Once everyone who can be is seated around the conference room table, I start the meeting.
“Thank you all for coming. Is there anything anyone wishes to bring up before we discuss things?”
Alpha Pollux clears his throat. “Beta Castor and I will be leaving soon, but I just wanted to thank you, Alpha Athena. We wouldn’t have gotten out last night if it wasn’t for your mind-link.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“We all got out in time because you mind-linked us to get out of the pack house,” he explains.
“I’m sorry, I’m confused. Are you talking about the mind-link I sent out to the warriors?” I ask.
“Alpha, we heard it too. You mind-linked everyone in the house,” Beta Castor says.
“That’s not possible,” I say. “We can only mind-link with our own pack.”
“I heard it too, Alpha,” Lauren says.
I look at Andreas with a shocked expression. “Maybe you can mind-link the chosen,” he says.
“I heard it too,” Noah says, and everyone in the room gasps.
“Try me, Alpha,” Elder Laskaris says.
I close my eyes and concentrate. '*Can you hear me, Elder?*'
'*I can hear you, Alpha*,' he responds.
“Holy shit,” I gasp.
“This can’t leave this room,” Elder Laskaris says. “This will give us all a significant advantage in the war to come.”
Everyone in the room nods in agreement.
I sit back, stunned, not sure what to say, and Andreas takes my hand and squeezes it.
“Well, as I said, thank you for saving us, Alpha. We just wish we could have done the same for Gamma Alex,” Alpha Pollux says sadly.
“Me too.” I smile sadly.
“We should be going. We’ll contact you in a few days once we know who will be returning with us,” he says as he and Beta Castor stand from the table.
“Thank you, Alpha, Beta,” I say to them with a nod of respect, and they leave the room.
I gather my thoughts and lean forward on the table, clasping my fingers together. “Luna Cassia, is there anything you’d like to discuss?” I ask.
“No, Alpha,” she says with a smile.
“Great, then I’d like to discuss the positions that need to be filled.” I turn my attention to Harry. “Harry, you were one of Alex’s most trusted men. I’d like you to continue to lead the Luna Guard, but as Delta.”
“It would be my honor, Alpha,” he says with a slight bow. “Do you think the guard is still necessary?”
“Until things have settled, I’d feel more comfortable knowing Luna Cassia is still protected. Especially until I have a chance to talk to ex-Beta Michael.”
“Of course, Alpha. I assume Leah, Luca, James, and Tony are to stay assigned?” He asks.
“Everyone but Tony,” I say, turning to look at Tony, and he frowns, looking disappointed. “I’d like him to be our new Gamma,” I smile.
“What?” He asks, surprised. “I mean… Are you sure, Alpha? Wouldn’t Harry or Ryna be more qualified?”
“Of course, I’m sure. While Harry and Ryna have more experience, you’ve come a long way since I met you, and I couldn’t be more proud of you. I believe you deserve the chance to show everyone what I see in you.”
“Here, here,” the others in the room say in agreement, and Tony smiles broadly.
“Thank you, Alpha. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” I tell him.
“This is all new to me, and there are things that will take time to work out,” I say as I look to Andreas, and we smile at each other. “But I know with time we will be stronger as a pack, and that’s because of the people in this room. I appreciate every single one of you for the support you’ve given me. Especially you, Ryna,” I say as I look at my best friend. “You have always been my rock, and I can’t imagine leading this pack without you. So, I’d like you to be my Beta,” I say with a teary smile.
He smiles as he reaches his hand across the table to hold mine. “Do I have to?” He asks with a grin, causing us all to laugh.
“You better. My mate doesn’t know how to put up with me yet. He’ll need backup,” I say with a giggle.
“Of course, I’ll be your Beta,” he says as he squeezes my hand.
“Thank you,” I say, squeezing his hand back as a couple of the warriors standing behind him slap his back in congratulations.
“There’s just one more position I’d like to appoint. This position is new for our pack and isn’t often used in other packs either, as it’s reserved for times of war. I’m not appointing this role because of the possibility of war, but because we now have a special group of warriors who I feel need a leader.” I say, looking around the room.
“But Alpha, you’re the leader of the Crescent Warriors,” Leah says. “We pledged ourselves to you.”
“You did, and I couldn’t be more honored. You will all still be my warriors. However, I don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s safety by stretching myself too thin with my responsibilities. Which is why I think Noah and Rich should be the Epsilons of the Crescent Warriors.”
“Epsilons? Really?” Rich asks with a proud smile on his face.
“Yes. I want to ensure that the Crescent warriors are protected the same way you would all protect me. And I believe that you and Noah are the right choice for this rank.”
The Crescent warriors look between each other, and then they all turn back to me and nod. “We agree to this,” Leah answers for them.
“Noah? What do you think?” I ask him.
He clears his throat before answering. “I’m honored,” he whispers with a teary look.
Andreas pats Noah on the back proudly. “I couldn’t ask for a better man or a better group of warriors to protect my mate,” he says.
“Thank you,” Rich says to Andreas.
“What should we call your mate, Alpha?” Jess asks. “Have you both decided on how this is going to work?”
“My mate is Alpha,” Andreas says. “Just call me Andreas.”
“With all due respect, Andreas, but being mated to the Alpha makes you an Alpha,” Elder Andino says. “Not to take anything away from Alpha Athena, but to call you anything but Alpha as well would be disrespectful.”
“I agree,” I say, turning to Andreas. “We know where we stand. I know you support me as Alpha of this pack and of the chosen. But being my mate makes you an Alpha too.”
“I don’t want there to be any confusion amongst the pack,” Andreas says. “You are my Alpha, and calling me Alpha as well may cause issues.”
“Any issues that arise, we will handle them,” I tell him.
‘*What about people like Mr. Williams*?’ He links.
‘*If he causes any trouble, we will set him straight*.’
He takes a moment to think, then nods. “Okay. As long as it’s made clear that you are Alpha.”
“Great. We will update the council records for your pack.” Elder Laskaris says. “And may I say, Alpha, you have done well in the people you have chosen for these ranks.”
“Thank you, Elder Laskaris. I trust these people with my life.” I smile at everyone in the room. “Now that that’s settled, we need to talk about this rogue pack and what happened last night. Do we know anything about the first explosion?” I ask.
“Felix contacted me this morning. No one in the pack has any idea what happened or why,” Harry says.
“Were there any casualties?” Elder Laskaris asks.
“No, everyone in the pack was accounted for. The explosion happened away from the pack, on the other side of the woods. Also, Costas Beta, Leon, has taken over as Alpha. We should assume he knew of Costas’s dealings with the rogue pack.”
“It makes sense that the pack knew nothing about the explosion, but I think Leon is definitely in on it. The first explosion had to be a ploy to get the rogue pack out of the barn,” Tony says.
“With everyone out of the barn, we would think it was safe to enter,” Noah adds.
“Exactly. But it was all just a trap to get us inside for the second explosion,” Tony says.
“Does anyone know why we couldn’t smell the gas when we first walked in?” I ask.
“There was something masking it,” Rich says. “When we entered the main area, there was some kind of mist coming from a sprinkler system in the ceiling. We didn’t smell the gas until Alpha Pollux found the switch to turn the system off,” he explains.
“Thank the Goddess he found the switch,” Harry says. “We could have lost all of you.”
“We need to learn more about the witches helping them. And if we could work out how to tell the difference between the real lycans and the werewolves, that would help too,” Tony says.
“Has anyone been able to notice any differences between them?” I ask, but everyone shakes their heads.
“The witch’s magic is powerful, Alpha. I’m not sure if we’ll ever be able to tell the differences between them,” Rich says.
“Did you ever find their arsenal?” I ask Tony.
“We found it, but it was empty,” he says.
“They must have cleared it out before the explosion. We need to know if the pack is still in the area. Harry, do you think Alpha Leon would allow us onto his territory to inspect the area?” I ask.
“Well, considering what you did to the previous Alpha, it could go either way,” Harry smirks. “We may have to go in with force.”
“I don’t want to risk more casualties if the pack is still there with their full arsenal. Reach out to Felix, and ask him to see if the Alpha would be willing to meet.”
“Of course, Alpha.”
“Is there anything else we need to discuss?” I ask.
“There’s just one thing I’d like to suggest before we end the meeting,” Doctor Apollo says, and I motion for him to continue. “I think we need some psychiatrists to come to the pack and help the chosen that were found.”
I feel Andreas stiffen beside me, so I take his hand and feel him relax. “I think that’s an excellent idea. Elder Laskaris, do you think the council can help with this?” I ask.
“Of course, Alpha.”
“Okay, great. Then if that’s all, I would like to say goodbye to the rest of the guests that are leaving today,” I say, and everyone stands to leave.