Andre’s POV
I groaned angrily as I got downstairs and walked towards the car. Why would the council set such an impromptu meeting?
I was relieved to see Pierre already inside the car, and I got in and glared at him.
“Why am I just getting information that the council is holding a meeting?”
“I am very sorry, Alpha. But I, too, am just getting this information from Beta Doran. He called me just a few minutes ago.”
I scowled, and Pierre pulled out of the driveway, and we began to make our way to the council hall.
My phone rang in my pocket, and I saw Doran calling me again.
“Andre, where are you? Everyone is getting agitated. I know this is impromptu, but you need to be here soon. Everyone is already here.”
“I’m on my way. But who even called this meeting?”
I heard Doran sigh at the other end.
“I can bet that it is him. I can see the disgusting smirk on his face, and he seems pleased with himself.”
I growled. What was that conniving fox up to this time?
We began to slow down, and I realised that Pierre had reached the council hall.
“I’m pulling up outside. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
I cut the call and got out of the car. I headed inside with Pierre and got to the central council room. As soon as we entered, we saw everyone seated and staring at us as we entered.
I glanced around the room at the faces staring at me, and my eyes finally came to rest angrily on Nicole.
I scowled angrily and turned to councillor Fentris.
“What is she doing here?” I asked coldly, taking my seat at the head of the table with Doran at my right side.
Councillor Fentris stood up boldly and smiled at me. I growled lowly and hoped that I had an opportunity to smack that stupid grin off his face.
“I am the one that called this meeting, and I thought it would be wise to invite the Luna of the pack. Also, most of the matters involve her, so it is only right that she be present, don’t you think?”
I scowled, and when I turned to look at Nicole, she avoided direct eye contact with me and kept her eyes glued on Fentris.
He stood up again and greeted the entire council. Doran scoffed beside me.
“I thank all of you for coming here on such short notice. I know that most of you had better things to do, but you all kept in mind that the greater good of the pack comes first.”
I sneakily rolled my eyes. That fox was playing mind games. I was more interested in why he called this meeting.
“I called this meeting today,” he continued. “Because I have just received a petition from a company that wants to build a power plant here to boost energy production in the pack. I thought it a good idea and brought the documents here for the council to deliberate.”
He sat down, and I glanced at him briefly. Even though I already knew about his meeting with the damned company, I feigned ignorance.
“Councilor Fentris, what kind of power plant are we talking about here?”
I saw a smile curl on his lips.
“A nuclear one. I have been assured that their equipment is safe, and I have been taken on a tour of a power plant built in another pack. It has increased the energy proficiency of that pack by over 50%, and I believe that is the sort of boost that our pack needs. They plan to build the plant on the pack outskirts to…”
“No.”
The council turned to me, and I glared back at them fearlessly.
“Alpha Andre, did you say…”
“No, Fentris. I said no. I will not have a nuclear power plant built in my pack. The energy yield is high, but the cons outweigh the pros. It’s expensive, we are at risk of nuclear disasters, and we stand a chance of radioactive poisoning. It is a ticking time bomb, and I will not have it built into my pack.”
Fenris chuckled and relaxed in the chair.
“You worry too much, Alpha Andre. I have been assured that it is all safe and the radioactive waste will not affect us. We aren’t humans, after all. We can withstand things like this…”
“You seem to forget that we have a few humans that come here now and then. I will not put their lives on the line, either. They plan to build the plant on the pack outskirts, where most humans live. So it is a definitive ‘no’. I will not risk the lives of my pack members and those under my care.”
Humans are smart, too. They will get curious if they notice that nothing happened to us after a while.
The room was filled with whispers and murmurs, but I could pick that most of the council sided with me. I saw the smile on Fentris’ face disappear and was replaced with a scowl.
“Well, it is too bad that the Alpha is throwing away development for the pack, the same way he is throwing away the pack’s future,” he said casually as he took a sip of water and looked away from me.
I immediately picked on the energy he was exuding and slammed my fist slightly on the table.
“And might I ask what that is supposed to mean?” I barked, resisting the urge to lunge forward and give him a good beating.
He relaxed in his chair and looked around the room.
“Isn’t it obvious, Alpha Andre? I mean, everyone is thinking about it. It has been three years since you took Nicole here as your Luna, yet we haven’t heard any good news. Isn’t that being careless with the pack’s future?”
I stood up angrily and slammed my hand down on the table, and everyone flinched except Fentris, who stared calmly at me.
“I would like to believe that my personal matters are none of the council’s business, and I want them to be excluded from council meetings.”
Doran spoke up.
“I agree. Whatever happens between the Alpha and his Luna is strictly between them.”
“I, for one, agree to the topic being discussed here.”
Everyone turned to look at Nicole, and I shot her a death stare, but she turned away.
“From what was found out, it seems that the Alpha and his Luna sleep in different rooms, and their interactions are less than the bare minimum for a couple. Even the Alpha’s relationship with his staff is on a better tier. I don’t think the Alpha is considering how important it is for him to have an heir.”
There was suddenly a murmur of concern among the older council members, and they all began to cast me worried glances.
“If you all are so worried about this, then I guess I should leave, and you can ask your Luna why my interactions with her are below the bare minimum and what she is doing wrong.”
I got up and signalled Doran and Pierre to leave with me. I stormed out of the council hall and headed to the car.
Pierre entered the driver’s seat, and Doran and I talked outside. I tried to contain my fury as I remembered Fentris’ daring move.
“Fentris is getting a little bolder, isn’t he?” Doran stated. “Do you think we should increase the number of people watching him? It’s almost like he is testing his boundaries.”
“Yes, do that, and get more people to investigate the trails you found.”
I got into the car, and my mind drifted to the thought of Olivia waiting naked and bare for me on my bed.