Ashton POV
I have absolutely no interest in being here anymore. These meetings are pointless as I can’t think about anything other than Alaina, and Janus isn’t doing much better with keeping his mind off Tyche! I am currently in a meeting with the North American packs, trying to sort out alliances, and trade partners. For the most part the packs in North America own their own companies. Pack members generally work for them, but we often have humans working alongside us. These companies are what pay our bills, buy us food, and give the pack members their own money. My pack also lives in a very fertile are of the country, so we have acres of gardens, and greenhouses as our growing season is a little shorter than we need.
Alpha Johnson, from Blue River pack in St. Bruno, wants to open trade negotiations with me regarding our produce. Currently we sell the extras at a farmers market, it makes a decent profit, but we could get more from selling to another pack. It would also help the local Hutterite colony prosper a little more, when we made the decision to go to the market, I know we took part of their income. I have never felt overly good about that, but we had few options... until now. Alpha Larkin, from Silver Lake pack, in Weyburn, agreed to lower the shipping costs if we use his fleet of tractor trailers. I love that the North American packs are like this. Sometimes we end up with the same business as another pack, Alpha Clark from Turtle Mountain pack in Osoyoos, also has a trucking company, but they work together fairly well and try to help each other succeed. Most of the time we have businesses in different sectors from the others, which makes it easier to secure allies by negotiating using what our businesses have to offer. Sometimes there's a little bit of horse trading that has to happen, but generally we are fairly happy with the outcomes.
“Alpha Lupin, along with the produce, do you think we could throw in a bit of your security system?” Alpha Johnson all but whispers in my ear.
“I mean, yeah, we can talk about it. Is everything ok?”
“Oh, yeah, everything is copasetic...”
He doesn’t continue when he looks at my face. It’s not hard to figure out that he is trying to hide that he has a problem, but it’s really surprising that he would try to hide it from me. He should know better than to lie to me, I ALWAYS find out. I am pretty much a Lycan lie detector, no magical gifts or anything, those don’t exist, just a feeling I get and I have yet to be wrong.
“OK, FINE” he whisper yells “I have been having issues with some rogues. They attack every couple of days. It’s not on a schedule, 3 days later here, a week later there, then the next day, it’s to a point that my warriors are getting barely 4 hours of sleep a night as we try to keep our border control as tight as possible, and yet they are still getting through.”
“Yeah, a system could definitely be arranged. I would like to come out personally to take a look, if you don’t mind. I will need to walk your border, see what the terrain is like, what kind of equipment we can use, and what not. It will likely take close to a month to get everything sorted and put up, then another week or so for one of my techs to set it all up on the back end. The biggest problem you might run into though is our equipment and programming are all patented and kept private, so no one else would be able to fix your system if something were to go down. We have contracts with other packs, throughout Canada and the US, and I have a team of, about 10, techs that are constantly traveling and checking on our systems. Typically, they hit each pack once a month, but can get back to you within 24 hours of an issue arising. Are you going to be ok with that kind of delay, and having one of my pack members constantly in and out of your territory?”
Alpha Johnson takes a moment to think, and out of the corner of my eye I catch her hair. You can definitely find her in a crowd! I love her hair! It’s almost symbolic of her personality. Wild, untamed, and individual! The fact that she isn’t one of those pretenda-barbies makes Jan and I almost vibrate with excitement. Most she-wolves just bow down to what their mate says. There’s no conversation, there’s no push back, you don’t get to truly know them because they don’t voice their own opinions. I have tried to get my female pack members to come to me and open up about things, doesn’t matter what, give me their opinions on... anything really! I have only had a small few come to me with different ideas, one suggested repainting the pack house so it didn’t look so dreary –so we painted it a light yellow-, another one suggested we do an annual carnival for the kids –which this year was AMAZING-, but my favourite one was the omega who suggested that we change how things are done in the kitchen. Instead of omegas cooking everything and having plate service 3 meals a day. Breakfast is now a ‘fend for yourself’ meal, the cooks generally bake muffins, and cookies, fresh bread, throughout the day and we are able to quickly grab something before training, or we can make our own eggs, waffles, bacon etc. Lunch and dinner are prepared by a rotating staff of omegas, warriors, even the ranked members have to go in and help with meals. I have found that the pack is getting to know each other better. My Beta, Austin, is now very good friends with an omega carpenter, they had never even crossed paths before. It makes me think about what kinds of changes Alaina might bring to the pack!
“Yes, I think I can agree to those terms. Would we be able to make it so the same tech comes each time though? To minimize the number of outsiders into our land?”
I nod, my mind wandering, not really paying attention to what he is saying.
“I don’t see that being a problem, with the exception of an emergency basis. I cannot promise your normal tech during an emergency, and I am not going to leave you with out your system until your tech is free.”
“Mmhm, that’s reasonable. What would you like for a trade? We already have the agreement for the produced to be paid for financially, what are you wanting for the security stuff?”
I am only half listening as I watch my mate grab her plate and starts walking down the buffet line. Maybe we should do our weekend meals as buffets from now on. I watch intently at which foods she grabs, in theory she will grab her favourites, or at least the stuff she likes most. Lamb with mint jelly, scalloped potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, salad and what dressing? I can't see what dressing she grabbed, well I managed to catch most of it, it’s a start. Something small, but it might be my in!
“Um, I’m not too sure. You own a lumber company, don't you?”
“Yes, I also own several mills.”
“I am going to be building several new homes, stores, and maybe a movie theater, how about I do the security for you, and you sell me the milled lumber at cost?”
“I agree, with one more condition, your company deals with the monitoring at an offsite location.”
That’s odd, why would he want me to be privy to things going on in his pack? Is this his way of asking for help, without asking for help?
“I think we can arrange that. Now, which trucking company do we use?”
“Well, we used Larkin for the produce, since he has refers, we should probably talk to Clark as he has the flatbeds and step decks. Plus spreads the work out.”
“I don’t have anything to trade off with Clark, do you?”
“Yeah, he already asked for lumber and gravel, but I didn't have anything that I needed from him, at that point, so my side was to be determined. I guess it’s now been figured out” he chuckled.
I look up from my plate when I see a flash of red shoot up out of a seat a couple tables down.
“WHAT THE H3LL DO YOU MEAN BY THAT ALPHA YU? ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT I AM WORTHLESS?!?! WHAT, BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN???”
'Ooooo she’s BIG mad! I am pretty sure Tyche is trying to take over.'
'Oh, Fack this is not going to end well for anyone!'
I quietly stand up and slowly, very cautiously, make my way over to Alaina, making slow and VERY calculated moves, much akin to approaching a wounded animal.
'Don’t EVER let THEM know you have compared them to a wounded animal!'
'I may not be the brightest cookie in the crayon drawer, but THAT I do know!'
I have to chuckle at Jan, he legitimately sounds scare of them!
There’s a flurry of voices, I can’t tell who's saying what, but they are trying to calm her down.
“No, that’s not...”
“Alaina, SIT DOW...”
“I HAVE WORTH” well at least she knows that without needing to be told.
“I know, I was jus...”
“You are making a fool of ou...”
“CALM DOWN GIRL”
Oh fack, ooohhh holy fack, shat, fack, mother trucker, holy goddess help us all
'Is Alpha Kendrick stupid? Does he have a wish to be unalived?! YOU DONT TELL A WOMAN TO CALM DOWN... and you don’t call her a ‘girl’.' I pretty much whisper the last part to Jan
'No kidding, that’s the best, and fastest, way to get your arse handed to you. Kendrick looks like he’s still a pup, probably just turned 18 not that long ago, he is going to learn this lesson rather fast but I don’t think it will be one he’s going to forget any time soon.'
I take a quick glance at the situation unfolding in front of me. It seems Kendrick now has her full attention, this could work to my benefit! If he can keep her distracted, I might be able to sneak up and grab her.
'And then what dipshit? You going to throw her over your shoulder, smack her arse, and tell her she’s been a bad girl?'
'WHAT. THE. FACK?!?! Am I going to WHAT?!?!'
The sound of Alaina’s voice, over everyone else, brings me back to the task at hand. Save her from herself!
“CALM DOWN? ARE YOU FACKING KIDDING ME? CALM DOWN?!”
“Oooh he shouldn’t have said that,” I could hear several mated Alphas whispering amongst themselves. A few were chuckling, with a knowing look in their eyes, they knew exactly how this was going to go down, this was going to get ugly fast!
Just as I reach Alaina, she takes a swing at Alpha Kendrick. I don’t have enough time to grab her arm so her fist connected with the side of his jaw and down he goes.
'Mate is left handed...'
'This is NOT the time'
'But now we know someth...'
'JAN NOT THE TIME'
Before she is able to throw another punch, I grab her from behind, pinning her arms to the side.
“I’m sorry, I know you don’t want me to do this, I know I promised I wouldn’t...”
I try to whisper, and she fights to get out of my grip.
“GET. THE. H3LL. OFF. OF. ME... NOW!”
“I need you to take a few br...”
I am suddenly very aware that the way I was holding her gave her the perfect angle and leverage to cow kick me in the dingle berries. I am, however, able to continue holding her, keeping her from booting anyone else, thank goddess for small favours!
“Good goddess Alaina, I’m not trying to whisk you away, I am trying to help you relax enough that you are not going to be unalived by every Alpha here!”
I tighten my hold a little as she goes completely limp in my arms. Nope, not getting away that easily!
“Beta Callum, where is Alaina’s room? I think we might all be safer if this conversation were to continue there.”
“Fourth floor, corridor to the right and then the last door on the left, the tower.”
“Thank you, Beta, I appreciate it,”
I nod as I pick Alaina up just enough to carry her, but not quite enough for her to get her leg back up to kick me again. Moving as fast as I physically can, I head to her room. Unfortunately, I have to take the stairs one at a time, otherwise her feet would get caught on the stairs. Fack she has to make everything so difficult!
“Let me down now Alpha”
The amount of venom in her voice when she said Alpha tugged at my heart a little.
'I think I just made this MUCH worse.'
'I think so too, but what choice did we have? This or allow a room full of Alphas take on our mate and her Beta? She’s good, but I’m not sure she’s THAT good.'
I opened the door to her room and unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed and shut the door, with my foot. I slide down the door, rubbing my hands down my face and rest my elbows on my knees. I’m not really sure how long we sat there in silence, but she was the one who broke it.
“Are you going to go away?”
I look up at her and see that she’s laid back staring at the ceiling.
“Alaina, please, I am trying here! I am trying to give you space, I am trying to give you what you want so you will be happy, but at the same time... I want to get to know you, I want to be the thing that makes you happy, want to be the thing that you want! But I also won’t allow you to be in a position where you could be unalived!”
She sits up and I am pretty sure if looks could unalive someone I would be 6 feet under several times over!
“Aaaand this is why you can go fack yourself”
She huffed, while rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.
“What are you talking about?”
“You! Trying to control me. You are like every other Alpha. Possessive, gives their mates commands, doesn’t allow their mate to do ‘anything dangerous’. Sorry Alpha not what I want, at all.”
“I have no idea what the fack is going on, but I can tell you that none of that is me. Well, at least not to the extent as most. Yes, I am possessive, but I don’t expect you to be at my side 24/7. I wouldn’t dream of commanding you to do anything, I am not interested in a mate that follows blindly. I NEED a mate that challenges me, makes me think, pushes me to be better... and as for dangerous... do you know how many Alphas and Betas were in that room?! Almost a thousand. You start a fight with Yu or Kendrick and you would have more wolves on you than Janus could fight off. I wasn’t trying to get you out of there because you may have had to fight one or two people, I was getting you out of there because I was afraid, you’d have to fight them all!”
We sit in relative silence for a while, just looking at each other. The look on her face slowly softens, maybe she’s thinking about what I said, maybe it is enough of an olive branch to at least get her to talk to me! While staring at her I notice that she has freckles, across her nose and onto her cheeks. They are faint but it just makes her even more beautiful to me! She has her nose pierced, I don’t think I noticed that before, I definitely would have noticed if Tyche had a nose piercing... something to ask her about when we have known each other for a while. This time, while fidgeting nervously with my fingers, I break the silence.
“Just so you know that I think that you standing up for yourself was really sexy. And punching Kendrick, I have to give it to you, that was impressive! I don’t think he will be telling anyone to calm down any time soon!”
I started as a whisper, and ended with a really good belly laugh.
Alaina POV He’s laughing about me punching another Alpha. He's impressed that I stood up for myself? I must be in the twilight zone because this is not how an Alpha acts. I should be getting read the riot act, not being praised and having him laugh at me punching someone. ‘Lunas are quiet, demure, an air of fragility’ is what I grew up being taught, and Alpha Lupin seems to like that I’m not those things. 'Ty, can you get a read on them? Is his Lycan saying anything?' 'If he was in control we would be mated right now, he thought what you did was the hottest thing he has ever seen. I am not sure how Alpha Lupin is able to keep control over Janus right now!' 'Holy shat, who is he? What do you think of them now?' 'I think that you should at least talk to him. Sit in the garden, or the dining hall, you don’t have to be alone, but talk to him!' Maybe Ty is right. He hasn’t really done anything that most of the Alphas would do. Most would have shoved me up to
Ashton POV I head back to my room, happier than I have been in a long time. Actually, I don’t even remember being this happy before! 'I can’t believe you were able to get her to suggest a walk!' 'I know! I’m not too sure what changed her mind but I am not going to complain! We have 10 more days to try and win her over, I don’t know if that is enough though.' 'All you can do is your best. As long as she doesn’t outright reject us, we should be ok, at least then we have a chance!' 'Keep your paws crossed man, all of them, because I have a feeling that this is going to be one h3ll of a fight!' 'Yeah, but it’s going to be totally worth it!' 'I sure hope so. I hope that we can both find happiness within each other!' 'Why wouldn’t you?' 'She is really adverse on having a mate, at least not an alpha mate, I don’t know if she would even allow herself to be happy with us.' I can feel Jan thinking about what I just said as I walk int
Alaina POV Someone slipped a note under my door last night with the exact rule that I needed to ensure I can compete this week. They also pointed out that nowhere in the rule book does it state gender, so it should never have been an issue to begin with, but I have a feeling that this will all change very quickly! This will likely be the first and last time a woman is allowed to compete, even if she did have to fight for it! The thing that caught me off guard the most was that whoever left the note, they also put my name on the registration list. I have a feeling that it might be Ashton, which makes me confused. How would he even know, for starters, and why would he be onboard with this? As I am standing in line waiting to find out who I am up against first I hear all the other Alphas whispering. The looks on their faces when I came walking down the hall to line up was priceless though, even Ty was rolling in fits of laughter! As I am leaning against the wall, I can hear yelling.
Ashton POV 'Jan, you’re going to piss them both off!' I couldn’t help but howl in laughter watching Tyche through Jan’s eyes. Confused doesn’t even come close to the look on her face. Wait... Tyche’s eyes... they are purple! 'JAN! What’s with Ty’s eyes?' 'No clue. That would be a good question for an elder or the council.' 'Yeah, yo, by the sounds of it we should get this fight into gear. I think the council is planning on coming down here to detain Ty!' 'Oh, hells no they aren’t! You want a fight that will keep them away? We will show them something spectacular!' 'Don’t go and show off dude, just please, be normal?!' Jan watches Ty for a few more seconds, slowly rolling back over. It seems like her guard is down, so he pushes his back legs out, hoping to slide enough to get under her belly. All he managed to do was give us some awful hay burn and show Ty that we are done playing. Ty pounces on Jan’s back, pulling on his left ear. Jan stands
Alaina POV I quickly shower and get dressed. The sooner we get this over with the better! I make my way down to Ashton’s room. He’s on the same floor but over near the stairs, bloody stairs, I wonder if he will carry me down, I giggle to myself. Walking up to his door I can hear him pacing, I can see his shadow come and go under the door, and I can hear something else... voices... or at least A voice, maybe he’s on the phone? 'He better not be on the phone with another woman!' 'Ty, we are going home to Fin. It’s not our place to get pissy if he’s talking to another woman!' With that Tyche put a block up, she is beyond furious with me. 'That should tell you that you are doing something wrong! As long as you keep doing this, you and I will not have a very good relationship! You aren’t just keeping yourself from being happy with your mate, you are FORCING me to be miserable without mine! YOUR FAULT!' And back behind the block before I can say anything else, but she
Ashton POV Pups. She wanted to get away from me so badly that she was willing to give up her ability to have pups! I had to use the Alpha tone, I couldn’t have anyone coming back and trying to talk to me about it. I couldn't have HER try and talk to me about it in the future. I worded it very carefully, and I hope no one figures out the very obvious loophole! They couldn’t talk about what went on in that particular room, with anyone who did not already know what was going on, or themselves. Since they don’t really know who all knows, it will be difficult to talk about it with anyone. But that means that Alaina could talk to Cal, since he wasn’t in the library and, already knows most of what has gone on. As the council rules over prophecies, they can still talk about any other part of it, I just hope they take what I said at face value, and don’t go investigating. Last thing I really want is for them to call Sade’s and start questioning her. I know that she will say whatever she needs
Alaina POV I have never been so happy to be home as I am right now! There’s a car waiting for us on the tarmac and I just know Fin is there, he wouldn’t miss welcoming me home! I have been looking forward to seeing him since the day I left, we have never been apart for that long before. At the same time, though, I can't get my mind off Ashton. I shake my head, I need to get him out of there, he is at home in Canada, and I am here, there is no reason for me to be thinking about him. I can't have brain space being taken up by him, I need to focus on things here, but I can’t help wondering... what is he doing right now? I would wonder if he was happy, but he gave that up for me, he really had nothing else to give up? Nothing else that mattered to him? Climbing into the car I see that there's no one else here. Disappointment, disdain, annoyance... the list of how I feel at this moment could go on forever, but all the words have the same basic meaning thing. I’m pissed! It's just the driv
September 2003Ashton POVI am flying into Montreal, so that I can head to Blue River pack and start setting up their security. This trip has been weighing on my mind since I made the agreement with Alpha Johnson. It’s always nerve wracking going to another Alpha’s territory, at least for me it is, but to go there to do a job, means that I have to really mind my P’s and Q’s and make sure nothing goes sideways. When I land there’s, a car waiting to take me up to the pack house. It should take about an hour and a half to two hours, give or take, which isn’t too bad. It seems like most of the packs stay about that far from humans. While this is the ‘St. Bruno’ pack they are actually closer to Mont-Tremblant Park. They run the hotel and casino in the area, and to get to their pack house you have to go up one of the hiking trails. I watch as we drive past fields, an apple orchard, and several shopping malls. The area in genera