Terrant woke with his cheek vibrating. He groggily reached under his pillow to find the offending buzzing. He pulled out his phone and pressed the side button. The noise and vibrating immediately stopped and the face of the phone lit up. 6 AM. Terrant groaned silently as he buried his head in the pillow.
The meeting went until 1 AM, last night before he called a halt. His nerves were beyond frayed from having to deal with all the arguing that happened yesterday. After Alpha Winters joined their group the meeting should have been planning transport, food, resources, and handing out assignments instead, it became a lot of petty arguments. Terrant rolled over on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
At the latest Terrant expected them to be finished by 9 PM.... at the latest. However, every single thing pertaining to Alpha Winters was put into question by Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman. Like they were taking it in turn to get on everyone's last nerve. Terrant sighed as he recalled the argument that broke out because of the Pack Healers.
"We can have them all meet at Pack City along with the other officers in two days. My Head Healer is planning a presentation for a plan of action and some training so everyone follows the same protocols." Chris said pulling a few papers towards her as she made notes in a red spiral notebook.
It was already past dinner time and the broken table currently had lists, maps, and stacks of folders littered all over it. Cups of fluid and snack wrappers were islands among the sea of paperwork. The whiteboard that was brought in had maps, tactics, and numbers written in multiple colors. Terrant could tell that patience was thinning. He almost groaned out loud when he heard a familiar tsk.
Chris kept writing in her notebook, ignoring Alpha Gray completely. He tsked louder making Alpha Black look up with a dark glare that threatened violence. Alpha Gray cleared his throat while staring at Chris who was still making notes. He cleared his throat even louder which got her attention. Chris paused in her writing and looked up, "Alpha Gray are you coming down with a cold?"
Alpha Gray looked confused at the question. "No, of course not."
"Well then, perhaps a drink of water will help that throat." She said pointing with her red pen at the glass of water in front of Alpha Gray. Immediately she returned to writing in her notebook. Terrant caught Joseph's eye, he smiled obviously enjoying the very confused expression on Alpha Grays face.
"Alpha Winters?" Said Alpha Gray sounding annoyed.
"Yes, Alpha Gray?" Chris said continuing to write.
"Why would your pack host the Healers? And why should my Healers train with your Healers?" Alpha Black started banging his head against the table.
Chris paused, her head moving slightly from side to side reviewing her notes, still wearing the dark shades. "For the same reason we decided all the military be brought to my pack." She started writing again, not bothering to look up as she continued talking. "My pack land is bigger and can accommodate the numbers. Also, the Pack City has a college with a hospital and other facilities that would be useful to the Healers. It is only logical they are brought to Pack City."
"What makes you think your pack Healers are qualified to lead the group in a presentation?"
"How boorish can you be?" Asked Alpha Amari who was looking annoyed and exhausted.
"ME!?" yelled Alpha Gray motioning to Alpha Winters. "What about her! Always assuming she has the best in the field. Not even considering our Healers. Always looking down on us."
Alpha Black looked up from his head banging, a crazed look on his face. "I am beyond tired of your voice. Every little thing needs to have your ANNOYING opinion! Well, I am done with it!" He grabbed a wad of crumpled up paper and pointed threateningly at Alpha Gray. "If you say one more thing I will come over there and rip your voice box out! I am tired and hungry and I cannot stand any more of your tittering!"
Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman immediately stood up, shouting obscenities. Alpha Amari was repeatedly shouting "Sit down now!" to Alpha Gray, and Alpha Hernandez had fallen asleep. Everyone else was either attempting to calm them down or was actively making it worse. Even Terrant knew that lack of real food and sleep had caused the worst bout so far.
Then through the din of shouting Alphas, and objects being thrown, there was a female voice that said, "He is right."
Everyone stopped and looked down the table at Alpha Winters who was still writing with her red pen in her notebook.
"What?!" Said Alpha Gray, just as confused as the rest of them.
"He has every right to question me." She crossed off something and continued writing. "Very few of you know the facilities and resources at my disposal. Even with the information I have given you today. I can understand how it would be hard to comprehend."
She finally stopped writing and looked up at the group of male Alphas. Many of which were close to shifting in the council room. "Alpha Gray." She said placing both her hands on the table and turning toward him. "I do not have the impression that my Healers are superior to yours. I do know the kind of training they went through and the protocol that they are already working on to make sure everyone is practicing the same way and giving the same care." Alpha Winters turned her head to Alpha Black. "I understand your concerns, however, we need to be practical. First of all my pack has the most Healers. They have gone to human medical school along with 2 additional years specializing in Werewolves physiology and diseases. Many of my Healers have been with me since my first battle and therefore they are well versed in battle injuries and the best ways to save critical patients." She shifted her gaze again focusing on Alpha Gray. "This is not a time to boost our ego with 'mine is better than yours'."
Almost immediately the doors opened and servers walked in with steaming plates and dishes. "I notified Garrett to alert the kitchen that we were ready for dinner. Let's all have some food and then finish this meeting up." Alpha Winters began moving her different stacks of paper around to accommodate the food. Terrant stood there in amazement as everyone else started following suit. Finally, when plates were placed and the servants left, Alpha Winters looked up at Alpha Gray again, "Thank you for your question."
This process repeated over the next 4 hours before Terrant stopped it. All the other males including Joseph were very grumpy and annoyed at Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman's antics. Terrant was very impressed with Alpha Winters. She answered every annoying question, often times making them look like idiots for not thinking before talking, however, she never called them out on it.
Terrant's alarm buzzed again and he groaned as he sat up in bed. 'To work out or not to work out, that is the question' his wolf said to him blearily. Terrant stood up and stretched, his joints popping and cracking as he twisted here and there. Terrant couldn't skip his work out. Especially after last night, he had to blow off some steam. He walked over to his work out bag and pulled his gym shorts and a tee shirt out. After getting dressed he put his shoes on before his alarm went off again. He quickly turned it off while plugging in his ear buds and turning on some upbeat music, hoping it would wake him up. He pulled his work out bag over his shoulder and left his room quietly.
He passed a few housekeepers on his way down to the Alpha's private gym but no one else seemed to be awake. As he walked past Joseph's room, which was connected to his private gym, he wondered if it would be worth it to throw water on him while he slept. His wolf snickered at the idea, but Terrant thought better of it. Starting a prank war with Joseph can only end in tears or losing a limb.
He walked to the next door and pulled his key out to unlock the gym when he noticed a small strip of light coming from the bottom of the door. He immediately opened it, wondering if Joseph woke up early to work out as well, then he saw her.
Her back was turned to him as she repeatedly punched a large red bag. Her silver hair in a thick braid down her back and her light tan skin bunched and relaxed as her muscles moved to fight the inanimate object. She was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her chest, back and over her exposed stomach. She was wearing a thick black sports bra and tight black leggings all of which exposed how fit she was. Terrant stood there shocked for a moment as his ear buds continued to blast music.
Then Terrants bag slipped off his shoulders and onto the floor with a loud thump. He immediately looked down and picked up his bag pulling his ear buds out at the same time. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to sneak up on you." He looked back up and Chris was facing him with sunglasses over her eyes. Terrant brows pulled together in confusion, even with her back turned he was sure she didn't have shades on a second ago.
Before he could ask about the shades she motioned to the lanyard with the silver gym key he was holding. Still breathing hard she said, "Part of Joseph's private gym membership?"
Terrant glanced down and smirked. Obviously, Joseph must have given her a key to his private gym, as well. "Yeah, Joseph gave it to me after he beat me three times while sparing. He said I needed to work on my technique."
"Joseph gave it to me cause he lost a canopy race." Terrant was about to ask when she continued. "It is a race across treetops. Very popular in my pack."
"Oh!" Terrant nodded. Then his brow furrowed again as he imagined werewolves swinging from tree to tree like Tarzan.
"Whatever you're thinking... it's not like that." Chris said smiling at Terrant. "You'll just have to see it for yourself."
"I guess so," Terrant said walking to the bench along the wall and putting his bag on it. "I hope you don't mind if I work out as well?"
Chris shrugged and turned around shaking her arms out before she started punching the bag again. Terrant pulled the tape from his bag and began wrapping his wrists, sneaking glances at Chris.
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however, if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-