"I thought this would be a good place to et," Grae was standing next to the black map on the wall of Zoe's conference room with the council mbers, Sam, Sylvia, and Charlotte all gathered.
He looked fierce: dark eyes glinting with accusation as he scanned the faces around him, hair tossed large and wild around his bearded face like the mane of a lion, posture wide and commanding. And the aura that extended even further than his physical presence was every bit the Alpha he was born to be. There was sothing benevolent and yet threatening about being in the presence of an Alpha—a magnetism that drew one in with trembling limbs, bent involuntarily in submission.
But the council mbers here were not bent or trembling. Many of them stood with admiration and respect, finally able to behold the will of the Hallowell Alpha. Among them were the nine representatives, three from each area of the pack—adowside, Lakeside, and Woodside—all male, who had slightly bewildered and appreciative expressions. They had clearly never seen this room just as they had never seen the fully developed Alpha version of Grae that was within it.
"As you can see, this room has the required space. It was created to hold an impressive team of people—the head of which, a 14-year old nad Zosi, is currently locked up below in our dungeon. Was the entirety of the council aware of this operation that plots alyko on a global map?"
Andreas' face was impassive as everyone but the elders looked around at each other. A small curve of Pearce's top lip made it appear as if he would snarl an obscenity at any mont, but his reserved nature was keeping him in check.
"The council mbers who represent their given areas of the pack congregate for pack matters and are put on committees for pack matters. This is sothing much different," Andreas said in his most professional voice he could manage, although the edge in his tone was clear.
"This does not concern the pack? The tracking of alyko?" Grae asked, head tilting to the side in question.
"It is much more than that," Andreas answered through gritted teeth.
"Why would we not be aware of it at least?" a middle-aged male from adowside asked. "This appears to be a massive operation."
"That is a great question Jas," Grae replied, recognizing the male. "How often do issues revolving around the alyko co up during council etings?"
The mbers murmured amongst themselves while the elders shifted at the far side of the group. Andreas was openly glaring at Grae now.
"It typically does not co up, though since you arrived with your mate, we have heard more reminders from the elders about the danger of witches. The fear we should all have with one back in our pack. We have not had any here since your parents died," a short, balding male answered.
Grae nodded in response. This was as he expected, and it was a bit of a relief. At least the alyko files and map and Zoe's team were not done with the blessings of the full council. The elders must have been concerned that it would not pass a vote or that there would be too much division about it within the pack once everyone learned of it.
"Then this is sothing we must discuss together and at length. There is much happening within the pack that you are not aware of and that I have just co to learn. Our elders have taken a great deal of liberty in their decision making when it cos to this subject specifically and with wide implications," Grae explained.
"It is simply because the witches are such a distinct threat. Security is paramount and unquestionable," Auden growled, the force of his words lifting him nearly off of his feet as his thin white hair flopped up and down against his forehead. "You are endangering our pack and lycan-kind simply by revealing this…" he continued before Andreas grabbed his shoulder and cut him off.
"I am endangering our pack by revealing this to our own council mbers?" Grae's eyebrows pinched together. "Until we are able to discuss this matter and learn more of its details, its team, how long it has been going on, with whom it is shared, and whom within our pack has been affected by its surveillance, I am shutting it down," he said with finality.
"You would be making a grave mistake, son," Andreas replied.
The word 'son' made Grae's eyes go steely. By using it, Andreas was asserting a kind of innocent dominance that was ant to sound endearing. But it was for that effect only.
"You are not to call son, Elder Andreas," Grae bit back. "You can explain to us all the depth of my mistake in your petition to resurrect this map." Grae walked out into the hallway and called for the young lycan who was Zoe's colleague.
When Kai walked in, Pearce turned to him with his hands folded conservatively behind his back. "Kai, please tell us of the most recent event that occurred on our map. I think it will illuminate the Alpha's motivation today."
Kai froze mid stride on his way to shut down the map feed as Grae had instructed. This Alpha version of Grae was intimidating, and his eyes darted to that intimidating presence in question. What was he to do? Listen to Elder Pearce or wait for so kind of approval or command from the Alpha?
As Kai fumbled internally for an answer, he beco aware of the thirty eyes that were trained on him in surprise, expectation, concern, and confusion. This was not his place—he should not be put on the spot like this. Zoe was always the one to answer questions and explain the map. Kai just kept his head down and did his job.
"Yes, perhaps if our council mbers had a glimpse of what the map does, it would expedite the need for this discussion. I would prefer not disconnecting the map at all, so if we could have this discussion now…" Andreas added.
"Do you have the team assembled for us to interview?" Grae asked, gesturing with a hand toward the door.
"No, but most of them could be gathered quickly enough. They have other jobs, you see. This is not a full-ti duty for most," Andreas replied.
"I would like to see what the map does," one mber said, interest piqued now with how much contention seed to surround the large ominous map displayed on the wall.
" too," another mber agreed, followed by a chorus of similar calls for demonstration.
Behind Kai on the map, a light blinked to life on the western side of the U.S. before going dark.
"What was that light? Did you see it?" one male asked, turning to the mbers around him as he pointed to the place where the light had appeared.
"I saw it, too," soone replied.
Andreas walked to the center of the room next to Kai and turned to address them.
"That light was a witch."
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