“Melanie, how are you feeling? Melissa gave you a good left hook yesterday,” Dad inquired before we headed out to work the next morning.
“I’m feeling all right. My head doesn’t hurt if that’s what you’re asking. My emotions are in check as well. I’m sorry if I overreacted when Doyle threatened Mom and the Queen yesterday,” I apologized to my Dad.
“No apologies required. You reacted like we all felt. We were all upset. You just voiced yours before we all could. The Alpha King later told me that Doyle Kessler has just become the number one most wanted wolf in the kingdom,” explained Dad as we walked to the car.
“Dad, I meant what I said. I will put him down if I am given the opportunity,” I stressed with absolute certainty.
“I know you will Melanie. I have no doubt in your abilities. Let’s just concentrate on your tasks today. Shall we?” soothed Dad as we buckled our seatbelts so we could leave for work. “Anthony are you ready to see your mate in action?” teased my Dad.
“I’ve already seen her in action Delta Troy. But I am curious how she performs in her daytime duties,” teased Anthony to me with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
“Behave Anthony. We are going to work,” I admonished him in a playful tone to which my father only chuckled at our banter.
The rest of the drive into work was of us talking about the upcoming days at the pack. Next week when I turn 21 on Wednesday and the Oath of Delta ceremony. These were exciting times for sure.
When we arrived at work, Anderson and Noah were already there waiting for us to arrive. They opened the SUV doors for us and escorted us inside rather quickly. Now I understood why I was being guarded so closely; it was because of Doyle Kessler.
We were told through the pack link that Jared and Tucker had already cleared my office and were waiting for us there. Dad thanked them and allowed them to proceed.
Upon exiting the elevators on my floor, Anderson and Noah stepped out first to make sure no one was going to attack us. Really? We are at my job. We are in a secure location people. We were then escorted to my office where coffee and lite snacks were already waiting for us. Thanks, Allison for thinking about that.
“Okay, Melanie, I need you to print out every e-mail and text message you received from Colonel Thompson. We need to compile the paper trail showing the errors in the operation so he cannot place the blame on you,” explained Dad as he helped himself to a coffee.
“You got it, Dad. I’ve already printed out most of them. I haven’t printed out the ones from last week for obvious reasons. Allow me to show you the paper trail I have already started,” I stated as I walked over to my file cabinet and unlocked it. I pulled out a sizeable file and handed my Dad the file to which he only arched an eyebrow.
“You’ve already started creating a paper trail? Good job Melanie,” praised Dad as he started looking at the papers in the file folder.
“Well, yes Dad. That’s part of the process. We have to have an accounting of all the text messages and e-mails between all parties before and during the operation so we can assess the proficiency of the operation. You taught me that. So instead of doing a mass printout, I just started printing them out as they came in. It made things easier for me,” I explained as I helped myself to some hot chocolate and had a seat at my desk.
“Like I said, you have exceeded my expectations, Melanie. You are more than ready to take my position of Delta at the pack. You are very thorough in your work,” praised my Dad.
Anthony just beamed with pride at Dad’s praises of me. We talked about how Dad wanted the Debriefing Meeting to go this afternoon. At 10 o’clock, I introduced Anthony to my division since they would be seeing him from time to time. Allison was so happy that I had found another ‘mate.’ Benedict wasn’t as happy for me but that’s just fine by me.
I had folders made up for everyone at the Debriefing Meeting today. I didn’t want to give anyone a heads-up as to what the folders contained so Anthony helped me get those ready. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Dad offered to take us out for lunch. I vetoed that due to you know who being out there. Anderson went to my favorite place and got us all some lunch.
The time finally came for us to head to the Debriefing Meeting. I was dreading it and anticipating it at the same time. I couldn’t wait to find out how the whole operation imploded in such a short time and why. We went to the same location as the Inception Meeting.
When we walked into the room, it had the same people in it. The Alpha King had not yet arrived. We were met with some somber faces and other faces held smirks. I don’t know why, but some of those that contained smirks, I just wanted to smack them off.
I saw Colonel Thompson sitting there with a smirk on his face. I just wanted to throttle him. There was something that didn’t sit right with me about him. He seemed so cocky for someone who just ended a failed mission. Dad noticed it as well.
We all took our seats and waited for the Alpha King to arrive. Ten minutes later, Alpha Kings Matthew and Friedrich arrived with their Betas. We all stood and bowed to them as they came into the room.
“Ah, Delta Troy and Delta Heir Melanie what a pleasure it is to see you again today. Shall we get started Delta Troy?” exclaimed Alpha King Matthew.
“Good afternoon Alpha Kings Matthew and Friedrich. Yes, we shall get started now that you have arrived. Everyone, please take your seats. We are here today to discuss what happened with Operation Family Reunion.
Colonel Thompson, as the lead on this operation, please explain how this operation failed so quickly,” demanded my father to everyone in the room.
“It’s quite simple Mr. Miller. Having a female in charge of this operation was the cause of its failure. I have never before had such terrible leadership or guidance on a mission,” declared Colonel Thompson to everyone in the room. Growls could be heard throughout the room when Colonel Thompson said that.
“When you say, ‘Having a female in charge of the operation,’ What did you mean? You were the one in charge of the operation. Am I correct?” my Dad asked Colonel Thompson.
“I was in charge of the Overwatch Operation, yes. Ms. Miller was in charge of the entire operation. The failure of the operation is hers and hers alone,” accused Colonel Thompson.
“Really? How’s that? She was to monitor the situation. She was not in tactical command. That was your job was it not?” my Dad defended me to everyone.
“Yes, I was in tactical command but she made decisions. She told me that I needed to replace personnel and I had to call in order to cross boundary lines,” snapped Colonel Thompson.
“Watch Your Tone, Colonel Thompson!” I reminded him. “You are talking to your boss, not to me. I suggest you remember that.”
His head snapped to me with an incredulous look on it. “Yes, Ms. Miller,” he replied through clenched teeth.
“Colonel Thompson, you are correct when you said I recommended personnel changes to you. When you had a wolf who was falsely accused of being a burglary suspect, the Alpha King himself recommended that he be replaced on the detail. I told you this. You began to argue with me if I recall correctly. I then had to order you to replace him and get back to me. Did I not?” I reminded him of this.
“Yes, you did Ms. Miller,” he answered me.
“Next, we had a few of your team members crossing over into pack territories without asking permission which was a direct violation of orders. You were given a map with boundaries and told if you go near these territories call to seek permission to enter. Were you not?” I inquired.
“Yes ma’am we were,” he answered.
“When I called you concerning this distressing information, I was in the presence of Alpha King Matthew. You informed me that ‘You knew how to do your job. And next time you would ask permission.’ Did you not?” I again asked him.
“Yes ma’am, you did,” he answered.
“I hung up on you, I called my boss for clarification on the issue. Then I called you back to restate your job. If you go near the boundary lines, you must seek permission before crossing over them first. No exceptions. Am I correct?” I asked him.
“Yes ma’am, you are correct,” he answered me.
“Now, I would like to know what happened last week to make this whole operation implode in a matter of two days since I was out of the office. I was ‘unreachable’ via phone except through text message. My Father was handling all the calls. For two days, I heard nothing from you or your team until I got the text saying to call you with no specifics. Explain yourself. NOW!” I demanded.