The meeting room was gloomy as compared to the rest of the mansion.
Several chairs were arranged around the table, Luke at the head of it, his beta at his side. The Alpha Supreme handed them each a copy of the land distribution plans, explaining what he considered the best course of action.
After much discussion, a conclusion was agreed upon and everyone gathered their bearings to leave.
"Alpha Supreme, I'd like to bring something to light."
All at once, every Alpha's gaze was on Alpha Lyon. Ethan settled back down in his chair, and exchanged a glance with Tyler.
"Go on," Luke said "We're all listening."
Alpha Lyon stood, hands flat on the table "All of us work in coordination to keep our packs running. We all have to trust each other."
He took a deep breath "If anyone of us was to break that trust, it would cause a great problem."
"Get to the point, Alpha." Luke narrowed his eyes a notch
Alpha Lyon then turned his gaze to Ethan, his dark eyes hungry for weakness.
"Alpha Parks compromised my pack boundaries and stole from my territory."
All at once, Ethan felt the weight of every wary gaze on him, a few growls broke out. Luke held up a hand, and a moment later, silence reissued.
"Do you deny that accusation, Alpha Parks?" Alpha Supreme stood, looking down at him
Ethan leaned back in his chair, and kept his eyes on Lyon a moment longer, before turning to Alpha Supreme.
"I deny it."
Alpha Lyon reached over the table to grab him, his lips curled in a snarl. Tyler grabbed him wrist, pinning him down.
"You lying brat!" The Alpha snarled in Ethan's face "I should cut your damn tongue out."
"Lyon, stand back." Luke snapped, and Lyon's beta also pulled his Alpha away
"I swear it!" Lyon said to Alpha Supreme "He compromised my pack boundaries!"
"You're free to show me any evidence." Luke narrowed his eyes "This is no meet behavior for an Alpha. Compose yourself."
"Is my word not enough?" Lyon asked stiffly, the room was bristling with tension
"If what you say is true, then you should have no problem proving it."
Lyon turned his furious eyes to Ethan, violence swirling in them. Ethan felt his lips curling upward.
"Alpha Lyon," He began casually "You say I stole something of yours. Tell me, did you see me?"
Lyon clenched and unclenched his fists "You wont bullshit your way out of this, brat."
"Did you see anyone from my pack?" Ethan asked instead "What, exactly, was stolen? It seems to me, you're wasting everyone's time by pointing fingers to hide your own incompetence."
If Lyon could murder Ethan with his glare, he would've. Luke turned his gaze to the older Alpha, waiting. The silence stretched out tersely.
"It's rather suspicious. Alpha Parks is notorious for questionable behavior."
Ethan turned his eyes to someone at the far end. Alpha Kieran stared back at him unflinching, and on his face Ethan found a well of hatred so deep, so righteous, it still surprised him.
"You'll have to elaborate, Alpha." Ethan's voice softened, edged with warning
But Kieran turned his eyes to Alpha Supreme "Five years ago, his pack just popped up on the land between Lyon and Texan's territory. Who is he? Where did he come from? Why did the old Alpha Supreme give him that land?"
Tyler's eyes narrowed to slits, and Ethan put a hand on his shoulder before his beta could get up. He knew this was coming, but he hadn't anticipated it right now.
"What are you getting at, Kieran?" Beta Superior raised his brows
Kieran smiled voluptuously and stood "Allow me to explain, now that the previous Alpha Supreme is no longer alive to pressure me into remaining silent."
"Throughout the continent, several nondescript Alphas roam, with packs of no real importance. Everyone sitting in this room is from bloodlines dated back to the time of the first Lycan king." Kieran turned to Ethan and smiled wider "Except Alpha Parks, of course."
Ethan didn't move his gaze from Kieran's, didn't say a word.
"He's one of those weak blooded mutts, not even the first born." Kieran was talking louder now, relishing every word "And the most interesting thing. The previous Alpha Supreme gave him all that land, which should be ours, because Parks amused him."
"By doing what?" Alpha Nox glanced at Kieran uncertainly
"By matching his level of sickness, of course." Kieran's gaze was wild now, he was almost yelling "By murdering my sister, his own fucking mate! Isn't that right, Ethan?"
Silence.
Only broken by Kieran's harsh breaths. Every face was drained of blood, many sat open mouthed, horror on their faces. To kill your own soulmate was a crime not even the worst criminals committed. It was sickness beyond imagination.
Ethan burst out laughed.
It didn't feel like laughing, rather a cackling howl. Full of repulsion, full of loathing. Rough like the jagged edges of a knife, wrong and crooked and every memory he couldn't get rid of.
Ethan laughed until even Tyler looked worried. But he didn't look at his Beta, instead, Ethan grinned at his brother-in-law, canines elongated.
His head was pulsing with pain. Pain so intense it was blurring with pleasure.
"Are you done already?" Ethan crooned "It was all so interesting to hear. Isn't there any more?"
"You," Kieran's pointed a finger at him as if it was a sword, but the top half of the digit was missing "You sick bastard!"
"I understand running a pack is hectic, Kieran, but really, you should see a doctor."
"What he just said," Alpha Texan spoke before Kieran could "Is it true?"
Ethan stood from his chair and grabbed the wine bottle placed a bit further down the table. He poured a shot.
"I do come from a small pack, yes. And the previous Alpha Supreme did honor me with a more important position."
"Why?" Alpha Supreme Luke stared at him intensely "What did you do?"
"You may recall our relations with the Human Government weren't ideal," Ethan said, walking further down the table "I proved to be exceptional at negations. Alpha Supreme Goldstein thought my potential would be wasted if not harnessed. You may also know, that my pack is the only one which makes deals with the Human Government."
"And your mate," Alpha Texan said, then hesitated "You didn't kill her?"
"Has any Lycan Alpha survived after the death of their mate?" Ethan felt calmer than he had in days
"He's lying!" Kieran snapped "He killed my sister—
Ethan put a hand at his shoulder and shoved him back down in his chair, placing the drink in front of him.
"You need to calm down, Kieran." Ethan said, chillingly calm "If you want to get me kicked off the council so badly, you might need a cooler head."
Kieran growled, murderous as he shot back up "I'm going to kill you!"
And he probably would've tried, had a few others not jumped to hold him back.
"That's enough, Kieran." Alpha Supreme snapped
"You don't understand—
"You tell a good tale, Kieran." Alpha Joseph said "But Ethan tells a more practical one. No Lycan can kill his mate."
Kieran gritted his teeth, so hard they were probably half dust by now.
"This meeting is over." Alpha Supreme said "You're all excused."
The crowd dissipated, Kieran glared at Ethan when he was at the door.
Ethan sketched him a bow, full of mockery.
Then only Alpha Supreme, his Beta, Ethan and Tyler were left.
"This conversation," Alpha Supreme stood, pinning him with an intense look "Is far from over, Alpha Parks."
"I look forward to the continuation." Ethan nodded at him
He cast him a cold look before turning on his heel, his beta followed him out the door.
Ethan and Tyler made their way out as well. Down the hall, Kieran was throwing another fit.
Ethan was too tired to care about that, and made his way towards the guest rooms without sparing the ruckus a glance. Tyler's quiet footsteps followed.
In minutes, they were away from preying eyes and clever ears.
"Ethan," Tyler's voice was clam, but Ethan caught worry edged in it "Are you alright?"
"Fine," The response was automatic "This was inevitable. Its better it got out of the way."
"I'm going to find Vincent and Victoria," Tyler said "You should come."
Ethan shook his head "I'm just going to sleep."
Tyler nodded and left in search for the rest of their inner circle.
It was only when his door was firmly shut, and Ethan had made sure no one could hear him, did he rush to the bathroom and threw up every last bit of his fancy dinner.