The Falcon Ridge Series Book 4: Art of a Girl

(Chapter song ‘Lex Aeterna’ by Skydar)

BASTIAN

I peruse the blueprints for the ballroom on my phone as I wait for Nigel to get back from dropping the girls off.

I raise an eye as he pulls up in a black Cadillac. My business car. He gets out, runs around to the back passenger door and opens it. I stroll down the steps and shove my phone in my pocket.

“Sorry, I’m late. The girls were pretty pissed.” He says as I climb in the back.

“They'll get over it. They probably uttered some bullshit about not talking to me ever again, but I know it’s a lie.” I smirk.

“Didn’t sound like a lie to me.” Nigel shakes his head as he closes the door.

He jumps into the driver’s seat and turns us around in the driveway to make the hour trip to Falcon Ridge.

I lean on the door and watch the scenery go by. After a while, I look his way. “Is the decorator coming?”

“Yes. I told her assistant that it’s imperative this gets done and he's relaying the message. He says she'll be there when you get back.” Nigel informs.

“Good.” I look back out the window. “I can't afford delays.”

“I know, Bastian. I know.” He utters as he drives onto the highway.

I adjust in my seat and fix my suit. Now, that I know that she’s coming today, I feel much better. I can fast track this thing and be ready in 5 months.

I feel really good about this. I really do.

****

The council room is loud with talking as I walk up to the large, open, official looking double doors. A lot of members are here, but not all of them.

River and Jayson look my way from the couch in the Alpha seating area and I give them my cool hello look. They shake their heads and go back to talking.

I snort because the jealousy is thick.

I step to the table that has a majority of the council members around it.

"Good morning, fellow council members." I bellow and flash a charming smile at the room.

I’m met with mumbles and weak waves. Whatever. I don’t blame them. It’s hard to be in a room with someone as successful as I am. I get it.

Alpha Andrews is the first to officially greet me. "Bastian, you're looking well today." He shakes my hand and I slide a palm across my hair to make sure it’s neat.

I stand tall, puff my chest and lift my chin with a chuckle. "I always look good."

He chuckles, scratches his temple, then puts his hands in his pockets. "How are things at the prison?"

"Excellent. With the tech I had installed, there's no way anyone's breaking out unless I let them out." I wink with a toothy grin.

"Well, you better hope so, Bastian. Your upgrades put a lot of pressure on the budget." He warns.

"It was a necessary expense." I say confidently. "My upgrades are the best money can buy. I don't fool around when it comes to the best." I smirk.

"Indeed." He chews his lip, then looks behind me. "There's Luke. I'll speak to you later." He taps my arm and heads to Luke who just walked in with his new mate, Alexi Torrent.

I’m not particularly fond of redheads, but Alexi is looking damn edible today in a knee high green dress and her hair pulled up like that. It’s irritating that a beautiful, mature woman like that, gets saddled with the mess of Luke Jackson. Fate is one cruel woman.

As everyone talks in groups, I mingle around the room. Fredericks is talking with the Alpha of a town called Maple and I feel the need to relieve him from a boring conversation.

"Hello, Alpha." I jump in and offer my hand. The Alpha of Maple crosses his arms and gives me the eye. I just brush it off.

Fredericks takes my hand and shakes it. "Bastian. Nice to see you again. I don't get enough time in the other departments. How's things?"

"Things couldn't be more perfect." I smile back. "So. All ready to retire?"

“Yes. The mate can't wait either." He chuckles.

I lean to him. “I’m sure she can’t.” I smirk and wink.

I stuff my hands in my pockets. "Any idea when the testing will start?"

He tilts his head. "Now, Bastian. There's plenty of time. The competition is stiff, so don't get too excited."

"Oh, I know. I just want to make sure you’re giving yourself enough time to choose the right man for the job." I smile.

The best Alpha being me of course.

“Don't worry about that. They didn’t make me Head Alpha for nothing.” He nods. "Let's bring this meeting to order."

We all take our seats and I lean my elbow on the table. I hold my lips in curled fingers as my eyes flick across the table to Jackson. He sinks into his father’s seat between River and Jayson and I grin.

Seeing how uncomfortable he is, makes me laugh inside. If he didn’t spend half his adult life drunk, he would know what he's doing.

Luckily, I was smart. I knew the game plan. When my father started bringing me to these things, I paid attention. When he handed me my title 7 years ago, I was fully prepared. Jackson’s a joke. It’s sad his dad died, but it’s his fault for being a clueless jackass.

This is his first meeting as Alpha of Red Rock. I'm sure he will bring so many good ideas to the table. Like how to start a bar fight or something, I chuckle to myself.

Fredericks brings the meeting to order and goes on about his retirement. I can’t help but smile behind my fingers and imagine myself up at that podium controlling all these guys.

He then, introduces the guy I've seen floating around the room. He directs him to stand at a side podium just off the Head Alpha’s chair beside his podium. Fredericks takes his seat at the table as this clumsy oaf of a man takes the second podium.

As I watch him fumble around with his papers, it makes me question why he’s here. In fact, I've been questioning his presence here since I saw him. I mean, he looks like an average guy, but he looks like he could be irritating as hell.

He's a real stiff in a cheap suit with short, feathery, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He looks athletic, but he comes off as a pussy. He's also wearing fucking glasses. What shifter needs glasses? I think that’s what makes me feel off the most.

He takes the podium. "Good morning. I am, as you heard, Dr. Chase Rennet. I have a doctorate in criminal psychology and have been working with the criminally insane for the last 10 years. I specialize in cults and provide much needed therapy to ex-members in order to rehabilitate them back into society. I come to you today, to ask that I be allowed to evaluate the current Dragons in the Falcon Ridge facility."

Mumbles, again, float through the room and I raise a brow. Is he kidding with this bullshit?

"As you know, during Draco Torrent's attacks, a lot of members joined him reluctantly. It'll be my job to evaluate them and determine who is best suited for rehabilitation and release.” He looks around the room like he’s a geeky professor or something.

"What?! You're crazy." I shoot him a snarky look and wave him off as I turn my chair to the table.

"Order, Alpha Cole." Fredericks warns.

“You can't possibly believe these people are innocent." I scoff.

I watch as Rennet adjusts his glasses and listen as he tries to defend the garbage I have locked in my prison. "Not innocent, Alpha Cole. Just misguided."

“You believe there are Dragons that are remorseful enough to be let out?” Andrews laces his hands on the table.

“Yes. I do. It’s been my experience that members of cultist societies can, and do, get caught up in the words and actions of the leader. They seem to… fall into his or her delusions, either out of fear for their lives or their families lives. Eventually, they’re convinced that what the cult leader says is correct.” He leaves the podium, puts a hand in his pocket and takes off his glasses.

He walks down the table and back up, turning to the table behind me. “People don’t realize just how delicate the psyche really is.” He waves his glasses around. “With the right words, you can pretty much make anyone do anything, really.”

He leans to my ear. “I can make you cluck like a chicken, if I wanted.” I scowl at him and he smirks.

“I'd pay to see that! Can we vote on that?” Jackson puts his hand up and Rennet smiles, pointing his glasses handle at him as he walks back to the podium.

The table chuckles and I groan.

He leans on the podium. “The point is, gentlemen. Cult leaders, like Draco Torrent, can be very convincing. They have a talent for triggering a lot of feelings that a normal person may never have felt. What's worse is, they can make the person feel like they’re doing it voluntarily out of loyalty to the leader.”

He closes his binder and glances around the room. “It’s my belief that Draco tapped into the fears of these people overtime, and convinced them that what he was doing was right.” Rennet explains.

He glances at me then back to Andrews. “Now that Draco is dead. Reality is essentially hitting them in face. I believe with the right therapy, they can, in fact, be put on the right path.”

Andrews turns to Fredricks. “It’s something to consider.”

Fredricks nods. “I agree.”

"Oh my God.” I throw up my hands and lean back in my chair. “You can't be considering this." I lean forward and thump my fingertip on the table. "These people are insane. You let them out, they'll be havoc in our streets." I fall back, cross my arms and chew my cheek.

Andrews leans forward. “It would relieve some pressure off the budget. Housing these Dragons is expensive and the prison upgrades didn’t come cheap.”

Fredericks nods. “It is true that we really can't afford to house all these Dragons."

"That's why I'm here.” Rennet motions to the Alphas. “I'll interview and evaluate all the prisoners, then I'll report which ones I feel would do well in a rehabilitation program to Alpha Cole. He can make the final decisions."

"Are you in agreement, Alpha Cole?" Fredericks asks.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Jackson smirking. I wish I could smash the look right off his face.

“Absolutely not.” I grumble.

“Then we vote.” Andrews suggests.

“Agreed. All in favor?” Fredericks looks around the table and 10 hands go up. I close my eyes and shake my head. “All opposed?” 5 hands go up, including mine.

“The aye’s have it. Dr. Rennet. You’re hired.” Fredericks concludes.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Rennet bows his head slightly.

“Alpha Cole. I’ll have you set Dr. Rennet up first thing Monday morning.” Fredericks orders.

“Sure.” I mumble in defeat. I know this is a horrible idea.

Rennet is escorted out of the room and the rest of the council business is finished.

After Fredericks adjourns us, I decide to hang back and mingle bit. I figured a little chit chat with our newest members will get my mind off of Rennet.

They're all seated on the Alpha couches while their new mates talk with the other Lunas. Honestly, I have no idea how these losers land such drop dead gorgeous women.

“Congratulations, Luke. You managed to land a mate and a Torrent no less.” I smile.

“Thanks.” He grits.

“Struck out again, huh, Bastian?” River leans back on the couch smugly.

I hold my head high. “No. I didn’t go. I have too much to do with the upcoming moon.”

“Right.” Jayson jumps in. “It’s Black Rock’s turn. Should be a good one.”

I smile and shake my head. “You have no idea. As we speak the finishing touches are being added to my 15000 square foot grand ballroom. It will be an impressive ball.”

“15000 feet doesn’t seem like it could fit your pack much less anyone else.” River cinches his brow.

“No. This will be a private party for Alliance dignitaries. My pack will still go to the Amphitheater.” I supply.

“You’re throwing your own private ball? What about your pack?” Luke asks.

“What about them?” I look confused.

“You have to go to your pack ball.” Luke throws a hand out to me.

“No. Nigel can go for me. I don’t need to be there.” I shake my head.

“It’s for your pack, Bastian.” River states.

“And my private ball is for my pack. It'll bring a lot of improvements to us.” I grin.

“Yeah. Like a new career.” Jayson mumbles.

“A perk.” I grin even bigger.

They mumble something about Alpha responsibility and I look at the time.

"Well, at any rate. I have an appointment with a highly recommended, and expensive interior decorator who should be at the house right now. Wouldn't want to keep the young woman waiting." I clap Luke on the back. "Enjoy your mate." I wink and leave them in the meeting.

I told Nigel to send a car service for me because the woman was very prompt and already there. I’m impressed already.

As I ride back to Black Rock, my mind swims with ideas to bounce off the young woman.

This is going to be so fun.