SWNOVELS Chapter 79
Chapter 79
“How many have arrived?” I
ask.
“Three so far but by the looks of it, it seems as if it will be more.” Victor replies.
“How did this happen?!”
“I have no idea. No one that I
know of has mailed
invitations on our behalf.” He
holds an invitation card out
for me to see.
I take it and examine it. It
looks like a legit invitation
telling them that they are
invited to a feast in our pack
with the pretense of a
neutral council after and it
even has the seal of
neutrality.
“This look…legit.”
“It does and so we have to
treat it as is.” Victor says.
“What do we do?”
The seal of neutrality and a neutral council…it means
that all fire is ceased and no
one is allowed to make an
advantageous move. It would
be treason to do so to all
other packs.
“We can’t turn them away.”
Garret says. “If they find out
that this was a hoax made by our enemy, they will start thinking that we are weak.”
I nod. “Okay, so we do the opposite and use this to our advantage. We show them how strong we are. We show
them how it would not be a
good idea for them to join Ezra and go against us.”
“I agree but also, we need to be very careful. This is
obviously a plan from Ezra.”
Colt says.
“What in the world is he
trying to do?”
“I am sure we will know soon
enough.” Garrets says.
“And the Alphas? Do they know what is going on?” I
ask.
Victor shakes his head. “No, they assume they are here exactly for what the
invitation says. We’ve never
hosted an Alpha feast or
council so most of them–I
am sure–didn’t think it
would be a good idea to
refuse.”
“Poppy and Lotus are having
rooms prepared as we speak
and our cooks started
working overtime today.”
Garret ads
“This is all a bad idea.” Beck
says.
“We can’t just throw them out. Many of them could be
offended.” Victor tells him.
“Since when have we cared
what they think.”
“Since we heard that Ezra
was looking for an alliance.” Archie replies. “Sometimes
things have to be done
differently. Now Alpha, you
need to go greet them. We
have deviated those that
have already arrived to the
parlor where we are
distracting them with
drinks.”
“Having a murderer on the loose also spells trouble on top of all of this.” Beck
mutters.
I nod to them all. “Alright, everyone stay sharp. Keep me informed.”
As they start to leave, I start
panicking. I am supposed to
stand in front of these
Alphas and speak to them?
“Cass, act strong.” Colt says.
“Like the ruthless cutthroat
your father is. These men
will not see you as their
equal just for being a
woman. So you must show
them that you are not
afraid.”
“I will try but it is easier said
than done.”
“You can always show them your power.” Beck says with a
sly smile walking nearby.
He’s such a troublemaker.
“Colt, will you come with
me?”
“Of course. I won’t take over
but I will help you if you
need it.”
“Okay. Thank you.
Putting on a brave face, I
head downstairs to the
parlor. The house is up in an uproar trying to get things done. A feast is something you prepare days before the actual day. There is just so much that goes into it
especially when you have so
many guests.
I pause and take a deep
breath before I enter the
parlor. Serge and Colt stand
with me.
As I go in, three imposing
men stare at me. Two of
them with wrinkles that can
rival a cracked desert and the
other is as young as a child who just entered his puberty phase.
“You…must be…the woman
Alpha.” One of the old men says. His tone is
condescending and he does
not hide it.
“Just Alpha and yes, I am a woman.” I reply. “I am
Casseopea, and you all are?”
They all look at Colt.
“Alpha Turner.” The quiet
older one says.
The vocal old Alpha speaks
- up. “Alpha Holmes.”
“Alpha Duke.” The young
one says.
“Then it is nice to make your
acquaintance.” I say.
“I am sure it is for you, to be in the presence of real
Alphas. We’ve all heard the
stories of your dysfunctional family.”
“Then we are all
dysfunctional here. Two old
men who are nearly at
death’s door but too
stubborn to pass down the baton and a young man who most likely was just recently weaned from breastfeeding.”
They all stare at me with
rage.
“I will not stand here and be
insulted by a she–wolf who believed she is on my level.” Holmes says.
“I am not on your level, I am way above it! And if you wish to test my position, then you will all fall short for I possess
a skill that none of you do.
You don’t have to like me but
you are all here for a reason
and I demand your respect
just as I give you mine. Or
did you just come here to throw insults at me?”
One of the old men sits and
props his leg on his knee looking amused. “Why have
you asked us to come here?”
He looks at Colt.
Shit. I didn’t think that far
ahead.
“Rest. We’ll have a feast and
after we can talk.” I tell him.
This is how Father would
handle it…I hope.
“You did not answer our
question, Alpha Colt.‘
”
I narrow my eyes. The f**kers are purposely
ignoring me. “And I told you that we will discuss all of this
later.”
“Shush, girl. The Alphas are
speaking.”
Shush?
“So Alpha Colt, what say you?”
“I am not Alpha of this pack.” Colt says. “And I’d mind what
I say if I were you.”
SHUSH?
“If you wish to test me like
this, then fine!”
He laughs, sounding
amused.
I look at Holmes wanting to rip him apart. “Jump on one foot you sack of shit!”
Holmes starts doing exactly
what I told him to do. “What
in the blazes!” He has a lot of
difficulty and I can swear I
heard a bone crack.
I know that if I use my
powers on any of them, that could cause much more
problems, these men’s egos
are unmatched but I don’t
give a damn.
“You…” I look at Turner and
look at his guards next to
him. I look deep into the
eyes of one of them before I
ask him my question. “Why
has your Alpha agreed to
come here?”
Turner starts to complain.
“These are my men and you
don’t-”
“No one has ever stepped
foot in the Dark Fang Pack,
this is a good way to scope
the enemy. His words.” The guard says.
The old man gasps while Holmes continues to jump.
I now look at the young Alpha. “Should I make you cry like a little girl?”
He steps back and shakes his head holding his hands up. “No, please.”
“Stop!” I shout at Holmes. He finally stops jumping and stands looking so frazzled.
“I am my father’s daughter.
So no, I am not the most
stable of people but I am
rational. If you wish to f**k with me, then expect to
receive the same from me. I
am trying to be cordial here, but I will NOT be played
with! So show. Some.
Respect! Because next time I might not be so benign.”
I storm out feeling angry and satisfied at the same
time.
I walk up to the front door
but turn to Colt.
“Shit…did I f**k up?”
“No…maybe…I mean, you
gave them a peace of your mind for sure and they were
being assholes. Your father would have probably killed
one of them in your position so I think you did good.”
That is actually the same thing I wanted to do. I
wanted to kill them for
trying to make a fool out of
- me.
I can see more Alphas
arriving outside.
I sigh. How am I supposed to keep myself from actually doing as Father would do
and killing one of them?
“I am not talking to any of them again until the feast.” I
say.
“Alright, I’ll let Lotus and Poppy know to greet them.”
I head upstairs to go see
Warrick.
“You bastard could not get healthy fast enough to deal
with all of this?”
That makes him laugh.
“You don’t need me.”
“Maybe I do.”
“You will do fine. Don’t let
them intimidate you.”
“Oh, I don’t. I’m not afraid of
them, I am afraid of what I
will do. When I get angry, I
just can’t think.”
“Well then do like me, stop
trying to control the anger.”
“Then I’ll end up like you.
Killing everything I don’t
like.”
“Exactly. It gets rid of the problem.”
I roll my eyes. “Seriously though, I am not ready at all. I know this. But I will step up and do my best.”
“Good and don’t take shit
from anyone. If you have to
kill someone to make a
point, do it.”
“No.”
“Just an idea.”
“No.”
He sighs.
“Once this is all over and
things have calmed down, I’ll
make it official.”
“Make what official?”
“You will be officially Alpha
of the Dark Fang Pack.”
“What? That’s too soon!”
“Not soon enough. Look, I
will not be able to be the
man I was before. I am not fit
to be Alpha anymore.”
“Have you seen those old
sacks of dust that came here
as Alpha of their packs? If they can be Alphas, then so
can you.”
“They are idiots. I good
Alpha knows when to step
down. Such fools.”
“Warrick, I am not sure I am
ready to be Alpha.”
“How about you call me dad
already, and no one is ready
to step into the position of Alpha. But you won’t be alone, you will have Colt at
your side.” He narrows his
eyes. “I am sure you
intended to rule with him as
equal.”
I smile and nod.
“Yeah, I thought so.” He says.
“And you don’t care?”
“He has proven to be loyal to you and that is all that
matters. He is a good man too and a good Alpha. As
much as I dislike the idea, I
still can’t complain. Look,
we’ll talk about this later. Just
go and do what you need to
do.”
“Alright.” I say as I get up. “I am posting more guards here with you.
“Why?” He asks.
“To keep you safe. You are still the Alpha and you’d be
much of a target as I am.”
“Fine, fine.” He mutters.
He is definitely looking much better lately and that
makes me happy. To think
that I would ever care for
such a man. A few months
ago I would have been
cursing at myself for even
thinking that.
When evening comes, Colt and I get ready. I have to look presentable so Poppy dresses me. She puts me in a navy blue dress. It has an empire waist that is laced with shiny beads. It is fitted
and hugs my b*dy until it starts flowing at the knee area down to my feet.
Colt loves it and I can tell
that he already wants to take
it off of me.
Leaving those thoughts for
later, we go outside. It is where the feast is being held
since we don’t have a room
in the house big enough to house everyone.
The place has been
decorated beautifully. I am impressed that our pack did
this so suddenly.
There are laced wooden
fences decorated with
sprinkled lights and flowers.
There are also a few Arbor
arches decorated the same
way. Even the garden has fairy lights all over making it
look enchanting. It looks
great especially done on
such short notice.
There are five tables to sit all
the Alphas and some even
are still arriving. The feast
has not started yet so
everyone walks around talking and mingling.
Now here I stand, looking at
all of them and I am
supposed to give a damn
speech soon…shit.