Chapter 31 The Alpha Meeting
thirty-one
The Alpha Meeting
*GWENDOLYN*
The atmosphere in the meeting room with the alphas is different to the one with the lunas. There is a lot more tension in the air. At first, it looks like they are arguing, but I soon notice that they are all angry for some reason.
One of them is pacing up and down the room.
He is obviously one half of the twin alphas and must be either Dalila or Elodie’s mate.
Liam is sitting next to his father with his arms crossed and a deep frown on his face.
Opposite to him, there is a beautiful young woman with long blond hair.
Right next to her is the other half of the twin alphas.
Aurelia is leaning against the wall, next to Felix. My eyes meet his, and he smiles brightly at me. I instantly feel warmer and lighter. So, does the room. Aurelia elbows him, and he blinks. His lips form an “Oh,” and I can feel the air around me returning to what it was before.
His gift is interesting, and so fitting of him.
Flora searches Elden’s gaze. “Gwen is here,” she says to him, and then turns to everyone, furrowing her brows. “Be nice to her.”
“Don’t worry,” Elden reassures her, his eyes suddenly gentle and warm when he looks at her. “We are all thankful that she agreed to talk to us.”
“Good,” Flora turns around and beams at me. She gives me a reassuring nod before leaving me to my fate. Well, I am not alone, obviously, as Felix hurries to my side.
“Let me introduce everyone,” Elden says and gets up. “You know Liam, already.” When I nod, he gestures towards a blonde woman. “This is Celine, she is the alpha of Moon Blood, and is mated to Marius.”
“Oh, I was so curious to meet you!” I say without thinking as – fucking - usual. “I am sorry.”
Celine just smiles. “Don’t worry, I am happy that you wanted to meet me. This means Marius didn’t pull any jokes on you.” She sounds like she is complaining, but I can easily see how happy she looks when she mentions his name. I get what she means, he is obviously a tease.
“The twin alphas,” Elden continues. “Next to Celine, you have Tony-“
“Dalila’s mate,” I muse.
“Yes, and the other young man is Henry.”
So he is with Elodie.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see some movement. A man I hadn't noticed when I first came into the room, because he was in my blindspot, steps forward. “That’s Marcellus,” Elden says. “He is the alpha of Sunset Hills. Lord Silas is his mate.”
“Oh, the not-luna,” I muse.
At that, Marcellus grins. “Yeah, he is our coven leader, but he always prefers to join the lunas over the alphas in meetings. He says too many alphas at once annoy him.”
Aurelia snorts. “I can actually picture his expression when he says it.”
“Me, too,” Tony grins.
Now that Elden has introduced everyone and they‘ve reacted respectfully towards me, I feel much lighter. When Elden invites me to sit down at the table, I don’t feel anxious anymore, instantly following his lead.
“Felix told us everything he encountered,” Elden explains. “And I told them your story. We have been tossing around some ideas and theories.”
“It goes without saying that what happened to your friend is inexcusable,” Celine says.
“Yes, we need to find out who did it and bring her mate to justice,” Henry says, anger in his voice.
It’s interesting to me. The lunas very much said the same, but the whole atmosphere differs so much. The alphas are obviously out for blood.
“Alpha Elden mentioned that you don’t know who her mate was,” Marcellus says. “But do you think your old alpha knows?”
I nod. “I am certain he does.” I continue by explaining to them how Marina returned to my former pack and how I tried to find answers, and how not even Daniel could make the alpha talk.
“Just like you said, Dad,” Aurelia mutters. “But he has a son, right? The one who made sure you, Marina and Faye could leave the pack secretly.”
“Maddox,” I verify.
“Does he maybe know something?” Liam asks.
It’s silent around us for a moment. “I was wondering the same,” Marcellus finally says.
“If anyone knows something or can at least help us find out the truth, it is him,” Celine agrees.
“Do you think Maddox would talk to us?” Elden asks me.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly.
“Strained relationship or not,” Henry muses, “would he go against his father?”
“Depends on his moral compass,” Liam says.
All eyes are on me again. “I truly don’t know much about Maddox. He didn’t talk much, he would just stand around and watch. I guess he was always very perceptive.” I pause. “He helped me to leave, and from what I know, he honestly tried to do it secretly.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Liam says. “At least, in my opinion, it is.”
“I think it’s a risk,” Henry says.
“I do, too,” Tony backs him up.
“I am with Liam on this,” Marcellus says.
Celine nods. “And me.”
“It’s not that I trust him,” Liam says. “I don’t know the kid. But we don’t have many options. And he could be a lead. He helped Gwen escape, clearly against his father’s wishes.”
Elden furrows his brows. “We can’t underestimate an alpha’s heir who wants to stand up against his parents. It’s not an easy thing to do, but usually, when someone like him does, they are set on going through with it.”
“Like Arden,” Aurelia says. “He never wavered in his resolve.”
“It was the same for me,” Elden admits.
Henry lets their words sink in, before he nods tentatively. “Can we get in contact with him?”
“I don’t know how to,” I say before I remember Amelia. I only updated her briefly when I arrived here, but haven’t called her yet. “But I think I know someone who can.”
“Who?” Tony asks.
“Maddox’s cousin. She was the one he helped me get in contact with and who supported me. If I hadn’t met Felix, she would have found a pack for me to stay in,” I explain. “She hates her old pack and her former alpha, and feels no sense of loyalty towards him.”
“We should definitely get in contact with her,” Elden says.
“I can do that,” Liam offers.
The others agree, and I make sure to give Amelia’s name to Liam, her pack’s name, and her phone number. “It’s too late for such a talk today,” Liam says. “I will call her first thing in the morning.”
The discussion moves to how to convince Maddox, and to what exactly they’d need from him. They are really trying to think of everything, and I am just so relieved that there are packs out there that are good and protect their pack members.
An hour later, Elden finally closes the meeting. “I think we have discussed everything for today,” he says. “I say we call it a day.”
I stretch my tired limbs, only now realizing how long this day has been. As if on autopilot, I walk towards my mate, ready to soak in his warmth. Felix wraps me in his arms and kisses the top of my head.
You were amazing, he says.
I am not sure I did much, I answer. But thank you for saying it, and thank you for being there. I pause. Oh, and I kind of promised the lunas that they can visit later to see the zoo.
Felix grins. I might have promised the same to the alphas.
Outside the meeting room, the lunas and not-a-luna Silas are waiting for us.
They must have wrapped up their meeting shortly before us.
Liam has his arms wrapped around Annie from behind while she leans against his chest. They are so cute.
When I gaze at the others, I notice they are all sweet in their own way.
One thing is for certain: These strong, scary alphas are head over heels with their mates.
Even Henry, who has given off a much more serious image, is smiling at Elodie now, while Tony and Dalila are checking something on their phones.
He says something about how he has sent her a package.
It must be for an app or a game they are playing.
“I think it’s the perfect time for dinner,” Elden says. “We will dine in our private dining room as is usual when we have guests.”
“Dario will join us?” Felix asks.
Elden looks amused. “I wouldn’t dare not to invite him,” he teases.
“Yeah, we are not going anywhere without our little bro,” Marius agrees.
“I wouldn’t have minded if he joined our meeting,” Liam says. “He is an incredibly fast thinker and very intelligent. Sooner or later, he will have a rank, possibly in Silverlake or in Red Claw.”
“Doors are also open for him in Moon Blood,” Marius adds. “And Finn would have him, too.”
“He has a lot of options,” Liam agrees.
“He is so popular,” Felix beams without even showing a sign of envy for his twin brother. He genuinely hasn’t a bad bone in him. “But I hope he will stay in Silverlake.”
Finn is your other brother, right? I ask him. The only one I don’t know yet.
Yes, he lives in the north, though he can use a portal to travel faster. He will visit soon, though. He is a great guy.
“Just for the record,” Elden says. “I did invite him, but he had an important presentation at college he didn’t want to miss.”
“Makes sense,” Arden says. “He wants to kick off the year successfully. I can see him graduating sooner than we expect him to.”
Before anyone can say anything, we are interrupted by a loud noise. Voices echo through the corridor, followed by footsteps, and a child screaming. I frown when I hear the voice. Is that…
“Faye!” I cry.
Faye dashes around the corner, a panicked nurse hot on her heels.
Faye is so distraught that she doesn’t see us and bumps right into Tony, stumbling and dropping to the floor.
That’s the moment she finally looks around, noticing the little gathering.
Even for an innocent child like her, it must be obvious how dangerous a group of alphas can be.
Her eyes widen in fear while they dart from person to person.
It takes a moment for me to grasp the situation and to kick myself out of my freeze. “Sorry,” I whisper while pushing past Elden.
Faye lost her doll when she bumped into the group. Before I can pick it up, though, Celine gets down on her knees in front of her and picks up said doll. She smooths her hair and dress gently, while Faye looks at her wide-eyed. She looks scared initially, then curious.
I am still contemplating what to do when Flora takes my hand. Let her do her thing, she appeases me. Elden thinks the same.
I glance at him, noticing his reassuring nod. Then, it strikes me. Since when can Flora link me? I am not a pack member yet.
I can’t link you, she says simply. Meaning, technically, I am not linking you.
My mouth drops open. What?!
I have no time to act on my surprise, though. Faye is more important. My eyes dart back to her right at the moment when Celine hands her the doll. “That’s a beautiful doll you have here. Does she have a name?”
“Mimi,” Faye says, taking her doll back and hugging her.
Celine shakes Mimi’s hand with a finger. “It’s nice to meet you, Mimi. I am Celine.”
“Mimi is a good girl,” Faye immediately starts to explain. “She always stays in her room and doesn’t cry.”
I blink at her words. Huh? Never heard that before.
“And she likes to draw. Oh, and she likes Frozen and ice cream.”
“Does she?” Celine asks. “That’s funny. I like ice cream, too.”
“What’s your favorite ice cream?”
“Chocolate-mint,” Celine answers.
Faye grimaces. “Yuk!”
I can hear Marius chuckle next to me. “Don’t worry,” he tells Faye. “I had the same reaction. Tastes like toothpaste.”
Faye giggles. “I like chocolate.”
Celine reaches out her arms. “Do you have a name, too, sweetie?”
“I am Faye,” Faye says, and then, to my utmost shock, hurries into Celine’s arms and lets herself be picked up.
She is a very sweet and bubbly child, but she usually does not seek other people’s embrace. She barely lets me cuddle her. Usually, she only wants Marina’s arms. She grasps Celine’s shirt, balling her hands into fists before crying into her neck. “They took mommy away!”
“What?” Elden asks.
“I am so sorry, Alpha,” the nurse whispers. “It was an emergency. She… she… collapsed.”
Celine glances at us before gently stroking Faye’s head. “You want to see your mom, don’t you?”
Faye nods.
“The doctors are looking after her,” she says softly. “Can you stay a little bit with me? And once they have made sure she is comfortable and asleep, we can go and see her.”
“Will you come with me then?” Faye begs. “Please.”
“Yes,” Celine promises.
“I have linked her nanny, too,” Flora mutters. “But she will want to stay with her mom. I will make sure we have a second bed prepared for her.”
Elden furrows his bushy brows, for a moment, his gaze seems to be far away as if he is looking at something I can’t see, similar to Flora during the meeting. “Yes,” he says. “We should definitely do that.”
He and Flora exchange a look that I don’t understand. No one does, it seems, because the others are looking equally as confused or anxious.