least six five in height and over
two hundred fifty pounds of pure brawn. This wasn’t a social gathering, but a
specially arranged assembly of the top ranking members of their pack. There was
Alpha Jepson’s wife, Madame Alpha Agatha and many of the other highly ranking females.
There were also other Betas and a few omegas, everyone there closely involved
in the running of pack matters.
The
meetings never took that long and tonight wasn’t any different. Ryan and Caine
felt equal relief that within an hour the issues at hand were discussed and
handled. As two of the most powerful members of the pack they knew they were
respectively in line to be voted in as Alpha when the time came – which
wasn’t for long yet. Alpha Jepson was still in his prime, though being alpha
was about who was strongest and most capable of leading the pack and it was
getting to the point that Alpha Jepson might find himself challenged in that
regard. Ryan and Caine had no intention of defying their alpha’s authority for
whatever reason, but if the members decided to set a vote into motion then they
wouldn’t have a choice but to step up to the plate. Members only felt safe when
they were sure their leader was the best to protect them and their interests.
Once
the meeting was over, both men approached their Alpha to have a quiet word. He
grinned when he saw them, his lined eyes twinkling. “I was speaking to Vern and
Hawke the other day and they said something about you finding a mate – in
the singular. Are congratulations in order?”
Ryan
and Caine looked to each other with small, wry smiles. “Yes, Alpha. We both
have a mate – one mate. And that’s what we wanted to talk about.
Congratulations aren’t in order till we can properly bond her to our respective
wolf. But she doesn’t even know we’re Lycan yet.”
Alpha
Jepson nodded in understanding. “So when are you going to break the news to
her?”
“Tonight
– when we get back home where she’s waiting,” Ryan explained.
“Any
mate of yours is welcome into our pack, of course,” Alpha Jepson said
immediately. “You won’t find any problems infusing her into the kindred.”
“Oh,
won’t they?” said a female voice from behind them.
The
three men shared frowns and turned to find Darcy walking right up to where they
stood. Behind her was a handful other females, their expressions set.
“What
is the meaning of this, Darcy?” Alpha Jepson asked with more curiosity than
anger.
“With
all due respect, Alpha, at these meetings you keep going on about pack security
and keeping things running smoothly for the benefit of all,” Darcy replied, a
small grin playing upon her blood red lips. “But how can that be so if so many potential
Alpha’s are being lost to human mates?”
Ryan
let out an impatient sigh while Caine merely shook his head in exasperation.
They both waited for their Alpha to respond.
“It’s
not about losing pack males, but gaining human members,” the alpha said
sensibly.
“Exactly.
Human. While many females are left unmated, with their chances of finding a
mate growing slimmer – especially when their own pack choose mates from
outside the pack,” Darcy said bitterly, and the women behind her murmured
loudly in assent.
“We
don’t choose our mates – that’s for the fates to decide,” Ryan spoke up,
his eyes narrowed to slits. “Darcy, we all know this concern of yours is
because of what happened between you and Caine. But Julie is our mate now and
there’s nothing you can do about it, but accept it and move on.”
Darcy’s
thin lips formed a thinner line. “This isn’t some act of a scorned woman,
contrary to what you think,” she said with dignity. “It’s about what’s best for
our pack. How would the men of the pack feel if more and more pack females were
choosing human males for mates?”
“We’ll
view it as nature taking its course,” Alpha Jepson said, his tone cool with
reproof as he frowned at Darcy.
two hundred fifty pounds of pure brawn. This wasn’t a social gathering, but a
specially arranged assembly of the top ranking members of their pack. There was
Alpha Jepson’s wife, Madame Alpha Agatha and many of the other highly ranking females.
There were also other Betas and a few omegas, everyone there closely involved
in the running of pack matters.
The
meetings never took that long and tonight wasn’t any different. Ryan and Caine
felt equal relief that within an hour the issues at hand were discussed and
handled. As two of the most powerful members of the pack they knew they were
respectively in line to be voted in as Alpha when the time came – which
wasn’t for long yet. Alpha Jepson was still in his prime, though being alpha
was about who was strongest and most capable of leading the pack and it was
getting to the point that Alpha Jepson might find himself challenged in that
regard. Ryan and Caine had no intention of defying their alpha’s authority for
whatever reason, but if the members decided to set a vote into motion then they
wouldn’t have a choice but to step up to the plate. Members only felt safe when
they were sure their leader was the best to protect them and their interests.
Once
the meeting was over, both men approached their Alpha to have a quiet word. He
grinned when he saw them, his lined eyes twinkling. “I was speaking to Vern and
Hawke the other day and they said something about you finding a mate – in
the singular. Are congratulations in order?”
Ryan
and Caine looked to each other with small, wry smiles. “Yes, Alpha. We both
have a mate – one mate. And that’s what we wanted to talk about.
Congratulations aren’t in order till we can properly bond her to our respective
wolf. But she doesn’t even know we’re Lycan yet.”
Alpha
Jepson nodded in understanding. “So when are you going to break the news to
her?”
“Tonight
– when we get back home where she’s waiting,” Ryan explained.
“Any
mate of yours is welcome into our pack, of course,” Alpha Jepson said
immediately. “You won’t find any problems infusing her into the kindred.”
“Oh,
won’t they?” said a female voice from behind them.
The
three men shared frowns and turned to find Darcy walking right up to where they
stood. Behind her was a handful other females, their expressions set.
“What
is the meaning of this, Darcy?” Alpha Jepson asked with more curiosity than
anger.
“With
all due respect, Alpha, at these meetings you keep going on about pack security
and keeping things running smoothly for the benefit of all,” Darcy replied, a
small grin playing upon her blood red lips. “But how can that be so if so many potential
Alpha’s are being lost to human mates?”
Ryan
let out an impatient sigh while Caine merely shook his head in exasperation.
They both waited for their Alpha to respond.
“It’s
not about losing pack males, but gaining human members,” the alpha said
sensibly.
“Exactly.
Human. While many females are left unmated, with their chances of finding a
mate growing slimmer – especially when their own pack choose mates from
outside the pack,” Darcy said bitterly, and the women behind her murmured
loudly in assent.
“We
don’t choose our mates – that’s for the fates to decide,” Ryan spoke up,
his eyes narrowed to slits. “Darcy, we all know this concern of yours is
because of what happened between you and Caine. But Julie is our mate now and
there’s nothing you can do about it, but accept it and move on.”
Darcy’s
thin lips formed a thinner line. “This isn’t some act of a scorned woman,
contrary to what you think,” she said with dignity. “It’s about what’s best for
our pack. How would the men of the pack feel if more and more pack females were
choosing human males for mates?”
“We’ll
view it as nature taking its course,” Alpha Jepson said, his tone cool with
reproof as he frowned at Darcy.
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