Gamma No More - Book 3

As she stepped into the tent, her guards halted outside to give her privacy, but she also paused upon realising that there were others already inside. It’s not that she had forgotten about Henry; it’s just that with all the other pressing matters at hand, she had pushed the matter to the back of her mind.

“You?”

The shock in Henry’s voice is clear.

“That’s Lycan Antonia to you,”

Liam growled at his side but refrains from pushing Henry to his knees at the look on Toni’s face and her raised hand.

“Have you eaten?”

The normality of Toni’s words even strikes her as odd as if she were a hostess, rather than hours after a bloody battle.

She signals to Henry to take a seat on one of the temporary chairs as she takes the other. Between the witches and the other Alphas, she can’t imagine who supplied all the equipment, but she has never felt so grateful to sit down.

“They brought me food, thank you. I’ve eaten more than I expected in the circumstances.”

He answered before continuing quickly

“I didn’t mean any insult, Lycan Antonia, just I don’t know who I expected it to be.”

“None taken, Gamma, we met under very different circumstances before. I hope Susan was well when you left her.”

Gamma Henry looks unsettled at her question, looking down at the floor, leaving her feeling anxious about the response, but before she can ask further, Felix walks in with food.

“Alpha, you’ve been avoiding the medics. I should check on any injuries you have and whether I need to send anyone over?”

“I’m good Felix.” Her tone is slightly dismissive, more from tiredness than any other reason.

Felix pursed his lips. He had seen the injury earlier, and she hadn’t stopped to eat or rest since she shifted on the battlefield.

Karl had tasked him with getting her to the medics for a review, not because of the injury, but more because of the forced shift and any effect it may have had on her.

He had just left out the key part of how he could achieve that, knowing the Alpha would fight the need for medical attention to be given to her.

Felix glances briefly at Henry before continuing via mind link.

‘Alpha, the Beta, insisted that you get checked over as soon as possible and some visitors would also like to speak to you along with Alphas Lance, Joseph and Dimitri.’

Toni ran her hands over her face. Fatigue filled every part of her body. All she wanted to do was rest, but that looked like it would be hours before it became a possibility.

A first shift always drains a wolf, but this felt nothing like the shift when she gained Tyra, this felt worse, so much worse.

She guessed it was not unexpected; she did, after all, grow substantially in one brief moment, and that was bound to drain anyone’s body; suddenly she realised why Karl had assigned guards. Goddess, love that wolf. He had realised what she did not, that she would be vulnerable until after she had rested.

Her eyes landed longingly at the food in front of her. Everyone seemed to want a piece of her.

“I’ll come out”

Felix nods as Toni rises wearily to her feet, the smallest of wobbles apparent.

“Lycan Antonia, you need to rest and eat.”

Henry’s voice refocused her thoughts back to him as he gave Felix a knowing look. Even he could see how tired she looked.

“He’s right.” Felix acknowledged.

“Everyone bar you have eaten at least one meal, even the prisoners.”

“I’ll take him to the mess tent and bring him back when you are free. It’s not like he can get far.” Felix confirmed.

“I’ll ask the rest to meet you here, but I’ll send in the Medics first.”

Toni nods and sits back gratefully, forgetting briefly her concern over Henry’s reaction to her asking about Susan.

Not long after the Medic had left after cleaning her wounds and advising her to get some rest, Dimitri, Joseph and Lance came in along with Leif.

“I’d get up, but honestly, I just sat down. Please, all take a seat.”

Toni finishes the food in front of her. It had gone cold but still tasted like heaven.

“I hear congratulations are in order. The four of you, plus just over two hundred wolves, stopped civil war from breaking out. Pretty impressive.”

There’s humour in Leif’s voice, but Toni is just too tired to appreciate it.

“Leif, I appreciate the congratulations, but what can we do for you?

It’s been a long day, and I’d prefer the conversation be blunt and to the point.”

“Apologies Toni, we came to offer help if you need it.

Also, the hackers got a hit briefly from Tane’s phone, only once, six hours ago, but it wasn’t from the battlefield, it was in the Neutral zone, just outside Rycaprise.

You need to be careful. Whoever is masterminding this may still be out there.”

Toni started looking at her list of ranked wolves that are officially prisoners. The only two that aren’t here but are on the list are Darius and Alpha Nate.

Wearily she let out her breath before turning to Leif

“Are they sure?”

“They called me the moment they got the hit, so they were pretty positive and haven’t been wrong for me before.

It was stationary for thirty minutes before going offline. I sent Thralls there, but they saw no wolf. ”

Toni groans she had assumed the war would have brought both sides to it.

There was a heavy weight of disappointment resting on her shoulders, that everything they had done was for nothing if this mystery person got away, and worse than that, while it hadn’t been a conscious decision, she had just shown her hand.

The news would get out that Lycans were back, which could send this mystery person underground.

“Toni” Lance looks at her carefully

“As much as it would speed the process along, you know you can’t accept Leif’s offer of help.

The witches we can justify based on they are providing a service and they have an interest in the missing girl, but vampires…” He takes a breath and looks at Leif.

“I mean no disrespect, Lord Leif.

I’ve heard many a good thing about you in the Neutral Zone and that you are a fair and just man to trade with.

But there’s a lot of distrust of vampires among wolves and I don’t think this is the time to fix that misunderstanding.

And if we let them question prisoners, people could take it as them being in control.

We will lose respect and there were already rumours of Toni being linked to vampires, which we know are not true, but let’s not fuel the rumour mill.”

“I have to agree with Lance,” Dimitri added, and Toni can see Joseph nodding in the background.

“I am more than happy to deal with Lord Leif and do so regularly, but that’s in the Neutral Zone. Here, we are on werewolf sovereign territory, so you need to be careful.”

Leif smiled wryly

“You’ve picked some excellent advisors to guide you, Toni. I would heed their advice and name them as founding members of your council.”

“My council?” Toni looks confused.

“From what I’ve been told, the King submitted to you, in front of every major pack Alpha, doesn’t matter whose side they were on

Whether you let him rule as your regent or you rule directly is your choice, but the point is, you are the new leader.

It’s you who now controls the werewolf territory.

In all my years of living, I’ve seen different systems of running areas come and go, feudal, democratic, and some variations of each one, but appointing a council of advisors you trust is an important first step.”

Toni looks at the Alphas in front of her.

“He isn’t wrong, just as an Alpha decides on their Betas etc, it’s a logical first step.” Joseph shrugged.

“I tried hinting at the fact you they will see you as a leader,” Dimitri grins mischievously

Toni closes her eyes before speaking

“Leif, you bloodsucking parasite, have I expressed my dislike of you recently?”

Leif roared with laughter

“I rather like you too, even if you smell like a mangy wet dog right now.”

Lance and Joseph look between them a little shocked and Dimitri just smiled

“I will take heed of the advice offered and head out, but you have my number if things change, or if you just want to talk.

And Iris and Alaric send their regards. She’s a stable newborn, no ill effects from her unconventional start. I thought you deserved some good news.

Alpha Lance, Alpha Joseph, if you need help anytime, feel free to reach out. I am happy to make introductions for you if you need them.

Dimitri, until our next Neutral zone meeting”

Leif inclined his head before leaving the four of them alone.

“You have an interesting conversational technique with a powerful vampire, Toni.” Lance shakes his head in disbelief.

Toni smiles warmly

“I think I insulted him the first day I met him. Maybe he got bored with people being polite to him, so I got away with it, but I guess I’d have to say I number him among my friends now.”

The memory of their first meeting brings Susan to the fore of her memory and Gamma Henry did not answer her. Troubled thoughts rose unbidden once again.

“Do you all feel the same way as Leif, about it being a foregone conclusion I am expected to lead, at least in the short term?”

She looks at each of the Alphas in front of her, who all nodded.

“Then would the three of you do me the honour of being my first advisors until we decide on what will happen permanently?

Some of that will clearly depend on the Royal Pack interviews, but I’d rather not end up leading. But for now, the key job is stopping me from screwing up.

I wasn’t born to lead. ”

“It would be my pleasure,” Lance declared.

“Mine too,” Joseph answers immediately

Dimitri grinned

“Of course, although I disagree with you Toni, you were always born to lead. The difference is in your training, and that’s the easier skill to master.”

Joseph speaks up

“And we were all trained to be Alpha’s from the day we could walk, so you are in excellent hands with us.”

Toni nodded appreciatively.

“First order of business, I need to talk to the leaders, starting with Gamma Henry,” Toni’s voice is tired

“I respectfully disagree,” Lance offered

“I cannot imagine how tiring that transformation of yours was, then while the rest of us got time to rest and eat during the day, you didn’t stop. You need a good night’s sleep and to relax, everything else can wait until the morning,

And James would kill me if I didn’t let him in to see you soon.”

Toni stares at Lance

“James is here, but he’s not a fighter?”

“Who do you think cooked for everyone? He was on the backup team!”

He signalled to the empty plate in front of Toni grinning

“Although I wouldn’t tell him you let it go cold.” Lance winks at her.

“I have to agree with Lance, additionally, I think you are too close to Gamma Henry’s mate from what Cage said, so let me talk to him.”

Dimitri stated blandly, as if it were a normal suggestion.

“I need to know about his mate. She’s a friend and I have an uneasy feeling, as she hasn’t returned calls recently.” Toni confirmed.

“Leave it with us Toni, take the night off, talk to this James and sleep, then come back fresh to interview the prisoners tomorrow,” Dimitri got up, nodding to Lance and Joseph, who joined him.

“I’ll send James over” Lance smiled as they walked out.

You there, I see you thinking that I’m avoiding my responsibilities in not agreeing to step up immediately.

Now is not the time to be questioning my plans. You may not have noticed, but I’m kind of busy here. There’s a lot still to do, and not long to do it in, because every hour counts.

As much as I know these four good wolves would support and help me lead if I agreed to it, I have to think of the pack and the impact on them, along with the fact I have young pups.

Oh, and let’s not forget learning about my third form.

So heading off and leading the quiet life, not leading the werewolf world, is massively appealing.

I’ve never wanted power, money and definitely not notoriety, although that, I have experienced enough of that already in my life.

But you’ll have to excuse me now. I need to sleep, so can you turn the music down, or put something nice and quiet on. That would be great.