Sharkbait Down Under

We watched as the big Enforcer acknowledged his directions and ended the call. Walking over towards us, he leaned down by Lawrence’s ear. “We’ll be outside if you need us, sir,” he said. He turned for the exit, followed by his three associates.

“Those men were for you,” Lawrence said when they were outside. “The Council is concerned for your safety, Vicki. Jamaica and Mexico are not safe places for rich young women.”

“I’m more worried about the Council than kidnappers, Lawrence.” Mexico was close to a failed nation-state after decades of battles with the cartels. Huge interior areas were no-go for the police, and assassinations and kidnappings were rampant. The government plowed big money into the safety of the resort areas to keep the tourist dollars coming in, but you dared not leave that area. We would be hiring a full armed security detail there. “The Council had me silvered and confined at the age of five. The Council had my Uncle tried for being an Alpha. The Council tried to tell me I couldn’t do my television show. The Council is trying to force my Pack into submission. No, the LAST thing I’ll do is accept Council Enforcers into my inner circle.”

Our drinks and appetizers arrived, and we paused a moment until the waitress was gone again. Lawrence smiled as he bit into a jumbo shrimp, washing it down with a sip of his Mojito. “I tried to tell them that, but they insisted. For some reason, they refuse to accept that you don’t like them.”

Amy and the twins joined us after dropping their stuff in our rooms. The waitress took their drink orders and their order for more appetizers. The area of the lounge we were in afforded us some privacy, and its public nature would keep the enforcers from doing anything stupid. “The Chairman must have sensed something because he sent you instead of a Council lawyer.”

“Chairman Wolfe volunteered to come, given his relationship with your former Alphas, but was overruled. Chairman Carver worried that if he sent an envoy at that level, it would mean he recognized your independence from the Council and your claim to Australia.”

Always politics. “And as a retired lawyer, you could speak freely without it being formal.”

“Exactly. I was the compromise, and it earned me a free vacation. Almost free, at least until I get my credit card bill. My mate is taking advantage of my absence to do some shopping.”

We all had a chuckle at this. “I hate to keep you two away from your fun, so perhaps we should just conclude our business and let you get back to your romantic beach vacation.”

“If you wish.” He opened up the leather folder on the table and removed a set of papers. “As you know from your last teleconference, the North American Council is claiming authority over you and your Pack. As such, they have asked me to provide for you the relevant documents and materials for you to accept your place within their Council membership. The Council bylaws and background materials are on the thumb drive; it is encrypted, and Luna Adrienne will provide you with the access code when you request it. These papers, when signed by you and your mate and the Council Chairman, will affirm your membership in the North American Council with all rights and responsibilities associated with membership.”

I took a moment to look through the papers. The contract was as Lawrence stated. Our Pack would submit to Council laws and oversight, and in exchange, we would gain nothing important. At seven thousand miles from the nearest Pack, standardized visitation agreements and resolutions of border disputes meant nothing to me. Access to their justice system? Please. I’d seen it in action, and I was not a fan.

“If I was to join his Council, what region would I be assigned to?” It was a reasonable question; my old Pack was Midwest Council, and the Three Sisters pack was Western States Council.

“The closest Pack to you is on the West Coast, so that would be the obvious choice. Given the flight distances, if you would rather choose the Midwest region, I’m sure the Council can make that accommodation.”

I closed the folder and set it to the side. “You know I’m not ready to sign this now.”

“I did not expect you to, nor would I allow it if I was your lawyer,” he said as he reached for another large shrimp. “I already told the Council that due to your busy schedule and separation from the rest of your Pack and your mate, they should not expect an answer immediately. The Chairman did ask me to obtain a commitment for when you would make that decision.”

“He got the invitation to the wedding, so he knows I’m getting married,” I said with a blush. I’d picked them out online, and Mom had sent them out a week ago. “Inform him he will have a decision by January fifteenth. That gives me time for my lawyer to review the paperwork and for me to catch up on Pack business after my honeymoon.”

“That leaves little time before the Alpha summit, which is invitation-only for members of the Council. Surely you want to attend with your unmated?”

“Of course, I want to help my Pack find their mates. I was assuming that the Council would not hold that hostage to having my signature on this paper. If the Council cannot find a way to let my people attend, I will have to work directly with other Alphas outside their authority.”

I could sense his nervousness at my answer. “The Chairman wants what is best for your Pack and the other Alphas, and that means time is of the essence. He is making a significant demonstration of the Council’s respect for your new Pack by flying for over a day to attend your wedding. Chairman Carver intends to conduct your induction ceremony into the North American Council at that time.”

“The Chairman of the European Council will be there as well,” I said evenly. “He also is flying a long distance to attend, and he comes to me to negotiate my membership, not demand it. I spoke with Chairman Svensson two days ago. Instead of demanding my Pack’s submission, he and I talked about areas we might forge cooperation and opportunities he would make available to help my new Pack. He also indicated he would grant ‘significant flexibility’ in the rules to help my isolated Pack adapt to life with the rest of the world’s wolves. That is one of my concerns, you know. The Southern Cross Pack has CENTURIES of isolation to overcome. Leo and I are busy teaching them about basic things like the mate bond! What Chairman Carver wants is like taking an isolated Amazon tribe and putting them in New York, then expecting them to know and follow all the laws.”

“I didn’t realize it was that bad,” he said.

“It’s worse than you can imagine. The Europeans understand this; they see the joining of my Pack to their council as a process, not a signature.” I tapped the folder he’d given me. “It’s a far different situation than an existing Pack splitting, or an Alpha child claiming his new territory. My people will look this over, and he can expect a counter-proposal that reflects the specific needs of my people.”

“Fair enough,” he said as he took the last shrimp. He took a business card out of his pocket and slid it to me.

“I have your number,” I said.

“This is the number of Lance Coleman, the head of the Council Enforcer detachment.”

“I already told the Chairman I didn’t need his men, and I don’t trust them.”

He smiled. “I know that, but do you want to deny these men two and a half weeks of paid work in tropical hotspots when they might be useful to you? Have them secure the perimeter or something. They are highly trained security people, and Mexico is dangerous.”

I handed the card back. “My decision is final. If I see these men around me, I’m going to assume a hostile intent. I recommend you inform the Chairman of that, so there are no misunderstandings.”

“I will,” he said. “If you have no other questions, I’m going to find my wife while I still have a retirement fund left.”

We all laughed at that. “Enjoy your time here, Lawrence. What I said about the Enforcers does not apply to you or your mate. We would love to see you at our events if you have time, and maybe we can have dinner?”

“I would like that,” he said. “Enjoy your evening, ladies.”

“How did I do,” I asked the girls. They were all in my Pack now to maintain the mind link during our tour.

“You kicked ass,” Amy said. “You put the North American Council on the defensive. That part about the European Council was a masterstroke. Did Lars say all that?”

“Hell no, he called to thank me for the invitation and said he looked forward to talking in person,” I said. “It doesn’t matter if it was true or not, it will make them rethink things, and that gives me time.”

“As long as the two don’t compare notes.”

“I doubt that will happen. Lars would love to snatch our Pack out of their grasp. We should finish this food and get settled; we leave for dinner in an hour. Jamaican barbecue.”

I’d said the magic words.