Secrets of the First Moon

Chapter 4: Little Talks

Phinn POV

The morning of the trade-market was always an early one for Phinn. He made sure to be up before the sun and assist in loading the meat and hides into the carts heading to town. This also allowed him to listen in on the morning caffeine ritual of the trio; his father, Malaki and Dorin.

“It's going to be a long day," Roderick spoke as he sipped his coffee.

“Yes, but it'll be good for all of us to go out together and be seen," Dorin interjected. “It's been awhile since our budding pups have been there, especially the girls." At that, he glanced up from the table, making eye-contact with Malaki.

“I know, it'll be good and everyone will have had their fill." The alpha pushed himself away from the table as he broke eyes with Dorin. “We will have a good profit from this and may not need to go into town for a bit. That is if enough is left for the butcher to keep for a while." Malaki rose as he spoke, ending the topic and forcing them to begin the day.

Phinn quickly jerked his head back down and finished grabbing the last of the meat from their dug-out storage room.

Is that everything Phinn?" His father asked as Malaki stretched out bedside him.

“Yes sir."

“Good! Accompany us to town. You can ride in the wagon with your mother," Malaki instructed.

“Elizabeth! Are you ready to go?" Roderick yelled outside to where his wife was finishing up with the horses.

“Yes, we are set."

With that, Elizabeth and Phinn jumped in one cart, Malaki and Dorin pulled the other as Roderick brought up their rear.

***

Phinn followed Malaki and his father into the butcher's shop as his mother and Dorin split off with the pelts. Carrying a box of wrapped meat, he asked Isaac, the butcher, where he would like it to go. Isaac pointed at a corner half-absently as he greeted the adults.

Always kind of hunched, Isaac was a much taller man than he appeared. He was by no means small in girth either. No surprise there. Phinn figured that you had to be on the stronger side to cut through bone and meat all day, especially a human. He noticed the butcher's shaggy brown hair kept getting in his eyes.

'Why not cut it,' Phinn thought, rolling his eyes. He was annoyed by the fact that Isaac's hair made him think of his geeky son.

And speak of the devil.

Phinn turned around, about the retrieve another crate, when he saw Owen come in from the back door, removing his blood-stained apron.

Phinn never really understood why, but Owen and his buddy, Phil, Will, or whatever his name was, really got under his skin ever since they had moved here. Sure, they were little then, but the way Arion always wanted to participate in their childish games just never sat well with him. In all honesty, he couldn't agree more with their rule about not mingling with humans. He actually thought it should be stricter.

He knew Owen suddenly felt himself being scrutinized as he looked up and stopped in the middle of untying his apron.

Owen nodded quickly, then turned to his father.

“I've finished all the cutting and packaging. I'm going to go and meet Will at the tavern."

“Sure, sure, do as you please. Especially if that last hour is what you consider work."

Phinn saw Owen stiffen at his father's remark. He always secretly enjoyed that Isaac razzed his own son so mercilessly. Owen quickly shook hands while saying a speedy hello and goodbye to Roderick and Malaki before exiting, ignoring Phinn, which was their custom.

Phinn smiled at the awkward exchange and went to get the last of the crates. No longer distracted, his ears perked up when he heard Malaki and Isaac pick up their discussion again.

“So, have you heard anything from the merchants yet about there being any more attacks or discoveries?" Malaki inquired, leaning his powerful body onto the butcher's counter.

“Now that you mention it, some of them were talking about recent incidents last night at the tavern."

'Oh good, then we all know what shape Isaac was in. Butcher by day, Town Drunk also by day as well as night' thought Phinn as he came back in with the last box. Isaac continued.

“But not to worry," sarcastically spoke the butcher to Phinn as he came to stand by his father. “These incidents were taken care of by a new group of hunters that have apparently joined together to rid the forests of the beasts."

Phinn wasn't sure how to act at that news, he looked to the elders for guidance. His father bristled, then shifted his weight to hide his uneasiness. Malaki remained cool.

“Really?" And how are they doing that?"

“Well, they gathered enough skilled trackers to start hunting down their dens, or whatever the monsters live in, after they caught the scent from a previous attack by them."

Isaac was watching the reactions of Phinn's father and Malaki at this news. And Phinn was watching Isaac, wondering why he was observing them so closely. But then again, Phinn was suspicious of all humans. They were raised to believe that whatever humans deemed worthy of speculation could easily put the pack in danger by simply being in their line of sight.

All three shifters jumped when Isaac broke their silent thoughts, exclaiming loudly that he had an idea.

“Hell, you guys are the hunters around here. Why don't you do the village a service? You kill animals for us as a living, what more is it to take down some overly large wolves?" Isaac asked.

Even this triggered Malaki to stiffen a bit.

Isaac came around the counter as if to further explain his reasoning.

“There's been talk about rogue wolves, maybe a possible rogue pack even! Small of course. They say they've been taking out more settlers and need to be put down." Maybe Phinn was imagining it, but it looked as if the butcher was enjoying the uncomfortable aura he had created suddenly.

Malaki regained his composure quick enough for, what Phinn thought, only himself and his father to notice. He spoke evenly, seemingly unaffected by the request.

“Well, if the rogues are close enough to cause uneasiness in the village, then I could bring it to the table with our council. Get their feedback on the matter."

Malaki quickly continued, seeing Isaac was about to undoubtedly make a comment. “I understand the village feeling as if they need protectors of the sort, but why go looking for trouble before it has even shown?"

Isaac began to protest but was interrupted by Dorin appearing at the entrance. Phinn could tell that all but Isaac were happy for the diversion.

“Excuse my interruption." He then looked over at the butcher. “Well good morning Isaac! How goes the b****y business of meat?"

Isaac was not a cheerful man so, naturally, held disdain for all who were. “Well you'd all be the ones to know since it's supply and demand and you are my suppliers," Isaac retorted as he went back behind the counter.

Dorin quickly told Malaki that he needed to have a look at some of the left-over pelts. The alpha took advantage of his suddenly-needed presence. They said their goodbyes with promises of seeing each other at the feast later and departed the shop.

As they walked out, Malaki turned to Roderick and told him to call a council meeting to be set for the next morning.

Roderick looked shocked for a moment. “You thinking on taking up his off…"

“No," Malaki cut him off. “We just need to discuss these new events and how to properly handle this to remain inconspicuous."

Phinn noticed Dorin taking in the two's conversation as they walked. Then something caught the graying teacher's eyes.

He followed Dorin's gaze and saw that the other pack members were arriving in town.

Arion, Reni, and Stasha, always together, were already in the market.

Phinn wished Arion would get over get over the need to prove herself. She had to have a mate, and why not him? What did she think she deserved if not the strongest, fastest male as well as son of her father's beta?

'She will realize it soon, she's just stuck in her pup phase still,' Phinn told himself.

While watching Arion, he turned back to continue following the others when he noticed the butcher's boy and his friend staring at the girls. Suddenly, he was hot with anger.

Phinn whipped his head again and saw Arion staring back at the human boys. At Owen.

“Over my dead body," he growled as he pushed down his territorial urges and turned back towards the elders. His time would come.