Black Ice-Completed
Chapter 5

Braytek watched the little girl close the door with a slam and had to smile at the slight cheek his daughter seemed to have, “She definitely has the Alpha soul within her.”

Veronica started at his comment, snapping her out of her revere. Looking at the door, she too smiled a little until pain intruded on her again, “My sister is really gone?” Veronica whispered as agony hurt her heart.

“Analise got sick three winters after you left. She pushed through it but the sickness left her body in a weaker state. She died in the middle of birthing another baby girl, neither survived,” Braytek bit out, the pain itself still consuming him.

“Veronica,” he paused as confusion came across his face, “I don’t even know how this happened! She wasn’t supposed to get pregnant. After she got sick we took as many precautions to make sure it never happened. The nursing women said it would be too much for her!” he bit out as tears began to course down his muzzle.

Unafraid of the wolf in front of her, Veronica came forward and wiped them gently away before hugging Braytek closely who willingly took her comfort, “Will you be taking Nyota back to Azgeta?” Veronica asked softly as she pulled away.

Braytek stared absentmindedly at the cabin as he worked through the pros and cons of bringing his daughter back. Slowly, as if he had to drag the answer out, “No, it is still not safe for her there. It is better that she remains here where she still well protected.”

Veronica sputtered out a derisive laugh, “If you didn’t notice it is rather hard to protect her when she goes wandering around out in the forest!”

“The animals here sense her wolf and will stay away from her so quit worrying about that!” Braytek snapped in irritation, “She’s an alpha, by any right she would be making her way up in the ranks if she was back in Azgeta. As it is let her independence flourish here.”

“Do you want her to know who you are?” she asked softly for she knew Nyota had excellent hearing.

Braytek took a moment to consider and shook his head, “No, she is doing well without that knowledge. It may muddle her thoughts and actions which will lead her to Azgeta far sooner than what we would want.”

Veronica bowed her head in acknowledgement, a secret smile making her cheeks twitch. Her niece was ever tenacious when it came to information, but stayed quiet when Braytek continued, “However, come winter, I will be back to begin her training and to start teaching her the abilities a Black Ice wolf should know. Has she shifted yet?”

Shaking her head, Veronica smiled though, “She hasn’t even asked about the curious feelings of another being within her. I know though that she has one because there are times when her eyes begin to glow when she is going through intense emotions.”

Braytek coughed out a laugh and shook his head, “Yes, her eyes glowed upon seeing me. She may never change into her wolf though. In the history books it mentioned that some females never felt the nature call to them even when they had the wolf within. And she’s half human anyways.”

Nodding, Veronica shifted her feet. It was far too quiet in the cabin. She knew her niece was no longer there. Never would her niece stand by while there was potential danger outside, it was her way to protect.

Braytek as well thought it was too quiet in the cabin and had to laugh, “She’s behind me in the trees. I wonder what she could do from there?” he asked puzzled.

Veronica laughed softly, “You’d be surprised, but just so you know, she has her slingshot with several rocks at the ready. She’ll use them if she thinks you’re going to hurt me.”

“Is she proficient?” Braytek asked as he wondered if he would be going home with a bruised head. He had no intention of hurting Veronica but he didn’t know his daughter.

Veronica laughed and motioned to the side of the cabin where several rabbits were hanging, ready to be skinned and cooked, “Thoroughly,” she laughed again and watched at Braytek’s wolf face blanched at the realization that his daughter would be able to kill him quite easily from her position behind him, and with a rock!

“Try it little girl and we shall see if you are truly the reckless idiot I believe you to be!” he snarled out and heard the sharp intake of breath Nyota had inhaled.

What he hadn’t expected was the sharp sting to his hindquarters as Nyota had shot a rock at him. It was followed by another one that hit close to the same spot, causing the pain to linger longer.

Growling, Braytek turned his eyes to Veronica and saw her choking back her own laughter whenever he kept flinching as rocks pelted against him, “Teach that daughter of mine some self-control!” he snarled and started to walk back into the dark forest, “I’ll be back this winter!” he called and disappeared into the shadows and well away from Nyota’s rocks.

Veronica waited a moment longer before she looked up, “Nyota, come down,” she beckoned and watched as her niece dropped down out of the branches to land neatly on the ground, her eyes narrowed at the spot Braytek had disappeared at.

“What did he mean when he said he would be back this winter?” Nyota asked. She was still quite angry and it would be awhile before the little girl would calm down. Nyota had definitely inherited Braytek’s temper. It would be funny to see who would lose patience first between the two, most likely Nyota who was far too young to really be able to control herself.

“Don’t worry about that right now. I’m guessing you didn’t even touch your supper while you were in the cabin?” Veronica asked and laughed when Nyota’s stomach growled an answer, “Looks like that pie didn’t ruin your appetite, speaking of which you are still in trouble young lady!”

Nyota grimaced and quickly sprinted up the steps so she didn’t have to hear another word that Veronica would say about the pie. Who cared about some pie when the appearance of that wolf had happened!