Jolene
After lunch, we had half an hour to rest before the meeting. To avoid overcrowding, just one pack member was allowed to the meeting. I walked into the conference room with Anthony and we sat in the front facing the rows of chairs, which quickly filled with the representatives of each pack. I nervously reviewed the case files while Anthony sat there looking confident and almighty.
Soon, it was time for the meeting. I put the files away and straightened up. Each pack representative began exposing their experience with the group of organized rogues. I could feel Lancelot’s eyes, but I did not dare meet his gaze. I am too nervous for that. I don’t consider myself shy once I begin talking. Still, the anticipation makes me so anxious that I could throw up.
Anthony put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a severe look. He mind-linked me. ‘What do you call a person in a tree with a briefcase?’
I gave him a confused look. ‘What?’
‘A branch manager.’
He kept a straight face somehow, but I almost lost it. I covered my mouth with a hand and coughed to cover my laughing lowering my head so my hair would cover my face. This son of a b-
Anthony patted my back while whispering: “Are you okay?”
I calmed down and glared at him. ‘Why would you do that?’
‘I am tired of telling you that you need to relax for these things. You literally looked like a deer in headlights.’ He was using that serious this-is-business tone of his.
I straightened up once again and drowned out all my nervousness. This is my job. I can’t freak out each time there is a meeting. I listened to each story even though I had already read all the details in the reports. The fear in their voices was evident. They were looking at us for solutions.
Once everyone presented their story, the room went silent for a moment. Anthony gave me a pointed look indicating me to talk. He always does that, but since he is technically my superior, I still wait for his permission to talk first.
I cleared my throat. “First of all, I would like to extend my condolences to each pack for the lives lost because of this situation. Maddox and I have been following the track of the leader of this group closely and a plan is being formulated as we speak. It has been concluded that the best way to deal with this group is to counter-attack. Former Alpha Han will organize the warriors and lead the squad that will carry out the mission.”
One of the Alphas stood up looking clearly pissed off. I know that guy – Alpha Stevens. He is aggressive and selfish. In every meeting, he tries to get the council to give him resources his pack doesn’t need. “So, where is former Alpha Han now? You plan to take our warriors to attack some urban legend while the rogues keep attacking our territories?”
This time Anthony talked. “He is working in something classified. I will report to him as soon as this meeting is over. Also, an urban legend? We can guarantee you that the rogue with the golden fur is real and very dangerous.”
“That is what the council said, but no one has seen him. The council is always keeping secrets.”
“As I said, he is extremely dangerous. Once you see him is too late. He can hide his scent and blend into pack territory without being noticed.”
Alpha Green – Another unruly annoying self-centered jerk. We had given the authorities a drawing of him based on one of my father’s pictures. We reported him only as a wanted human man to avoid having any foolish werewolf trying to fight him directly. He had been seen inside of pack’s territories on five occasions, but vanished by the time any council member got there. Anthony and I theorized that my uncle most likely can hide his presence from regular werewolves just like my father. Another Alpha stood up. “How can you even get such detailed information on a man nobody has seen? If he had set a foot in my territory, he would already be dead.”
Curiously, it was in his territory, where two of the sightings happened. He is the graphic representation of why most information regarding this case is being kept secret.
Anthony kept talking about how we had been visiting packs and mentioned that three werewolves had faced the rogue with golden fur but kept the names secret – my brother, my son and me. Nobody trusts Alexander Hunter’s word, so mentioning him would be detrimental.
Alpha Green scoffed. “You want to put our warriors’ and pack member’s lives in your hands based on the word of three werewolves that might not even be trustworthy? How is that they could survive if that rogue is so dangerous?”
The guy has a point.
Alpha Stevens chirped in. “If the council have our cooperation, they should at least pay us for our work!”
This money-hungry asshole. His warriors are not even good. They are too cocky and seem physiologically unable to grasp the concept of teamwork.
Other Alphas seemed to take his point and began talking among them, doubting the existence of the rogue. The murmur soon filled the room. I looked at Lancelot who just shrugged and told me that I looked gorgeous, then at Aiden who asked me if he should talk. I shook my head no. My gaze fell on Anthony, sitting beside me fuming. His jaw was clenched and his left eyebrow twitched. I knew he was about to growl. I put my hand on his forearm to stop him. Forcing them to obey will not get us their trust.
I stood up and my Alpha voice soon echoed through the room. “Silence!” Their heads snapped at me and some of them growled. I pulled the tip of my neckerchief untying the knot to remove the piece of cloth from around my neck. Their eyes soon landed on the gruesome scar on my neck. “As you can see, this is personal to me. I was almost killed by this rogue on New Year’s Eve.”
I locked eyes with Alpha Green and then Alpha Stevens. “He made a group of twenty or thirty rogues circle me and fight me one by one and in groups of one or three while he watched. They obeyed him even though I killed every rogue who stepped into the circle. Once only he and I were present, I tried to kill him, but I was too tired and weak to do any real harm to him. He tackled and pinned me down before digging one claw on my neck from side to side. I looked into his amber as my life escaped my body. I can assure you two and the rest of the people in our midst that the rogue with the golden fur exists!”
The room fell silent again. None of them dared to meet my gaze.
“Who saved you?” Lancelot’s voice was between a whisper and a grumble, full of sorrow and pain.
Aiden stood up. “Alpha Alexander Jones and I went to help her as soon as possible. Alex lunged at the rogue as soon as he saw him and pushed him off Jolene. The rogue ran away and Alex carried Jolene to our house.”
I need to buy my brother a gift or something. He is always saving me.
Lancelot looked down. His guilt and anguish were so strong that even though our faint bond I could feel it. Aiden sat down again looking all smug. He really dislikes Lancelot. I can’t blame him, though. I would be mad if someone punched me and didn’t even apologize.
I went back to my seat before looking at Alpha Green once again. “Are we trustworthy enough for you, Alpha Green?”
He nodded, and I looked at Anthony before putting the neckerchief back on. Anthony kept explaining the details that we could share and mentioned some dates. Everyone listened attentively – Everyone but me and Lancelot. His head hung low. If he could fell my eyes on him, he did not act on it. His pain was still intense.
Is this what I really want? To throw mistakes on his face to make him feel guilty? To give him the details of the hell I went through to make him feel miserable? For what purpose? To break him or make him suffer? That would be ideal if I wanted his pity, but I want his love. Still, I need to be honest with him.
Anthony and I were the first to leave the room once the meeting was over, and Aiden followed us. Abigail was waiting for us outside. She ran to me and engulfed me in a hug as soon as she saw me.
“Adam told me what happened. It must have been so difficult for you.” She patted my back and Aiden rubbed my shoulder. The rest of the people exited the room and walked away. We stood outside keeping Aby company while she waited for Adam.
I held my breath when my eyes landed on my mate. He walked down to me.
“Oh, great. Look who is here,” Aiden said.
“Stop.”I glared at Aiden and he shrugged. He was sulking and pouting like a little child so I ruffled his hair.
“Hey! that took a lot of time.” He ran a hand through his hair trying to style it back.
I turned to look at Lancelot, who gave Aiden a mean look. I am sure that the Alpha in him hates to be disrespected. His eyes met mine and his expression swiftly changed to an apologetic one. I kept a blank face. I am not making him apologize. He should know that punching Aiden for no reason was wrong.
‘Jolene, can we talk?’
‘You know what you have to do first.’
He didn’t answer and looked lost in thought for a moment. How difficult can be to realize what a decent person would do after punching an innocent one? Realization flashed across his face. Thank Moon Goddess. He sighed looking so hesitant that I thought he wouldn’t say anything.
“I am sorry for attacking you, Aiden, right? I am Lancelot. I hope we can get along in the future.” Lancelot extended his hand to Aiden.
Aiden looked at his hand and then at me. ‘Should I ask him for an apology flower?’ he asked me through the mindlink. I narrowed my eyes at him and he shook Lancelot’s hand while I fought to not laugh.
My room is secured and soundproofed, so it is the best place to have this conversation. I took Lancelot’s hand and guided him to my room, ignoring all the curious glances. His hands are always so warm, which is nice considering mine are usually like ice.
I should have been worried or nervous about the conversation. Still, his touch was so comforting that there was no space in my mind for any negative feeling, not when my mate was finally with me. However, we need to talk honestly, not a sugar-coated mate-bond-influenced talk.