to the city. That wasn’t like La Rayne. He didn’t go any farther than he had to and he didn’t chance his men getting caught, which was a distinct possibility of going too deep into someone else’s territory.
At the moment the reports were scattered. The raids involved “animal-like men breaking into and searching buildings” in various locations. But he didn’t know what they were looking for or why. He also was confused by the “animal-like” description. When it was lycans the description involved terms like wolf or large dog. The implication was that the raiders were lycan.
The knock on the door had Cullen turning to see who was wanting to talk to him. Most everyone had been avoiding him like the plague considering his mood lately. “Come,” he called angrily.
Keith stepped into the room. He walked over to a chair in front of Cullen’s desk and sat down without being asked. He was one of a very few lycans who didn’t care about Cullen’s mood. Keith had been friends with the man too long to fear the mighty General Cullen Arnauk. “I’ve got word,” he said as he propped his feet up on Cullen’s desk.
In an odd way Keith’s disrespect and nonchalance made Cullen feel better. “So?”
Liam and Serra just got back from their little espionage mission. “From what they heard the raids are originating from a group that has pretty strong affiliation with the Circle.” Cullen was speechless. Keith smiled. He knew that would come as a shock. “I knew you’d like that,” he chuckled. “When was the last time the druids came out of hiding?”
“I don’t even remember. The real druids disappeared after Rome. Coach,” he swore under his breath. “I can only assume you mean the real druids and the real Circle.”
Keith nodded. “Yup, the real Circle. So the real question is what do they want?”
Cullen’s gaze drifted off into space as he considered the improbability of the situation. “Whatever they’re after must be pretty significant for them to come out of hiding after all these centuries. Hell, even if they want something, raiding isn’t the way they used to deal with things. Live and let live and all. The Circle I knew allowed themselves to be killed off and assimilated because they believed that was the way of things.”
“Yhea, well look at it this way,” Keith said, “if all the druids believed that was the way of things then there wouldn’t be any left. Whoever is calling themselves the Circle at this point survived somehow and chances are that means that some of them didn’t necessarily believe in the way of things.”
Cullen agreed with is friend. “Okay so the Circle is behind the raids. But who or what is doing the raiding?”
“That we haven’t really found out yet. No one has really seen anything other than the aftermath and ‘animal-like’ shadows. But from the sounds of it and from some research that Granad did we think it might be big cats of some kind. The Circle originally made lycans as guardians. If they’re looking for something they’re probably using hunters who are less likely to care about rules or trade loyalty for each other over loyalty for their creators the way we did. The raiders have been strong, have claws like you wouldn’t believe, are quick, quiet, and managing to blend in and disappear. I’m guessing panthers, leopards, tigers, lions or some such. Hell maybe a combo. That would eliminate the possibility of a unified pride. You know how much the were-cats hate interbreeding. Wouldn’t want to chance a mutt.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought this out pretty thoroughly,” Cullen said, feeling like he hadn’t contributed at all.
“Well, Serra, Granad, Liam and the rest of us have noticed your distracted and we kinda get it. We’re doing our best to get this monkey taken care of so that maybe the mating business won’t be so overwhelming.” Keith shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat. “Actually we’ve been talking about that too.”
“What,” Cullen asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously on his friend.
“The mating. We just wanted you to know that the pack at large, at least those of us high enough in rank to have a countable opinion,” Keith looked at Cullen sympathetically, “don’t think it’s necessary.”
“You don’t.” Cullen leaned back in his chair. It was obvious that no amount of glaring was going to have any effect on Keith.
“No. The way we figure it, if Gregorius gets his hands on the alpha spot in the Tairneach then we get into a fight. So what? We’ve been at peace so long some of our guys are forgetting to watch their own backs. Maybe it’s time again.”
Cullen sighed. Keith thought he looked a lot older all of a sudden. “Thanks, but I put a lot of effort into what little peace we have. Besides, the last thing we need is another clan war. The feds would be all over us. I for one don’t want to go through that again.”
“But Jenna Tairneach?” Keith said with some disgust.
“Yhea, Jenna Tairneach. It’s not like there are any other women higher up on my list,” Cullen lied.
When Cullen’s eyes dropped to his desk at that last comment Keith growled his frustration at his friend’s behavior. “Whatever,” he said in annoyance. “I would have thought even Celia a better match for you than that galla Jenna, but what do I know.”
“Enough, the mating ceremony is tomorrow. Everything is set. I expect you and all the others to be at the manor on the reservation same as the Tairneachs will be. I just want to get it overwith.”
Keith nodded and stood up from the chair. “Any other orders General?” He asked with a salute.
Cullen turned back to the window in dismissal. Another move that was totally unlike him when interacting with his friend. Keith stormed out angry that Cullen was being such an ass and not even willing to look into other options.