Wednesday, October 10th; 5am

The ride back to the pack house proves uneventful as Alpha Whiteman informed the two wolves with us that as long as they remained submissive and cooperative they would not be restrained and there was a chance the council would go easy on them.
Alpha parks the mule in the garage, turning it off and stepping out as the door closes. Alpha Whiteman leads the way followed by the beta and delta with myself closing the rear. To Winston’s expectations, the two deltas and the gamma involved in the fight are already in his conference room next to his office. It would appear that only the gamma was cooperative enough to earn his handcuffs being removed. The other two have simply been made more comfortable with their hands being moved to the front.
“Take a seat.”
Winston instructs gruffly, maintaining his no nonsense attitude. He walks quickly to the northernmost point of the round table, stopping in front of his seat. Looking around to see that none of the prospects have moved, he’s visibly cross.
“Take a seat.”
He repeats with a lot more authority as the council members walk in. I’m watching the two that rode with Alpha and I closely and something about the smaller of the two isn’t sitting well with me.
“I beg your pardon alpha, council.”
I bow slightly at the neck towards both of them before continuing.
“I need to step out for a moment with this lad here.”
I place my hand on his shoulder. He’s stiff and obviously uncomfortable, making me quite suspicious.
“What’s your name?”
I speak at a lower volume near his ear.
“Amos.” He replies quietly.
“You’re a delta?” I verify.
“Yes sir.”
“Okay. Delta Amos I need you to step into Alpha Whiteman’s office before we start the interview.”
He nods and follows easily, lowering some of the concern I have. I shut the door softly making the room soundproof and motion towards the chair in front of Winston’s desk. He takes a seat in it as I pull Winston’s seat from behind.
“You’re giving me mixed signals and I heard the conversation you had with Max, before we get started in there, is there something you need to get off your chest?”
He looks up at me, his head cocked to the side.
“I’m just nervous. I directly disobeyed one alpha’s order and failed at completing the other’s. He’s upset that his brother is in the hospital again.”
“Are you in a link with him?”
“Yes sir.”
“Are you trapped in the link?”
“No sir. He knows about his father trapping Cole in a link, misusing his brother’s broken connection to cause him pain.”
“Well that answers the other question I wanted to ask.”
“Andre, please slow down. I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
He suddenly yells out loud. I crouch down in front of him as he grabs his head.
“Amos?” I keep my voice low, uncertain if he’s in any physical pain.
“Give me a minute. The distance makes it difficult to understand.” He manages to explain.
“Try rambling what you hear.” To my surprise, he nods as he covers his ears.
“Operation underground. Cole must return. Alpha Black. Crimson Dawn.”
“Alpha Andre Redmen?” I nearly whisper as I realize exactly who I’m talking to, unable to grasp the idea that someone in his family has not completely abandoned him as everyone believes.
“Alpha Andre Redmen, can you hear me?” I speak loud enough for him to hear.
Amos nods as he visibly starts to relax.
“I don’t like you being linked with him when we are getting ready to interview everyone that was involved in your brother’s assault. Would you be willing to speak with me directly?”
I ask as I hand Amos a note with my number. To my relief my phone rings and the glassy distracted look that comes with the link vanishes from Amos’s eyes.
“Alpha Redmen?” I ask, surprised at such willingness to leave Amos.
“Yes sir. Who are you?”
“I am Alpha Andrew Moore. I’m a doctor and the director of Ridge General.”
“Alpha Moore, thank you for extending the olive branch to me although you sounded quite shocked that I was the one trying to use Amos to listen in.”
“Those of us that have encountered Cole were under the impression that he’s been completely abandoned to the mercy of his father. How safe are you to be completely honest with?”
“I have a complicated past with Cole. One that he’s only aware of through the stories I’ve told and I’m certain that the way I have stayed on the fence towards my dad’s behavior towards him doesn’t allow him to believe what I’ve told. But, when my father told me he was sending me to Alpha Camp at Blister Ridge I told Amos, who has always been open minded when it comes to Cole, to let me know if he hears of or if he’s asked to participate in any plans involving my brother.”
“Okay. I’m willing to give you a chance but there is more than just Amos involved.”
“I know alpha. Please bare with me as I’m going to have to play the part of hater in order to listen in should you feel the need to ask questions.”
“I’ve got a plan but I’m going to need the same patience as you.” I explain as I motion to Amos to follow me back into the room. I direct Amos back to the seat he was originally headed to before I intercepted him.
“I apologize for taking things out of order but it would appear that the situation with the wolf that was attacked by his pack mates is far more complicated than we were aware.”
“Alpha Moore, you know my rule about phones.”
Winston points out with irritation in his voice.
“Yes sir, I am but the uncomfortable behavior Delta Amos was showing was due to Alpha Cole’s brother, Alpha Andre Redmen, trying to listen in on what’s going on. He is going to remain quiet as we conduct the interview of those involved in his brother’s assault.”
I speak with the same no nonsense, matter of fact tone that Alpha Whiteman doesn’t bother to argue with. I set my phone down in front of my seat at the southernmost point of the round table.
“Now that everyone is here this meeting can now begin. All of these meetings are recorded by the council members assigned to my pack and for the record we must identify all those who are present at the table. I am Alpha Winston Whiteman to my left…”
He stops waiting for the wolf to introduce himself but instead he receives a low growl.
“It doesn’t help your case to growl like a spoiled pup not getting his way. Introduce yourself for the record.” Winston makes it very clear that noncompliance isn’t an option.
“Delta Dallas Declan.” He growls through his teeth but it’s there.
“Delta Richard Washington.”
“Gamma Andrew Chaplin.”
“Beta Maximus Stevens.”
“Delta Amos Andrews. ”
“Alpha Andrew Moore.”
“Councilman Daniel Coles.”
“Councilwoman Marie Woodmen.”
“Councilman Arthur Chase.”
“Beta Michael Greene.”
“Alpha Redmen, we also need you to participate even if you’re only listening.” Marie instructs politely.
“Alpha Andre Redmen.”
He speaks clearly but with a much harsher tone than he did in Alpha Whiteman’s office.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? You have no right to listen in on what happened. It doesn’t concern you.”
Dallas spouts off, suddenly fuming at his introduction.
“Alpha Moore told you I was on the phone. Why the sudden objection?”
“I thought he was lying.”
“You thought that I would place a phone that wasn’t in use on the table?” I ask, confused at such thinking.
“He has nothing to do with this. He has no right to be here. I don't care if he’s only listening. He is not going to influence any punishment that has to do with Alpha Redmen’s command. You are not my alpha and you will not punish me.”
Everyone is silent with Dallas’s careless confession.
“Dallas you need to remember who you are talking to and drop the attitude. It doesn’t matter if you approve of me as your alpha, I am your future alpha. You were there for the first half of the coronation ceremony a week after the mate’s claiming. I have no intentions on influencing punishment. I simply want to know what it is you were assigned to do with my brother.”
“Why does that perv mean anything to you? You’re the only one in the family that pretends to even give a damn.”
“Now, delta, there is no reason that I have to explain the why or what for behind the concern that I show for my brother. But it is important that you understand that I do have every right, as the named future leader of the Red Fang pack, to attend any meeting with or without my father and a group assault between the members of my pack is one such occasion that I should attend.”