*Rion*
I wanted to get to know the pack again and show them that I was still capable of leading. From the way Daphne explained it, they put their trust in to be their Alpha and lead them into a better future.
I couldn’t let them down now.
Slowly, shifters and vampires filtered into the pack mansion living room. They found seats or places to stand. I could feel the tension in the atmosphere. The air felt like it was made of lead, and everyone had dark, somber looks in their eyes.
If I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought they had all showed up for a funeral.
When everyone was there, I stood in the doorway and got their attention.
“Thank you everyone for coming. I know the last few weeks have been... confusing, but I want you to know that I’m back to keep all my promises to you.”
There was a pause and then a few claps in the crowd. Imdiately, I noticed the room felt lighter. Everyone was less tense, and I even saw a few smiles spreading around.
I sighed and nodded. Great, this was already going well.
“As you know, there’s a threat on our borders—Alpha Gareth and the Lycaon extremists. I want you all to rest assured that I will eliminate this threat and ensure our pack is safe again.”
The pack mbers were clearly satisfied with my declaration. As they left the mansion, many of them ca up to to shake my hand and personally welco back.
I was starting to rember so of them, but more importantly, I could rember the feeling of belonging, the feeling of being ho.
Growing up, it was sothing I never thought I’d have. Being among these people, I could tell I felt that way with them. It wasn’t just Daphne and the twins that made this place my ho. It was the people I had chosen to lead.
I asked Daphne and Eva to et with after the eting. It was hard to put on a strong, determined face against Gareth when I didn’t totally understand the conflict with him.
Sure, the Lycaon extremists were easy to oppose. They were the ones that had held Eva prisoner and done other horrible things.
I rembered enough about them from my childhood.
“Can you two please fill in on the conflict with Alpha Gareth?” I asked when Daphne and Eva arrived.
Daphne’s face paled slightly, and I went to her, taking her in my arms. The action was second nature at this point. Once she welcod back into her life, and her bed, I couldn’t deny the strong bond between us.
“He’s the one who put you in this state in the first place,” Eva snarled, throwing her arm in the air.
I pursed my lips. “Is that so?”
“Well, we think he is. Technically, it was the Lycaon extremists that attacked, but it’s reasonable to assu Gareth was the one giving orders.” She huffed and flopped down on the couch. Eva crossed her arms and sighed heavily.
Not many people got under her skin like that.
“Why do you think that?” I looked at Daphne where she was nuzzled in the crook of my arm.
“Alpha Gareth had this obsession with . He thought that I’d make the perfect Luna for him because he believed I would be a White Queen.”
“But you’re not.” I frowned.
“And yet—” She sighed and pulled away from , showing her back. I saw a slight tremor in her shoulders as she breathed deeply. “He must still be convinced that I have so power and he wants it for himself. In his mind, maybe that translates into taking our girls.”
“No!” I growled, as a violent trimr shook through throwing my arm to the side in a sharp gesture. “That’s never going to happen.”
Daphne looked over her shoulder at . “I believe you. But that doesn’t lessen the threat he poses.”
“The solution is simple. We double security around you and the twins, Daphne, and we take Alpha Gareth out!”
Daphne gasped and Eva rose to her feet.
“That’s a little extre, isn’t it, Brother?” She gave a hard, knowing look, the kind of look I’d expect from soone who has done their fair share of killing.
“He’s threatening my wife, my family, and my pack. Not to ntion—” I pointed to my temple.
Both won exchanged a sheepish look.
“I’m sorry, Rion, but I agree with Eva. Alpha Gareth has pack mbers who might not agree with him. Attacking the pack would condemn them as well. Besides, Thorn Forest isn’t ready for battle, or a war.”
“You think we can negotiate with this guy?” I arched an eyebrow.
Daphne shrugged. “It’s worth a try. I don’t want to see our people get hurt and if we go to war, it will put our pack in danger. But if Gareth can be negotiated with, he could give us intel on the Lycaon extremists.”
Eva nodded her agreent. “Two birds with one stone.”
I rubbed my chin and paced back and forth a few tis. Daphne had good points about Thorn Forest and the mbers of Alpha Gareth’s pack. I respected her thoughtfulness and wisdom on the matter.
“Alright, we will try peaceful negotiations. I’m still doubling up security on you, Daphne, and the twins.”
“What about ?” Eva pouted at .
I grinned. “You don’t need that kind of protection. I know what you can do.”
Eva smirked and nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll look after your family, too, while you try to negotiate.”
***
It took a couple of days to get an envoy together. I left Jasper in Thorn Forest to look after the pack in my stead. I knew he was the right man for the job.
I took the best warriors in Thorn Forest and one scholarly vampire who knew a thing or two about non-aggression pacts. It was a small group, but I was confident we could protect ourselves if it ca down to it.
“You’ll update as the negotiations unfold?” Daphne asked. She stood by the door of the car, seeing off.
I looped my arms around her waist and nodded. “Of course.”
“And you’ll... be careful?” She looked up at with rose-tinged cheeks and watery eyes.
There was sothing so beautiful about her concern. I leaned in and kissed her warm lips and pressed my forehead to hers.
“I’ll be careful. I have everything to co ho to now. I’m not going to risk that.”
She nodded and smiled lightly. “I wish I could go with you.”
“My too. The pack needs you right now. Our daughters need you. I’ll be back soon.” I kissed her forehead and the tip of her nose.
Daphne giggled.
I turned quickly and got in the car. My heart wrenched in my chest, and I couldn’t look back as the car drove off. I never knew leaving anyone could be so hard.
I sent word ahead for Gareth to et us in a small village with one tavern at a certain ti. When I arrived with my envoy, I saw Gareth’s n outside already. My warriors did a quick sweep and confird that Gareth had only a small contingency with him, as I’d instructed.
I went inside and found Gareth lounging at one of the tavern tables. He had a large mug of beer in front of him and a sour look on his face.
“You’re late,” he growled. He kicked one of the chairs out toward .
“It’s nice to see you too.” I sat and pulled the chair closer.
The vampire scholar I brought had written up several docunts for in the car. I laid them out on the table ready to get to business.
“What do you want, Rion? I know this isn’t a social visit.” Gareth took a big swig off his beer and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“It isn’t. I wanted to ask what you knew about a recent kidnap attempt against my daughters and Daphne. The attempt that left ... injured.”
Gareth’s eyes widened for a mont. He burst out laughing and slamd his beer mug on the table. Brown, foaming liquid sloshed over the sides.
“You think I had sothing to do with a kidnapping?”
“Actually, I just asked what you knew about it.”
Gareth imdiately stopped laughing and glared at . “Don’t put words in my mouth, you little runt! I don’t know what you were told, but you’ve been misinford.”
I sighed and shuffled through the papers. “Look, right now, all I care about is finding out how to stop the Lycaon extremists from trying sothing like that again. I know they were behind it, but I don’t know how far their power reaches.”
“It sounds like you’re worried your little infant pack won’t stand a chance if they try to co after you again.”
“I have a little more faith in them than that. The Lycaons do pose an unknown threat to , and probably to you too, whether you know it or not.”
Gareth sniffed. He glared at with beady little eyes, and I stared right back. So slobbering drunk wasn’t going to intimidate with an ugly look.
“Well then, you need more numbers, better warriors. I can provide that if you agree to combine our packs, for protection, of course.”
“I had sothing a little different in mind. Right now, we are at odds. But if you and I entered into a non-aggression treaty, we could share information and look into this threat together.”
“Isn’t that what I just offered?” he scoffed.
“The difference being, a non-aggression treaty allows our packs to remain separate and keeps us safe from each other without the need for a power struggle over who becos Alpha if the packs rge.”
Gareth leaned back in his chair. He sighed heavily and took another, slower, sip of his beer.
I could tell he was stalling. The wheels in his greasy head were spinning so loudly I could practically hear them.
“If you agree to this arrangent, it does an you’d be required to share intel about the Lycaons as you co across it.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know the deal!” he snapped.
“Why don’t you look over the papers?” I slid the agreent across the table to him.
Alpha Gareth eyed it like it was a poisonous snake ready to bite. He reached for the paper and his eyes zipped back and forth as he read it.
“Alright, fine. These terms are acceptable,” he agreed finally. “Get a damn pen and I’ll have this thing signed for you.”
He held a hand out to . I tossed a pen across the table and left him to co to terms with the new treaty.
One of my warriors was standing near the bar.
“Get word back to Thorn Forest. I want security on Daphne and the twins doubled at all tis.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
I glanced back at Gareth. “We’re going to have unsavory company coming and going....”
After he signed the papers, Gareth downed the rest of his beer. I went back to the table and put my palms on the rough wood. It could use a good sanding and a new coat of finish, I thought.
I leaned forward, looming over Gareth. “Now, I want you to understand that if I even get a whiff of aggression or violence from you aid at my wife, my family, or anyone within my domain, I will retaliate, and you will suffer.”
Gareth’s eyes widened for a mont. “So much for courtesy.”
“This isn’t about courtesy. It’s about survival, for both our packs.”
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