Chapter 473: Good Riddance
Lucas had to return to Graeme’s office to accompany Beta Ranier off of pack land. Apparently while he was gone, something had transpired to make the energy in the room even more awkward. Graeme and Ranier were locked in some kind of strange stare off with Graeme looking pissed and Ranier looking somewhat amused.
Lucas gave a quick nod to Sam to let him know that Violet was escorted to the dungeon successfully.
"Thank you for stopping by, Ranier," Graeme said with a rigid jaw after Lucas walked into the office. "Lucas, would you make sure that the Beta from Thundering Falls finds his way?"
Lucas bowed respectfully to his Alpha in a more formal display than what he would normally feel was necessary. Graeme was quite informal. But when outsiders were present, it was especially important for it to be clear how much respect was held for pack leadership. And Lucas respected Graeme as much as he had ever respected an Alpha, so he wanted to make sure Ranier was aware of it.
"Thank you for having me," Ranier smiled. "We are fortunate to have the Hallowell pack as our allies. I hope it will stay that way."
Graeme nodded with a straight face and watched as Ranier walked out of the office.
’Straight to the border,’ he said to Lucas—only Graeme didn’t open his mouth to say it.
Lucas wanted to gape at him, but he maintained his calm exterior. This was the second time Graeme had spoken telepathically to him. Apparently it was not a fluke or his imagination after all. Perhaps this was going to be the new way they communicated when others were around.
What an unusual feeling to have someone speak into your mind. He nodded to Graeme to indicate that he heard him and then glanced at Sam to see if there was any hint that this telepathic command was shared, but Sam was distracted by something on his desk. It made him strangely giddy to think that his Alpha had spoken only to him in this secretive way. It was amazing.
Once he and Beta Ranier were out of the pack house, Ranier’s steps slowed like he was going on a leisurely stroll.
"It has been a long time since I was here last," he mused. "So much has changed."
"As it has in your pack, it seems," Lucas said.
Ranier chuckled. "That is certainly true. If I am honest, I am leaving here with a much lighter weight on my shoulders. That male who took over our pack was not a leader any lycan pack would want or need. He was powerful, but we all know that is not enough."
Lucas hummed his agreement while he was internally grumbling at the slow pace Ranier had decided on for their journey to the perimeter. What was this male up to?
"What happened to... to Violet," Ranier said, shaking his head regretfully, "that was a direct result of Cassian’s flawed leadership. She would have never been attacked that way if Alpha Galen were in charge at the time. But it quickly became obvious that Cassian was much different than Galen. He would not punish violence like that. He even... encouraged it."
Lucas listened silently as the Beta from Thundering Falls went on.
"That was of course until he discovered that Violet was his mate. Then he slaughtered the males who attacked her, as anyone would," he said. "What do you make of Violet’s situation here?"
"Beta Ranier, that is not for me to say," Lucas replied. "Would you mind if we make haste? I have other responsibilities to attend to."
"I am curious about your Luna," Ranier said then, causing Lucas to pause his steps and give the Beta a severe look. So this is what caused Graeme to be upset. They were talking about August.
Ranier put his hands up defensively in response to the expression on Lucas’ face. "It is only because the Hallowell pack seems extremely overpowered. Thundering Falls experienced how devastating an alyko leader could be. And now you have so many, it seems..."
"Luna August is kind, honorable, and just. She cares for us all, and she has demonstrated it more times than I can count," Lucas growled. "Her and Graeme are Goddess sent."
"That is good to hear," Ranier nodded and then began walking again. "I hope it remains that way."
Now Lucas was upset. His hackles were bristling at the unspoken suggestion that August may some day change to become... what? A heartless, terrifying agent of destruction like Cassian had been? Ranier knew nothing of her character, and it was ignorant to suggest that she may transform into something else, especially when conversing with someone in this pack who did know her.
Ranier stank of that same vile prejudice against the alyko that had kept them marginalized and persecuted in lycan packs all over the world. Cassian may have done significant damage to the Thundering Falls pack, but it was ignorant to assume that all alyko were the same. On the contrary, alyko were typically good-natured to a fault. That is precisely why they had remained on the periphery of lycan communities for so long.
Lucas’ thoughts returned to Neoma and how much she had endured in her life for precisely this reason, and yet she was still blaming herself. That ache in his chest burned as the memory of their conversation came back to him. What did she mean that he was giving her the wrong idea...
Lucas was grateful when Ranier suddenly shifted into his wolf to run the rest of the way to the perimeter. It gave him time to think and to release the anger that Ranier had instigated. When they finally arrived, meeting runners patrolling the area as they did, Ranier remained in his wolf and gave one last lingering look back at Lucas and the Hallowell pack land before running off the way he had come.
Lucas snorted a breath out of his nose as he watched the male disappear into the lake side of the forest.
