The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 184

Madison POV

I called the Blue River Warriors to join me at the tunnel entrance, and told them that we would be making traps and the type of traps I wanted to dig or make, some would be holes, others spiked on trees. I had ordered about six different styles to be made, depending on what the area would allow.

Also, they needed to take men with them and show them what to do and let them make a couple to see they got it right.

The warriors each grabbed what was needed and took off outside, ready to start what was needed. I did not need to give further information. Most of the Blue River warriors knew what type of area I wanted the traps to be made in. I had done the same at Alex’s pack entrance, after, as a group, carrying away the bodies of the rogues.

Peggy watched the Blue River men and frowned as they walked away, tools in hand, and jovially laughed with the Deep Earth men as they headed to the places to make the traps.

‘What is wrong?’ I asked Peggy, as I was not sure what the frown was for.

‘We have so much to learn. I feel we have been hiding for too long and the world has passed us by. We need to be above-ground more often, learn to fight, but we have so many not agreeing with this course of action, but seeing how easily your men accepted your orders and did not complain or argue, we need more of that.’ She said softly.

‘Do you want to talk?’ I asked and she nodded and led me to a room outside the back of the office. I mind-linked Zane that I was going to have a girl chat and he chuckled in the mind-link and said he was going to join the Blue River warriors and help out with the traps.

The room that Peggy led me to was a bedroom. It was larger than any others I had seen. I knew by the smell it was her domain, and most likely her safe place.

She pointed to some chairs and I sat down.

Peggy looked at her hands for a while before she took a long sigh and looked up at me.

‘I am the alpha of this pack.’ I nodded, having already guessed that.

She gave a soft smile.

‘You already know this, don’t you?’ I nodded again.

‘Zane too?’ I nodded again, and she seemed to relax a little.

‘Our way of having an alpha is maybe a little different to yours. The first born, regardless of gender, is the next alpha. My mate tries to act like he is, but everyone knows he is not, and sometimes he does not cope well with having to defer to a woman. Most times I allow him to play his games, but I am afraid this time. He went too far, and insulted you with his need to know about your mother. I had told him to leave it for now, and if you wanted to share, you would have, but he was being stubborn. I apologise if he offended you.’ she looks at me expectantly.

‘My mother was my world, talking about her to strangers is not easy, and to be told she had lived there for six weeks, was okay, but not his constant assertiveness. I could see mother would have loved it here, the new people and the ways of the Deep Earth people would have intrigued her as much as it did me when I met Alex’s pack. She never shared with anyone, she kept her secrets, well most of them, mother had given hints a few times of hidden people, and when I met Alex I knew then that she was talking about your people.’ I replied softly, knowing she had not yet said all of what she wanted, but needed to get her mind clear before expressing what she needed to talk about.

‘Our people are getting too many, we have fewer places we can dig, we are as deep as we can go. The deeper you go, the more complex it is to get good air down there and many are not happy going too much deeper. We had started to look at expanding above ground, but then Gladys appeared before we had finished assessing the best place to build and how to build. We had no idea about constructing buildings above ground, but Gladys took the place we had started to clear, and we lost many lives to her warriors. She is a ruthless woman with no compassion of any kind. So we had been talking with Alex and Zakary as to what to do. They, too, were also starting to get overcrowded, and so we have yet to replace a solution.’ She looked at me as if I had all the answers and, though I do have some suggestions, we needed to get Gladys dealt with first.

‘How about we get rid of Gladys and then we can look at how we can help you. I am sure we can work something out. We have plenty of men who are no longer warriors who might like to help out with buildings, just because they are getting on in years does not mean they are any less useful, and they are always looking for ways to feel needed.’ I said with confidence.

Peggy looked relieved, she had got rid of whatever was on her mind. Maybe she needs us to help teach construction, though if I remove Gladys she already has a good lot of buildings ready to take over, and I know I already talked with Ezekiel about the thought of Deep Earth people taking over the pack lands near their caves. Later I will need to contact him and talk more about this.

‘That sounds like a good plan. We need to sit with your king at some point and talk about how we can be more visible and co-operative with those who live aboveground. We have many young people wishing to move up, so to speak, our old won’t likely want to, they have spent too long living below ground, but we shall see once we have come to some sort of agreement.’ Peggy seemed to grow more confident as we continued to speak. I think being woman to woman, made it a little easier.

‘You can talk to me at any time, you may not know this, but I am Zane’s mate and he is the future king, so anything he sees here may influence his thoughts. We have made friends with Alex and his pack. Some have even found mates, as you saw with your daughter and one of our Blue River warriors. If he stays here, he will be of great benefit to you. With his vast knowledge of our type of combat, he could be a trainer for some of yours.’ I say, not really thinking too much about what I had just said would impact on her.

‘That means you are the future queen? Oh dear, my mate has really stuffed this up for us, hasn’t he? That man will be the death of me. I am sure that he can’t treat you all like he did when your men first arrived.’ she g*****d out her sadness at her mate’s behaviour.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Pretending to be old-fashioned and giving you only stew, he did not welcome Zane and the men well at all, and from what I have heard, he even refused to allow them into the tunnels in the beginning. When needed, I was so angry with him, when he returned home, he played beyond his station.’ She growled and I remember Zane saying he was going to come and rescue me alone if need be.

‘Well, I am sure we can still work something out, though I think you might like to keep Zeek out of the loop regarding who Zane is for now. It would be nice to see if he can figure it out himself.’

We both laughed at this and agreed to say nothing to Zeek, though I would let Zane in on the secret, so he could play his part. Maybe we can get our own back on the sly fox.