Terrant quickly went back to his room, stripping off his clothes he hopped in the shower and doused himself with evergreen body wash. He closed his eyes as he enjoyed the warm water and the woodsy smell. Then the thought of having to tell Joseph and Ian about the embarrassing failure at the Winters pack came back to mind. It made his stomach twist with anxiety. 'What are we going to do?' He thought to himself as his wolf sent him thoughts of comfort. No matter how much him and his wolf disagree, they always agree on one thing and that is to protect their pack. He shook the thoughts from his head and focused on getting himself clean. He didn't want to stay in the shower for so long that Joseph would come to check on him. He can only stand so many of Joseph's awkward sexual jokes.
Once he scrubbed himself clean and rinsed all of the soap off, he climbed out of the shower and toweled off. "Terrant?!" He heard a voice from his bedroom, of course it was Joseph. "Ian is going to have a panic attack if you don't come out soon." Terrant could hear Joseph going through his stuff on his shelves.
"Don't touch anything!" He yelled through the bathroom door, then he started muttering as he started putting on fresh clothes, "stupid meddling wolf can't even wait 10 minutes."
"I can hear you!" Joseph called out, "And it was closer to 20 minutes. To be honest I would have been fine waiting for you, but your Beta is such a worry wart. It kills the vibe. Poor Peter has already gone to the bathroom 7 times in the last 2 hours. I was worried he might have developed a seriously tiny bladder, but apparently it was to get a little peace from your anxious Beta."
Terrant opened the bathroom door to find Joseph laying on his bed, flipping through one of the books that was on his bedside table. He rolled his eyes at Joseph as he used the towel to dry his hair. "There's absolutely no privacy when you come over."
Joseph jumped up from the bed, "You look lovely darling, now can we go? I think your Beta needs to go for a run, or a massage, or something more stimulating." Joseph opened the bedroom door and Terrant walked out, tossing his towel over his shoulder into the dirty clothes bin.
He heard a gasp as they both walked out into the hall. Two females were holding towels and staring at him and Joseph in horror as they exited the bedroom. He was confused until he saw the mischievous smirk on Joseph's face. He was about to explain when they both turned and hurried down the hall. "Great, now I will be called in front of the council." He turned on his heel and headed to his office.
Joseph chuckled as he followed him down the hall. "We would have a lovely wedding full of rose petals and blue silk!"
Terrant ignored him as he pulled his conference room door open. Ian was pacing around his desk, muttering to himself. Peter, Joseph's Beta, was at the long conference table, sending concerned glances at Ian. As soon as they walked in Peter looked relieved and Ian rushed forward.
"How did it go? Did you meet with him?" Ian said.
Joseph went to sit next to his Beta while Terrant ushered Ian into a seat across from them. "How long have you been in here Ian?"
"He has been here since you left for your last meeting." Peter said as he pushed a few documents before Terrant.
"I am fine." Ian said quickly. "I was just worried that your last meeting didn't go well, because you only go to the indoor gym when you are trying to work off steam."
Peter cocked his head, as though he now understood Ian's crazy behavior. Peter was a good looking wolf with impeccable taste, like his Alpha. He was Joseph's cousin and the family resemblance was obvious; the only difference was his light brown hair with light blue eyes.
Joseph leaned back in his chair and pulled his feet up on the conference table. "So who got your boxers in a twist this time?"
Terrant sighed, resolved to just get the embarrassing story over with, he started riffling through the paperwork in front of him as he said, "Alpha Winters." He heard a thump and looked up to find Joseph's feet had fallen off the desk. Joseph and Peter were looking at him with their mouths open, "What?"
Joseph pulled himself together first, "So you met with Alpha Winters? I thought we were going to meet him together."
"He was on my list of people to contact. I was going to give him the general information and set up a time for all of us to meet officially-"
"Wait, you were?" Joseph said emphasizing the 'were' as he leaned across the table, "did you actually meet Alpha Winters?"
Terrant's face turned a light pink, "Well... no. I didn't get a chance."
Peter and Joseph exchanged a serious look before Joseph turned back to Terrant and asked, "Did you ruin the library too?"
Now it was Terrant's turn to look surprised. "What? How do you know that?"
"You ruined Alpha Winters library?!" Ian said, looking back and forth between Joseph and Terrant.
Joseph sat back pulling his hands behind his head, and smirked, "That library has had more rampaging Alphas in it then can be counted on both your hands." He paused with a knowing expression before he continued, "I know Alpha Winters."
"You know Alpha Winters? Why didn't you tell us?" Ian said looking more confused and slightly hurt.
"You never asked. You should both know that I make it a point to have some sort of relationship with all the packs in the area. So it was logical to-"
"Then that means-" Terrant said pulling the pieces together, "That means that you signed it?" he said pointing at Joseph.
Joseph gave him a wide grin, "Not at first. I tell you what- I completely massacred that library, and it cost me a pretty penny."
"How long have you known Alpha Winters?" Ian asked.
"About 6 years now. Ever since I became Alpha."
"Why do they insist on signing a blood pact?" Terrant asked.
"They what?!" Ian said, his expression now somewhere between confusion and anger.
Joseph studied Terrant for a moment, "Why don't you tell us what happened first and then I will tell you," He paused grinding his teeth as he struggled to say, "what I can."
Terrant glanced at Ian who was still looking angrily confused, and Peter who had no emotion as he folded his arms across his chest, ready to listen. He sighed and began his story from the beginning, telling the embarrassing tale in great detail. He was sure that Peter and Joseph knew something about Alpha Winters that they were not telling him, or were not able to tell him.
After he finished, Joseph and Peter had thoughtful expressions and Ian looked horrified.
"You bowed to Alpha Winters Omega and Beta?" Peter asked.
"That is what you took from it?!" Ian said, he tried to pull his expression into a blank mask, but Ian was never good about hiding his emotions. "Does this mean that we cannot count on Alpha Winters support? What if we apologized? Well I mean you already did that, but maybe a written apology? Or something...I mean... do we have enough warriors to beat this rogue group without Alpha Winters?"
"Calm down." Peter said, growing concerned as Ian seemed like he was about to have a panic attack. "So far this doesn't mean anything."
"Doesn't mean ANYTHING?!" Ian yelled across the table, "I'm sure you understand that we will be significantly outnumbered without Alpha Winters." Ian turned toward Terrant his face contorted in anger. "You should have brought one of us with you! We should have planned the meeting carefully, but you only focus on getting things done instead of doing certain things with tact. So....Thank you, for insulting our only hope between us and annihilation!" He stood up and walked toward Terrants desk, seething, his anger rolling off of him in waves.
If Terrant felt embarrassed before it was nothing to how he felt now. His wolf growled in response to Ian's outburst, but Terrant suppressed him easily. It is second nature to not have an Alpha's actions questioned, especially by his subordinates, after an outburst like that an Alpha would be hard pressed to stop his wolf from stating his dominance. However, after the outburst earlier, Terrants wolf seemed to be satisfied with Terrant handling his Beta.
Joseph and Peter exchanged knowing looks again, and Joseph tilted his head at Ian. "Maybe we should take a break, and cool down."
Terrant glanced at Ian who was leaning against the desk facing away from them. Terrant shook his head, "No, tell me how you know Alpha Winters."
Joseph raised his eyebrows and glanced again at Peter, obviously sending a silent message, because Peter got up immediately pulling out his phone without a word and walked out of the office. "You want to hear this Ian?" Joseph called over to him.
Ian shifted, "I can hear you fine from here."
Joseph rolled his eyes, "Of course you can, but do you really want to pout over there the whole time? I mean we both know that Terrant did not handle the...situation...very well, but we also know that, that is just the way he is. Very logical, emotionally detached when it comes to business, which is why he needs you. A wolf with his emotions written on his sleeve."
Ian shifted again, Joseph nodded at Terrant and then at Ian. Terrant took the hint, "I'm sorry Ian. You're right, that sometimes I don't think about tact, and apparently I don't have a lot of it. Please forgive me."
Terrant felt his wolf shift uncomfortably, he was apologizing for a lot today, he felt like a young pup who was caught tearing apart the couch pillows, or peeing on the carpet. His wolf huffed in amusement at his comparison and sent encouraging thoughts. Even though the bowing and apologizing felt like it was rubbing against Terrants nature, he also felt the necessity of being humble, especially when he was in the wrong.
Ian didn't move, the air filled with tension as they waited for his response. Terrant was about to open his mouth again to beg Ian's forgiveness when Ian pushed off the edge of the desk and walked slowly back to the conference table. He sat in the chair next to Terrant and looked expectedly at Joseph. Terrant could tell that he and Ian were going to have to rehash this little spat later, he nodded at Joseph to continue.
Joseph smiled, "Well glad we can all be buddies again!" Ian grunted in irritation as Joseph continued, "Or as close as possible." Joseph rolled his neck and popped his knuckles before folding his arms on the table. "So when I became Alpha, I made a point of getting to know all the Alphas surrounding my territory. Alpha Winters territory runs along my northern border, so I sent out inquiries and called multiple times. It took months to set up a meeting and even when I did. They presented me with the initial paperwork which included the blood pact and a peace treaty between our packs. I was insulted, offended, incensed, blah blah blah. I lost control and shifted destroying most of the library. I left immediately with the same thought as you, 'if Alpha Winters didn't want to see me without having to sign a contract then I didn't want to see...him.' So I went along my way, but I kept coming back to it. Why is Alpha Winters so secretive? What were they hiding? Or protecting?" Joseph paused for a second as he took a breath, "Anyway, I scheduled another appointment... after I had paid for the damages I caused. This time I signed the contract and met with Alpha Winters; we had a rocky start after that first meeting." Joseph smiled at memories that only he could see, "However, I have gotten to know Alpha Winters well enough to call...him... my close friend."
Terrant was about to ask why he paused, when Ian stepped in, "Is that all? Do you have any information on the numbers the Winters pack has? Their resources? Anything on Alpha Winters that we should know?"
Joseph forced a smile as he said, "I cannot answer any questions about the pack or their Alpha as it is in violation of the contract I signed, and I really don't feel like bleeding to death all over this lovely carpet."
Just then Peter entered the office, he nodded to Joseph who smiled and turned back to Terrant, "You are not the first to act out in front of Alpha Winters, and thankfully they have been....forgiving and-" He paused looking for the right word, "understanding. They understand that signing the blood pact is a risk especially for an Alpha, but trust me they have very good reason to require it. Anyway, I had Peter make an appointment with Alpha Winters, and I will present our case to...him, and invite him to the war council."
"Do you think he will agree?" Ian asked.
"Alpha Winters has many reasons to agree to meeting the war council, and many reasons why...he might decide otherwise." Peter said still standing by the door.
"How cryptic." Ian said irritated, "Wait!" As he finally realized the implications of what Peter said, "You signed the contract too?"
Peter smiled, "Yes. Eventually."
Ian sat back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. Terrant looked at Joseph who was sharing another cryptic look with Peter. "Ian why don't you and Peter go down to the kitchen and bring up dinner for all of us."
Ian snapped out of his thought, "Oh, sure. Why don't we all go down and eat together?"
Joseph chuckled, "I'm sure that if anymore of the females in your pack see Terrant and I together it might force an emergency council meeting."
Terrant groaned putting his head on the table. "Don't ask, just go." Terrant said waving them out of the room. Ian apparently thought that was best as well because he immediately left with Peter shutting the door behind them.
"Is Alpha Winters like the stories that we have heard?" Terrant murmured, he head still on the table.
"Hmm... like which stories? I can only confirm certain things."
"Oh I don't know." Terrant said in frustration. "Like does he drink the blood of his enemies? Does he defile virgin females of territories that he has conquered? Is he really the strongest Alpha of our generation? And how does he have an Omega?!" Terrant knew that some of the questions sounded ridiculous, but his uncertain state, he felt anything was possible of the voice that emanated from that office.
Joseph chuckled, which made Terrant look up at him, "That is a wide variety of rumors and stories. Although I haven't heard the defiling of virgins. I will have to tell them that one."
"Joseph!" Terrant said, concern in his voice. He sat up, "Can you be serious? Maybe I should come with you, and I can apologize properly to him."
"You would have to sign the contract."
Terrant looked hard at the wood grains on the conference table, "I might not trust Alpha Winters, but I trust you. So if needed I would sign the contract."
Terrant looked up at Joseph who was studying him. They stared at each other for a minute until Joseph said, "Even though I think you could handle it. It might be better if I talk to... him alone. I have a feeling that...he... will need more convincing than the others."
"Why?"
A muscle twitched in Joseph's cheek, he looked as though he was struggling to say something. "Let's just say, Alpha Winters has a lot to lose, and even more to protect." Joseph paused studying the conference table as well, "But I can put some of your fears to rest. Alpha Winters is very.... Accomplished.... He... has a formidable pack, he has taken over territories but only if they threatened the Winters pack first. He... does not drink blood and he does not rape virgins." Joseph face contorted and then he burst out laughing.
"Is it really that funny?"
Joseph was wiping his eyes with his hands as he continued to laugh, "You have no idea." Joseph finally got a hold of himself and continued, "So his Omega is very...uh... special and was found under....special circumstances. To be honest she is very secretive herself, she doesn't share a lot about her life or what particular abilities she possess and Alpha Winters wouldn't tell me anyway... even if Alpha Winters did tell me, I couldn't tell you."
Terrant nodded, "Okay, I get it. What about my last question? Do you think Alpha Winters is the strongest Alpha of our generation?"
Joseph's looked hard at Terrant, finally saying with a deadly serious voice, "yes."
Terrant looked away thinking hard. What would it mean for his pack to become involved with this Alpha? Will he be putting his pack at risk? If they beat the threat of the rogues then will the Winter pack become a new threat? He felt his stomach turn in anxiety as he turned back to Joseph with his final question. "Is Alpha Winters dangerous?"
Joseph grinned widely showing off his sharp canine teeth, "Absolutely."
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-