Chapter 78 Two Heads Are Better Than One

*Eric Lockwood *

I fixed my tuxedo. The nominations were about to be announced and I had to look sharp. High Councilman Eric Lockwood... I liked the sound of that.

"Before I announce the nominees, I will be reviewing each and every Elder. I will be calling each of you to my office to clarify a few projects or transactions or maybe ask why you never had any projects. Make sure to answer my call and attend the scheduled interview at the prescribed time appointed to you. If I am not satisfied with your performance, I will strip you of your position and I will hold a snap election where each pack will be allowed to nominate a representative. Too long have we ignored the plight of the wolves. We pledged to be of service. Let us serve," the High Lord Wolf stated.

All my projects, transactions and expenditures will be under review? This couldn't be possible. I took my phone out from my pocket and messaged my assistant to take a look at all my files and if there were any discrepancies, burn them. I placed my phone on the table so I could wait for her reply. I glanced at the other Elders and I noticed many of them were on their phones talking to their assistants. Some were red in the face while others had turned a pale white. I even heard someone say to ready his letter of resignation; he might be stepping down.

Elder Callahan suddenly came from his table and sat in Chase's empty chair. Where the hell did Chase go?

"Eric, the Wolf Hall, our offices, all the locks have been changed. We cannot enter our offices until the New Year," Callahan said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, my assistant was emailed by the High Lord Wolf's assistant that Wolf Hall has been closed temporarily. She thought it was strange to receive an email like that so she went to Wolf Hall and saw Frederick Cavendish overseeing the change of locks on each of the office doors. She was about to call out to him when she was thrown out by Wolf Troops. She didn't tell me because she thought I had already been informed," he explained hurriedly.

"Eric, the High Lord Wolf is announcing the nominees," Jacob Johnson exclaimed.

I fixed my bowtie and patted Elder Callahan on the shoulder. "Don't worry. We can always break into Wolf Hall if we have to. Now, chin up. I'm about to be nominated."

"I know it sounds cliche, but without further ado, the six nominees are as follows, Elder Anna Hargrove, Elder Carlos Nuñez, Elder Francis Morris, and because Minerva Allen, who was the longest serving Elder is in prison, the nomination goes to the next longest serving Elder, Elder Margaret Rose Collins. Lastly, two wolves whom I believe have integrity and virtue and am proud to endorse. Alpha Connor Greene of the Night Walker Forest Pack and Alpha Lucas Lockwood of the Lotus Pack. Please come up on stage please," the High Lord Wolf said. The nominees rose from their chairs and proceeded to walk up the steps to the stage. I watched incredulously as my granddaughter guided her father and that meddling Alpha Connor to the stage.

I felt the rage swell up inside me. This was just a dream. This wasn't happening. It can not be!

I saw Lucas take a hanky from his coat pocket and wipe his face as he positioned himself with the other nominees. LUCAS WAS A NOMINEE FOR HIGH COUNCILMAN!

My name wasn't called?! Lucas was nominated and not me?! What the fuck-?!

"I object! This is an outrage!" I ran as close to the stage as I could. "Lucas Lockwood should not be nominated. He broke Wolf Law when he had relations with a human! His half-breed daughter is proof of what I say!"

"Eric Lockwood, hold your tongue," my wolf exclaimed. "The black wolf will not take kindly to insults."

"Shut up! Instead of helping me, you are even defending that half-breed bitch," I said, annoyed.

"Elder Eric Lockwood, the prohibition of wolves on having human relations was a temporary ordinance created to put a stop on the production of the elixir. Half-breeds as well as humans are not our enemy. Half- breeds are not an abomination. They are the result of wolves and human who have come to find an understanding in life, of love," the High Lord Wolf said. "We wolves misconstrued the ordinance. It was not intended to put us wolves on a pedestal while we viewed humans and wolf-human children beneath us. Since the last remaining mage has already been apprehended, there is no use for the said ordinance. As of tonight, I am lifting the ordinance. Wolf and human relations are allowed."

"Elder Lockwood, please go back to your table," a Wolf Troop said, ushering me back to my table. I didn't want to go back to my table. I wanted to hurt the people staring at me, amused.

"You promised me you would nominate me as High Councilman if I secured a business transaction for you, Your Excellency," I said loudly, my voice angry and dripping with malice.

"I did no such thing. I said I would see. The High Council did not accept you as a nominee. According to them, you lack merit," the High Lord Wolf said for everyone to hear. Merit?! Like all of these wolves had merit! "You are still Elder. That is, until I and the High Council decide otherwise. Now I suggest you go back to your seat and enjoy the party like a good sport."

I glanced at Lucas and his daughter who were giggling on stage while Connor looked so proud of himself. They were happy. I should be the one who was happy, not them.

Infront of me stood my granddaughter's mate, Ethan Crowne. I stared at him with beady eyes, forming a plan. Diana took my happiness away from me, well, I'll take away her happiness from her.

I had a small silver pocket knife in my pocket. All I had to do was aim for his head. I took my handkerchief out of my coat pocket and turned around, making the Wolf Troops think I was heading back to my table. I quickly wrapped the handkerchief around my hand then took the pocket knife, turned back around and was about to throw the knife when I felt a constriction in my chest.

It was so painful. I put back the knife in my pocket and clutched my chest. All of a sudden, Chase appeared by my side.

"Father, are you alright? Let's get you back in your chair." Chase put his arm around my waist and helped me back to the table and into my seat. "Whatever you have planned, Father, now is not the time." He pointed to the handkerchief wrapped around my hand. "You will be sent to prison or worse die here with only the memory of your outburst amongst your peers. Lucas and Connor will not be elected as High Councilmen. The rest of the Elders feel the same...betrayed. You will remain as Elder while Lucas and Connor will remain as they have always been. Here, have some water." Chase handed me a glass of water.

I drank the water and felt better. "They took my night away from me Chase. I should have been nominated as High Councilman. They have made a mockery out of me, out of this council!"

"Let them be, Father. While we can not do anything to Lucas's daughter as she is blessed with the black wolf, we can still seek retribution through the wolves around her. I knew you were about to hurt her mate, but the black wolf is present. We will have to strike when they are distracted."

I stared at him with my mouth open. Suddenly, Chase had become clever. What happened to him when he ran off to the restroom? Did he have an epiphany or something?

I looked at him closely. His posture was straight, even his bowtie on his tuxedo was perfectly placed unlike a while ago. And there was something different about his eyes, they seemed a bit darker than usual and his pupils were dilated. Was he on something? I sniffed, taking in his scent. He still smelled the same though, of scotch and musk.

The corners of Chase's lips curled up into a malevolent smile. "Don't worry, Father. I have tricks up my sleeve that they don't know of."

_________________

*Andrew*

My silver cell was small, but clean. It had the usual amenities for a prisoner. I was stripped naked except for a piece of cloth that covered my nether regions.

I don't know which part of the prison my aunt was staying in. Minerva Allen may have lost her eyesight as well as her voice, but she still had the use of her hands. It didn't matter, this was the digital age and their were ways for her to speak even if the black wolf took her tongue.

The High Lord Wolf wanted all the evidence she had against the Elders and the High Councilmen to 'aid in his investigation'. She admitted to keeping a briefcase in her vault in the wall of her room which had the numeric combination of my birthday. Aunt Minerva actually knew my birthday. I looked at my reflection in the small mirror stuck on the wall of my tiny cell. I scoffed. How very sentimental of her.

The problem with these wolves in position, they thought they knew everything. Well, they didn't know everything. I, for one, have long hidden my powers, not wanting to be noticed. I was already wanted for making the elixir. I didn't need any more 'publicity'.

The High Lord Wolf, my cousin, was such a joke. Yes, he was intelligent and yes, he was a prodigy, but he had no other skill than that. He didn't even have a drop of humility to acknowledge me as his nephew. Whatever he had was because I did not make the effort in taking my birthright. I was content with what I had. He should have seen that. Instead, he said I was a good for nothing wolf who didn't amount to anything good in this world. Who is he to judge? He who liked having orgies with young women and men old enough to be his kids? Please. We all were bad to a point. Even Alpha Connor, who although righteous in his beliefs, killed wolves. That includes Lucas and Michael.

Michael. I liked him. He treated me like a friend. Too bad I had to be shipped all the way to this prison. If I were with them now, I bet we would all be at the Christmas Ball, drinking champagne, having fun. You know what? I should go and take a peek.

I laid down on my cot, looking at the ceiling and closed my eyes. This was one of my powers that I seldom used owing to the fact that I didn't care much about the outside world. Back at the mansion, I had created a perfect world until that half-breed Diana showed up and screwed everything up.

In minutes, I was out of my body, zooming across space until I reached the Four Seasons and entered the ballroom. I noticed Michael was a server with 'Dos' on his nameplate. They must have found Second in the hotel. I laughed. One was such an idiot.

I moved around and found the group seated in the front near the stage. All eyes were on them, the unexpected and unwanted guests. Not surprising. The wolves in high society were snobs and valued purity among the bloodlines. Diana clearly wasn't pure. I saw the old biddies muttering to themselves and pointing in her direction. I wanted to tell them she would have been locked up in my basement with a huge chunk of her skin missing if I had my way.

I watched the High Lord Wolf bring Diana up to the stage and saw the black wolf demand everyone bow to her. I noticed many of them winced in pain as they unwillingly knelt down on their knees and bowed their heads. From the corner of my eye, I noticed a man stand up and race to the restrooms. He must have had the need to relieve himself. Just short of saying to 'piss off'.

Then the announcement for the nominees for High Councilman came and many were stunned with the High Lord Wolf's nominations. One elderly wolf who looked familiar could not contain his objections and quickly approached the stage, yelling his protest. I also rushed forward, eager to watch the exchange.

When the High Lord Wolf addressed the elderly wolf's objections, he said the name Eric Lockwood. I remember him now. The father of Alpha Lucas Lockwood who was One's ally and protector. It was all exciting to watch until the High Lord Wolf made mention of me.

"Since the last remaining mage has already been apprehended, there is no use for the said ordinance. As of tonight, I am lifting the ordinance," my uncle said. Last remaining mage.  That was it. He didn't even say anything else about me. I felt the anger rise up in me once again. He thinks he's gotten the best of me. Think again Uncle Charles.

I remembered the man who ran to the restroom was seated beside Eric Lockwood. I hurriedly zoomed inside the male restroom and found him there, washing his face. When he looked up and peered at himself through the mirror, I saw the family resemblance. This must be Eric Lockwood's son.

"Chase, get it together man. Father needs you to help him," he said at his reflection. No problem Chase. Let me help you.

I entered his body. He was a big wolf, but stank of scotch. A little detox and he probably wouldn't smell as bad. His mouth tasted like acid. I took a paper cup from the dispenser, filled it up with water and rinsed my mouth. Ah...that was better.

I fixed his bowtie, fixed his hair and stood up straight. He was a handsome wolf for his age. Too bad he drank so very much.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my body?" I heard Chase's thoughts.

"Think of me as a friend. Now let's help your Father before he fucks everything up." I take one last look in the mirror. Satisfied, I quickly turned,  left the bathroom and entered the ballroom.

Elder Eric Lockwood was placing a handkerchief around his hand as I approached him. I instantly knew what he was going to do when he reached inside his coat pocket. However, he suddenly clutched his chest in pain which hindered him from whatever he was about to do. I rushed to his side to help him.

"Father, are you alright? Let's get you back in your chair." I guided him back to his chair. When he was seated, I pointed to the handkerchief wrapped around his hand. "Whatever you have planned, Father, now is not the time. You will be sent to prison or worse die here with only the memory of your outburst amongst your peers. Lucas and Connor will not be elected as High Councilmen. The rest of the Elders feel the same...betrayed. You will remain as Elder while Lucas and Connor will remain as they have always been. Here, have some water." I handed him a glass of water. He nodded his head, took the glass of water from me and sipped. I could see the he was feeling much better.

"They took my night away from me Chase. I should have been nominated as High Councilman. They have made a mockery out of me, out of this council!" Eric Lockwood exclaimed, frustrated and angry.

"Let them be, Father. While we can not do anything to Lucas's daughter as she is blessed with the black wolf, we can still seek retribution through the wolves around her. I knew you were about to hurt her mate, but the black wolf is present. We will have to strike when they are distracted," I told him.

He stared at me with his mouth open, clearly surprised. "Chase, I think your father thinks you're an imbecile," I said to Chase.

"Tell me about it," he groaned.

"You should lessen your intake of scotch. It dulls the mind," I advised him.

"I'll take than into consideration," he scoffed.

While Eric Lockwood scrutinized the change in his son's demeanor, I twisted Chase's lips into a malevolent smile.

"Don't worry, Father. I have tricks up my sleeve that they don't know of."

I will show them. I will get my revenge.

As they say, two heads are better than one.