Chapter 116

Alpha Gabe POV

"Thank you so much for your input Alpha James," I heard my wife say loudly as they came down the hallway. I knew she was signaling to us that they were nearing the door. I was grateful that Jenna was so quick on the fly when I needed help with things. She had pulled Alpha James away from my office, stating that she needed his assistance with something. She pulled him to the guest quarters to get his opinion on the accomodations for the visiting councilmen. She wanted them to feel comfortable for their stay and she had asked him to look at a few things that she had changed in the quarters since their last visit. This was of course only partly true. Jenna couldn't have cared less what his opinion was, but it was a way to get him away from us for a few minutes so that we could speak quietly with Michael. "I appreciate your time, I know how busy you are." Jenna stepped outside the door, gave a light tap and then opened it. "Here we are! Thank you for letting me borrow him for a few minutes Gabe," she gave me a warm smile.

"Of course. Was he able to assist you with what you needed?" I asked her, as if this was all very routine.

"Absolutely," she waved at us with her fingers and disappeared down the hall.

"She's made some wonderful improvements," Alpha James stated. "The new bedding is so soft and I love the new mattresses. Do I have one of those in my room?"

"I wouldn't know," I stated. "Jenna handles all of that. I'd think you do though," I told him. We didn't purchase new mattresses and I was sure Jenna had probably said that to get him to lie on the beds and pretend he was testing them out, giving us some added precious minutes. We always purchased top of the line and there wasn't any reason to be switching out mattresses in guest rooms that were used only a couple of times a year. "Does your bed not meet your needs?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Oh it's very comfortable, thank you," he replied. "Now what did I miss?" he asked.

"Nothing much," I said. "We were just discussing a potential agenda for when the other council members arrive." I shufffled some papers on my desk and looked up. "I think we should get started as soon as possible, get things moving along so you can all get back home."

"Yes, I couldn't agree more. I have things pending back home to attend too. I'd most definitely like to get back there as soon as possible." He stated.

"Things your Beta can't handle?" I asked.

"Right. I can't trust him fully with everything that I do you know. Top secret Alpha stuff and all," he smiled. "You know how it is. Surely you don't give Cody things to manage that aren't his concern?"

Cody and I exchanged glances. "Actually, he's fully capable of doing all of my duties if need be. There should always be someone who can take over in a time of crisis. What if you became injured, ill or even died?" I asked. "It's imperative to the packs success and well being that the Beta be able to step in if the Alpha heir isn't ready to do so."

"Well isn't your heir about to take over?" Alpha James questioned. "Mine is not, he's far to young. Plus the little jerk isn't even ready for Alpha training, he's pretty useless."

"Isn't your son thirteen?" I asked. "Thirteen year olds have barely got their wolves yet, if at all. Seems like he's definitely not ready, so all the more reason your Beta should be ready to step in."

Alpha James stiffened and gave me a scowl. "Are you trying to tell me how to run my pack Alpha Gabe? I am after all a council man, so clearly someone thinks I know what I'm doing."

"I wasn't inferring that you don't," I replied calmly. "I'm just making an educated statement that you need someone who knows everything, so they can step in if there is a need." I waved off my hand. "That's irrelevant. We aren't here to talk about that anyway, we are here to get to the bottom of the findings from the Godsend Pack's dungeon. Now, what do you know about the lab we found?"

"Lab?" I watched as he swallowed hard and his left eye twitched. "I'm not sure I follow you. I thought you just found a dungeon where prisoners were held. You found a lab?" he tried to sound curious, but that was an inflection in his voice that sounding aware and stressed.

"Where has your head been the past few hours? That's what we have been talking about," I told him. He stared at me and made no further comment. "It's all going to come out when the council arrives anyway. I think it's time we go find some dinner," I said. I motioned towards the door and without a word, Alpha James turned on his heel and stomped out, growling at Michael to follow him. Michael gave me a look and a nod, before turning to follow him out. I knew at that moment that Michael was going to be on high alert and listening to everything that came out of Alpha James mouth.

I turned to my Beta, "Cody, I want you to call the Idaho Falls Pack and speak to the Beta. Maybe we need to have him brought here for questioning. It's always easier to read if someone is lying when you can look them in the eye."

"Right," Cody stated. "Or watch their eye twitch." He winked and then turned towards the door. "Some calls are best made from my office. See you later," he waved and sauntered out of my office. I plopped myself into my chair, my thoughts churning. More than ever, I thought Alpha James definitely had something to do with this. His posture gave him away, even if he thought otherwise.