Chapter 36

OWEN~~~~


Dexter left for his room immediately after we got to the mansion while I left for mine. We had to prepare for the meeting and we only had thirty minutes left. I already made arrangements for the visit and I entrusted the rest of it to Hilda.

"Seems like my idea worked," Greg, my wolf said through the mind link. "A spar was exactly what Liam needed to lift his mood."

"Yeah, good idea," I complimented him. Greg is just like me, a soft-spoken guy who only shows his fierceness when he needs to fight. That's why we hardly ever get into arguments. He's been a bit cranky lately though, disturbing for a mate.

"So are you thinking of sparring with him?" he asked.

"Of course," I replied. "What? Are you scared of Enzo?"

"Of course not," he growled. "I never get scared of anything. I am actually itching to get a go at Enzo but I thought you might not go through with it because he's your friend."

"Even he knows that there are only warriors on the battlefield," I laughed.

"But what did you think of the fight earlier?" he asked.

"A bit rusty as I said before," I replied. "He needs to work on his skills but I always knew those guys wouldn't be a match for him even on his worst day."

"Guess what, though?" he said.

"What?"

"He was actually going through pain while fighting in that match," he replied. "Yet he was able to perform that well."

"Huh?" I asked.

"I think he got in a fight with Enzo before the match," Greg replied. "I could feel Enzo's powerful aura when they fought. So much aura that it would have been strong enough to boil his insides. I think Enzo wanted to sabotage him and disgrace him in front of the trainees. I was surprised to see him move so well regardless."

"Wow," I sighed. "I think that's why he was suddenly so sad about Cecilia. Enzo has never liked Cecilia and I think mentioning her today made him remember her and Enzo as usual said shitty words about her and made him mad."

"Oh well," Greg yawned. "That's not our problem right now. I'm going to bed while you get ready for your meeting." This was the only problem with Greg, he slept way too much. It's almost as if I don't have a wolf because he sleeps so much that he's only awake for six hours out of the twenty-four hours of the day.

"Dickhead," I mumbled.

"I heard that," he said making me laugh for a bit as I prepared for our meeting with the Alpha of the Imperial Pack. Jimmy Lennon Jarred.

Jimmy was the piece of shit you want to avoid but can't because he was so freaking powerful which is why we still kept our alliance with him and helped him rebuild his pack even though he didn't try helping us at all when we were getting attacked by other packs. He was a cunning and conniving bastard and he pisses me off way more than anyone does. He has also been after the Northern pack for longer than I can remember.

I've only met him once with Liam when our pack gave him the funds to support his pack upon the former Alpha's request. He told us we didn't want Jimmy as an enemy just yet and even though he was a traitorous bastard who only cares about his power and his pack, he would be a dependable ally if he chooses to help.

We were also assured that Jimmy would not backstab or turn against us as long as the former Alpha was alive and well. Only Dexter's brother could rival Jimmy in terms of raw power so Jimmy wouldn't make a move knowing that he's just away and not dead. At the very least, he would wait until the Alpha is dead before invading but before then, both I and Dexter would be ready to take him on.

I don't know what excuse he's going to give today because I know for a fact that the Imperial Pack were the aggressors in that fight while the other pack whoever they were fought a defensive battle. Knowing Jimmy's prideful personality, he might not deny it.

"Ready?" Dexter asked through the mind link.

"Yeah," I replied. We both agree to dress in corporate wear to meet him so that he doesn't look down on us as kids with no sense of protocol.

"Good, let's go," he replied as we heard a car honk outside. Just in time.

*************

JIMMY~~~~


"Just how far have I fallen?" I asked Ethan as he read through his iPad. "What are you reading?"

"Ignore what I'm reading and tell me what you mean by the first question," he replied still not paying attention to me. He's been at it since we left the pack and it's beginning to annoy me.

"Okay," I said trying to stay calm. "I meant that isn't it just disrespectful for a kid who hasn't even seen his fifth decade to summon me to his pack?"

"It's a matter of your perspective," he replied. "You are prideful so I understand why you think that way but I am more of an administrator and businessman so I don't see this as anything more or less than an official visit. You trespassed on his property and killed people there without his notice. Normally, you would have demanded compensation if you were in his shoes but he didn't. He summoned you to talk about your reasons and get to an amicable conclusion. In my opinion, he's quite sensible for his age. I like that."

"Maybe that's because you have no ounce of pride left in you," I taunted. "That's why Natalie never saw you as a man. She loves men with enough pride and power to keep her in check and you are greatly lacking."

"That's a very petty low blow even for you," he replied still disinterested.

"What the fuck are you reading?!" I said snatching the iPad from his hands but he immediately snatched it back.

"Give it back," he said calmly still holding onto it.

"Let go," I ordered but he still held on. "I'm your fucking Alpha and I said let go, Beta."

The car honk interrupted our little scuffle and I looked out the window to see two boys dressed corporately standing at the entrance of the mansion.

"You will give me that iPad after this meeting," I growled at him but he said nothing and just adjusted his glasses before going out.

I stepped out of the car as well and forced a smile as I walked over to them.

"Good day, Alpha Jimmy," the kid with red eyes said extending his hand. Eyes that reminded me of the only man I feared. Seeing a kid who is still taking his baby steps share those eyes made me want to pluck his eyes out.

"Good day, Dexter, right?" I said intentionally to show him his place.

"Yeah," he said dismissively and walked inside without even waiting to lead me in. I looked beside me and his assistant was already done shaking hands with Ethan and gestured for us to follow him. That fucking kid left me outside for his assistant to attend to. What fucking disrespect!

I was too mad to even look around the house as we were led to his office where he was already seated and waiting for us.

"It's a bit rude to be sitting down when you haven't offered your guests a seat, you know," I remarked while sitting down. This should be enough to throw him off.

"Let's get right to the meeting without further ado," he said ignoring me. This little squirt just ignored me!

"This is the report made by one of our scouts, and it was confirmed personally by me too," his assistant said. "We have reason to believe that members of the Imperial Pack killed a couple of guys in our territory."

"On what basis?" I asked. "These are all assumptions based on scent. Why would you call me here if you don't have any proof?"

"Are you denying that your men didn't commit any murder on my turf," the red-eyed kid leaned forward looking at me straight in the eyes.

"What he is trying to say is that without any solid proof there isn't a way for him to determine if it was a member of our pack or just someone trying to sabotage us," Ethan said quickly before I could say anything.

"Oh, you are better with your wording than he is," the kid said leaning back but still maintaining eye contact with me. "For a moment there, I thought he was calling us liars."

"Of course, he won't," Ethan laughed. "He just has a problem finding the right words to say."

"Here is a photograph of three of your pack members we traced back to your pack by their scent and blood," his assistant said producing pictures of my pack members in a pack.

"You dare infiltrate my pack?!" I yelled.

"I didn't," the kid replied sipping his drink. "I went searching for evidence since I know you would request one. What you did is an act of invasion," he said with an edge to his tone as he still maintained eye contact with me."

His eyes held no fear as he stared at me. It has a primal look to it that gave me chills.

"I'll kill you if you dare me again," he grinned.