Chapter 41
Daniel’s POV
All I wanted was one night with Charlie without my brother interrupting and fucking it up, but I had to leave her alone when I should have been looking after her. I grabbed a pair of sweats and a shirt, threw them in a bag and ran out of the house naked. It would be quicker to shift, run there carrying my bag in my mouth and get dressed in the treeline outside the town hall, I decided. Nudity isn’t a big deal in Lycan communities, but I didn’t think Charlie would appreciate me walking around the town naked, especially when there were females, especially ones I’d slept with that might be around. I was at the town hall in less than ten minutes, it would have taken me twenty at least by car, and I wanted the meeting over with. I walked in with my Alpha face on, my aura let everyone in the room know that I was in no mood to be fucked with.
“Thank the goddess you’re here.” Ben mind-linked me. I growled aloud; he was in no position to admonish me.
“Why was a pack meeting called without my say-so?” I barked. Daring one of the snivelling old farts to challenge me.
“Because there are things that need to be discussed and you seemed unwilling to discuss them, nephew.” I shot Owen a look that said uncle or not, one more word of disrespect and I would put him in his place. He was Epsilon at my discretion, I could bump him from General to nobody, without breaking a sweat. “Apologies, Alpha, but we do have a few issues that need to be dealt with.” I hated the way he said ‘Alpha‘ like I hadn’t earned the title. Sanctimonious dick, he should have been replaced as my father’s Beta, long before I took over the pack.
“Oh, and what issues are those, uncle?” Two could play that game and I was better at it.
“The girl, Charlie. No one is saying you can’t have a lover, but it is dangerous having a human here, what if she finds out what we are?” One of the elders, I forget his name, spent so long licking my father’s and uncle’s asses, he often forgot they were no longer in charge.
“That girl is my mate and future Luna of this pack, so you will watch your tongue, old man!” I snapped. There was a collective intake of air before the room went wild with whispers and speculation, it was giving me a headache. “ENOUGH! Charlie is my mate, my goddess blessed, she will rule by my side, and anyone who doesn’t like that can leave.” There were a few grumbles from the old farts that were stuck in the past and a few people made to leave. “The pack, not this hall.” I clarified. They all froze, it pleased me, they could be bigoted idiots, but they would do it silently.
“Alpha, there has never been a human Luna of this pack, ever.” The same elder thought he could press his luck.
“And yet, there have been human Lunas of other packs. Did they die? Did the goddess take away her blessings? Or did she bless them with heirs and many prosperous years?” I knew the answer as did everyone there. I heard some grumbles in agreement.
“She may not be 100% human.” Ben piped up, which was news to me, I cocked an eyebrow at him. “I thought I smelled something; I couldn’t place it," I growled again. “Maria could smell it too when we met for coffee but neither of us is sure where we have smelt it before.” He added through the mind link.
“We will find out soon enough. And then we will have a Luna ceremony.” I announced, to end any further discussion.
“That’s not the only thing that needs to be talked about,” Ben muttered, “we have received word, quietly, that forces are looking to overthrow Alpha Whitehead of the Harvest Moon pack. He sent a messenger to his sister and Alpha Kasa of the Sycamore pack, that he believed someone close to him would try to assassinate him and take over his pack. Alpha Kasa, was dealing with his own dissension.” Ben paused, he looked around at the pack members in attendance, he didn’t trust everyone present, it was clear. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep the information he had quiet if he was to act upon it. “Then this morning, I received word from Alpha Lander, asking that should he fall during a coming battle for the leadership of his pack, we accept his mate and son into our pack for their safety as her brother's pack is still... recovering.” He didn't need to say more, the Wyoming pack's sorrows were well known by all present. I felt overwhelming pride and fear simultaneously. I had made a good choice in my Beta, not because he was my brother, but because he could cultivate information like no other wolf I had ever met. And fear because with several packs experiencing doubt in their leadership it raised red flags for me. And by the whispers that had picked up again, it had for some of the elders too. But one person who should have look concerned didn’t which was a bigger red flag. I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Ben, don’t let anyone know I’m speaking to you.” I mind-linked, for most wolves it is obvious when they linked, but it could be hidden, when necessary if you were trained like Ben and I were. “Look at Owen. Why isn’t he worried?” I asked. Focusing my eyes and appearing irritated to most wolves. “He’s involved, somehow. He was always jealous of Dad; felt he should lead. What if he’s part of the coup you’ve been hearing about within our pack?” I watched Ben relax his posture and take out his phone. He sent a text before he replied.
“I can’t deny his behaviour isn’t consistent, but do you really think he would plot against his own family? What’s the goal? And the instability of the other packs too? No, it feels bigger. Besides Owen retired, the first word I got that something was happening was at Appletree not here. It's coming from within the company.” He replied, his phone beeped, and he immediately started typing away again.
“Have him followed; I want to know everyone he talks to. And start monitoring all communications within Appletree. Get the security team to work with someone you trust in IT. I want a detailed plan of action and any intel on my desk Monday afternoon by the time I get back from the funeral.”
“Fine, but you are telling Maria why I can’t have time off next week like I promised.” He retorted, I had to suppress a smile, what Charlie had said about him was spot on, she was extremely observant and astute. An idea came to me at that moment.
“QUIET! This new development is troubling, we will have a task force focus on investigating whether the same group or individual that is attempting the destabilise our pack, is behind the dissension in every pack in the state. For now, we will all gather information, I will reach out to the other Alphas, personally. I would also like to introduce my mate to the elders and the pack as a whole this weekend. I will have Ms Michaels arrange something, I’m sure you will be as impressed with her as I am. And as a gesture, and as proof I have complete faith in my mate's abilities, I will forgo marking her until we have held a full pack meeting, where a representative from each rank will be able to state their concerns, if any.” I gave them all a quick nod and turned to leave.
“Are you sure you want to give them a forum to dismiss Charlie in front of one another, especially if the traitors haven’t been found?” Ben asked as he continued to type away furiously.
“She’s got your number already brother, who’s to say Charlie won’t help me uncover a few traitors in our midst? She’s smart and perceptive, let’s give her a chance, besides, I promised her I wouldn’t mark her until she was ready. But the pack doesn’t need to know that. Let them believe I would choose them over her, for now at least.” I linked him as I left the hall. I didn’t even change, I walked into the treeline and shifted, I needed a run to clear my head. I didn’t like not having all the pieces, it felt like the answer was just out of reach, I needed Charlie. Her scent would calm me, help me figure out the truth, if not at least I could spend the night between her legs, either way, I would be happy. By the time I got to the house I was filthy, the lights were out, and she was sleeping peacefully. She looked so beautiful I couldn’t wake her, I grabbed a quick shower, eager to feel her skin on mine, to wake up with her in my arms in the morning. I had just finished in the bathroom when I heard her scream. The most awful, heart-breaking sound, like she was being murdered, but she was safe, in my bed. I tried waking her, I held her and begged her to wake up. She sat upright, her back straight, her eyes open but they weren’t her eyes. The pale blue of her eyes had been replaced by an intense purple colour. I froze unsure what to do, terrified of losing or hurting her, I grabbed her face and begged her to come back to me. “Wake up Charlie!” I cried until her eyes returned to their natural hue. “What happened? Are you okay? You were screaming!” She grabbed onto me wide-eyed and confused for several nerve-wracking seconds, and then she sobbed into my chest, unable to say anything.
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