Chapter 20: Simon

Jared and I took a seat at the head of the table with the other Alphas. We nodded at them as they continued to chat amongst each other.

“Hello, all. Shall we get started?” I say to the group. They look at me and reposition themselves to focus on me. “Jared, can you read the topics from the last meeting?”

“Of course, Alpha,” he said. He stood and looked over his notebook. “We discussed the possible shipping route through Bright Moon Pack and Silver River Pack. We also discussed the Yule ball and how the Dark Forest Pack will be hosting this year. And that is all.”

Listening to Jared list the items of discussion from the last meeting you would think that the meeting would only last thirty minutes. But, with these Alphas and Lunas they liked to talk in circles and not come to a decision on anything.

“Very good, thank you Jared. Now, has Bright Moon Pack or Silver River Pack made a decision if we are allowed to use the shipping routes through their lands? Alpha Garret, Alpha James?”

Alpha James stood and cleared his throat. “I have discussed this with my Luna and Beta, and we are in agreement that the Bright Moon Pack will honor your shipping routes. We would need a shipping schedule and be in agreement on who the drivers will be.”

“Are you asking for a list of the approved drivers?” I asked him.

“Yes and no.” Alpha James rubbed his chin. “I am thinking that a way that the Bright Moon Pack can gain something from this agreement is to allow some of my pack members to be drivers. Of course, you would have the final say in the drivers from my pack.”

“Interesting. I think we could work something out.” I said to him. “I wasn’t going to bring this up in today’s meeting, but with the Dark Forest Falls Pack’s company growing so exponentially we are needing to hire more workers. And what better way to bring our packs together?”

The Alphas started to talk to their Lunas. The other packs weren’t necessarily poor, but I knew that some of them were hurting for more work. They knew our pack was beyond financially stable and if they could get a fraction of that, it would make a huge difference in each pack’s sustainability and growth.

“Of course, we would come up with a solid number of new hires and the packs that are interested we can split the number amongst them. If you and your pack are not interested that fine as well.” The Alphas started to whisper to their Lunas, they discussed the possibilities.

Jared leaned over and whispered to me. “I thought we weren’t going to bring this up until the new quarter.”

“I saw an opportunity,” I said as I shrugged at him.

He rolled his eyes and continued to look at the other members around the table, he tried to hear what they were discussing.

“Of course, you can take some time to discuss this with your packs. I am just putting feelers out there to see if any packs are interested. I can work with Jared to get final numbers and share those with you.”

The Alphas and their Lunas just looked at me. James was the first to speak. “This is an amazing opportunity; I don’t want to speak for my entire pack, but I really think Bright Moon Pack would be interested in this arrangement.”

Tristan stood. “Crystal Mountain Pack would be interested as well.”

“And ours.” Luis said from the other side of the table.

Everyone took a moment and looked at Garret. He was the only one that didn’t say anything. “I’m not sure our pack will be so keen on working in another pack’s territory. And for the shipping routes we will need more time to decide.”

That was Garret speak for his pack wasn’t going to participate in the shipping routes or the job opportunity. He was the type of Alpha to stick to the old ways. Never leaving the territory unless absolutely necessary and if they were to cross other pack lines, they would call for permission.

“Time can be given. Thank you, Alpha James, for working with Dark Forest Falls Pack to set up shipping routes. It is really going to solve a lot of driving issues.”

“Our pleasure.” James said with a smile and nod.

“Ok, shall we move on?” I asked the group. This was going to be the first time we discussed something in a timely manner without an argument arising. They were more than grateful for the opportunity and didn’t want to fuck it up. The members nodded.

Jared showed me the item that was next on the agenda. It was the Yule Ball. Jared was letting me mentally prepare before we started the discussion.

“Next on the agenda---the Yule Ball.”

I heard Tristan snicker to the right of me. I glared at him. Tiffany who sat next to him elbowed him in the side which caused him to catch his breath.

“Like I said, the Yule Ball is next on the agenda. It is two months away. I have reached out to four catering companies to come up with a menu. They all come from different packs. Once we square that away, we can start figuring out decorations and what not. That’s where I’m going to need some help. The best I can do with decorations is throw tinsel at a tree and hope for the best.” I said and laughed at the group. Maybe if I made a joke, they would take it easier on my not having a mate.

I looked around the table at the other members and they all chuckled except Garret and Layla. Garret had a stern look on his face and Layla had one to match with her arms crossed in front of her. If they had it their way, they wouldn’t have let Dark Forest Falls Pack be the host this year. They wouldn’t let me be the host until I got a suitable mate to help plan.

“Thank goodness you have me to help!” Tiffany said, above the members. “Just let me know of a time you would like me to stop by to come up with a plan. I’m so excited I get to help this year.” She shook with excitement.

“Me, too!” Teresa said, she looked at Tiffany and smiled. “Let me know of a time and we can all work together to come up with something fabulous.”

“Oh my god! I just had a great idea. We could have a signature drink for the ball. Hmmmm like dark spiced martinis.” She looked up and bit her lip trying to think of another. “I know I can come up with something better than that.”

“That’s a great idea!” Teresa chimed in.

“I can help as well.” Sarah said and smiled at the other two ladies already deep in thought about the upcoming party they were about to plan.

“Thank you, Lunas for your support. Let’s plan a time at the end of next week if that fits into your schedule. Thursday or Friday?” I said and looked down at my calendar in my phone.

“I can make that work!” Tiffany shouted with excitement. Tristan patted Tiffany’s arm in an attempt to calm her down. She just shrugged off his hand.

“Works for me as well,” Teresa said.

“And me,” Sarah said.

“Great.” I said and punched in a time in my calendar and shared the time with the Lunas. Technology was really great when planning things across multiple packs. “Let’s get together and make something great.”

Tiffany squealed. “Sorry, I just really love planning parties.” She laughed at herself.

“I love the enthusiasm. Alphas, of course you are more than welcome to join the Lunas when they visit. Maybe Jared can take you on a tour of the mines and show you where some of your pack members will be working.” I nudged Jared to say something.

“I will make a list of jobs we need to fill and share those with you. From there you may share those with your pack to see if you have any qualified candidates. We are also willing to train any wolf that wants to work,” he said.

The eyes of the Alphas lit up. The job scene was tough now a days and finding a job that paid well enough to support a family was almost impossible. This was a constant struggle amongst the packs, not only in our area but throughout America. Everyone struggled. If I could bring some sort of relief to my fellow Alphas, I would be happy to do so. The mines were finally at a point where we could offer jobs.