Her Ultima Wolf
Chapter 23~Pub popping

Arabella’s POV~

We walk back out to the buses. There are 8 rogues we are taking back with us to interrogate. And about 180 people..mostly families. It will be a great boost for our farming community, if they stay. And will add another 45 pups! Our kingdom is growing! I’m cleaning Sebastian’s wounds…although they are almost completely healed.. must be the mother in me! Sebastian says “Link baby” and I look around and everyone smirks at me! Ugh!

We stopped at McDonald’s and you should have seen the poor employees’ eyes when I ordered 500 burgers and fries. We let everyone off the buses to stretch their legs and use the restroom if they needed. Mario walked over to me and smiled..he said “My Queen? I would like to introduce my family” I turned and smiled at them….he introduced them in turn, his wife Melissa…or Missy..as she prefers..then Michael, he’s 5 ….next is Penelope, but they call her Penny and she’s 4…next one is Isaiah at 2…and the four month old baby Lissette..or Lissie! I smiled and repeated each name…knowing full well, I would never remember all the names. Mario said “did they give you trouble about the burgers?” I laughed and said “not really. But I think I gave them a stroke! Imagine if our warriors were with us! Can I have a thousand burgers please?” And he laughed. He said “thank you for being our Queen! Our people needed you! Not someone Like you, I don’t think..we needed You! Specifically “ I smiled at patted his hand..and said “That may be the nicest thing I’ve heard in awhile! Thank you!”

It was late when we got back and I was done in.. we fell into bed and I was out like a light. I opened my eyes and I was in a beautiful garden.. every flower ever known… I ran over because my favorite was blooming. A moonflower! It glows with a blue iridescent shine. Just beautiful and only in my mother’s garden by her pond.

I spun on my heel and yelled “Mooooommmm! I was sleeping! It’s been a crazy two days and I’m exhausted!” She just smiled benignly and said “I will make sure you feel well rested! I said….”Am I in trouble?” She shakes her head No. I asked “are you in trouble?” Again…no. So I said “then why am I here?” She smiled and says “I miss you “ I facepalmed and said boundaries mom! What if I had been dozing in the tub? Or in the middle of a battle. Oh my Goddess Mom! What if Sebastian and I were…you know…busy??! You can’t just poof me here without notice!” She smirks and says “Yes….I can!” And I had to laugh!

I woke up and I surprisingly felt well rested! I had a picnic with Selene…we played cards..listened to music and danced. She said she’s lonely. I am going to start making a concerted effort to spend time with her. She wants us to set up a regular family dinner. I giggle. I’m sure Sebastian will be thrilled! Speaking of Sebastian…. I woke up without him! I linked him “baby …where are you?” He came back with “office…hurry..you gotta see this!” Jumping up , I was showered, dressed and out the door in ten minutes!

I walked straight over to Sebastian and climbed in his lap…he immediately wrapped around me and asked if I was okay..I said “I woke up without you. I don’t like it”. He whispered how sorry he was..and I replied “No..you had something that needed doing and I’m being a brat.. now show me what I have to see “ He laughed and said “okay bossy pants!” I looked at the video screen and saw a bloodied man on an office floor. I said “who is?…is that Ezekiel?” Sebastian nods and I asked who did that? Kaiden said “Byron Atwater…but you gotta see the video of it!”

The video is up and running…Ezekiel’s office is completely trashed and he’s sitting there with a glass of liquor in his hand..His office door opens..and a man comes in…he asked “Care to explain to me what happened at Harvest Moon?” Ezekiel said “Your stupid cousin happened! Because of her everything is messed up” and Byron growled “That isn’t an answer Nimrod! We are down by 65 men and now on the King’s radar! Years, Zeke! Years..I have been planning this and now I have to pull back and regroup!!? Ezekiel says “We will be fine! There are four small packs in the south…I’ll plan a few raids and recoup our losses” And Byron blew up “AND alert McCallum to our movements again? You moron!” and at the same time he was yelling , he kicked Ezekiel in the chest.. and there was a loud bang and Ezekiel disappeared!

I looked at Sebastian and asked “what happened? Where did he go? How did he do that??” And I was told to watch..I heard Byron say “get your ass out here, you coward!” Ezekiel comes back with “I can’t.. the door is jammed..you broke my fucking door” and Byron yelled “I didn’t break your door..YOU broke your door..and this is me rescuing you..” He proceeded to kick the door in and beat the hell out of Ezekiel. And I couldn’t help it! I busted out laughing! I said “if Byron wasn’t such a twatwaffle and we have to kill him and all…I think I’d like him! He’s funny!” And we all laughed.

Alfred and Trudy came in because Sebastian asked to speak with them about Shana.. I walked over to Alfred and kissed his cheek and led Trudy to a chair..Sebastian links me saying “thank you “ I linked back “she looks so sad!” Alfred spoke up “Son, how can we help? I don’t know much about her relationship with her cousins..and we don’t even know where Shana is….I did spend time with Ezekiel when we were there, though. I observed his training protocols…that might help?” Sebastian said “Actually, dad, if you could go over those same protocols with Brayden and Cory..that would be helpful. I’m more interested in speaking with Trudy. Ohh no no no, Trudy, don’t get frightened..you’ve done nothing wrong! I just want to ask a few questions about Shana, if that’s okay?” And she nods. I knelt down in front of her and said “Why don’t you just tell us everything you can remember about Shana’s behavior the last two years..when you noticed her moods changing or personality being different…we don’t really know what questions to ask and you know her better than anyone else.. She nodded and began to speak

“First..thank you, Arabella. Seb got a good one!” I sashayed over to Sebastian and wiggled my butt into his lap, like I was gracing him when my presence and he grrrrrr’d at me! Trudy began again “ Shana has been a bit of a problem..since her father died. She has this sense of entitlement that is so disproportionate to her actual life. She has always talked about being an Alpha’s wife…until two years ago. Then she set her sights higher and decided she would be Queen. She and Celia spent hours planning their own coronations. She started changing after your father and I had stopped at Silver Moon to handle a trade agreement for you?…anyway, I didn’t know my aunt and uncle had transferred there from Byron’s pack..and Shana tied in with them immediately. Then I noticed she spent more and more time with Ezekiel..but every time I asked her about it..she refused to acknowledge any relationship.. Her attitude and behavior has just gotten worse and worse. When we are home, here…she’s out at Wolf’s Den..comes home reeking of alcohol and men. Alfred threatened to send her to Russia..to one of the packs there..and that set off world war 3…. She did get into a huge argument with Byron..the last time we were at Silver Moon..and he slapped her. But she refused to say what it was about..that’s about all I can help you with..” Sebastian asked when they were at Silver Moon last and Alfred answered 3 weeks ago.

I said “If Shana is making a habit out of Pub Popping..maybe she’s the rogue recruiter for Ezekiel?”