Alpha Damien's POV
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"Have you called for the meeting?" I asked Xander as he entered my office
My thoughts have been all over the place but I knew I had to sort out my pack officials' opinion before I can move on to do what I really want to do.
Go to my mate.
I realized a very important thing years after I became the Alpha of this pack, no man can rule alone.
My father tried to and he failed miserably, and failure isn't an option for me.
I understood why my father would want to make decisions on his own though. These officials can be imposing.They act like they want the good of the pack but then they only want to exert the power that comes with their position.
The power that comes with their voices being heard, and sometimes, I even feel like they want to rule in my place.
They sometimes try to make a puppet of their leader
But I know that without them, I can't make a decision that will sit well with everyone in the pack.
So I rule with as much fear as reasoning.
"Yes, I have." he replied as he took his seat on the chair opposite me
"What was their reaction when you told them I wanted an audience?" I asked before I started gathering the files on my table, arranging them
"I got nothing in particular, they seemed to be expecting the news in fact." he replied as he joined me in sorting my table
The meeting is about my mate.
After much consideration, I decided to hear what the officials had to say about the matter.
Yes, their letters already conveyed their thoughts but I needed to see their face, to know their intentions before I impose my decision on them.
I would not be doing anything that would either weaken me or make me lose my mate. I had considered breaking the mate bond with the help of the pack's witch, one of the most powerful witches alive, but I could tell that even if I survived, Layla won't and that will be a scar I won't be able to heal from.
I didn't need Guy to realize that. He didn't even bother to tell me anything, he didn't have to, I could tell that he was already attached to her, even though she had no wolf in her.
"You're lost in thoughts again." Xander said, pulling me out of my mind and bringing me to the realization that he was done arranging my table for me and he was judging me, with a smug look on his face and a slight shaking of his head.
"What do you mean by again?" I questioned as I stared him down and he laughed softly
"I don't need to point it out, you know what you've been doing."
"Shut up, let's get going. I don't need those old wolves telling me how to keep to time." I stated as I stood up, not bothering to give him a reply or wait for his comment
I walked out of my office with Xander in tow and made my way to the meeting room.
"Is Emily with her already?" I asked as we got close to the meeting room and farther from my mate.
"Yes." he replied and I nodded in approval.
"Last I checked, your mate went to take her bath." he said and following his words were images of a body I was yet to see, rushing into my head.
Images vivid as day. And there was nothing I could do to push them out
"That was a piece of information you could've left out, Xander." I said and I looked to him to see that same smug look plastered on his face
"But you knew that and said it either way." I shook my head with a smile on my face
"Cunt." and he and he started laughing
"What? It's not my fault you have a photographic brain." he said and I shook my head
"Cunt" I repeated and he was still laughing as we entered the meeting space
On entering, I saw that only a few official, only the council members to be precise, were on seat.
All the high officials were no where to be found.
"Where are the rest?" I asked with a edge in my voice
I was hoping it wasn't what I was thought, that they had didn't deliberately stayed back and had no plans to attend the meeting.
"Elder Montero had called for a meeting with the officials, I guess that's where they are," my Delta, Brooke, said and I couldn't contain my anger.
Elder Montero.
That darned old man and testing both my authority and my patience.
"I made it very clear to all of them that they Alpha required their presence immediately" Xander said angrily, but I didn't say a word.
I walked to my chair and decided to wait for five minutes.
If they didn't make it here in five minutes, then I'll remind them who their Alpha is.
There was once a time leading a pack with subordinates wasn't political. Werewolves rarely move in the political way, but recently, I've been catching a whiff of it.
Politics has been working it's way into my pack and I might have to forcefully remove it.
Approximately three minutes later, they all arrived, with their hypocritical laughs and quiet whispers.
"Good evening Alpha." they said in unison
"You are late" I replied, my cold voice stopped them in their tracks and I looked around to see that the said Elder wasn't present, yet.
Elder Montero.
"We are very sorry Alpha, the meeting alert reached us late and Elder Montero had called for a meeting earlier" Jackson, the Pack's caution strategist, said
"And the meeting couldn't be called off the moment you heard I called for you all" I said, not bothering to ask where Montero was.
"Have your seats, this is going to be quick"
They all scrambled to their various seats and I took a deep breath before focusing on the
"So I read your petition," I started but was cut off by one of my Gammas, Andrew
"Yes Alpha" Gamma Andrew said standing up from his position but sat down immediately he saw the change in my expression, my red eyes burning deep with anger.
"Do not ever cut me off again, Andrew" I said, abandoning his title and respect
"I already decided on the matter, she's my mate and she will remain so. I'm not breaking any mate bond." I said, making sure each word passed on enough pressure so they'll know that there's no going back on my word.
No matter what they say.
I had wanted to give them the courtesy of being heard, but they proved to be undeserving.
"But Alpha," Andrew spoke up again but I cut him off.
"You go against me and you'll pay the price with your head. Try me, Andrew"
The only reason why I decided to give him the promotion to being a Gamma when Montero suggested it was because of his valor, he had the courage to do whatever he is told to do, no matter how deadly.
I hoped he won't end up dying because of that courage, at my hands at that.
"But then she's not worth being a Luna!" Elder Aaron said from his position
Another Old wolf I wanted to be rid of.
"For one she's no werewolf and I as a wolf can't allow a mere and weak human to lead me. What does she know about us, nothing!" he said and I saw a bunch of them nodding in approval
I was fuming
I guess that was that the meeting with Montero was about. They had discussed it and I now know what they will try to do.
They will try to force me to do as they want.
"And what would you have me do? Break my bond? Weaken myself to please you all?" I roared
"We aren't telling you to break your bond, or weaken yourself Alpha. Though Elder Montero persuaded us to tell you that, we know that decision can't be good for this pack, so will having your mate as Luna" Elder Sam said and I waited to hear all he had to say
"We want to suggest that you should choose a strong female wolf to mark, make her Luna. It works well for all of us, you would still have your mate keeping you strong, and we'll have our Luna" he completed andthe anger I felt was enough to act on impulse
To rip him apart. But I kept myself grounded
"Are you telling me to mark someone who's not my mate? So she can be the Luna of this pack? How is that different from breaking the bond? Do you all take me for a fool?" I asked feeling rage brewing inside of me
"Try to think about it positively Alpha." Elder Flynn spoke up and I stared at him in disbelief
"If you never found your mate, you would have had to select the most eligible person as our Luna after all. Our witch would help so your wolf wouldn't be affected, and since your mate is has no wolf, you can be assured she won't be affected, and your bond will still be intact" he said as if what he was saying is the most reasonable thing ever said.
I almost believed his point in fact, but I knew the consequences of marking the wrong female.
"She is my Luna. Your Luna. You all better start accepting it." I said in my Alpha voice so they all know how serious that statement is.
They bowed involuntarily as it was a wolves instinct to submit to it's Alpha.
"This is the end of this meeting" I said and I stood up and started walking to the door when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
"But Alpha" Elder Flynn started but before he could continue, I moved fast and swift to him, cut him short with my fist to his jaws and my hands to his neck, grabbing him and pulling him off the ground.
"When I say it is the end," each voice coated with venom "it is the end," I said, increasing my hands force on his neck, struggling not to snap it.
"I-I'm s-sorry." he forced out before I dropped him on the floor. He scrambled, gasping and clutching his neck, struggling for breath.
I didn't have to look to the others to know how scared they were, they reeked of it.
It had been long since I lost my cool and it seemed they all forgot what I am.
An Alpha.
I walked out of the room with Xander, once again in tow.
"It's been a while" he said and I knew what he was talking about.
"I know" I replied with a weak smile
"Their audacity seems to be increasing with the day" I said and he nodded in understanding
"How about a run?" I asked as we neared the race grounds.
"Always." he replied and we started almost immediately.
I started in my human form but after some steps, Guy itched at my skin, begging to come out and I allowed him.
I allowed him to express his anger with his speed, and he did, he ran, broke every branch he stepped on and he continued to do so till we got tired.