NB: NAMES IF MENTIONED ALPHAS
Alpha Maxwell of the Grange pack
Alpha Sven if the Sky pack
Alpha Fin of the Indigo pack
VIKTOR
“Are you for real?” Fin, alpha of the Indigo pack demands as he stares at me. “You of all people are telling us that the coalition has no interest in taking over the packs? That they are peaceful?”
“Rogues are not peaceful, Viktor,” Maxwell says.
“These ones are,” I tell them. “They have no desire whatsoever to tangle with the packs. All they want is to be left alone to their peaceful existence. It is just a Shame that I had to find that out in such a… an unfortunate way.”
“Yes, about that. Why were you with the other alphas?” Alpha Maxwell asks. “They are not your usual sort of circle you run with. You know, scheming, ambitious, icky.”
“I know. And I am ashamed to have even been caught in their crowd… but, they knew how to get to me. They were well versed with my innate distaste for rogues and had played on that. And I had fallen for it.”
“So, after you realized what their plan was, you killed them.”
“No, not at first. I discovered it when I put all of their suspicious behaviors in a straight line and then I confronted them. I was disgusted by their underhand tactics and I told them as much.”
“I am guessing they didn’t take it so well,” Alpha Svensays, speaking up for the first time since he arrived
“No, they did not. I made my move to leave with my wolves and they turned on me . It was clear from their attacks and preparedness, that the coalition was not just their only target.”
“They were after you too,” he stated.
“Hmm. They were,” I confirm. “With the help and sacrifice from my wolves -may the goddess keep their souls- we had managed to kill them all. I don’t know how long I had lain there when the head of the coalition found me.”
“Okay… but how did you manage to convince him that you were not a threat?” Alpha Malcom asks.
“Her,” I correct him. “And I didn’t convince her. I lied. I said my name was Louis and I had no memories as to who I was or why I was among the dead wolves.”
“And you were believed?”
“Well, not at first. She has very good instincts, the winter wolf,” I renark with a fond smile.
“I am sorry,” Alpha Sven says as he leans forward to stare at me. “But can we circle back to what you said? ‘She.’ The Winter Wolf, the head of the coalition, is a woman?”
“Yeah,” I answer, my smile shifting from fond to amused. “I was just as surprised as you are.”
“The leader of the coalition that has put dread in the hearts of pack wolves, is a woman?”
“Yes, Sven. She is a woman. Can we move on?”
“Wow. This is… something. Does that mean it was her idea to take over that pack? To kill them?*
“Yes. She can be quite ruthless when she wants to be but that is only because she has been made that way. All they want is peace. They don’t even need to meet with us or relate with us. All they want is to be left to live their lives, peacefully.”
“And? Is that what you want?”
“No. While I do agree that they are peaceful, I don’t think being alienated will work. For them or for us. It wouldn’t matter if we say we agree to stay away, someone somewhere would still try to go after them to prevent a point.”
“You mean Dominic,” Alpha Maxwell says.
“For one, yes. And let me tell you, they will be ready. They are always ready for any attack from anywhere at any time.”
“Hmm,” Alpha Maxwell begins. “Dominik has been gathering some of the packs, declaring that they should go put the rogues in their place. He is behaving like some concerned king towards his lost subjects.”
“Yes, but those are only the minor packs,” Aloha Sven adds. “The other packs, the ones with real power and influence, the ones like us, haven’t responded yet.”
“And I don’t think we should make any hasty movements. While I do know you, Viktor and trust your judgment, this is something that we will have to confirm ourselves. I hope you understand?”
“I do understand,” I tell him. “I am just not sure you would be able to do that.”
“I don’t understand. We can go visit them ourselves, can’t we?” Alpha Fin asks.
“You can, but I am not sure you will be able to enter the settlement.”
“Maybe you can set up a meeting for us?” Alpha Sven offers. “They know you, don’t they?”
“They do… but I didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms,” I confess.
“What did you mean? How did you leave?”
“Not willingly,” I answer before taking a heavy sigh. “Remember when I said I had lied to hide my identity?”
“Yeah? So?”
“Well, she discovered the lie and kicked me out,” I finish.
“They didn’t try to kill you?”
“I believe they were too shocked to act and by the time the revelation had settled in, they just wanted me gone.”
“So, you weren’t planning on leaving yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why not? You had already gathered information in them, why would you still want to stay there?”
At my silence, the three men exchange suspicious glances.
“Viktor,” Alpha Maxwell starts.
“It is not what you think,” I say, interrupting him.
“You don’t even know what we are thinking.”
“True, but I can assure it is not,” I retirate
“Then tell us,” Alpha Sven says. “Why did you still choose to stay there? Why are you so intent on protecting the coalition?”
I can’t lie to them.
Not about this, if I do, it might come around to bite us in the ass.
“Viktor?”
“I didn’t want to leave because… because the leader is my mate.”