11. Remy

Chapter eleven

Remy

Remy got inside the car for the second time with Lykos in the driver’s seat as their plan to talk to other packs continued, despite having been attacked the last time. This needed to be done so they could get answers. They needed to establish allies if the packs around the kingdom were resorting to the Old Ways and things got bloody. Lykos hesitated to discuss the territory lines without his pack, so Bryan joined the fun. This resulted in Remy having to sit in the back after Bryan yelled shotgun.

She was not happy about that.

"Let’s go, Rem. He called it first."

Remy growled as she crammed herself into the back seat and shut the door. "I don’t care. I feel like a child back here. Why the hell do I need to be in the back?"

"I called shotgun. Them’s the rules, kid." The men closed their doors. Lykos started the engine, and he pulled away from the pack house.

Another growl. "I’m not a kid."

Bryan chuckled. "I’ve lived many decades in this world longer than you. You are a kid to me and will always be a kid to me. Believe me, you’ll feel the same way once you are in my shoes."

Remy rolled her eyes and looked out the window. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake she made last time. Her eyes were fixated beyond the tree line for any movement that shouldn’t be there. Bryan seemed to be doing the same so Lykos could focus on the road. They had a decent drive ahead of them today, and suitcases were in the trunk since they planned to do more packs than one this time.

The Redwood Forest pack was first on the list to visit. They were known for the trees inside their territory, which they slowly cut down for lumber. It was not something they could easily replace, so sections of the territory would be cut down, replanted for regrowth, and then moved on to a new section. It was a slow process that worked for them to supply jobs to their members and money toward their pack. It was a two-hour drive away, and they started at the crack of dawn. Remy fought the urge to sleep the entire way there so she could stare out the window to prevent another surprise attack.

The Alpha of the Redwood Forest pack was not exactly a nice man. He wasn’t mated so there was no Luna to balance him out. Remy remembered her mother explaining that Alphas with no mate would most likely go feral if they did not take on a mate after so many years. There were rumors that he would have chosen mates to bear him children every so many years but would break the bond after a child or two were born. The rumors were proven true after other visiting Alphas came to discuss things with him. It wasn’t against Pack Law, so there was nothing to be done about it. A True Mate would balance him out more, but he had not found her yet.

Remy wasn’t sure if she liked this visit plan for these reasons, but Lykos insisted on it. This was one of the packs that had tried to bully her father into giving some of their land to him. Remy inquired about this pack being one of the two that attacked their own, but Lykos believed it wasn’t. Remy wasn’t so sure. If he were the asshole that people believed him to be, why wouldn’t he be someone that attacked them? If he wanted more territory, this would be one of the people who would fight for it. If it was clear to her, why wasn’t it clear to her father?

Maybe he is getting soft. That would mean I would have to take over for the better of the pack.

I think he is just weighing the issues before jumping to conclusions. There is no reason to draw hard lines hastily.

I just want to know if there is going to be another fight. I’m out of practice.

We did well the last time—no reason to think otherwise.

Remy sighed. Since coming home, her life had been nothing but hasty decisions.

Maybe I should return to the island and live my days there as planned.

~*~*~*~*~*~

As they pulled up to the Redwood Forest’s pack house, Remy lifted her lip in disgust. It was right on the edge of the territory line, making it an easy target for ambushes or attacks. If this Alpha didn’t have a reputation for being an asshole, that was what Remy would think he was just for this alone. An Alpha was to ensure the safety of the people under him. Building a packhouse on the edge of the territory line was not keeping them safe. That was the exact opposite.

"Why would he allow the house to be where it can be easily attacked? That’s a stupid decision if you ask me."

Bryan laughed. "It wasn’t his plan. Dimitri isn’t the original Alpha."

"He could move it. This is the lumber pack."

"Yes, he could. But that would cost money. This pack may have a source of income, but it isn’t exactly in the riches. It would cost more money than they make to rebuild."

"Hence them wanting some of our territory. They could expand to becoming farmers as well, bringing in more money. Trees take a while to grow. Other plants, not so much."

Remy noticed the Alpha stepping outside the house with two others flanking him. He was a short man with a small belly forming. If he was showing anything other than muscle, he was an old Lycan. Some white spots in his dyed black hair also told that story. He was up there in years. Maybe even in a few centuries. Not as old as Fenry, but closer to him than some others. His eyes were menacing, staring at their car. Hospitality Laws would mean he would greet them in their home and provide protection so they could discuss business. The way he presented himself as he stood on the front porch made Remy wonder if he would respect that law.

Dimitri remained on the porch while they got out of the car. The two Lycans flanking him stepped down off the porch and made their way toward them. One was a brunette with dark tones that competed with jet black. The other was bald, clearly shaven and not natural, with dark lines from the hair that had been there before. Both were taller than Dimitri and more toned. It was clear to Remy that they were younger than the Alpha.

Bryan stood on Lykos’s left, giving Remy the right. As she was the heir, this placement displayed her position instead of her power. It was a smart move, making it seem like Remy had less power than she did and that this was just political. At least, that was what had been discussed in the car.

The two Redwoods stood before them and put their hands behind their backs. It was a signal that they were high in the hierarchy. They had training and had fought for their positions, and they had the power to maintain those positions as well. That stance told her more than she needed to know, and she was thankful for her mother teaching her all about it.

"I am Drake, Dimitri’s second," the brunette said. And this is Matthew, Dimitri’s third. We acknowledge that you are in our territory with consent and extend Hospitality to you and yours."

Lykos bowed his head. "We accept your Hospitality and extend our promise to abide by it."

The two Lycans turned and began walking back to the house. Lykos followed them, and Remy continued to flank. Something unsettling made her stomach turn. She looked around and saw no Lycans hovering around, waiting for the right moment to attack. Remy then looked up at the house to see if anyone was watching but did not see anyone. There was nothing to prove her instinct to be accurate. However, Remy knew better than to ignore those feelings. She then looked at the Alpha.

Dimitri did not look pleased with their arrival. Considering he wanted some of their land, Remy wasn’t sure why he would look unhappy. Lykos was willing to discuss this matter, which he was not required to do according to Pack Law. The lines were drawn many years ago. If the Alphas did not want to let their land go, no law could make them consider it. If Dimitri wanted this, he should be thrilled that Lykos arrived to talk it out with him. With that in mind, Remy made a mental note to watch her surroundings here. Hospitality Laws or not, she didn’t like how Dimitri looked at them.

"Alpha Lykos, it is a pleasure to see you," Dimitri told him, extending his hand to her father.

Tell that to your face.

"Thank you, Alpha Dimitri. It is a pleasure to see you as well. This is my daughter, Remy, and my second, Bryan."

Alpha Dimitri bowed his head. "I’m pleased to see you both. Remy, I haven’t seen you since you were smaller than my arm. You’ve grown into quite the Lycan."

Remy fought the urge to growl. "Thank you, Alpha Dimitri. I apologize, but I can’t remember the day I saw you."

He did a belly laugh, and Remy had to keep her face from displaying her dismay. The sound rubbed her wrong.

"I don’t think you were even a year old, so that makes sense. Come in; we have much to discuss."

Remy noted how the house looked as they walked through it to a small table in a room at the heart of the home. Like any pack house, it was decently sized. They passed several rooms on the way in, like the living room, dining room, and kitchen. This room was more in the back of the house, with only one door going in and out. The house was decorated very plainly in whites or tans and didn’t seem to have a lot of decorations or personality. It didn’t feel like a home. It felt like a space that was lived in and nothing more. Remy shared a look with her father, and she knew he felt the same way. Something was off, and neither of them liked it.

There were enough chairs to seat all six of them. Dimitri sat down at the head of the table closest to the door. Remy watched her father walk the length of the table to sit at the other end. Remy sat to his right and Bryan to his left, matching their positions from outside, as did Drake and Matthew with Dimitri. Things were already making Remy want to run for the hills, but now, with them being the furthest inside of the room, it made it worse. If things went sideways, they would need to fight their way out... in someone else’s home... with more packs to pull into the fight when they only had themselves.

I don’t like this.

Neither do I. Stay sharp.

"So, I understand you came here to discuss the territory lines. Why the sudden change?"

Remy didn’t like how Dimitri started the discussion. She hadn’t attended many round table meetings like this, but the handful her father made her attend never started like this. It always started more pleasantly. Small talk that led to a more in-depth conversation.

Lykos cleared his throat. "Things are different now. I don’t know if you have noticed, but I certainly have. The kingdom is falling into disarray. People are turning to Old Ways to settle their arguments instead of having civilized conversations. This is not the way of our people anymore. I would rather work things out instead of bringing more death and destruction."

Dimitri listened to this but didn’t say anything back. Remy knew she had to remain quiet and do her best to keep her eyes forward. If she appeared nervous, that would indicate no trust within the home and upset the hospitality laws. The ones who were to talk were her father and Dimitri.

Now I wish I could have stayed home.

"Fair enough reason. I have noticed packs have leaned more into the Old Ways than not. I do not understand why that is a bad thing. Through those times, the territory lines were drawn. It is not something to spit at. If it weren’t for those days, your pack wouldn’t have what you do."

"But it is in the past. We are more civilized than that."

The face Dimitri made wasn’t strictly positive, but it quickly changed to his normal resting bitch face. Remy brushed it off, deciding that he must just be a grumpy person, and that was just his face since it seemed normal. However, her stomach twisted, and the hairs on her neck raised. Remy’s legs began to bounce as her senses told her to run. This would not go well, but she wasn’t sure how to bring it up to her father.

"Well, go on with your proposal then."

Remy noticed her father’s jaw clenching in her peripherals, so she relaxed a little, knowing he didn’t like the other Alpha’s behavior either. She could feel her Lycan’s energy just under her skin, readying herself for the shift if needed.

"I am willing to give your pack a small patch of three to five acres of land or have some of your people come to work for us to bring home more money to the pack. I do not know the entire situation of your pack, so I decided to have multiple options to present to you."

Dimitri leaned back in his chair with a shit-eating grin. It was difficult for Remy to stay seated with that look on his face. The energy in the room shifted, and she no longer liked the odds of this being a non-friendly visit. Remy moved her hand under the table and found her father’s knee. He patted her hand back, signaling her that he felt it, too.

The Redwood Alpha leaned onto the table with his fingers clasped, and Remy noticed his claws were a little more elongated than she liked. "So, you think it’s okay to come to my home, give the option of offering my people a job or only a small percentage of your land? Knowing that our pack is not prospering like yours, that seems like an okay amount to offer to us? You have balls, banquets, and feasts, and you expect us to celebrate for the crumbs you remember to throw to your thralls?"

"I cannot give much of my land without losing more profit to keep me afloat. You must remember that my land provides food for the entire kingdom. If I give too much away, I cannot do that. I am looking out for the entire kingdom, not just my pack."

That belly laugh returned, and Remy’s legs bounced more. This was not going well. Not with that laugh.

"You make me laugh, Lykos. You say you are looking out for the betterment of the kingdom. How are you doing that when you keep that entire territory to yourself and do not allow those, other than your pack, to prosper? Do you even know what it’s like outside of your little fiefdom?"

"Money-wise, yes. Keeping the kingdom fed is putting effort into ensuring its ability to be sustainable."

"Yet you are not willing to share that wealth with the rest of the kingdom?" Dimitri asked sarcastically.

Lykos sighed. Remy did her best to keep her mouth shut, but this was getting to be something she felt would lead to a fight.

"So, with your pack providing lumber to the rest of the kingdom, if you had more land to plant trees so you’d have more to sell, that would lead to your pack being wealthier. Would you share the wealth with the rest of the kingdom? You have at least twenty to twenty-five Lycans here. That is a lot of mouths to feed. When children are in play, you must consider their schooling, whether they plan to build a house with their mate, and whether more children will be added later. Your pack would always grow bigger and, with that, more expenses to pay for. My pack has around fifty. That is twice the amount of mouths to feed and expenses to pay. If you think we live lavish lifestyles, we do not. Look outside. That car is not the most expensive on the market. Our pack house has all of our pack members inside of it. That is why we paid for the lumber from your pack to build our second one. My pack has chosen to stay together instead of living in separate housing if they are not mated and have children. Some still choose to stay, and they get a suite instead. We would not have that without your pack."

"What’s your point?"

"I offered a few acres to grow trees on or have people from your pack work for us to bring home extra paychecks. You could choose which best suits your needs."

Dimitri’s claws were fully elongated now, slightly digging into the wooden table. The power from the Alpha filled the room and made Remy’s skin itch. It was not at Lykos’s power level or her own, so it did not make her throat want to close or bow to him. If anything, it ticked Remy off to feel his power being unleashed in the room. Hospitality Laws were already broken with him doing this, so Remy readied herself for the fight that was clearly coming. Dimitri’s changing form sparked her Lycan’s to do the same.

"Fuck! Dad!"

"Head for the door!" Lykos screamed as he jumped on top of the table to keep the attention on him.

Remy noticed that the Lycans were already halfway through their change and were advancing toward them. Their arms and legs were in Lycan form, giving them an advantage with claws. Their faces and bodies were still men, helping them see where they were in the room. Lykos had shifted his arms and hands to have his own claws out, and Bryan had the same. This would give them enough of a weapon to face off these three men.

Dimitri jumped onto the table to take Lykos head on. Matthew lunged for Bryan, and Drake lunged for Remy. The room wasn’t big enough to do a lot of movement, so Remy ducked from the swipe and brought her knee up to Drake’s chest once she was safely out of his reach. Her claws elongated, and she swiped down on his neck, still turning her body to give her the leeway to get toward the door. Lykos jumped behind her just as she reached the door. When she opened it, Dimitri’s small gray Lycan flew into the door and caused it to snap on its hinges. It fell and blocked the bottom half of the doorway as he swiped with his claws to catch either her or her father. Remy saw Lykos’s Lycan tackle Dimitri, sending them both through the doorway. Remy jumped over the fallen-down door and felt Bryan on her heels. Lykos tumbled with Dimitri until he was on top, and Remy passed him as she ran toward the door. She heard her father’s footsteps behind her and felt relief that they could escape. They made it out the front door and to the car. Remy, being the only one able to drive, or do anything for that matter, opened the back door, then the passenger, and jumped through the passenger first to get into the driver’s side. Dimitri’s Lycan slammed into the passenger door just as Bryan managed to get himself in. Lykos jumped in the back. Remy wasted no time turning the key, which Lykos left in the ignition and got the engine to turn over. Throwing it in reverse, Remy turned the wheel as far as it could and did a backward turn, causing the other door to close with Lykos inside. She slammed on the gas pedal and left the Lycans in the dust.

Once they were far enough away to settle down, Bryan and Lykos returned to their human forms. Remy kept checking the rearview mirror, eventually satisfied that they were not following them and that they were out of danger.

"Dad, when I came home, I didn’t sign on to be your getaway driver."

Lykos chuckled. "Well, I’m just glad you remember how to drive."

"You’re probably even better since I’m the one who taught you how to drive like that," Bryan added.

They laughed as they all tried to calm themselves about the transgression they had just experienced. The Dark Dimension had really come to the Lycan Kingdom, and Remy had no idea how to get rid of it.

Fuck me sideways.