Chapter 44

SOMA:

“Where did you say he is?” I ask Mark after we get to the living area but realize it is empty of people. Thought we would find him there.

“He’s outside,” Mark says, and I nod in response as we continue to walk, this time to the main entrance of the building.

I’m a little bothered about Tyrone being here, especially after knowing that it hasn’t been long since I left his territory. I can confidently say nothing would warrant him coming at me for the issue with his pack. At least not on the negative side. Still one has to be wary.

Another problem is how presentable I look at the moment. Can’t say I’m well dressed to meet with a fellow leader. I should be in the best of outfits to probably look more presentable than this to paint a better picture of me to him. But this moment was critical. If not Tyrone, whom I know has never been to the Blood Crescent pack since I took up the role of Alpha, would not be here.

Eventually, all three of us — yes, Cassie is with us — eventually get to the entrance of the building and Mark does us the honor of opening the door. Upon getting out of the building, we are met with Tyrone and his warriors. A little too much I must say.

“Tyrone,” I call his name as I step to the first step leading off the balcony.

“Soma,” he says in a rather approachable voice filled with a lot of soberness. “I’m so sorry I came into your pack unannounced,”

I shake my head. “No, it’s fine,” I tell him, mostly to make him feel more welcomed. “And I’m sorry to hear about your pack’s loss. It should never have happened,”

Not sure if I said the right words to a man in distress but I hope he takes it the right way because I meant nothing more than that.

“We were certainly not prepared for it. Perhaps we didn’t dedicate enough to the security of the pack. I will blame no one. It was unforeseen,”

“Uhm, are you not coming in?” I have to ask seeing that it would be rude of me to leave a guest outside.

“It’s better this way. Besides I do not plan to waste too much of your time,”

I half-shrug and then say, “Okay,”

“So I found out you were in my territory not too long ago, but you left before I could get a hold of you. Needed to see you for something,”

“I'm sorry but I had to leave in time. Something was brought to my attention then,”

“Since I'm here, am I free to make whatever request it is? Because what I have to discuss with you could be a little uncomfortable,”

“Go ahead,”

And I see him force a smile. It was at that time that the likely resemblance between him and Leonard kicks in. Why didn’t I notice before Leonard informed me of it?

“Before I go into what I came here for, I just want to talk you that we might have an idea already about who or what spearheaded the attack on my pack. It’s not conclusive yet but it is enough to let us have an insight about what we might be dealing with,”

I think I might know what he is driving at already without him mentioning it. Maybe because he is already making it pretty obvious by giving me details that I did not ask for. But I know and I'm sure it is what I think it is.

“You have an idea? Who then is it?” I ask, already curious about the details.

“Since it’s inconclusive, I won’t say I know who it is per se. It’s until we deliberate over the issue before I can tell you who or what it is,”

“Oh,” I mouth the word. He is trying to push me aside. More like a way of telling me it’s not my business. I would take it with good faith, though, because I truly have no business with their pack. “So what is the request you have?”

“The Dark Moon pack would be needing the help of the Blood Crescent pack. We are already short of warriors and it would take us time to recuperate, especially now that we are on a mission to get back the missing warriors. So I am requesting your help, Alpha Soma, and that of the Blood Crescent pack,”

Strands of hair suddenly blow to my face when the wind blows a little hard. Quickly I take out the strands off my sight with a little tuck. “Let’s make this clear. Are you requesting for my help, personally, or for the supply of warriors that would aid your pack until you have got the pack issue solved?”

“I am requesting for the supply of warriors alone. Just that because we do not want to inconvenience your pack in any way,”

I do not really like the sound of this. Maybe it’s because it makes me feel he is going to be putting my warriors at risk or just because I still have it in me to go find Luis out of whatever hellhole he’s in.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Mark suddenly mind-links me, and it has me staring at him briefly.

‘What am I thinking?’

‘You want to help them look for the warriors instead, right?’

‘Luis is in there, so yeah,’

“Tyrone, I will be adhering to your request, only after I find out what we are dealing with here. I cannot risk the safety of my warriors by sending them to another pack without having an idea of what is going on. If your pack could be penetrated that easily, what is the guarantee that my warriors would survive the ordeal if another crisis occurs?”

I’m sure he least expects me to agree like that. Yes, there is a collaboration with my pack and his which would secure a likely deployment of warriors to his if the need be or vice versa. But not at this point. I would have to look into it myself first before agreeing to such a suicidal request.

“We have proposed a more strategic means of securing the pack this time around. Trust me, it’s going to work. We only need more warriors and that is where your warriors kick in. I can assure you that no harm would come their way. Take my word on that,”

I shake my head to disregard every word of his. He cannot convince me to do what he requested. Right now, nothing can until I know what we are dealing with here.

“I will still have to disapprove of your request. I’m sorry, but I'm looking out for my pack as well.”

A little frown makes its way to his face but goes off almost instantly. Still, I can tell that he is annoyed about the present incident. Maybe he sure doesn’t want me to have an idea what is going on within their pack.

“Okay then. We will be meeting tomorrow to discuss what way to go about the crisis. You can come so you would know what’s going on and then make a decision about whether or not you are going to be supplying the warriors or not,”

“Sounds good to me,” I say, giving him a brief smile of approval at the same time. “So what time is it going to be happening?”

“It should be sometime around ten to eleven in the morning. Just show up early so it would trigger a quick commencement of the meeting,”

“I'll be there,”

I nod at him and he returns with a nod before turning around with his warriors. They get into the automobiles they came here with and zoom out of the territory.

Once they are out of sight, I turn around to look at my two most trusted people. One is a little neutral with the way she looks while the other seems a bit confused.

“What is it?” I ask them both, a little bothered about their respective reactions.

“Don’t you think you are about to make a bad decision?” Cassie, who has her hands folded below her chest, asks in a tone that oozes disapproval.

“A bad decision? So trying to keep my warriors alive is a bad decision?”

“Not that one,” she shakes her head, “I’m talking about you trying to get personally involved in something that shouldn’t be your concern,”

“Luis is my only concern there. So whatever it takes, I wouldn’t mind doing it just to save him.”

“If he’s so much your concern, then leave it to them to sort that out. You shouldn’t be getting yourself involved in any way. I do not approve of your decision,”

“Why would you even approve what I do with my life? Or even whatever decision I take? Asides from being your older sister, I am still your alpha. No one, not even you, should be giving me approval before I conclude on something,” After lashing out at her, I face Mark who has been silent all along. He still looks confused but he seems to be more organized now. “And you, what the hell is eating you up?” I ask, still infuriated about everything going on at the moment.

“It’s nothing,” he says.

“Do you also disapprove of my decision?” sarcasm is laced in my tone when I ask him that. I sure hope he would tell me that he does too and he should be prepared to hear a piece of me.

“Whatever decision you make is yours to keep. I have nothing whatsoever to say concerning it,” And to my surprise, he passes by my side and then starts to walk away from where we all are.

I am a little shocked by his actions that I then around to look at him. What has gotten into him? Mark never acts this way except he’s bothered with something. Now I do not know if I should approach him about it.

When I look back at Cassie, she gives me a weird look before turning around to walk into the quarters. I can only shrug at her behavior because I know why she did that already. Such a weird circle I have.