Chapter 147: Chapter 124-1

Chapter 124-1 I smiled at Luna Beatrice as Finlay and I took our seats for the second day of the Alpha meeting. According to the plan, we were to discuss trade opportunities between packs today, but because of what happened yesterday, the plans had changed. Finlay was a bundle of tensed, packed nerves. I had tried to get him to relax in every way I could think of. It worked for a while, but before I knew it, it all came right back to him. The only solution was to get through the day and get some closure. I knew he was afraid that neither of our plans would work and the only option left was a hostile solution. The idea scared me as well, but I had faith that others saw how truly horrible the situation in the Ocean Shore pack was. The stage had already been set to continue the council’s hearing and as soon as everyone was in place, the head of the cound called Alpha Ryan to come forth. He walked up on the stage and took the same spot as Alpha Lars had done the previous day.

“We have heard Alpha Lars‘ accusations towards your pack, Alpha Ryan. Please, the floor is yours and once you are done, the council may have questions for both you and Alpha Lars,” the head of the council said and then took his seat.

“Thank you. I have to say it is a sad day when 1, as Alpha, have to step onto this stage and defend how I chose to rule my pack,”

Alpha Ryan started. His emphasis was on the word ‘my‘. “Since when do we get involved with how others run their pack? Should I petition the council every time I don’t agree with how another Alpha rules their pack? If that is the case, we will have to prolong the Alpha meeting by a couple of months. It is tradition to let each Alpha run his pack as he chooses. I think it’s sad that Alpha Lars has taken the steps he has, but I know it’s not his own doing. No, this is all because of my brother. He wants to take revenge for me suggesting, in an attempt to protect my former pack members, that our packs should be unified. My brother took offence and is now out for vengeance. He isn’t brave enough to do it on his own, so he is using his allies to do it. It’s pathetic and a coward’s way. If he wanted to strip me of my Alpha status, he should challenge me.” There was silence as he stopped speaking.

“That is the worst defence I have ever heard, was it even a defence?‘ mindlinked Finlay.

‘I don’t know. I don’t know what to say,’ he linked back, obviously as shocked as I was.

“Erhm, was that all?” the head of the council asked.

“Yes,” Alpha Ryder told him.

“Well, yes, good then. Do we have questions from the council?”

“How many members are left in your pack, Alpha Ryan?” a man on the council asked. We all wanted to know the answer to the question.

“I don’t see what that has to do with things,” Ryan said, squirming a little.

“Please, just answer the question, and let me remind you it is a crime to lie to the council,” the head of the council said. For a moment, it looked like Ryan was about to refuse and I wondered what would happen if he did. Then he spoiled it all by opening his mouth.

“Twenty–five,” he said.

“Twenty–five families? It’s not much, but I thought it would be worse,” the man who had asked commented.

“No. Not twenty–five families, twenty–five individuals,” Ryan corrected him. There was a stunned silence and then a murmur. I could hear comments from a few rows behind me.

“Twenty–five wolves? Is that even a pack?” one Alpha asked.

“I don’t know. No wonder they aren’t having pups. There is no stability in a group of twenty–five. How are they even supposed to protect their borders?” another one answered the first.

“True. I’m guessing not all of them are warriors, so they may have even fewer to cover patrols, Even if we don’t take away his Alpha title and disband the pack, another pack will overrun them within months,” the first one said. I could see how pale Finlay had got.

1/2 Chapter 124-1 Are you still with me?” I asked in a mindlink.