Chapter Twenty Seven

Alaric's POV
I walked into my office and I meet Cain waiting for me. I raise a brow in question while I drape my coat over the office chair and take a seat.
"Speak." I demand.
"The vampires know of your return." He says, bowing his head and trying not to risk looking me in the eye.
"Is that all?" I ask in a bored and disinterested tone.
"Yes sir." He says. When I don't respond immediately, he gets uneasy.
"Are our perimeters secure?"
"Yes they are. We have a total of 60 guards guarding every square inch of this place."
"Double it. Now that this vampires know I'm alive, they will be coming for blood."
"Okay sir. As you wish."
"And the traitors? Have you found them yet?" I ask finally. He seems to take a breath of relief before answering.
"Not yet but we are working on it."
"Good. When you do, do not execute them immediately. I would like to have a word with them first.
"Yes sir. You will be notified immediately."
"Good job with the girl too." I add and he glances at me before looking back down and nodding.
I had asked him to keep tabs on her and find out everything he could about her.
Everyone says she's my mate, because only she could have woken me up. But I know my mate. And I know that this young girl looks nothing like her. I also know that my mate died decades ago. But still, I feel a sense of protectiveness over her and it's alarming. Especially when I saw that boy touch her today. And how she laughed at what he said and looked at him like he was the most interesting thing alive. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.
I realise I still have company and I look up at Cain, who's head is still bowed. I stand up and walk over to him, placing my hand on his shoulders.
"You did good. Set up a meeting with the elders for this evening."
He nods and I dismiss him.
***
I'm in a room full of elders and I can smell the absolute fear in the air. I haven't requested a single meeting since I came back and I've mostly been keeping to myself, observing and adjusting to this new world.
Everyone is muttering within themselves and there's a lot of shusing going on. There are even assumptions as to why I called this meeting. It makes me smirk a little, but only someone who was paying real close attention to me would notice.
I'm still waiting for Cain to get back with the papers I requested for, so I allow the gossip to continue. I used to think only teenage girls gossiped, but I guess in this new age, grown men have joined the queue too. Ridiculous. I don't see the need of whispering behind someone's back in cowardice when you can stand by what you mean and say it to their face.
After some time, Cain returns with a stack of papers and a map. Everyone quiets down the moment he sets them in front of me.
"Hello everyone. I called this meeting in order for us to deliberate the pressing issue at hand. Our century long rivals, the vampires. News of my return has spread like wildfire they will attack because of that singular fact." I take a pause, watching them all nod their heads in a agreement.
"I have been informed of the surrender of other packs to the vampires. Now, I must not remind you all that we are the largest pack in all of Seattle, but even with that, because of the takeover of majority of the minor packs, the vampires still have the capacity to take us down." I say. "If we let them." I add and then I spread open the map in front of us.
"This is a map of our compound and the neighbouring parameters. I must commend you all on how well you all have managed to keep the vampires away so far. And with that being said, I would like us all to equally chip in on the best way to protect and defend the pack." The shocked look on their faces tells me everything I need to know. They were not expecting it. They all had it in mind that I would come over and bark out orders without giving them a chance to speak and they would roll their eyes in return and mutter within themselves when I'm gone. But now I'm giving them a chance to speak. And although this is also new to me, they have done a good job so far, and considering I just woke up to a whole new world, it's best to let them all have a say.
Everyone takes turns speaking and making suggestions and they all impress me with their different views. By the end of the meeting, we've been able to come up with incredible ideas and varying theories, which is progress as far as I'm concerned.
An old man sitting at the far end of the table raises his hands while we're all mulling over what has been said. I nod giving him permission to speak. He stands up and I see that he should be around seventy years old.
“Alpha, I have an idea that seems ridiculous but I'm pretty sure it will work too." He says with a wary smile.
"Speak then." I say calmly.
"Your mate..." He starts to say.
"My mate is dead." I interrupt him, my voice stern.
"So it is said." He says with the same careful smile. "But the lady who was able to wake you up is most definitely your mate too. And it is said that you would be stronger with her by your side. Around you. She has the blood of a witch running through her veins and with her beside you, you are unstoppable."
My mind immediately goes to a certain brinette haired girl with a smile that makes my pulse race. She can't be my mate. I doubt it. She's so young and inexperienced. And she's way after my time. I chuckle loudly and notice everyone is staring at me. I have been asleep for over five thousand years, but because of the spell put on me, I'm still a twenty-three year old man physically. Still the youngest Alpha alive.
The man clears his throat and I look up at him. He is fidgeting, and I realize he is waiting for me to give him permission to keep speaking. I nod again and he continues.
"But your mate also has to be protected. Because if the vampires were to get their hands on her, she would be used as a weapon to bring you down."
The thought of that alone makes my blood boil.
"I've heard you." I say as calmly as possible. I look around the table after he has taken his seat and lean forward.
"I have heard all of you. And I will take all your suggestions into consideration. We will all assemble here in four days time to plot our next move."
"Yes Alpha." They all chorus.
"Before I dismiss you all, I would like to formally let you know that Cain is taking up the responsibility of being my Beta." Cain’s eyes are wide when I turn to look at him. He steps forward and kneels on one knee.
"I will not let you down Alpha. I promise to take my duties seriously." He says, head bowed.
"I'm sure you will. With no further engagements, you are all dismissed."