He would show the old man later. Derek thought, glaring at Mike. But for now he had to resolve the issue somehow, quickly, before it escalates into something else, before it stains his father’s good legacy. Still, he couldn’t stop himself from making a dig at Mike.
“As you mentioned Mike…” He started, producing a huge mocking emphasis on Mike’s name, aware but ignoring the exaggerated sighs from Anthony and Agrip. They both knew that he was going to never let the elder go. Despite that knowledge and their sighs of seeming tiredness of Derek’s act, they were still interested in what the latter had in stock for the elder.
“…the creatures are of magic, so to be able to deal with them as you mentioned, we have to know more about them, we have to throw a wide research net on them. Our findings would determine our next course of action. Or don’t you think so…Mike?”
Derek asked the elder, producing the emphasis again on the name which was of course obvious to the occupants of the room.
Mike furrowed his eyebrows, obviously wondering what was wrong with the boy he had knocked at one time when the lad was still on pampers for hauling at his feet.
He wasn’t dumb of course. And so he knew that Derek was targeting him.
But should the boy do that? Shouldn’t the lad be cowering for favors at this point with some of the elders in order to win some of their favorable opinions in meetings like this? Why was he acting all high and mighty just within a day in office? He thought, shaking his head ruefully. Two can play the game. He mused, letting his eyes land and stay on Derek’s.
Derek was still looking at him unblinkingly, waiting for his reply. The other elders too. Mike knew that they were very interested in what he had to say; if he would rebuke the young Alpha or just submissively answer his question plainly.
He would have chosen the first option, would have wanted to retort in a sarcastic tone which might cause a bit of disarray in Derek’s mind whom he had already tagged as an arrogant and rude personality; but the steadfast look in Derek’s eyes stopped him short.
Could the boy glare?
Mike had no doubt that they all were in for some shitty rule under an arrogant Alpha.
Despite all his unuttered grievances, he still bowed his head a bit before he gave a submissive reply to Derek’s earlier question, knowing that Derek could be quite impulsive, and might sack him off the elder’s council without batting an eyelash or considering his previous services to the pack.
“Yes, my Alpha. You are right. Research would be very appropriate.” Mike stated, gritting his teeth as he saw the smirk that appeared and stayed on Derek’s lips for no more than a nanosecond, before flatting out again.
“Good.” Derek mentioned, nodding his head. “You would be overseeing that research then. Gather as much info as you can, your best of course, and give me a report by tomorrow afternoon.” He ordered, infusing a bit of the Alpha’s tone into his voice.
Mike felt cold chills all over his body as the implication of Derek’s statement dawned on him. Tomorrow?? Get a detailed report about shadow creatures and their relation to magic in less than 24 hours? This boy was really it! He thought, very annoyed at the current sequence of events.
His anger lessened a bit, as his gaze fell on Agrip.
Agrip could help me with that. He thought, letting out a sigh of relief. The older man was a warehouse of knowledge on diverse topics.
But no sooner had he sighed in relief, that Derek made another announcement.
“And Mike… please do not trouble Agrip. He just came back from a journey and needs to rest. He would also be helping Dr. Jack in finding out a potion for my father’s sickness.” Derek announced, and Mike paled visibly.
An elder coughed nearby. Another sneezed.
Mike knew he was in for it. He shouldn’t have annoyed the little Alpha. The boy was throwing tantrums now, and he was the one bearing the brunt.
“Yes, Alpha.” He muttered, clasping his fingers on his lap.
“Alright then.” Derek said, before turning aside to Agrip, knowing that both the open and hidden message behind his retorts to Mike had been clearly seen and received by the other elders. No one was going to bullshit him because of his age or inexperience.
“Agrip, do you have anything to say before I shut down the meeting… any contributions or any findings you had made during the journey that you think would be okay to be known or shared in this meeting?” He questioned.
Agrip cocked his head one side, contemplating on whether he should mention the outcome of his journey or search, or at least the one that concerned the pack.
Anthony rested his hand on Agrip’s hands which were resting on his lap. And although there were no words exchanged between the duo, a message was still passed across between them.
Agrip nodded before opening his mouth to speak. He had wanted to keep it in, wanting to share the information with the Alpha family in secret before letting it out in the open, but Anthony’s action had enlightened him on the consequences of him keeping his mouth shut on his findings. The other elders wouldn’t like it, and with time they would begin to make unnecessary stupid deductions.
“As you all know, I have been out of the pack for more than a month, searching for some answers and some information on Derek, our new Alpha…” He paused, taking a small ample time, and when he was sure that their whole attention was on him, he continued his ‘tale’.
“… but first, I would love to apologize for taking so much time in this quest for knowledge. I had overstayed our stipulated time of two weeks. But you see, the reason why my journey had taken time, or rather why my return to the pack had taken time was because I had been captured two weeks ago on my way back from the mountain of Egat.”