Nate glanced at his watch once more, growing impatient by the minute. He looked back at the meeting table and the Alphas were seated, about kicking the meeting off. He was about to pull the main door open in search of her when the door was pushed open with Cassie and Derek walking in together hurriedly. "Hey bro!" She flashed him a smile.
Nate swiftly block her part. "Where the hell have you been? Father's here already and he isn't showing it but I know he's getting pissed" He said to her
"Shit!" She cursed
"Wait..." He paused with a puzzled look, glancing back at Derek who was already seated next to Beta Maynard around the meeting table and then shifted his eyes back to his twin. "Why the hell did you both arrive together?" He asked curiously and just then his eyes widened with shock. "Cassie! Did you both...."
"Shut up asshat!" She cut him off and walked past him, toward the Alphas.
Nate watched her with a surprised look, wondering how easy it was for her to get her way no matter where she was. He shook the thought off and decided to focus on the meeting at the moment. He sighed and went to join the others.
The four Alphas were present at the meeting called by Alpha Better. A call he made after the Alpha's death. Everyone seated there was surprised by the news. Alpha Darius was the strongest Alpha of them and his pack was the largest so it came as a surprise to them hearing how easily he was killed.
With him out of the picture, they needed to start making new plans against the war coming. But each of them knew how with the news of his passing will bring up new agendas for every Alpha in that room. Definitely none of them trusted each other and they knew they all had a game to play.
"We are all saddened by the news of Alpha Darius' demise. It surely was a surprise to everyone I hear" Alpha Damon spoke up not before shooting his daughter a dagger piercing look.
"I agree with Alpha Damon. It's a surprise how easily he went down" Alpha Ammon commented with a disappointed look.
"Well the Alpha had a secret, a secret I don't think matters now....The Alpha was sick. He had an incurrable sickness. One no one knows of it's origin. It's weakened him over the years" Beta Maynard explained
The Alphas exchanged surprised but regretful looks. "He sure hid it well. Well, I wouldn't expect less of him" Alpha Howard stated
"So...where do we go from here? Surely you have to have a new Alpha soon. Where is his daughter anyway? Isn't she supposed to be part of this meeting?" Alpha Mason inquired with furrowed brows.
"Well, she couldn't make it...she went to spread the Alpha's ashes privately" Beta Maynard explained. "But we have the meeting without her, I just have to fill her in when she's back. And as for your statement about having a new Alpha soon...we will, we just feel focusing more on the Black Lotus is best for now" He added
"Is that right?" Alpha Damon said with a look of disbelief.
"Yes Alpha Damon" Beta Maynard nodded
"Alright then. Now that this Black Lotus group have taken away the Alpha of your pack away from the board, it is logical to say they might be planning to attack your pack now fully and head on" Alpha Mason pointed out
"That is correct. Maybe it is time for the packs to merge and unite"
"While that is true...I feel they might also be planning to divide and conquer. I say so drawing from the fact that Alpha Damon was attacked before" The Beta explained
"Also true but I say we don't give them that chance. I still stand on bringing the war to them" Alpha Ammon dropped his two cent on the matter, standing on his opinion.
"Maybe that isn't such a bad idea. Hitting them hard before they get a chance to get fully prepared" Alpha Howard added
"We don't even know how prepared they are already. And also, we don't know where they are hiding. They are hard to track and they seem to be everywhere" Derek pointed out
"I can't believe just six wolves are giving the five packs such headache" Cassie rolled her eyes.
"Well they aren't just ordinary wolves" Alpha Mason replied
"So you're against the merger then? Beta Maynard" Alpha Howard questioned
"Well not against it just not right. First I need to make sure my pack is ready and everything is in order and we need to figure out what way we need to approach the coming war" He explained
"I see" Alpha Damon bobbed his head
"I guess we have to hope they don't attack in the meantime" Nate chipped in.
"Right. We all have to stay alert in our various territories" Alpha Mason said
"This is ridiculous" Alpha Ammon sneered.
***
Alpha Damon glared at Cassie through the rear mirror. Cassie knew exactly why he was staring at her that way. She tried avoiding his gaze, adjusting where she sat at the back seat of the car next to Nate. "Where the hell where you?" Alpha Damon questioned.
"I..."
"Well she seem to be trying to start something with Beta Maynard's son" Nate cut in, ratting her out.
"The hell? You back stabbing asshat" She glared at him. "It's nothing like that father, I was...."
"Maybe that's for the best right now" The Alpha cut her off with a scheming smile on his lips.
"What!" The twins showed their surprise in unison. "What do you mean that's for the best?" Nate inquired curiosly with furrowed brows
"Well...I think there's something afoot here. I mean with Beta Maynard. I think he's loving being in charge of the pack. One might think he would like to lead it"
"Is that so?" Nate said with a distant look, thinking maybe Vee's suspicion was spot on.
"The pack is in a fragile state right now. Which is why I wouldn't ask you both to return home right now. I need you both right here more importantly now. Power breeds chaos and power can be gotten from chaos as well. With this chaos coming and with Blue Blood pack fragile right now, there will be chaos amongst the five packs. This is an opportunity to expand ours. So I need you to keep your eyes and ears open. I want any weaknesses and anything of use reported back to me" He ordered
"You want us to be spy?" Nate inquired with furrowed brows, not feeling too sure he wanted to do that.
"Exactly"
"Hmmm....that shouldn't be a problem" Cassie smiled broadly
"Good. Then it's time you head back. I have to return back to the pack. It's a bad time to be away from the pack for so long"
***
Worried about what his father had said about Beta Maynard, Nate found himself worrying. Worrying about Tessa. He knew if his father was right, then Tessa might be in danger. He wasn't going to betray his father, the thought had never crossed his mind. But he wasn't just going to sit on his hands if there was danger heading toward Tessa.
With those thoughts disturbing his mind since he parted ways with his father, he had wandered around for a while until he found himself in front of Vee's house. He had knocked repeatedly and stopped only when he heard her voice.
Seconds later the door clicked unlock with Vee pulling the door opened. "Hey! What's up? How did you know where to find me?" She asked with a surprised look
"I asked around. Sorry for showing up unannounced" He smiled before noticing she was dressed to go out. "Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, Tessa has been gone for too long. I feel worried, so I'm going to get her"
"Oh cool, cool" He bobbed his head, looking as though he was struggling to get the next word out.
"What? Have something to tell me?" She asked
"Well...I wanted to tell you what I've been thinking. I think maybe you might be write about something being wrong in your pack" He started.
"Really?" Her eyes shone with curiosity. She immediately stepped out, shutting the door behind her. "Let's go"
"Go where?"
"Tessa. Tell me what you know on the way" She instructed, flashing him a smile before continuing to her car.
***
Derek shut the door behind him as soon as they got to his father's office. He had a confused and curious look on his face. "Why are you against the merger? I thought that's what the Alpha wanted and what's good for the pack?" He questioned
"Well the Alpha is no more and I'm in charge for now. Trust me, I know what's best for the pack. We need to mend the pack first" Beta Maynard explained.
"We are not broken.... merely grieving the Alpha's death. Is there something I don't know that's going on?"
"Oh there's a lot you don't know that's going on. And it's best you don't know for now. I just need you to focus on keeping the Betas and Omegas in line for now. You're the future right hand Beta of this pack, it's time you start acting like it" The Beta stated
"And Tessa? She's almost fully slipped away from me. This isn't what you promised" Derek quarreled
"I thought you just started a thing with Alpha Damon's daughter. That's what I sensed when I saw you both walk into the meeting together" Beta Maynard gave him a pleased look.
"That's just a mistake born from a low situation...you looked okay with that being the case" He gave his father a quizzical look.
"Yes because I think it's time you get over your feelings for Tessa" The Beta blurted out.
"Wha...what?" Derek's eyes widened with shock. He couldn't believe what his father just blurted out. "What...what do you mean get over it?"
"Tessa is not the end for you son, she's not the end for anyone" The Beta explained, staring coldly at his son. "Like I said, you know nothing" He added and walked out of the office, leaving Derek there standing frozen to the floor with shock.
***
Staring up at the sky Adan thought for a while about what was holding their plans back and started thinking if it was worth it or not. They shouldn't be where they were at the moment. They ought to have started bringing pain and war to the five packs.
He sighed and looked down at Silas who was seated near him in silence. "I have a question for you Silas" He started.
"I'm listening" Silas replied, his gaze fixed on the plants being swayed by the gently air in front of him.
"What happens if we fail to get her back? What happens if she decides not to part with them? We can't keep holding the plans off for her" Adan said softly.
"That isn't going to happen. We are going to get her back first. You shouldn't be pessimistic" He replied
"I'm being realistic. I know she's your sister but Tessa is just one girl to let the plan fall off because of"
"I am getting her back Adan..." He replied calmly, standing up. "I swore on my parents grave that I will...and that was the deal I had with Kreed for joining the Black Lotus" He concluded and then walked away, taking off his hood.
***
Tessa sat by the edge of the cliff, holding her father's ashes pot which was set on her thighs. She kept staring into distance, tears rolling down her cheeks as she mourned in silence. She couldn't believe how fast her life had turned upside down. She had lost the two men she had ever truly loved.
So much responsibility had fallen on her now, coupled with her declaration of exerting vengeance on Devil Eyes. It was a promise she wished to fulfill even if it meant her giving up her life in the process. She didn't care for her life anymore. All she cared about was her goal.
She sniffled as new stream of tears ran down her cheeks. She had never felt so lonely in her entire life. All she could think about was the hole Kieran had left in her heart. She didn't know if anyone else could ever fill it. As much as she didn't understand her attraction, devotion and strong feelings to him, it was all she desired for.
"I miss you dad...this is too soon" She said to herself amidst sobs. "I miss you Kieran, I miss you so much...this is too much. I wish you were here" She cried
"Tessa" Kreed called her name softly, standing behind her.
Tessa turned swiftly as soon as she heard his voice. She could have sworn it was Kieran's voice she heard but was disappointed when she saw her nemesis instead. "You!" She growled angrily, her eyes turning full blood red.
Kreed knew immediately from her eyes that she had gone into blood rage. He had been trying to avoid that. He knew how dangerous it could be for anyone around and for herself in particular. Before he could say anything else, she had dashed toward him with claws and fangs out and eyes full of rage.
"One of us is dying here today, RIGHT NOW!!!" She growled.