Ashina –
There is nothing worse than feeling tension in a room full of people who have been brought together for a common goal. In order to resolve all the rivalries and misconceptions about each other, I had to speak with everyone and express my concerns.
We should let go of our animosities if we are to defeat a common enemy and work together as a cohesive team.
As I stand far from my mate, I must think logically about strategies for entering the Royal Kingdoms pack relatively undetected and with the mate-bond relatively strong between Andor and myself. As a result of not completing the mating and marking process, our wolves are experiencing an insanity crisis. For an Alpha wolf, the negative part of this scenario is that I am not marked or have Andor's scent on me, and I am standing too close to Cadma, and I perceive Andor shooting daggers across the room towards him. As a point of clarification, it was my brother who was standing next to Cadma that caused me to be so close to him.
"Thank you everyone for attending this meeting. For peace during our negotiations and planning, I would need to take both Cadma and Andor out with me to another room to talk to those two men. While I am gone, the omegas have brought food and drinks for your enjoyment. I want to thank you for your patience, and we will soon begin. Oh, and I would like my beta and Andor's beta to mediate as well."
Everyone I had asked to accompany me stood up from their chairs, scraping their legs noisily across the oakwood floor. There was an underlying sense of trepidation in the betas' eyes as they contemplated how they were going to be able to mediate. Everyone was aware of the conflict between the Dragon Prince and the Alpha Wolf King. It is for this reason that I brought the betas. I know I could hug and kiss Andor to oblivion, and calm him down, but that I may still need his beta to hold him while I did that, and of course my beta was to calm Cadma down, as he was already familiar with Rector."
My eyes were fixed on the betas, and I nodded my head to them. They knew nonverbally what I expected from them. Both of them walked out of the room with Cadma and Andor. It was my intention to allow them to leave ahead of me because Andor and Cadma were going to fight physically for the right to walk next to me. When they had left, I followed my mate's scent to locate the conference room in which they had been placed. The moment I walked into the room; my jaw dropped. There was rubber padding covering the walls and the tables were not breakable. Shifter species are known to exhibit violent tantrums, so the concept of this room was very clever.
Despite the fact that not allowing magic in this room is a wise decision, it initially threw me off balance. It was my intention to magically seal the mouths of Cadma and Andor while I spoke, thereby preventing them from saying anything. As a result, that idea has now been rendered moot, and I laugh at myself for making such a play on words.
Using mind-linking, I instructed my beta to obtain duct tape and rope so that we could keep spoken chaos to a minimum. In order for me to be heard, I must speak first, and speaking with these two would take a millennium.
Before I entered, the betas had already placed the duct tape and rope. A pair of incredibly angry Alphas caught my attention. A smile spread across my face. Margaret was also in the corner, which caught my attention.
I smiled broadly at Andor's beta, "Smart move, beta! I was concerned that you would not be able to duct tape these two. I am in love with it."
Everyone sits at the six-seater table, "Thank you betas and Queen Margaret for your assistance." I smile with appreciation.
My first move was to look sternly at Cadma, "Cadma, we have been friends for a long time, and I am aware of your constant disdain for King Andor and why." I addressed Andor with sternness, "I understand your insecurities and the reasons for them."
Following an individual conversation with Cadma and Andor, I addressed them both sternly. War is not about romantic rivalries. There is no place for romance in the midst of war. My favor cannot be gained through competition in that meeting. My goal is to develop solid strategies for removing the kingdom from Malcolm's hands, so that we can save the people who are begging the Goddess for a miracle on a daily basis. It is imperative that we become that miracle. It is important that you two are a part of this miracle. There is no point in this being about our own selfish interests! When I stand next to Cadma, it is not because I am romantically interested in him, and if I stand next to Andor, it is not because I have chosen Andor as my mate. Meetings and romance are not permitted during wartime! Is this understood by both of you?"
I received a mind link from Margaret. She does not require membership in a wolf pack to mind link anyone. I am not sure why her magic works and mine does not in this room.
Margaret told me to relay this message to the two Alphas, "Ashina, let the two alphas know you will turn them into toothless, clawless mice in the war room if they do not stop bickering over who wins your love." I could not refrain from laughing as she told me this.
Margaret removed the tape covering the Alphas' mouths, as well as the ropes tying them to the chairs. Our group of individuals returned to the war room together, with Margaret transporting us back there.
When we appeared out of nowhere, I noticed the room was in shock and awe.