DOMINIC.
With bated breath, I watch as Maxwell walks towards the box, picks it up, and begins it to the table.
“I am going to be pulling out the marbles one by one, to avoid any… allegations of cheating,” he says and another smattering of chuckles is heard around the room.
Are they mocking me?!
“But before I do that, I would like to ask. Is there anyone who withheld their right to vote? If so, please raise a hand.”
I look around and note that no single person raises their hand.
Which is good, right?
At least, if I can get a considerable amount of red marbles, it means I still have a chance to get rid of them.
Of her.
But…
How?
How is she still alive?
I had the whole surroundings checked, how… is she-
“Very well, then,” Maxwell says with a nod. “I shall begin the count. There are thirty six alphas present here, so there should be thirty six marbles counted. I will begin.”
One by one, he begins pulling out the marbles, some of us counting under our breaths how many they are, and before it ends I can already feel my blood simmering in rage and embarrassment.
I look over to those and see them smiling and whispering together, heads close as they stare into each other’s eyes.
How dare she?!
Right in front of me!
Does she have no regard?!
No respect for me?!
I am her bloody mate!
How dare she flirt with another man in front of me?!
My sworn nemesis?!
It is not like she doesn’t know who he is or what our relationship is like.
Everyone does.
And yet… she has the audacity to behave like this?!
What a whore!
I should have made sure she was dead before I threw her off the cliff.
The bitch.
“And that is the last one,” Maxwell calls out as he closes the box.
I look over at the marbles on the table and it takes all of my will and strength to not lash out and kill someone.
Weaklings!
The whole lot of them!
They want peace?
With rogues?
Laughable.
What a bunch of jokers.
I am the only one who sees reality for what it is. I am the only one who can see where we are headed if we continue to allow this permissiveness and abomination to continue among us.
“Out of thirty six marbles, we have thirty three white symbolizing no war, and …three red. The whites have it. There shall be no war and if anyone goes against the agreement of this council, disrespecting this hallowed gathering, there will be repercussions and a complete ostracisation of that pack. Any other additions?”
There is a murmur of acceptance and it drives me mad.
Three!
Just three!
Oh, I have never been this humiliated, never this disgraced and it is because of those two.
I will kill them
With my bare hands.
“Alpha Dominic?”
Maxwell’s irritating voice calls out to me, bringing me out of the hate filled haze I was sinking in.
Really though, who made this fucker leader over us.
Was there a vote or something?!
“Alpha Dominic?” He calls again and I barely stop myself in time from snarling at him
“Yes?” I grit out.
“Is there a problem?”
“What?!”
“Do you have something to say?”
“No… why would you even ask that?” You fucking asshole.
“Maybe it is because you are trying to crush the table,” Sven mutters as he glares at me. “Though I don’t think you should worry too much Alpha Maxwell, Alpha Dominic here is capable of refunding the Vale pack for any damages wrought.”
Bastards.
The whole lot of them.
I look down on my hands and I see that my claws have nearly extended and are already making dents into the table.
“That will not be necessary,” Viktor’s smug voice filters into my ears. “We are capable of covering our losses, we don’t need any refunds. After all, it is normal for the average wolf to struggle with control once in a while.”
Average?!
Average?!
Me?!
“You-”
“If that is all now,” another wolf says as he gets to his feet. “Can we go? I distinctly remember smelling something delectable before this meeting began.”
The others slowly get to their feet, also talking about how hungry they are and how ridiculous this meeting was, and how unnecessarily long it was.
Mocking me.
I get to my feet as they begin to walk out and I am stopped by Viktor’s voice behind me.
“Alpha Dominic,” he calls and I turn over to look at him
I see red.
Louisa has her arm snugly kept in the crook of his, while she leans into him.
Like they were some couple.
“What?!” I snarl at them.
Viktor just responds with what I am sure is a gleeful smile while she just looks on at me with complete indifference.
“I know you have been campaigning for a war and all that, but I thought I should introduce to you, -formally of course- the leader of the Winter Wolf Coalition, Rowan Blaze.”
I scoff at that.
“Rowan? What kind of ridiculous name is that?”
“Ridiculous?” She asks with a bland, disinterested tone. Almost like she was already bored of the conversation.
Of me.
“What?” I ask.
“Rowan is my name, Alpha Dominic. I will suggest you accord me the respect I am due, after all, we are all going to be allies, very soon,” she says before baring her teeth in a smile.
The- what-
“You-”
“Now, now, alpha Dominic,” Viktor cuts in, with the same inane smile. “I know this is not how you wanted this to end, but it is what has happened. So, why don’t you put your fangs back in and let’s pretend to be civilized people for once. No matter how hard it might be for you.”
“How-”
“Viktor,” Louisa interrupts. “Can we go now? I am starving.”
“Of course, Ro. Let’s. Take care,” he says with a short glance at me before they walk out.
Viktor?
Ro?
When did those two get so familiar with each other?
That bastard!
They will jt get away with this.
With humiliating me.
This is not the end.
No.
On the contract, it is just beginning.