Chapter 25
BETWEEN THE ROCKY PACK AND A HARD PLACE
The conference table at the packhouse is a black marble triangle that sits pointing toward the similarly angular corner of the room.
Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around on two sides.
Outside, the day looks nice, the sun is blazing, the sky a perfect summery shade of blue, clouds drift by in perfect pillow shapes. But inside, the atmosphere is tense.
I wasn’t sure about coming today, but Jasper convinced me to join this meeting. He said as the acting luna, plus the blood wolf, and with my connections to rogues and all the involved parties, I would be a useful participant.
Believe me, I’d rather be somewhere sketching or eating one of my dad’s grilled steak sandwiches. But the time for sticking my head in the sand is over.
I hover at one corner of the epic table.
To my right stand Mia, Olivia, and Salazar, who has a hand on Olivia’s shoulder. I’m pretty sure Salazar hasn’t let Olivia out of his sight since she came home. Her jaw looks tense. Mia is fidgeting and swaying her shoulders back and forth. She’s nervous too.
She catches my eye and I do my best to give her an encouraging smile. Her best attempt to reciprocate looks like it exhausts her. Her shoulders slump forward.
Jasper is speaking with Tobias and a couple of the gamma officers from our defense force. They must be high ranking because this meeting has been limited to only those with the highest clearance.
I wish Aisha was here, or Katie, or Omar. Hell, I’d even take the bro twins right now.
Jericho’s absence is a shadow hanging over the room.
A click of the door opening turns my attention, and I spin to watch a woman wearing a gray pantsuit and a tight bun move to Jasper, touching his elbow and whispering in his ear.
“Everyone,” Jasper says, his voice deep, authoritative, confident—it sends a shiver down my spine and legs—“he’s here. Please, take your seats.”
We all follow Jasper’s gesture to the table, moving to our spots.
“Hey, you good?” I ask, placing my hands on the back of the leather swivel chair in front of which is a piece of card with my name written on it.
Jasper pulls his chair out with one hand. “I’ll be fine once this is over.” Before I sit he places his free hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for being here.”
“Of course.”
We take our seats at what is ostensibly the head of the table, with the door at our backs and the two walls of windows before us.
Salazar sits to Jasper’s left, with Tobias completing our row.
Olivia, Mia, and the gammas all sit along the edge to my right, leaving four empty seats on the left side of the table.
For a while we wait, until eventually the door swings open.
Jasper and I jump to our feet as Morven enters.
His hair is grayer than I remember. But still full-bodied.
He greets us with a respectful nod, Jasper reaching out to shake his hand as I study his piercing blue eyes.
This is the man who could help save us or condemn our entire pack. Which course of action will he take?
He’s followed by a man I recognize as Mason’s father and then I almost can’t believe it when . . . Mason walks through the door.
He looks a little nervous, his eyes scanning the floor, but when he looks up and finds my face, probably beaming at him, he smiles and straightens his back.
While Jasper greets his father Mason heads for me.
“Do we shake hands?” he asks. “Feels weird.”
“Yeah, that would be weird.”
I pull him in for a quick hug, just in case his father notices and gets any wrong ideas.
“I like your hair.” Mason has dyed his hair pink. “Very cool.”
He wipes a hand across his tight curls. “Small rebellions, right?”
“Amen.”
A fourth man has entered the room. He’s easily the size of a bus, with short-cropped hair and a face that could break glass. He and Mason’s dad are already taking their seats.
“You think there’s a chance this goes well?” I whisper quickly before Mason moves to his seat.
“Pray to the moon gods.”
He gives his best reassuring grin, but it doesn’t do much to stop the hollow, churning sensation in my stomach.
“Dad,” Mia says, full of emotion and heartbreak as she runs to his side of the table. Still standing, Morven takes her into his arms, cradling her head to his chest as she adds, “I’m sorry. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve miss you too,” he says, choking on his own emotions.
Olivia is staring daggers at Morven. She’s definitely not sorry.
“Shall we start?” Jasper says, using the same commanding voice.
Morven kisses the top of Mia’s head then releases her. She makes her way to her side of the table while her dad sits. Lowering into her chair, she places a hand over Olivia’s, but Olivia doesn’t react. She’s too busy keeping a watchful eye on Morven.
Once everyone else is seated Jasper begins.
“I’d like to thank everyone for coming today.
This meeting is imperative to our survival, and what goes on in this room today will determine the course of, not just our packs, but all of wolfkind.
Believe me,” he says. “We are at a turning point, a precipice, and the decisions we make will have ramifications for generations to come.”
He swallows, clearly nervous, but I send him all the strength and good energy I can, wishing I could take his hand.
“Special thanks are to be given to our friends from the Rocky Pack,” Jasper says, angling his body to their side of the table. “Our packs have worked alongside each other for decades now. And it is my utmost wish that our relationship continues to be a prosperous one, benefiting both our peoples.”
Morven, who has clasped his hands across his stomach and is leaning back in his chair all too casually, gives Jasper a respectful nod. He may seem nonchalant, but his narrow eyes give away how hard he’s listening.
“Before we get to the matter at hand,” Jasper continues, “I would ask Beta Salazar to give us an update on our current position in this conflict.”
Jasper nods in his direction and sits. Salazar clears his throat then stands.
“As you all may know, the Axis Pack, under the command of Walter Bridgers, has been on the offensive for a number of weeks now. Their first attack was here in the packhouse, and all subsequent attacks have been on our council-run institutions, government buildings, schools, healing centers. These attacks prove two things. One, Walter is using his insight into the workings of our pack to identify and exploit weaknesses in our security. Two, the targets he’s chosen clearly demonstrate his main goal in this campaign.
To weaken and destroy the leadership of the Elite Pack. ”
Morven leans forward, placing the fingertips of all five digits from his left hand onto the tabletop. “These small attacks don’t seem like such a large issue. Surely something you can handle, no? The Elite Pack’s fighters are legendary, after all.”
Salazar straightens his jaw and levels his eyes on the visiting alpha.
“A few small attacks would be manageable if that’s all this was.
Walter has been able to evade our border patrols.
On top of that we have seen an increase in the frequency and savagery of these attacks.
Moreover, we know that Walter has been recruiting packs and rogues across the country.
Amassing numbers in the thousands, numbers that if concentrated on a single attack would cripple us. ”
“You think he would do this?” Morven asks. “One big move?”
Here Salazar’s unwavering confidence falters, he pulls at his collar and gulps.
“Walter is not the only wolf with the ability to bypass security measures. Our own intelligence wolves have infiltrated his council room, and we’ve learned that Walter is planning a large-scale invasion, within the next week, when the moon is at its fullest.”
“Other than kicking our feet from under us, what is Walter’s ultimate goal?” Jasper asks.
“It may appear that his main objective is to rule. He needs an army large enough for an invasion of Elite Pack territories to be successful. But I have a feeling his endgame is more personal, I think he wants to . . .” Salazar pauses, looking pitifully at Jasper. “He wants to kill you and your father.”
An awed hush settles over the room. All eyes, especially those of Morven, are turned to Jasper. His cheeks redden but if he’s panicking, he doesn’t let it show.
“So they wish to topple the seat of power.” He nods to himself. “That makes sense.”
“What precautions have you taken to ensure the continuation of your bloodline?” Mason’s dad asks, his voice gravelly, his expression grave.
Jasper nods in acknowledgment. “For the benefit of this council it should be noted that my sister has already been relocated to a safe location, you’ll forgive me if I do not disclose the exact coordinates.
My father remains in critical condition in this very packhouse, protected by a squadron of our finest gamma wolves. ”
Morven nods solemnly, clearly his respect for Jericho runs deep.
“And what about allies?” Morven asks. “Surely the Rocky Pack cannot be your only friend in the world.”
For a moment Jasper stares at the table, thinking, then he clears his throat.
“We have a few allies to the south and east. Though we’re losing them to Walter’s threats and attempts at blackmail. Max, my mate, has recently been on a recruitment expedition, hoping to gain the support of what we’ve taken to calling the Rogue Nation.”
Morven scoffs. “Rogues?”
“Yes, though unfortunately we’ve been unable to convince the rogues to join us. Max, would you care to elaborate?”
Huh?
“M-me?”
I gaze at Jasper in disbelief. No one said I would need to talk. Besides, what is there to say?
Regardless, I stand, glancing around the room. Mia gives me a hopeful wide-eyed look, while Mason lifts his eyebrows, I think trying to be encouraging but also like he’s just hoping I don’t embarrass myself.
“Well—” I start but falter. “I—uh—I guess it’s true. I have spoken with the rogues and their leadership—or the closest thing they have to it—and they won’t fight.”