5

Leah’s POV

As soon as I cross the threshold, I mind-link Jason and Mary. “We’re on our way, ETA is about 5 minutes, go down to a skeleton crew, get all the Gammas and males out and station Omegas in their places. These guys need to believe they are still superior and have the upper hand of rank loyalty. Jason, I need you hooked into the cells, but out of sight. I have a feeling we are going to be using them today. Tell everyone to be ready for any reaction. A few of these guys are unstable and I don't trust them. Tell Danielle, Jessica and Brittany so far so good, move to the next phase.” 

“Yes, Alpha” Is the only reply I get from both.

The small landing inside the secret door immediately leads to a set of metal steps going down about 40 feet. The room it leads to used to be cold storage or a wine cellar of sorts and over time was forgotten about. Which is unfortunate, because we really could have been using this space for food storage over the winter, since we grow and preserve most of our own supply. I discovered it by accident when I was forced to clean the assembly hall top to bottom as a punishment for disagreeing with an instructor my first week here. That's where my original plan began to formulate.

Ellinore led us across the width of the room which was roughly the size and shape of a football field. It had a rough stone floor and support columns every 10 feet in a gridlike pattern. We installed lights since there were none, another thing that made us believe this room was long forgotten.

Like a tour guide, Ellinore was keeping up a running commentary for the Elders and Alphas. “On your left you will see endless rows of shelving used in the olden days for storing food to keep cared for pack members well fed during hard winters. You will notice they are all now bare due to the greedy and self serving ways of our higher ranking members. Current leadership are now kicking themselves for not knowing or caring enough to know this was here sooner and are now, as we speak, formulating plans to make it into a boys club hideout for their own personal sketchy activity. To your right you will see the wine cellar storage, also completely derelict due to over indulgence, such a shame.” She finishes in her best flight attendant voice.

I heard a few snickers from in front of me, probably her dad and mine, enjoying their guided tour and appreciating the humor in the situation. They are going to be punished for even acknowledging us today so they might as well enjoy it.

Ellinore used her bracelet to gain access to the steel reinforced door across the room. Again, I could see the Elders and Alphas were impressed. Even Victor, in spite of himself.

I’m so glad a huge space, and working doors and lights are all that we need to impress them. Nyx laughs. We should really set our standards lower. Maybe when we get to the war room some of their heads will explode in amazement and save us the trouble of dealing with them.

“And I thought Ellinore was bad.” I stifled a laugh “But, you're not wrong, some of these guys need to be put out to pasture.”

Or shot in the head and put everyone out of misery. I bet they work so hard to control women because their little pea-sized brains couldn't handle the complex thoughts women give them. She finishes my thought.

“Seriously Nyx, stop. I cannot be thinking of ways to kill them right now. We are trying to get them to improve and comply with us first.” I scrub my hand over my face, but I can’t stop the small smile that I have at the thought.

Fine, we’ll try your stupid peaceful way first, but if that doesn’t work, I’m going to bite them in the ass and throw them across a room.

I clasp a hand over my mouth, actively suppressing a laugh.

“What has you smiling like that? You look like you just got away with something.” Says a deep, husky voice beside me, cutting off my conversation with Nyx and sending a shiver down my spine. I look over sharply, eyes wide. 

“Damien, I didn’t see you there.” I say a little breathlessly “Nyx is just giving me a play by play of her thoughts on this whole situation.” I say while trying to discreetly put space between us following the rest of the group. I don’t know why, but my whole body seems to suddenly be buzzing and I have never been able to think clearly when he is this close. 

“You’re not taking us all to slaughter are you?” He says jokingly; eyes wide, hands up in surrender, then turning his head to look down the dull grey tunnel we’re walking through. The minimal lighting does give it an ominous feel. Not to mention the mutual dislike between my friends, myself and many of the men in front of us is widely known. So the question isn’t altogether unfounded.

“Nope, just showing off my little Luna project, that's all” I giggle in an airy voice that sounds nothing like me at all. I internally face palm and roll my eyes then clear my throat and quickly look away.

Smooth…Nyx taunts me

“Shut up, you. You’re just as affected by him as I am.” I lamely quip back, the closer he gets the more she purrs in my head. “And will you stop that? He is off limits, remember?”

He bumps my shoulder with his upper arm, like he knows I’m in my head again. “You know I was joking right?" I give him a small nod before looking away "Well, for what it’s worth, it sounds like there is a lot of thought behind your ‘little project.’” He says making air quotes before shoving his hands back in his jean pockets. “More thought than any of these guys have put into protecting our pack.”

 I melt just a little at his compliment, butterflies doing flips in my stomach. The only reaction I have for him is a nervous half smile. Why can I not get control of my body around him? My heart is beating so hard and erratic, I’m sure he can hear it.

“Oh, by the way,” He touches my arm to stop us, I gasp, and he steps so close his lips are almost touching my ear and I can feel his body heat radiating off of him. “Happy birthday Leah.” He whispers, touching his cheek to mine and an involuntary shiver wracks my body as I feel his hot breath fan over my ear and the side of my neck. He lets out a chuckle before letting his hand graze down my arm and turning and walking away.

I am frozen in place, my mouth hanging open, eyes wide, heart hammering in my chest and my knees turning to jelly. Really attractive, I am sure. I slowly let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I am a total mess and Nyx is doing laps in my head so fast, it’s giving me a headache and making me kind of nauseous.

I take 3 slow deep breaths in and out, staring at Damien’s back while he walks away. It really is a nice view. His shaggy, bed head, jet black hair. His wide shoulders on his staggering 6’4 stature completely fill out the black t-shirt he’s wearing. Every cut of muscle on his arms and back can be seen even in the dim light and are fighting to break free from the fabric. His black jeans fit so well, no imagination is needed for what's underneath.

You need to wipe that drool off your face before he catches you staring…again. Nyx pants at me

“Alpha, we’re all set” I jump as Jason mindlinks me and breaks me from my trance better than a bucket of cold water. Stupid hormones, I cannot afford to get distracted right now.

I start walking again, quickly catching up to the group. How in the hell did he know it was my birthday? Even I forgot today was my birthday. I mean, I have been preoccupied and haven’t slept much over the last week with all of the new intel coming in from the surveillance cameras we installed and running extra patrol shifts. I shake my head again, putting the thoughts at the back of my mind. Finding my mate and just boys in general are not a priority for me right now, like many emotional things in my life, I file it for later.

Ellinore and Elyse look at me. I nod giving them the signal to go ahead. Ellinore used her bracelet to access another reinforced steel door. You can hear the massive locks disengage, giving a sound effect to our massive operation. “Right this way gentlemen.” She bows them into the room like a butler.  I have to fight back the need to roll my eyes.  She is getting way too much pleasure out of our not-so-subtle stick it up your ass reveal party.

I'm last through the large door and one of the omegas closes and latches it behind me.  The bright circular room is always full of people coming and going, a low hum of constant conversation.  But, with the sheer size of the current Alphas, Elders and Damien and Demitri, and their almost absolute silence.  The fullness is stifling.

We entered on the top platform overlooking the whole war room. As we all make our way into the circular observation deck and gravitate around the planning table, my father, Alpha Andrew and Alpha Drake are smiling from ear to ear  looking around like we made all of their dreams come true. My dad walks over to me chuckling and wrapping me up in a rib crushing hug. “This is amazing Leah!” he gushes, spinning me around.

“Ugh!!” I hear behind me. I turn to see Elder Seamus looking at us like he wants to throw up. I guess he’s never seen a female receive positive reinforcement before, Goddess knows he rarely praises anyone and never compliments females.  I don't think I've even heard him use basic manners like 'please' and 'thank you' to a female, now that I think about it. My eyes went wide as realization hit me, my dad just openly praised me in front of the Elders. Even though I know how he feels and he tells me he's proud of me every day, we have always agreed it’s not worth the fight with the Elders for that type of PDA. 

He gently places me on the ground and without a second glance at Elder Seamus, he says “Show us around sweetheart.” I guess times are really changing. These guys have overstayed their time as elders and they are about to see how prepared we are to remove them from their posts.  And it looks like we have at least three Alphas on board with what we are doing and they don’t even know what we are doing yet.

There is a clear divide amongst them. Some faces show interest and others absolute disdain.  Damien and Demitri are off to one side at the front looking over the railing at all of the computers and maps, clearly curious. But Elder Victor has been able to keep his mask and his posture is rigid.  I am unable to read his reaction to our operation.  I was not expecting him to be happy with it necessarily, but I did expect some type of reaction. I can, however, clearly see his brain working on overdrive.