Chapter 87: Perimeter

Finn, who was also on perimeter runs, found Graeme brooding at the border of Woodside and the Grimm. Since when did the returned Alpha go on perimeter runs? Maybe he was a part of the scout team that was keeping an eye on Eliade.

He approached the much larger lycan who he had admired since he could remember, and made himself an echo of Graeme's quiet, contemplative stance, staring pensively out into the darker woods beyond.

After a few moments like this, Finn broke the silence, "What are we doing Alpha?"

Graeme chuckled. "Finn," he finally acknowledged the young lycan's presence.

"Are you with the scouts?" Finn asked.

"No. I came to run," he answered. "But it seems like the scouts are close. Is Calix here?"

"Yes, how did you know?" Finn cocked his head to the side. Calix wasn't a scout, so his presence wouldn't be expected.

"I scented him," Graeme replied gruffly. "I'm going to speak with him. I'll see you on the run," and Graeme turned to leave toward where some of the scouts were huddled in the distance. It seemed half of the team was remaining at the border while individuals were scattered in the Grimm with eyes on Eliade's search team.

"See you in a bit, Alpha!" Finn called before turning and shaking off his human form to run the perimeter in his wolf.

Graeme could hear the scouts talking before he saw them. It sounded as if Eliade's search team had spent the night in the Grimm the previous night and was still circling in the area, though making no real advancement.

"How is the Grimm affecting them?" he heard Calix's distinctive voice, the smooth charm of the man who was in charge of pack relations.

"They have grown quieter and some seem to be fearful. Nothing extreme," one of the scouts reported.

"Calix," Graeme called as he approached.

The slender lycan with shoulder-length wavy golden hair turned with an eyebrow raised. "Graeme!" He chuckled. "How did I not scent you?"

"You are busy," Graeme replied with a smirk. The two shook hands. "Are we expecting visitors that you have come to greet?"

Calix was responsible for overseeing pretty much all lycan communication—between packs as well as within it. He had a natural way of anticipating and thwarting tension that naturally arose whenever many lycans were in one place.

"No, I was on my way back in from some business with an ally," Calix answered.

"Concerning me?" Graeme asked for Calix to chuckle.

"No, brother. No other packs are aware that you have returned," he replied. "It was negotiating trade."

"They will be aware soon, I am sure," Graeme grunted.

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"Not from our side. The last thing we need is all of the packs knowing that our Alpha has returned with a witch as his mate," he said in amusement.

A threatening growl made its way out of Graeme's throat before he could stifle it, and Calix raised his hands in surrender.

"It is not my own thoughts I am relaying, Graeme, but only how it may be perceived. And you have not fought for dominance, so what use it is to worry our allies?"

"And who would I be fighting for dominance, Calix?" he asked.

No longer had the sarcastic question left his lips than he realized how curious he actually was for a straight answer. This was an unusual situation. Surely if anyone knew the appropriate way to regain his official standing in the pack, it would be the man before him.

Calix cocked his head to one side and clasped his hands behind him. "A good question. I suppose the Alpha power has been widely dispersed among many in the council with you gone."

Calix thought about it some more. He was always one to take every question literally, if only for the fun in in puzzling over it. "The allies like dealing with Andreas. He has a head for business. But not so much a heart for his own people. The pack has come to fear him. And they fear Marius."

"Why do you only speak of Andreas and not the other elders?" Graeme asked thoughtfully.

Calix shrugged. "He is the head elder. He makes the final decisions always."

"The decision to allow me the role of consultant when I left was set to a vote amongst all council members," Graeme recalled.

"That was then," Calix said simply. "He enjoys more power now. Perhaps he is slowly evolving into our Alpha. Or at least fancies himself so."

Graeme resisted the impulse to snort in equal parts disgust and amusement. He should not openly disrespect the elder. Plus, why was it so wrong for Andreas to consider himself in that role? Graeme had left.

"So what is the status with Eliade's search?" he asked, returning to the more pressing subject. "I was about to run the perimeter just to have my own nose on the ground."

"It doesn't seem anything will come of this," Calix waved dismissively toward the Grimm. "The scouts and security are on it, though. Everyone will be alerted if things change." Graeme nodded. "I have to report back to the council now that I've returned. It really is good to have you back, Graeme," he said with a smile before departing.

Graeme watched him go before turning to approach the tree where most Woodside patrols started. It was only a little after noon, which meant August had likely finished with the pups and would soon be on her way to Sylvia's. Graeme had at least an hour to run.

He let out a long exhale as he rolled his neck and pulled his shirt off. It would feel good to finally run like this again. It had been so long. He missed running in the animal form that allowed him such a quiet peace and tranquility.

There was nothing like letting the forest come to him with its scents and sounds—feeling the cold, firm earth as he met it and lifted away on all fours. It was freedom.

In addition to getting a better sense of the pack land and its border, perhaps this run would help him work out some of the other issues regarding his and August's role here. From what Calix said, it seemed Andreas would be the one Graeme needed to challenge for Alpha if it was not offered to him freely.

But how could he possibly challenge Andreas? The elder who had been a guardian to him and who had, with the others, taken on the greater responsibility in Graeme's absence?

Graeme huffed as he ran in his wolf and let the questions become like the wind, ruffling his fur pleasantly as he sliced through it. They were meant to be here, he and his mate. That was the assurance he needed to feel, like the earth under his paws—always there to meet him. That was the path he would trust as he ran the border between two worlds.. The rest would become known in time.

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