Chapter 45

SOMA:

“The Black Lotus,” Tyrone says and then looks over at every one of us circled around the round table, landing his gaze on me eventually. “We think that is the group that wreaked havoc on this pack yesterday. And not that we are thinking about it anymore, we might have as well concluded that it is their doing,”

The first thing I do when he released the information to the round table is to first have a look at the rest of them to get their reaction... apart from Tyrone himself.

Hailey, Leonard, and Zane the head warrior all had the same reaction — neutral. Probably because they were informed already about how this meeting was supposed to go. Mark, instead, gave out a little twitch. That, I was able to observe as he was seated beside me.

Well, they all gave out something one way or the other. Now it is left with me. “And what group is that?” I suddenly say, and the reactions from every one of them put me into further confusion.

“The Black Lotus?” it is Tyrone who asks that.

“Yeah,” I shrug, “I have no idea what that is,”

I have never had so many people look at me strangely the way all five of them did at this very moment. Yeah, Mark is included. I suddenly felt like an outcast or something for just speaking my mind. I can’t contemplate what would make them react that way. Nothing came to mind.

“Why is everyone looking at me like that? I have to ask, already getting irritated with the stares. If they have something to say, then they should.

Leonard, sitting by my left, becomes the first to speak among them, “The Black Lotus is a group of wolves that went rogue in some way. They can be considered rogue wolves but the difference is that they haven't lost their sanity. Instead, they are like an organization of wolves skilled in a different type of physique that differs from what is regularly taught to the regulars. Their group is no different from the packs we have but theirs is done in secret. One thing to note about them is how feared they are among wolflings. Once they set their eyes on a target, they go on a killing spree until they get that which they want. And there’s no stopping them because they go after one in groups.”

This is something new to me. The Black Lotus? Why haven’t I heard about them in my existence until today? Strange, I must say. And with the information given to me now by Leonard, I think we might have been put in a situation. A pretty bad one.

“We expect you to know this as an Alpha. It’s a piece of vital information that has been ongoing for many years now,” Tyrone suddenly says.

“You expect me to know this— Oh shut up, Tyrone. Because I have no idea about it doesn’t warrant you rubbing it on me,” I say to him, causing a reaction. They sure didn’t expect my outburst but I did not come here to let a fellow leader shame me in front of everyone.

“I think we need to calm down here,” Hailey annoyance, her gaze set on me without any lace of annoyance that I expected. “Soma, I’m sorry about Tyrone’s statement. He didn’t mean it the way you think it to be,”

I smile in her direction. “It’s fine,” and then look at the others once more. “So what’s the deal now? How does your pack want to go against an organization of sane rogues that are considered deadly?”

“We already have a plan,” Zane the head warrior declares and I shift my focus to him.

When he still hasn’t said anything after a while, I ask, “What’s the plan?”

“I don’t think I’m supposed to disclose that to you,”

Suddenly I slam my hand on the table, standing up to my feet in the process. “I’m seated here with you all,” I start to say slowly before increasing the pace, “Which means I have every right to know what plan you have in motion. Why do you think I came here in the first place? To just find out who did this to your pack? Hell no! I need to know every fucking thing that has to do with how you plan to go about this mission. This pack isn’t getting my help or my pack’s if I do not know what is being risked here. Especially not after hearing what you’re going against,”

And then I take my seat back while awaiting a response from them asides from Mark who only accompanied me here to listen in to their meeting.

I still can’t believe the ridiculous statement that the head warrior uttered. It was irritating to the core. He expects me to help... they all expect me to help and yet they think they cannot tell what I need to hear. I think I might end up going on this mission alone. At least that way I would know I was risking nothing other than my safety.

“Zane,” Tyrone calls out to the head warrior much later. “Just tell her,”

“Hold on there,” I say before anyone else could talk. Then I face Tyrone, “Are you telling him that because you feel I need to hear it or because I should hear about it?”

Tyrone scoffs. “What matters?” he says.

“Oh-oh, a lot matters. First—”

“Let’s not argue about this, please,” Hailey cuts me off before I can finish off with my statement. “Zane, get on with it.”

“Alpha Soma, the plan to get our men back is by infiltrating the base of the Black Lotus with our men. We plan to catch them by surprise and if we succeed, we will set our men free,”

At first, I do nothing. I give out no reaction and neither do I even try to say anything. Until I cannot hold it in me any longer and so I start to laugh.

It starts slow until it becomes loud, denoting mockery. I just can’t help it. Thankfully no one stops me from doing that and so I stop at my own will.

“Did you listen to yourself, Zane? Is that the plan this pack has in mind to get the others free? That is the dumbest plan I have ever heard in my life. And I am not sorry to say that,” I say all of that while suppressing another round of laughter. Gosh, that was so funny.

“Since you find it so dumb, then why don’t you give us your wonderful idea?”

“Don’t you dare come at me, Tyrone. It’s not my fault you couldn’t come up with the best of ideas,” I say while glaring at him for his supposed rude remark although it’s me who has been rude since this all started. “Didn’t Leonard already mention how dangerous the Black Lotus is? Yeah, I have never heard about them until today but it is apparent that they are one deadly secret organization to go up against. And yet you want to infiltrate them with your men. Tell me, are your men that skillful enough to go against such dangerous men? Aren’t your men the same ones that had casualties during the attack but couldn’t do the same to the Black Lotus? Oh c’mon, this is common sense. You did not come up with the best plan to go against them,”

I feel a little tired from speaking at such length. Feels really bothersome because I know that my opinion might not be needed at the end of the day.

But I know got through them when I stare at each of them to see they were contemplating my words. Tyrone, most especially, tries to act like he is not going through it but his expression is certainly a giveaway. No hiding from it.

I can't help but look to my side to realize that Mark has been dead silent all along. And merely looking at him, I can see that he is thinking a lot but I cannot say what he has on his head.

“Are you okay?” I ask as I nudge at him with my shoulder.

He stares back at him, switching his expression a little. “I’m fine,” he says but he doesn’t sound any convincing.

I would like to bug him to tell me what is going on with him but now is not the right time for that.

“So what are you proposing, Soma? We are ready to listen to it,” Hailey says which results in a frown from Tyrone.

“What are you doing, Hailey?” he cautions her by trying to lash out.

“What does it look like I’m doing? It’s obvious, Tyrone. I need to hear something that would be more worthy of a plan than what we proposed already. Remember that I did not agree to it initially,” was her response to her mate before she looks back at me. “So, can you let us in on what you have for us?” she requests and I nod in response.

Before I start to speak, I ensure that I do not look at Tyrone who looks like he wants to murder me for interfering just like that in his pack affairs. He should have thought of that when he requested my help.

“First, we know what a dangerous set they are as described. Since that is pretty obvious, when not infiltrate them with a little crowd. But it will be a little crowd that has more than one expert fighter in it. Tell me, who and who is supposed to lead the team?”

Leonard responds in place of the rest, “We haven’t really decided on that yet, but I think it should be Zane and i.”

“That sounds convincing. And with me, you’ve got three experts on your team,”

A slight chuckle comes from Leonard. “I don’t think we can agree to that. I mean, we already know we can handle this ourselves,”

“Don’t you want fewer casualties on your side?”

“And risk your life in place? That isn’t going to happen,” Tyrone says instead. “And, please, let us not go about that again,”

I shake my head and then stand up slowly from my seat. “Tyrone, whether or not you agree doesn’t matter because I am going on that mission.”

“What’s it with you? This is not supposed to be your business!” Tyrone yells in a bid to rebuff.

“What’s it with me?” I grit my teeth and then say, “My mate is among those missing!” And with that, I storm out.