Tension was apparent in the meeting room located in one of the red light areas of the city. Several individuals known as famous kingpins of various parts of the city were seated here together with crossed hands, aggression apparent on their demeanor.
Though each of them restrained themselves, the mood of the room was still heated like any small spark could blaze into a fatal fight any moment. But unknown to the outside world they were here not as the fellow members of the Syndicate who ruled over the city in both physical and metaphysical worlds. But they were here as fellow members of their pack called Moongrave.
Dyson was also amongst them, his hair 'white' a rarity in their syndicate but more than that what earned him quick succession in ranks was his ability of keeping a cool head…that is relative to other members. Surprisingly this ability of staying rational was more exceptional than it appeared in the pack of werewolves.
Just before they gathered here, Dyson already was aware of the incident. Death of one of their own by the hands of other. It wouldn't be that much of an issue if it was just a normal case since deaths were pretty much common owing to their field that is outside of laws but this time it was an exception. The individual who died was a young cub, and more importantly the son of their only leader and Alpha - Tarka.
"Not dead, he was murdered by that bloody Weaver. We ought to take revenge. Do they really think that closing their doors would save them? My Moongrave doesn't take such provocations lightly."
Dyson didn't even need to look up to see who was speaking, as the familiar wizened voice belonged to one of the oldest remaining members of the pack, Elder Thompson.
Before being converted, Dyson was an active member of the human corporate world. Sometime Dyson thought that maybe that's why he is able to keep his head cool even after becoming a werewolf as compared to others, earning him one of the spots in council. Nonetheless, till now he had seen and dealt with numerous Organizations and there was something common with almost all of them. That is as a person grows older and reaches higher ranks of position, they usually become conservative and patient, becoming a cornerstone of that Organization helping it grow with their invaluable experience.
But here in the pack this common rule was mostly subverted. Instead here when the wolf grows old he becomes weak yet more feral, more aggressive not accepting his loss of strength… just like Elder Thompson. If made a leader now he would no doubt lead the Syndicate into a doomed war, while himself hiding behind the pack. Dyson duly wanted to bring his long lost human empathy to feel sympathy with his emotions, but all he could feel now was 'disdain' within himself toward him.
"Weak have no right to give orders. Elder, you have an honorary seat in council just because of your age. Don't take it for granted. Keep your mouth shut. "
Dyson slowly looked sideways to find a man who had just spoken. He was built like a tank, with one artificial eye along with fierceful scar adoring his face. Clearly, Dyson wasn't alone about his emotions towards Elder as Akura too couldn't resist speaking up with an obvious disdain in his voice as he chewed on cigar end in his mouth.
Thompson shriveled silently as he met eyes with Akura and slowly looked down portraying his submission. But still his eyes remained burning as he felt adamant on his opinion, even though he can't enforce it by himself
Owing to their nature as werewolves, respect was naturally given to those with strength. Weak has no say, it is a common rule amidst their Syndicate since its inception. Thus even though they gave an honorary position in council to the Elder, he shouldn't forget his place to speak so openly.
"I too feel we should hit back at them and hit them at once. How could those cockroaches who live in the shadows get away with the death of one of our own?
Kai was my son, but foremost he was the son of the Alpha and no doubt strongest among our young ones. His death should be avenged at any cost. "
Dyson once again familiarized himself with the new normal of his life, of his pack now. This was Dune, one of the wives of the Alpha but strong enough to hold her own position in the council. Kai, the young werewolf who died outside by the hands of one of the Shadow Umbra, was her and Leader(Alpha)'s son.
But unlike humans, there was only limited sadness in her eyes for the loss of his son. But also unlike humans, rage and flames of hatred that burned her eyes were too much for even a werewolf like him to bear. To not be misunderstood, he too was burning with anger upon finding that one of his kin had been murdered but compared to her, he felt ashamed at his own composure.
Dune was practically burning in the flames of anger so much so that when Dyson glanced at her fit yet tall body, he seriously wondered how she was able to talk so normally. By now she should have gone onto hunting one responsible in fit of madness, and rightly so as a mother who had just lost her son. But she was still here sitting calmly in the council, maybe the influence of Alpha was as strong on the rest of the pack as on him.
At this moment, feeling his gaze Dune glanced towards him and immediately all the hair on the body of Dyson stood up in fear. Instinctively his body began to transform, upon feeling danger to his life but knowing that she was a member of his own family(pack). He subdued his beating heart and didn't bow his head down in submission.
'Showing weakness here would only mean death at the very least… But can also make him lose all his worth in the eyes of the pack, making him unworthy of his position at the council.'
Once again because Moongrave values strength and abhors weakness above all.
Dyson met her eyes with his own resolve but rather than challenge there was a hint of human consolation in his eyes. Dune 'tsked' in fit of rage, maybe disappointed upon finding that Dyson didn't take upon her provocation to start a fight that could have made her vent her emotions in some way.
Irrational rage spurned in the heart of Dyson upon seeing her acting so dismissive of him. His werewolf nature flared his rage but seconds after he also forcefully subdued it, knowing that fight would lead to nothing. If there was anyone beside him in this situation by this moment, they would have already broken into fight giving into their instincts.
Dyson constantly held himself back, knowing that only he could do that among all of them here. But yet he didn't felt proud on this ability but felt little ashamed of his apprehension. It wasn't like he was afraid of anyone other than the leader, but his rationality far outweighed his instincts to act as a beast.
By now three members have already stated their stance, while Leader has yet to come to the discussion. It wasn't like he was not here selfishly, but it was the rule of the council to convene before the arrival of the leader so that council members can hold discussion between themselves without feeling pressure from the presence of the leader. Actually, just like him, the Leader must also be hearing their discussion silently somewhere else using cameras.
Because once he arrived here in person, everything…everyone's opinion would be meaningless as the pack only hears one voice that is of their Alpha. There are no discussions before him, only unopposed approval.
Three out of six had already spoken, and only three were remaining to display their stance. One of them was Maddy, who was the youngest of them but still famous for his fierceness in the pack. Maddt took this moment of silence to stand up and walk to the center. Standing in the middle, he gave a hard challenging stare to everyone sitting on the sofas encircling him.
"I say, we are going to kill those cowardly humans. I don't feel there is any need to call this useless meeting. Leader should just give an order and I will proudly lead the pack to hunt. Why are we even hesitating? Aren't we the strongest in the city? We should just announce our rule publically.
In Fact, we should use this full moon to mount an attack on every one who refuses to accept our rule over this city, wiping them together in one sweep."
Immediately everyone bit their lips in mutual understanding, though on the surface illusion of tense silence remained in the meeting. Aggressiveness was all right but this young wolf was even more reckless than the elder Thompson, but the difference between them was like sun and moon. If given encouragement this young feral werewolf could really become leader as compared to Elder, as he is a very strong and popular candidate for the next Alpha.
Among all the present members, he was also the only one who had challenged the leader for the position of Alpha maximum number of times. It is just because of the foresight of the Leader to not kill a talent like him, he is still alive. But he somehow takes pride in even that. Dyson ignored his opinion like everyone, as on the full moon not to mention civilians they won't even know who is family or not. His suggestion will just lead to massacre of Werewolves amongst themselves.
The last member except him, the ever silent man, Orthos, was sitting with his eyes closed in one corner of the room. His face and body were filled to the brim crisscrossing with scars all over, and even one glance at him made Dyson's heart skip a beat. Hunter was a last generation werewolf just like Leader and supposedly the one who lost the final match which made Leader the next Alpha of the pack.
Playing his role as Pack's hunting dog, Orthos remained silent from start to end. Like everyone's expected, he remained silent just like always. Dyson was not sure but he suspected that his 'always silent' stance was an order put by Alpha. If one day Orthos gave his opinion on anything and it happened to be different than Leader, would it lead to a break in Pack unity owing to the popularity and strong reputation of the Orthos in the Moon Grave, Dyson didn't know.
Finally silence settled in the room, and one by one everyone turned their eyes towards Dyson. He didn't need to meet each of their eyes to know the flash of hatred in their eyes, as they didn't consider Dyson as a true member of their family like their leader did. For one, his rationality smelled very much like human cowardice to them and second, he wasn't raised from childhood by them, instead turned into werewolf by accident.
It would be a lie to say Dyson wasn't angry by this, sometimes he even debates with himself to challenge each one of them to show his strength to them but ultimately he holds back…like always. He was appreciated by their Alpha because of his rationale not because of his strength. Thus, as long as the Leader believed in him he had nothing to prove.
"Umbra told us that Kai had become uncontrollable and attacked their member that too by an ambush. According to them, he behaved like he had lost himself completely."
"Hmph, lies!"Maddy immediately scoffed. All other members except Orthos too agreed but didn't interrupt Dyson aloud in respect of his position as member of council. Unaffected Dyson continued,
"If that wasn't all, they threw the accused man out of their organization and closed their doors. I tried to ask for a reason but somehow did not receive any information about it yet. In my opinion, there is something wrong with the situation.
Umbra had never challenged us so openly and their sudden closing of doors also points to something else. I think we should wait for more information to come before…. "
Dyson stopped immediately as he felt footsteps ringing in the distance. All of them were also no longer listening to him but looked in the direction from where a man with a full beard and broad shoulders, wearing formal clothes walked in. There was an expression of unsettling rage in his eyes, but somehow it appeared like it was his resting expression.
Each one of the members, without exception, immediately stood up and kneeled in tandem showing their obedience to the leader, Alpha of the Moon Grave, who had finally shown himself in the meeting. This could mean only one thing: that decision is already made, and now there will be no more different opinion in the pack.
Even Dyson gave away all his ideas and wholeheartedly bowed to the presence of their leader. His word would be the word of the pack to the end. And though he dared not to speculate, he still felt that for the first time in twenty years, the pack was about to go to war. City would once again see the red, but this time not because Syndicate Moongrave is going to fight, but because Pack Moongrave would be going into hunt of enemies, a hunt for the revenge of one of their own.