Continuation of Vivienne's POV:
"What did the note say?"
Alpha Aaragorn asked casually. We sat at a round table. It was just the two of us. It was private and he asked that even the guards outside were to not listen in. The room we were in was held for meetings. Obviously his father like a business setting for pack meetings. It was stylish... despite the Victorian styles that sat the pack cave back by a few decades.
"Lamia asked for my pack to surrender."
"What did she offer in return?"
I laughed at his question. Because, he sounded so innocent. He didn't know her at all. She was giving false hopes in her, 'offer'. Lamia wanted but one thing... to bring misery upon my family. Especially me.
"You don't have to tell me... I can already guess the false hopes she spilt out on that slip of paper. You should know that despite what happened in your pack's territory you have an open place here... especially in this trying time."
"Thank you, Aaragorn. We are in your debt," I whispered.
"Really it's me- who I should be giving my gratitude. Your pack risked lives to come here to save our backs. We're ready to put our lives on the line for you if you decide..." he trailed off.
Aaragorn sounded like he didn't know what to say. Just like me. I wasn't trained for this position. I was thrown into it. I crossed my legs under the table as I looked down in my lap.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"How is your mate doing?" He asked me as he stood up and walked around the table. He made it to an open bar and poured himself a glass of vodka and a second. He brought one to me as an offering. "Any signs he's awake, yet?"
"No... It looks like I'll be making this decision alone," I told him as I took the glass from him. I looked down into it and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Aaragorn. I wasn't prepared for any of this. I don't know what to do," I admitted.
"Neither do I," he laughed softly. "You hear about war stories as a pup but you never think it could be you in those situations."
I clashed my glass with his to cheer before downing the double shot he poured me.
"What are we going to do?" I sighed out. I came here to him for some peace of mind. We had to discuss this together, I decided. We were both left in such a mess.
"Might I suggest we send word to Everfur Growlers? We find out what they're deciding."
"I sent my father north," I admitted.
"Are you thinking about running?" He asked me.
"N-no... He thinks there is a pack there that could help us," I explained.
"There's nothing up there. That's a lost cause. He might return to us all dead," he told me as he finished his double shot. He sat the glass on the table. "Well... At least he was smart to leave."
I growled softly.
"My father is not a coward. He went there with belief there is someone there that can help us," I growled out.
Was he really suggesting my father ran away from pack duties?!
Told a lie to cover his trail and leave?!
Father would never!
Aaragorn put his hands up in true innocence.
"I really meant no offence," he shouted. "Please calm down, Luna Vivienne."
I fell silent.
It was strange to hear my name so formally.
"If your alpha doesn't wake up," he said quickly. He turned over pages that had been in front of me. I thought they were put there so casually. With no purpose really. But, there it was.... a perfectly drawn out marriage license. It was waiting for signatures. "Will you combine packs with me?" He asked. I gripped the edge of my seat as I stared down the papers. "I need a luna... and you will need an alpha," he offered.
I felt my heart race.
My nose wrinkling in disgust.
What rights does this pup think he has to ask me of this?
Now of all times?!
"Luna Vivienne, you should think carefully before showing so freely your thoughts." He tapped the marriage license. "This will be a proper way... I look the liberty to draw up more contract details underneath about the discussion of pack territories and inheritance especially if we have offspring's."
"Why even discuss this?" I asked him. "With Lamia's-"
"Do you want to know what she offered me?" Aaragorn asked.
My jaw dropped slowly.
"You're not the only alpha she sent a letter to," he said as he took out a similar envelop... like the one Lamia sent me. "She's offering if we vacate before tomorrow's sunrise... My pack is offered sanctuary in a nearby unclaimed territory. Out of her sight and reach." He sniffed the envelop. "But, I have to do something for her first." He stared me down. "It just makes me wonder what Everfur's offer was... considering how juicy this one was. Do you really think the packs will stand by you against her... after we've seen this much blood shed?"
"You are all cowards," I snapped as I stood up. He wants my hand in marriage to get the pack mates that comes with it. No telling what Lamia has asked of him... Maybe even to poison me? I stared down at my empty glass.
Or, Brendon?
I looked at the doorway. I felt anxious as I wanted to be by his side again.
'Arwen, is he okay?'
"Sit down," Aaragorn barked as he jerked me into sitting. I stared up at him in alarm. He tapped the pages in front of me. "If Brendon doesn't wake up before night... we will consider him useless. You will sign these, Vivienne when that happens. Do right for your pack. We will do what is asked of us, and leave the territories. And, try to move on and put this behind us."
"You're foolish if you think Lamia will just let you go so freely," I snapped. "You're cattle in her eyes. A big cut of meat she can process in her factories. You should consider... what will happen if she fails on her promise. Because I promise you she will. She's going to kill us all... or sell us off."
"Then you better hope your father comes back with good news or your alpha wakes up before dawn. Because, I won't wait any longer. My pack is anxious." He flipped the paper in my face that held her words. "This, is starting to sound a lot better then waiting on some fairy tail wolf pack to come down from the mountains and save the day."
I growled and pushed the paper out of my face.
"What will we tell everyone for now?" He pressured me. "If Everfur is already halfway across the country... we are fucked anyway."
"Brendon's sister is the luna of Everfur. She w-wouldn't run away, like that!" I growled at him.
"Vivienne, you must start putting your pack first before your own heart," he told me sharply. "You are leading lives of breathing and living people. You cannot keep waiting in the front line of war for a wishing star. You armature. Think of them before yourself. Stop being selfish. Sign these papers and lets-"
"There are pack members out there in Lamia's hands. I can't just leave-"
"They're as good as dead if they did take hostages," he snapped. "You won't see them again. I know what Niall's Nightshade factories are all about. Your brother is a monster."
I gasped.
So, he knows more then he's letting on?
"How do you know those things?"
"My pack spies," he admitted. "I've had spies over there ever since Lamia's been sending spies into my own territory. I guess they got caught because we took a pretty hard hit when she sent her weapon here to kill my parents."
"So were you just planning to go along with her plans in hopes she would make an exception for your pack?" I asked him. "You told me yourself she gives false hopes. She doesn't actually... carry through on her promises."
"No she doesn't. But, Niall brought this by personally. He said if we quit all this now... He would make sure she makes good on his promise."
"Niall," I chuckled out. "Has no control over her."
"You should see how well he is with her. He made her personally kill her husband, Eder."
W-what?
Eder?
He's...
dead?
"That's not true," I growled out. "How could he be dead?"
"She poisoned him after Niall asked her to. My spies reported it back to me."
There is no hope anymore. Eder, was supposed to help from the inside. He seemed like a good pawn. He was so determined to help me... How can this be possible?
"So if Niall asked Lamia to let us go... we would be able to live freely in a new territory. She would have what she wants, these territories for her factories. And, if you sign to be my wife... your pack can come to. Your pack will be pardoned since yours will be mine." He collected the glasses. "You can have until the stroke of midnight to think things over," he told me. "But, I will be making my move shortly after. Hopefully one of your back up plans comes through... Or your last name will soon be mine."