Chapter Twelve #2
When we were finished, he even dried me and picked up my clothes. “Should I dress you?”
I considered it, but we were running a little too short on time. Now that I’d had time to breathe, I was starving despite the meat Desmond had brought, and I wanted to grab something else to eat before I dealt with the arkhons. “No, thanks. I’ve got it.”
“All right.”
We both dressed, and he accompanied me downstairs.
Xavier trailed us, still following my order to stick close to Kyle even though I was there now.
In the dining room, I put together a messy sandwich of whatever I could grab that fit between the two parts of a roll.
Which turned out to be more than I expected, so at the end of the table, I grabbed a fork and headed down to the basement.
I didn’t care whether food was permitted down there.
It was my damn house, and if I wanted to eat in my auditorium, I could.
None of the arkhons brought food, though a couple of them looked enviously at my plate as they entered the auditorium and joined me at the tables around the podium.
I considered inviting them to go back upstairs and get something but decided against it.
This needed to go quickly, and it wasn’t as if we were going to run out of stuff to eat.
“I’m meeting with the ten of you to start with because we have some planning to do.
” I studied all of their faces, especially Robert Greenlea’s.
Out of the group of them, he was currently the only one whose loyalty I truly questioned, though I wasn’t entirely sure about a couple of the others.
“Before we begin, however, I expect you to answer this question honestly. Robert Greenlea, have you any intention of challenging me for the rank of Anax during the remainder of this gathering or at any time before the next national gathering?”
Robert looked startled. “No, Anax. I have no such intention.”
He was being truthful. That was a relief. “Thank you. Todd Jarrett. Same question.”
“No, Anax,” Todd said without hesitating. “I have no such intention.”
Each of the rest gave the same answer, and each of them was telling the truth.
That didn’t mean they wouldn’t challenge me at some point in the future, including during next year’s gathering, but for now, I faced no threat.
At least not from these ten arkhons. I would have to ask the same question of the arkhons I would instate tonight, and that still wouldn’t rule out an Alpha jumping the line and challenging me, but I would take the win.
“Thank you, all of you.” I stood so I could see them all better.
“You know what has occurred here today. The death of two arkhons weighs on us. Tomorrow’s meeting will begin with a memorial for Edward Cutler and Davis Gray.
If you have remarks you would like to prepare, please do so.
For now, let us have a moment of silence for them. ”
Robert and Earl Swenson looked a little surprised by that, but they bowed their heads, as did I and the rest. Maybe it was odd that I was honoring Edward and Davis under the circumstances, but I didn’t care. I believed they were due that honor despite what they had done today.
Today. It was still only the first full day of the gathering.
Thank fuck I’d chosen to cut things short and have only one day of meetings plus the morning of the full moon, rather than multiple days of trying to manage all however many hundred wolves.
I didn’t know why the gatherings usually lasted three or four days.
It wasn’t necessary and just allowed more time for conflict.
Since I had the power to change it, I’d done so.
Hopefully the arkhons would follow suit for the regional gatherings.
“All right.” I cleared my throat, and everyone looked up. “Zane Wolfskin. I appreciate your assistance in getting the cleaning crew on the job.”
“You’re welcome, Anax,” Zane said. “The bodies have been prepared for return to their regions for burial. Since each man arrived on his own plane, the bodies will be flown back, along with Edward Cutler’s guest. She was uncomfortable staying here under the circumstances.
If necessary, the planes will return for the new arkhons of those regions. ”
I nodded. “Thank you. Paul Drake and Hollis Rourke, you have spoken with the alphas who were under Davis’s rule?”
“We have, Anax.” Paul turned slightly so he was facing me.
“The consensus among them is that while they appreciate being taken into Northwest and Four Corners, they would like the Pacific Region to continue to exist, provided a new Arkhon can be appointed. Two of the alphas reported issues with Davis, including threats against them personally when they questioned Davis’s decisions.
They are not pleased that he’s dead, but neither are they sorry. ”
“I see. Thank you, Arkhon.” I hadn’t heard any reports of Davis behaving abusively or inappropriately toward those in his region, but that didn’t mean anything.
Clearly he hadn’t been exactly benevolent.
“That brings us to the first intention of this meeting. Does the Pacific Region still exist, or do we reassign the packs of that region to other regions permanently as we have done temporarily? We will discuss, but first, let’s see where everyone’s thoughts are.
If you believe the Pacific Region should continue, show your hands. ”
Every hand went up, so I didn’t bother asking if anyone was opposed. I pretty much agreed with them. The Pacific Region had been one of the twelve regions of the country for far longer than I’d been a werewolf, and there was no reason to change the status quo.
“Very well, so we are in agreement that there is still a Pacific Region, and the packs that have been part of that region will continue to be so.” I paused.
“What of the alphas who chose to throw in their lot with Davis when he left the gathering? I assume they returned when he did. Do they retain leadership of their packs?”
“With respect, Anax?” Desmond held up his hand, and I nodded for him to go ahead.
“We don’t know why all of them followed him.
Some may have been his allies. Some may have only been following their Arkhon because they believed they had to or were coerced.
Some might not agree with having you as the Anax, but that doesn’t mean they’ll act against you.
Only that they have opinions. Therefore, I would suggest speaking to each of them individually to find out where their beliefs and loyalties lie, rather than making a blanket decision about all of them. ”
Clearly I’d made the right choice when I chose him to take over the Great Lakes Region. I nodded. “Thank you for your input, Arkhon. That is a very wise and fair way to handle the question, and I greatly appreciate you making the suggestion.”
“Thank you, Anax.” He reddened slightly.
“I’ll begin interviewing the alphas during supper.
” That would mean having to eat in my office, but that was fine.
It was best to get this underway quickly.
“I’ll want to speak to all of them. That will aid my decision as to who will replace Davis as the region’s Arkhon.
Paul and Hollis, if you have any thoughts on that matter, please speak to me after we’ve concluded this meeting. ”
“Yes, Anax,” the two of them said together.
“As for the Southeast Region, we also need a new Arkhon there.” I looked at Robert, who flinched. “Robert Greenlea, as one of the arkhons whose region borders Southeast, and as Edward’s ally, do you know any of those alphas well enough to make a recommendation?”
“No, Anax, I don’t,” Robert mumbled. “I have met some of the alphas but not all of them, and the meetings were brief.”
“All right. Then I’ll need to speak to the Southeast Region alphas as well.” I decided not to keep freaking Robert out. “Bob McKinley, will you please inform the Southeast alphas that I will meet with them individually this evening?”
“Yes, Anax,” Bob said. “If I may, however?”
“Sure. Yes. Thank you.” He clearly had something in mind, and I was starting to feel a little overwhelmed, so I was definitely willing to listen.
“Anax, while it is best for you to be the one to speak to the Pacific alphas whose loyalties are in question, with the other Pacific alphas and with the Southeast alphas, perhaps we arkhons could assist you.” Bob gestured around the table.
“Each of us could speak to several alphas and present to you one or two who would be suitable to become Arkhon of their region. You could then speak to those whose names are presented to you.”
I considered the suggestion. This was a case where I needed to tread carefully.
Choosing the new arkhons and doing their formal declarations and instatements was my responsibility.
I was their leader. From that standpoint, it was also my responsibility to interview the contenders for the rank.
I didn’t want to give the impression that I was shirking my job or that I couldn’t handle the task of speaking to sixty-some-odd alphas.
But speaking to that many alphas would take a ridiculous amount of time.
Even if each interview lasted only ten minutes, that would be ten hours of interviews.
We didn’t have that much time left before the hunt, unless I chose not to sleep at all.
Which was a choice I suspected Kyle and some of my friends, and probably my guards, would take issue with.
Instating the arkhons tonight would be best. If that wasn’t possible, the instatements needed to happen immediately after the memorials during the next morning’s meeting.
I couldn’t afford to insist on doing every single interview myself.
I could practically hear Kyle saying, “Don’t take too much on yourself, Tobias.
You don’t have to do everything.” Gods knew I’d heard him say it enough in the past two years.