Chapter 16
Liam POV
Eve is having so much fun. She’s flipping over them with ease and getting in attack after attack, with each battle ending the same way. The soldier are leaving with their tail between their legs each time. They are starting to get concerned and take this more seriously after the first few lost in less than a minute.
She looks over at me, smiling.
“If I battle more than one at a time and they win, could they split the money?”.
I just smile back. “Sure, they could”.
This spurs on another round but she just uses this to knock them off balance and send them flying into one another. She’s smiling about it. I look up and Conrad and he is enjoying the show as well.
The girls are on the viewing platform and have formed some sort of cheerleading squad, yelling at every victory.
After about 30 minutes of this, and after there are no more challengers, I call it. Eve is the winner. When asked what she will spend the money on, she says she doesn’t want it. I’m just glad she is finally having fun. Probably help she could burn off some steam.
She goes back to her room to get changed with the girls before going on the tour. The tour is being done by our Gamma Sherman. He is an older man and was the Gamma at his previous pack before he was replaced by the Alpha’s son.
They marvel as Sherman tells them about each room. Mish and Kimberly and looking at all the expensive things, and Willow seems fascinated by the architecture. Eve has gone quiet again. I must get her to see the good in our pack and the good in Conrad.
"If it’s alright, can I ask you some questions, Eve?”. I know I must tread carefully.
“I guess that is OK”.
“Why don’t you like pack life? I can see you are uncomfortable with the servants around you”.
She doesn’t even make eye contact when she answers. “I know in packs that only the Alpha is in charge. He gives some authority to soldiers and Beta’s but everyone else is a slave to do their bidding”.
“I know that’s how some packs operate like that, but not this one. Everyone here has an employment contract like in the human world. They get sick days, leave days, and even maternity leave. They also get some money so they can buy personal things. Conrad is aiming for more equality and freedoms among the lower classes”.
“What do you mean classes”. Of course, Willow asks that question. With her journal and note pad she looks like a news reporter.
“There are 4 classes of wolves that are determined by strength, size, and aura power. The most powerful are Alpha’s. They are the leaders of packs. Next is Beta’s we assist, and a lot of them become guards or soldiers. Next is Gamma’s. They tend to run the pack day to day needs like organising the pack house. Some are even in charge of upholding pack traditions and helping all observe holidays. Finally, there are Omegas. They make up the bulk of the pack and do most of the everyday work like cooking, cleaning, farming, etc”
“How do you determine a wolf’s aura power?” Willow asks.
“We give off pulses of energy. Do you want to feel it?”.
“Yes, please,” all three girls chime at once.
I get them to hold out their hand and I put my hand in each of theirs one at a time.
“It feels hot and sparky,” Willow exclaims.
I turn to Sherman, giving the tour, “Would you mind showing them?”.
He obliges and does the same.
“It’s warm and tingly but not as much as yours”.
“Exactly. Sherman is a Gamma, which is lower than Beta. He is very valuable to the pack, and he is great at what he does, but it would be unfair to send him into battle if he has less strength and power than others”.
Eve seems very confused by this notion, but seems to be taking it in.
I take over the tour when we get to the council room.
“This is our council meeting room. One of the goals we have is to bring more unity among the packs so they know the king will hear their concerns. There are 5 members. One from North, South, East, and West, and then the head of the counsel. All get voted in by the packs within the territory zones. The head of the counsel, Donovan, oversees its operations. The Alpha King is at every monthly meeting where they bring their concerns to the table and discuss issues. If decisions need to be made, they vote and as there are 6, there must be a majority for action to be taken”.
Eve seemed very perplexed by this. “So the Alpha King doesn’t decide what he thinks is best”.
“Not during Conrad’s reign. Traditionally, packs were run as families, overseen by the Alpha and Luna who act as father and mother to all. Somewhere along the way, this turned into dictatorships, so we are using modern political methods to take us back to our origins. The only thing the Alpha King will ever have complete power over is removing Alphas who violate werewolves' rights and detaining them for trial”.
“Like with Alpha Blake and his family”.
“Exactly”.
Her face suddenly changes, and she starts to look scared. “Where are they?”.
“There is a prison on this territory far away from the pack house. They are in there, awaiting trial which will take place in 6 months. We have until then to make our case and prove his crimes”.
Eve looked of out the window just processing what I said. It looked like her walls were starting to come down even if just a little.