Deacon - Nicholas Bella Page 0,71

for other groups to give safe passage when one group had to relocate or travel. As long as no Declaration of Challenge was issued, travel normally went smoothly. We spent a week in hotels at the docks until arrangements to travel through other territories had been made. We also had to give up our ship to the vampire King as payment for him allowing us to stay in his territory until we could move on. Personally, I was glad to say goodbye to that ship forever. More letters were sent off to other packs, queendoms, and kingdoms, asking for safe passage as we traveled.

As long as we didn’t stay in one territory or place longer than a day, we were allowed to travel safely. weeks of travel took place before we finally reached a territory where we were welcomed. It was located in the Midwest, in a place called Wisconsin. It was close to one of the great lakes, Michigan, and a river. Illinois was the other state next to it, and we avoided traveling through that territory by boarding yet another ship to take us across the lake. The duration of the journey wasn’t as long as the trip from England to America, but I still suffered the sickness.

I would have much rather preferred to take my chances with the vampires and dragons who owned those territories. They had just established them and it was rare indeed to see that two groups could make such an alliance. It was unheard of, which was why our Alpha opted not to test those waters. The territory we had been invited to was barren. Miles and miles of forest, no buildings had been created. There were some humans who’d built log cabins in the rural areas, but nothing like my beautiful London with its theaters, restaurants, museums, and taverns. America lacked culture and I hated it here already.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A Treaty of Alliance

Gaining our new territory in the New World didn’t come without a cost. The territory we’d settled in was also a state shared by four other wolf packs. It was through their good graces that we’d been allowed to stay, but it also meant our Alpha would have to sign and agree to a Treaty of Alliance. They allowed us a week’s time to rest from our travels before demanding our Alpha meet with the others. Because Julie only had four powerful wolves left, she asked us to accompany her. Which was wise, you wouldn’t want to attend such a meeting without protection.

The five of us were inside the carriage heading to the meeting place. The location being special as it connected all the territories together and was neutral ground. I didn’t care to be in such close proximity to Graham, but I knew how to conceal my emotions good enough that he would not sense my true feelings. Royce sat on the other side of Julie, and Graham was always to her right. I sat opposite them with Hector next to me. Graham and Julie had grown closer since Connor’s death, and I could smell that they had been intimate last night. I supposed it was only a matter of time. Royce, on the other hand, didn’t take their relationship as easily as I did. He had expressed to me just last week that he thought it was in poor taste for Julie to move on so soon after his father’s passing.

I had no comforting words to give him. The past weeks had been a whirlwind for me and I was still reeling from it all. I still didn’t feel at home in America and sleeping in a tent until our home was built left me more than a little agitated. I did not want to attend this meeting, but had no choice.

“What do you think they will ask of us, Alpha?” Royce asked.

Julie turned to look at him. “I have no idea. This is all new to me, Royce. What do you think they will ask of us?”

“That we do not issue any Declarations of Challenges, ma’am,” he said.

“We are not strong enough to do so anyway,” Julie stated. “We are in no position to make any demands.”

“Nor should we simply bow down to all of theirs, ma’am,” Royce argued.

Julie’s gaze hardened. “I will do what I think is best for my pack.”

Royce lowered his head. “Of course, Alpha.”

I watched the exchange, but kept my opinion to myself. We continued to discuss what was best for our pack concerning