Arise

In just a few short hours, the Crescent Pack was making the transition of acquiring new territory and absorbing the remaining Dissent members. We had extended our stay to a few more days to help plan the steps to make the transition as easy as possible. By next week the new members would be initiated in to the pack and Emily would start to ease into her role as Alpha.

Convincing the rest of the pack would be difficult but Emily could manage it.

Her mother had been happy to hear she found her mate though (like her father) was apprehensive about him being a rogue. She was however easier to sway.

Beta Stile had been a thorn in my side from the moment we arrived and remained to be so after hearing the news. He couldn’t dissuade his Alpha but that didn’t stop him from throwing one jab after another at our pack and more specifically, Logan.

We had all gathered for dinner in the Alpha and Luna’s manor: Me, Logan, Ryder, Emily and her parents, Beta Stiles and his family.

It had started off well. Until Beta Stiles opened his mouth.

He took a sip of his wine and set it down with a clink. “So, what do you suppose is going to happen next?” He looked at Logan for a response.

I set my fork down. “I don’t see why we should stay here much longer. We leave tomorrow.”

Stile slid his eyes to me briefly before focusing back on Logan, uninterested. Prick.

“My mate is right,” Logan spoke as he added another bread stick to his plate. “You guys have made a smooth transition. We were only hear to discuss matters of the dispute and since there isn’t one anymore I don’t see why we would need to stay any longer.”

“Yes, but if memory serves, the reason you were called was to provide a number of fighters to put an end to them.” Stiles leaned forwards resting his elbows on the table.

“We found a solution that didn’t cost any lives. Seems like a win to me.”

“Indeed.” He paused. “However, it seems quite peculiar. I mean, how are we supposed to trust anything you say? You had worked with rogues for a couple months, no?”

Logan's jaw tightened.

“Beta Stiles,” Emily warned with a growl. Ryder refused to look anywhere but at his plate, scared to be caught in the middle of it all.

Even after a couple of days, Ryder remained uncomfortable around everyone. Him and the rest of his dissents were still getting used to being around a pack.

“What? If we are making our bed with them, we might as well look through the sheet.” Stiles spoke so nonchalantly. I wanted to punch him in the face.

Talking through her teeth, Emily explained, “As Logan has said, we have found a solution and are attempting a smooth transition. I don’t see why we need to delve into this at the dinner table. They have completed their task. They are free to leave as they wish.”

He leaned backed and stared daringly at Emily. “Have they completed their task? They were supposed to get rid of the problem, not force it into our pack. Seems to me they have caused more bad than good.”

Who was the Alpha here?

At least Emily agreed Stiles was an ass.

She scowled. “Excuse me--”

Alpha Crescent sighed. “Sit down, Emily.”

She scoffed. “Dad--”

“Beta Stiles has a right to speak. At this time, he outranks you.”

There was a moment of dead silence. Everyone had needed to take in that moment to process what her father had said.

The Luna had confusion written all over her face.

Stiles had a damn smirk.

Everyone else, including myself, held our breaths.

Emily shook her head and pushed back. “You can’t be serious, right now. Dad, this is insane.”

He dropped his utensils, irritation visible on ever line of his face. “What do you expect, Emily? You left me no choice but to accept this as our fate. You think I am okay with what you’ve started?” He rubbed his face, exhaustion from the day clear in his movements. He rested his elbows on the table and spoke to Logan. “Look, with the past you’ve had, it’s questionable where your loyalties lie.”

Logan’s only response was to nod.

Emily had been so hopeful, but her mood had been defeated when her father had admit what he really felt about all of this.

Stiles spoke again. “As a concerned member of my pack, am I not allowed to question him? He joined a group of rogues that were terrorizing your pack and yet you decide to take him back without consequence. For all you know, he could be using you too.”

“That shouldn’t concern you,” I spat. I was getting real annoyed of this guy.

“I would like to know if he is bringing what he did to your pack to ours. Unlike you, our pack cannot afford to make childish mistakes."

To hell with bettering pack relations. Logan might have given up defending himself, but I didn't. Val's old pack could kiss my human ass.

I pushed myself off the chair I was sitting on and glared at Stiles across from me. “What my pack does is none of your business just like how your pack business does not include Logan and I. You called us, remember," I crossed my arms over my chest, "fully aware of Logan’s past decisions, you called us and we answered. We came to help you resolve this rogue issue and we have done our jobs.” I turned to face Emily's father. Emily was going to be a better Alpha. “Emily knew she could trust us. She came to me for help. Not Logan, not your Beta, not your Luna, and she sure as hell didn’t go to you.” Might as well drive the nail further into the wall.

"Logan did what he had to do to save his parents, regardless of the consequences. And your disdain towards that shows that you could never do what he did. None of you have gone through what he did. Endured what he has. So do not question his motives or undermine him. My mate went to the rogues to save his parents who were presumed dead. What he did was honorable and that is why he remains Beta. The Dissent have been looking for a home and you refuse to offers yours. Its pathetic. You are no better than the wolves that terrorize other packs." My chest moved up and down furiously from anger.

There.

I had said everything that has been holding me back. I dropped the napkin from my hand and prepared to leave. "If you'll excuse me. I've lost my appetite."

As I walked away, I waited for the sounds of a chair scratching against the floor. Waited for Logan to get up and walk out with me. But no presence followed me.

I walked out with my head held high.