Chapter 8 - Bailey

I turn away from Gina, following Carson back to his car. He must have been on his way to my place, saw us walking, and decided to stop. I hope he didn’t hear too much of the conversation.

“What was going on back there?” Carson asks, his voice a little hard.

“Nothing.” I try to keep my voice light, but I know I’m not managing it.

“So, how is the marriage going? A fated pair should be working as a team from the very beginning.”

“We’re just taking some time to settle in,” I answer, bringing a hard edge to my tone. I want him to back off from this. I know how bad it looks.

“You shouldn’t have been arguing in the street,” Carson says, more gently this time.

I want to protest, but instead, I just shake my head and sigh. “I know.”

We drive in silence for a few seconds. My mind is still reeling from my talk with Gina. I felt like at any moment, we were about to have a breakthrough.

For the first time since the wedding, I thought we were finally connecting.

“Where is the meeting?” I ask, hoping to completely change the subject. There are a few places in town we use as well as cabins out of town, depending on the business we have to conduct.

“Out the back of Shelley’s,” Carson replies.

Shelley’s a wolf-run bar and restaurant with a club room out the back that we often use. It isn’t far from the gym, so I’ll easily be able to pick up my car afterwards.

“What’s it all about? This wasn’t a planned meeting.”

Carson shakes his head. “No, it’s a recent development. We’ve had scouts out, and things are changing, so we need you right now.”

“What’s changed?”

“I don’t know yet. I just got the message myself that the scouts have come in. Didn’t you get the text?”

“No,” I say, pulling my phone out of my pocket. To my dismay, there are several messages I didn’t hear coming through. “I was distracted.” Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“We all understand how important it is to be with your mate. I was nearby, so I thought I’d just stop in on the house or shop to see where you were. All the elders are being called in. It looks like this is important news.”

“Okay,” I mutter, looking out the window. I feel bad that I missed those messages, but it was a conversation with Gina I needed to have.

I should have brought her with me. Maybe being involved as den mother is exactly what she needs.

We cruise into Shelley’s parking lot and go through the bar to the room out back. I see Shelley cleaning glasses at the counter and give her a wave. She smiles and tips her head in response. She’s in her fifties and has been involved in pack business her whole life. Her bar is a haven for us, a place where we don’t have to worry too much about hiding our true natures.

When we get to the back room, I see Dane and Seth, both pack elders. My friends Ben and Cody are here, too, and Jack, my beta.

The mood in the room is tense, and my worry edges up a notch.

“Ready to begin?” I ask as Carson sits down at the table and hands out beers. I take one gratefully and gulp it down, eager to take the edge off after such a hard day.

“The others just stepped out,” Dane says. “My sister and the scouts from the other pack.”

“Okay, we’ll wait,” I answer. Dane’s sister Sasha is actively involved in the pack business and considered an elder. Usually, women take up a role similar to that of den mother instead of elder, but Sasha is more passionate than most.

“How have you been?” Jack asks, leaning over to me. I don’t let myself sigh or react. I know he’s really asking how his sister is. If things are going well between us.

I don’t want to lie, and I could use the help of my best friend. I just don’t want to trigger his protective urges, either.

“Honestly, it hasn’t exactly been wedded bliss,” I answer softly. The other guys have gotten into a fairly animated chat about local tourism and competition among the businesses, so I don’t think they are paying attention to us.

“Really?” Jack asks. “How bad is it?”

“Don’t get me wrong. We’re talking and stuff. We just aren’t skipping through fields of dandelions.”

Jack grins, but before he can say anything else, the door creaks. Sasha walks in with three youngsters. Two girls and a boy, all of them wiry, thin, and tough. We have separate small packs of wolves that live outside of town in old-fashioned dens and in the mines. They are wild creatures, fully attuned to the forest, and aren’t part of any main pack. It’s difficult for them to function in the human world.

“Come in, and please sit down,” I say, getting up and gesturing to the seats on the other side of the table.

Sasha sits near Dane, and the three scouts sit at the end of the table, slightly away from us.

“So, we have news about the boundary,” the tallest girl says. Her voice is soft and whispery, as if she doesn’t talk much.

Do they spend most of their time in wolf form?

“I am Bailey Markson, and I am the pack alpha.” I stand up and reach across the table to shake hands. “Please introduce yourselves.”

The elders have gone silent, and the three scouts look surprised.

“We know who you are,” the girl says. Her hair is a light blond, the color and texture of straw. She’s very pale and wrapped in patched leather clothes.

“Alphas from outside packs don’t usually ask our names,” the boy says, looking me up and down with wide eyes.

“I’m not like the others,” I say, letting a growl come into my voice. I can feel my eyes glow a little. “There are no slaves in my pack.”

There is a moment of silence around the table before the blond girl smiles and stands up. “Kelta,” she says, giving my hand a brief shake.

“Nate,” the boy says, shaking my hand firmly.

The last girl is far smaller than the others, with dark hair, pale skin, and dark eyes. “Driss,” she says, giving my hand a quick shake.

“Please help yourselves to food and drink.” I gesture to the counter at the side of the room where food has been laid out.

“We have,” Kelta says as we all sit back down. “We are honored by your favor, alpha. But we must tell you about the news from the boundary.”

“Go ahead,” I urge.

“A rival pack near Silver Meadows has withdrawn their presence, leaving a wide patch of territory unclaimed. It is in a suitable position to be of use to us and not difficult to stake out. We would require quite a few wolves, though, at least in the initial stages, to affirm our ownership of it and develop it.”

“I will immediately assess the needs of the pack and decide if taking this territory is needed.”

Kelta shakes her head. “That’s not all of it. The Mount Wilson pack has been scouting it as well. It’s pretty obvious that they want it. We decided to bring it to you before the skirmishes start.”

“If we let them have it, they could move on us,” Sasha adds. “If we do nothing, it might be seen as being passive. They would keep moving forward into our territory.”

“Agreed,” Carson says. “We can’t just let them have it.”

I turn to Kelta. “How are their numbers? Does it look like they need the territory because of their pack size?”

She nods. “They definitely have a significant presence,” she answers. “It’s entirely possible that if they take this territory, they could move on us within a year—maybe even sooner.”

I feel a touch of anxiety run through me. No matter what I do, this is probably going to end in a fight. I definitely don’t want an all-out war, though.

“We aren’t allied with them,” Dane says. “There’s no communication at all. No trade.”

I look around the table. Everyone is staring at me expectantly. I turn back to the scouts.

“How often have you seen them?” I ask. “And are they hostile?”

“We’ve spent the last three weeks doing perimeter runs and short forays into the Silver Meadows territory,” Kelta answers. “After we started seeing the Mount Wilson pack, we pulled back to our borders and ran a couple of stealth missions. They don’t seem hostile to us, but not friendly, either.”

I nod slowly, thinking. “Has there ever been an all-out fight with the Mount Wilson pack?” I ask the others.

Carson shakes his head. “Not a full-on one, no. A few skirmishes.”

“Has there ever been any positive interactions? Any communication at all?”

Sasha shakes her head. “As far as we know, there hasn’t been, but we’d have to interview the entire pack to be sure.”

“Well, nothing of note, then,” I say, thinking.

Taking some extra territory is usually a good thing for us, especially if we can do it with little effort. In this instance, where our established territory is under potential threat, it’s vital we take action.

I can’t just attack them, though. Even though the wolf in me begs to fight, I have to be careful to protect the pack.

“I’ll need to deal with it personally,” I say with determination. There is a bit of silence as everyone digests my words.

“How?” Sasha asks.

“By going in and having a meeting with their alpha. If we do anything else, it could be seen as a threat. This is the best way to make contact.”

“I concur,” Carson agrees, leaning forward over the table to lace his fingers together. “Sending in a few wolves could be seen as an open threat. Sending the alpha is an honorable thing to do.”

“They will appreciate your courage,” Seth says. “It will earn their respect.”

“No one else would be in danger, either,” Sasha says. “We’ll hold a perimeter and a support group at the edge of our territory so we are ready to come in if you need help, but we shouldn’t advance on them.”

“I agree,” I say, nodding.

Jack looks up in surprise, mouthing, What are you doing?

I grin back at him, shaking my head.

This is what I was made for.

The making of an alpha is often trial by fire. I have to put my life on the line first to prove myself to the pack. If it goes very badly, well, that will be on me to figure out. On the other hand, if I negotiate well and strengthen our position, it will mean good times for every pack member, ensuring my rule and respect.

“You are brave,” Kelta tells me. “I must tell you, some of their forward scouts are fierce-looking. We rely on stealth. They clearly have no problem with brute force.”

“Noted,” I answer, nodding. “I would like a private meeting with you and any other pack members you could spare to give me a briefing on what to expect in their territory.”

“You shall have it,” Kelta replies. “We will also keep an eye on you and follow you into enemy territory.”

“I don’t want you to put yourselves in danger,” I counter.

“We will not be. Our skills are unparalleled. It is also our duty to protect the wolves of any allied pack.”

“So be it, then,” I say, smiling. It looks like I’ve won over the wildest pack members and gained their loyalty.

“No one has ever offered us hospitality before,” Driss whispers. Without wolf hearing, I wouldn’t have even known she spoke.

“It is my pleasure,” I say to her firmly. “All members of the allied packs are of equal value to me. Not a single wolf is more important than any other.”

“Except the true fated mate of the alpha,” Nate says.

I feel a chill rush through me. Nate doesn’t know. He couldn’t know; he doesn’t even live in town. He’s just repeating pack rule. Being respectful.

“Indeed,” I answer.

For a moment, the table is silent. I pull myself together in a hurry. “Is there any other business?” I ask the others.

Carson has had some issues with young wolves getting out of hand, and they won’t listen to him. Their behavior could expose the pack, even though it’s just high school hijinks. I promise to talk to them.

Dane reports supply issues in the businesses run by wolves. He thinks people along the line are changing information to get goods for free. It needs the attention of the alpha before he can take any action.

As the meeting starts to wind down and become casual, I dismiss the scouts, promising to talk to them when I head out on the treaty mission. They leave quickly, as if they can’t wait to get back to their forest.

The elders are pretty deep in conversation as Jack turns to me. “There’s a party at Jenkins’ place. Are you coming?”

It’s been a long, frustrating day, and I’m tired. Jenkins is my cousin, though, and it might be rude if I don’t go. Everyone expects the alpha to at least make an appearance at things like this.

And I could use a few drinks in an informal setting, some casual talk and a few laughs. I’ve been wound up tight since the wedding, and I really haven’t had much chance to let off steam.

“Yeah, I think it’s a good idea,” I say.

“Do you need a ride?”

“Nah, I left my car at the gym. It’s only a five-minute walk.”

“Okay, see you there.”

Jack gets up to leave. I watch him walk away, wondering if Gina will be at the party.

She probably will, if Jack’s going. And she used to be close with Jenks.

I have no desire to start up the fight again at all, let alone in a public setting, but I do want to see her. Maybe if we’re both relaxed and having fun, it will be easier to talk about our issues.

The only thing I know for sure is that something has to break. Neither of us can live like this forever.