The One 146

THE ONE 146

Chapter 146: Alpha Meeting

Hunter

I’m still riding the high of seeing my son and actually watching him react to me this morning. His picture is already framed and on my desk when Sophie walks in for the Alpha meeting. I immediately pull her into my lap and begin playing with my son, knowing that he’s enjoying himself as much as I am.

Sophie leans back against me as I dial into the video meeting. We’re the first ones on, which is fine. It gives me a moment to enjoy my mate, kissing her neck while I play with my son. I realize that before long, I won’t be able to do both at the same time, at least not like this.

Amelia joins the call next, and I’m surprised to see that Calvin is still in her pack. It’s been several days since he arrived. She looks more rested, but no less stressed.

“Hey, Sophie. Hello Hunter.”

“1

“Hello Amelia, Alpha Calvin,” I say, using his title since he and I don’t have the same relaxed relationship that Amelia and I have. I see him frown at that, but he’s never acted like he wanted a less formal, more relaxed relationship with me. Ever.

“Hey, Amelia, I have a question for you before the others join. Dr. Caspian is going to go to Dutton’s pack to check on Tiffany and Tammi. I asked if he’d be willing to come check on you as well, and he’s happy to do it. I don’t remember Dad’s, or your pack now, having an obstetrician

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“We don’t and I’d be grateful to have Dr. Caspian come check my daughter.”

“I’m far enough behind you, Amelia, that maybe when you get closer to your due date, he and Brooklyn can come stay there so he’s there for your delivery.”

I see relief wash over her face. “That would be fantastic, Soapy. Thank you.”

I’m not sure that Amelia realizes that she slipped back into her kid name for my mate, but it seems to make both of them happy.

“Allison and Nikki are coming next weekend. He’s going to check them over and then he’ll head to your packs,” Sophie tells them.

“Oh, thank the goddess! If Kayce hounds me one more time about needing to see a doctor, I’m going to put him in the doghouse,” Allison says as she and Kayce join the call.

“I will not apologize for caring about you and our pup,” he says sternly. I watch as Allison turns away from her mate, rolling her eyes at the camera.

“Hey, you want to see something incredible?” I ask, excited to share my news.

“Yeah!” Kayce says.

“Don’t we always,” Robin says as he and Nikki join the call.

“Don’t we always what?” Dutton asks, as he, Tiffany, and Tammi join as well.

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I grab the picture of my son, seeing Sophie smiling at me as I turn it and find the camera.

“Ohhhh!” all the Lunas on the call say, possibly Amelia too, but I‘ m not paying attention. I’m too excited to tell them what happened.

Sophie’s arm comes around my neck.

“So, my son and I play this game…”

“Hide and seek,” Kayce says.

“YES!” I exclaim.

“Move that game,” he murmurs against Allison’s hair. I can tell he’s playing with his pup now.

“So, look at this,” I say, making sure they can see the image of our son. “That’s Huntington. He moved to where I was talking to him and Shaw began purring at him.”

“What?” I hear from multiple people as several Alpha faces push closer to their video screens.

“It was really amazing. He even had Dr. Felicity hold the wand while he played hide and seek, and we could see Hunt moving to Hunter’s hands.”

“Oh, we’re so doing that when we’re there,” Kayce says excitedly.

“Us too?” Robin asks.

“Yep, you too!” Sophie says.

Dutton growls as Ezra and Margot join the call. “My pups aren’t

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big enough yet.”

“What are we looking at?” Ezra frowns, looking at my screen.

“A baby,” Margot says. “I’m guessing that’s your pup, Sophie?”

I explain again about the picture, before pulling it back, looking at my son once more before setting the frame down and focusing on the meeting. My hands automatically go to Sophie’s stomach and my game with my son begins again.

“So, who wants to begin?” Robin asks.

“We have four vacant packs. One is close to me, that’s Owen’s old pack. Two are closer to you, Ezra, Joshua and Elias‘ old packs, and one borders Alpha Amelia, that’s Alaric’s old pack.”

“How are his surviving pack members, Alpha Amelia?” Ezra asks her.

Calvin opens his mouth to answer, but she jumps in. “We’re still assessing which ones need sanctuary and which ones might be trying to undermine me for taking revenge on their Alpha,” she

says.

“Smart,” Robin says.

“And what about Owen’s old pack members?” Dutton asks.

“I still have the majority of them,” I say.

“Yeah, the others are spread between mine and Robin’s packs. I don’t know about you, Hunter, but my group wants to go home,” Kayce says.

I look at Sophie who nods. “Yeah, they miss their home. They Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

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don’t miss Owen, but they miss the livelihood that they left behind,” she says.

“Same here,” Nikki agrees.

“Do we know what’s going on with Joshua’s and Elias‘ packs?” Dutton asks.

“No, and that’s a good question. We took out his warriors and his Beta when he attacked,” I say.

“Margot and I have talked about it and we’re going to go to both packs. We’ll be taking Luna June as well, since they were the Lunas of those packs,” Ezra says.

“When are you planning to do that?” I ask.

“Actually, I heard Zahn set a date to come to your pack, so I figured that would be the safest time to bring my mate and her mother to the other packs. Less chance for a surprise attack.”

“If you want to wait until we’re back, I can send some warriors to go with you,” Robin says.

“No, Margot thinks the pack, or most of them, will rally around her and her mother,” he says, looking at Margot.

“Not everyone liked having Joshua as their Alpha. Those people will be looking for a new leader. The same is true for my parents‘ pack. Having my mother there, letting them see that she’s still alive, will go a long way to getting them to agree to either come with us, or allow us to have a competition for the pack’s Alpha.”

“Are you planning to compete, Margot?” I ask her.

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She looks at Ezra, before looking away. “I haven’t decided yet. But apparently the precedence has been set. Isn’t that right, Alpha Amelia.”

“Yes, it has,” Amelia says.

“Which reminds me, did everyone read my proposal?” Nikki asks, jumping in.

“Yes,” I say, smiling.

“All in favor,” she says, making me laugh.

“Wait, wait, wait! What proposal?” Calvin asks.

“That she–wolves be allowed to take leadership positions in the pack,” Amelia says. “Since you started this, I’m sure you’re in agreement.” Her tone is still icy with her mate. I’m guessing they haver,‘t come to any agreements between them.

I watch Calvin press his lips tightly together, not willing to fight with his mate in front of us.

“So, all in favor?” Nikki asks again.

“I already made a she–wolf my Gamma, so I’d be a hypocrite to say no,” I say raising my hand.

“My mate would kick my ass to the moon and back if I said no,” Robin says, smiling at his mate.

“You’d love every minute of it,” she grumbles softly, making him chuckle.

I watch as Allison looks at Kayce, who smiles as he pretends to think about it. “What do you think my love?” he finally asks her.

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“I think you know the right answer, Kayce. You don’t need me to tell you,” she says, her eyebrow going up in challenge.

He doesn’t look away from her as he raises his hand in agreement.

“I agree, of course,” Amelia says.

Ezra looks at Margot. “I hope I don’t regret this, but I agree as well.” When Margot smiles at him, I watch his body relax.

“Well, we don’t need your agreement, Alpha Calvin, but what is your response?”

“I say no. I see what it’s doing to my mate. I don’t like the toll it’s taking on her,” he says, and I sigh. He still doesn’t get it.

“Okay, well, I’m disappointed that it’s not unanimous, but it’s still approved to take effect. Therefore, if we open these

competitions for these packs, she–wolves should also be eligible to participate.”

“I suggest that we start with Owen’s pack. Yes, it’s closest to me, but it also impacts Robin and Kayce’s packs. We need to send these wolves home. I have no problem keeping them if that’s the long–term plan, I can build new housing, but if they are only going to be temporarily in my pack, then I’d prefer to get them home more quickly.”

“Agreed,” Kayce and Robin say.

“What about Alaric’s pack?” Amelia asks.

“Since we don’t know what Joshua and Elias‘ packs are like, I say we put Alaric’s pack up second. Both Dutton and Amelia are

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at risk while that pack remains vacant,” I say.

“Agreed,” everyone, including Calvin says.

“We’ll get the information on the other packs in time for our next Alpha meeting,” Ezra says.

“In the meantime, what’s the plan for creating a competition for these packs?” Robin asks.

We decide to have a gathering at Owen’s pack, announcing to everyone in our packs that a competition will be held for those pack lands.

“It’ll have to be a sudden death competition,” Kayce says.

“Yes, you lose, you’re out. Then go in a round robin format with the winners until only one is left standing,” Dutton says.

“Let’s meet in two weeks. Spread the word to your pack members and when we reconvene, we should have an idea of how many people want to compete.”

“Oh, this is so exciting!” Nikki says.

“Why is that, my little Luna? You’re not leaving me to take over another pack,” Robin growls and while I know he didn’t mean it as a direct jab at Calvin, I’m sure that arrow hit home.

“Are you kidding? This competition will be fierce! I just know most of our Betas will compete. What a great opportunity for them. And I can’t wait to tell our she–wolves that they are eligible as well. What a fantastic time in our history!” she says excitedly.

I look at Sophie and I can’t help but think that all of this is

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possible because one little Alpha she–wolf ran off and became the legend that everyone else tried to follow. My sweet little Luna, my mate, is responsible for all this change.