Wolf Lover: Konochur (New Scotia Pack Book 2) by Victoria Danann Page B

their two co-seconds were outfitted with walkie-talkie units and taught how to use them.
    Ken was the first to recognize the danger posed by the paths. They were creating a map of travel habits that, when viewed from the air, might as well be an arrow saying “watch for tasty werewolves here”. Liulf immediately understood the implications and used his new walkie-talkie to contact the other two alphas and suggest that those traveling between tribes choose alternate routes, avoiding the paths, and never going the exact same way twice. It would be a long time before the bare ground would regrow and cover evidence of wear, but that could work in their favor if dragons tried to watch the paths on a full moon night.
    While all semblance of normalcy had been left behind once the dragon shifters made a statement of intent with a graphic example of three dead werewolves, New Elk Mountain was thrown into near chaos by almost doubling its size overnight. The new arrivals were being sheltered by residents until new housing could be built. Within a day Grey was already hearing about temper flares caused by overcrowding. He was beginning to second guess his decision to allow the immigrants to come when everything was so uncertain and when expanding the settlement would be so difficult.
    Adolescents were set as watchmen so that adults could work at building without needing to also watch the skies. When Konochur showed up, Grey explained that they had needed to temporarily give his room to a family of four. With a twinkle in his eye, he suggested that Conn seek housing elsewhere. Perhaps with a young widow who was not hosting Elk Mountainers. It seemed that none of the new arrivals wanted to shelter with a human and a half werewolf.
    Konochur was infuriated. “She’s been openly ostracized?”
    “No. No. I will not allow anyone to disrespect the humans in our tribe. The new wolves will get used to the fact that we’re a mixed culture or they’ll have me to deal with.” His mouth twitched at the corners. “I hear that even the alpha’s wife is human.”
    That seemed to calm Conn a bit. “Goin’ to check on Lessie and Lily. If she’ll no’ have me for the night, save me a pallet by your hearth.”
    Grey smiled and put a heavy hand on Conn’s shoulder. “We can use another strong back to help us get cabins up quickly. I’m glad you’re here.”
    Conn nodded goodbye and began striding toward Lessie’s house.
    When he stepped onto the porch, he heard a feminine voice a few yards away call to him. “Not there, Conn. She and the child are working the vegetable garden.”
    “Thank ye kindly, BlueFire.”
    Conn found his two girls working the neatly hoed rows, making sure that no unwanted plants claimed rainwater or crowded seedling carrots.
    Lessie’s first warning of Konochur’s approach was a high pitched shriek.
    “Conn!” Lily jumped up and ran to him. Lestriv turned to watch as Conn picked her up and spun her around laughing, holding her high, as if she weighed nothing. Lessie couldn’t have suppressed a smile if she’d wanted to and thought that no mother could resist the emotional pull of hearing her child squeal with joy. Especially when the child had lost her father.
    He set Lily on her feet and turned toward Lessie, still squatting in the rows pulling weeds. When she looked up, his grin resolving to a smile. “Hello Lestriv.”
    “Hello Konochur.”
    For a few moments Conn said nothing. He simply continued to look at Lessie as if he was drinking her in.
    “Can I help you with the weedin’?”
    “We’re just done.” She rose to her feet and wiped her hands on her apron. “We haven’t seen you for a bit. Been busy with the weapons training?”
    “Aye. I have. I hope there was no’ somethin’ pressin’ that ye needed doin’?”
    “No,” she said as she gathered her tools and started toward home. She cut her eyes to the side. “We’re used to having you around is all.”
    With a firm hand on her