The meeting

Coal

From the corner of my eye, I saw tension run through Ryder’s rigid frame. No one else in the room noticed, and I didn’t call attention to him by looking in his direction. Instead, I stayed focused on Langdon and replied tightly, “Alpha Mason refused to change his mind.”

“Fuck,” Langdon scowled. “How are we supposed to defend ourselves from a vampire threat without his help? Did he give any reason for his abrupt turnaround on this matter? Something had to have happened.”

I spoke carefully, not wanting to reveal too much. ”Mason is under the impression the vampires are no longer a threat...to him.”

Jax’s jovial mannerisms were utterly stripped away. His hazel eyes pierced darkly into mine, his Wolf peering at me, 100% focused, the deadly Enforcer revealed behind his carefully fabricated façade of humor. Or maybe it was just an alternate personality, the one he was comfortable in until the real work had to be done. Jax growled, “What the fuck does that mean? How can he be so damn sure? And if it’s true, he’s just ready to let the rest of us hang out to dry?”

My thoughts traveled back to our meeting with the Alpha and his cryptic words, “I have no intention of getting involved with the vampires again.”

Sitting across the desk from him in his office, I’d scowled. ”Why? A unified effort was your idea, to begin with, and now you’re just walking away?”

A vein in his neck pulled tight. “They’re no longer a threat to my pack, and I will not provoke them when peace is within my grip. I will not sacrifice my wolves unnecessarily.”

I forced myself to remain in the stodgy chair across from his mahogany desk and spoke through gritted teeth, “How can you be so sure?”

“I don’t have what he’s looking for.” Mason’s words had sent a chill through me. They were oddly reminiscent of my conversation with the vampires.

Aatos had purred in his usual jackass arrogant tone, “We do not want a war. We are simply looking for some information and seek an audience with your Alpha.” It was the reason he wanted to speak to me—he requested I coordinate a meeting between them. Aatos suspected Alpha would just attempt to kill them and not listen to anything they had to say, otherwise. He was right. If I knew anything about my father, he would jump at any opportunity to wipe out a vampire. His Wolf had a bloodthirsty fascination for them.

Aatos had gone on to explain they preferred not to walk into an ambush or incite a conflict with ’unnecessary casualties.′ His lip had curled up in an arrogant grin, flashing his fangs, giving me the distinct impression he didn’t think there would be casualties on their side, only the wolves. Overconfident, cocky bastard.

But maybe he wasn’t as confident as he wanted me to believe. He couldn’t be if he needed me to coordinate the meeting. However, even if I organized it, it certainly didn’t ensure their safety. Alpha wouldn’t give a fuck to attack if he felt provoked, regardless of the context of an amicable meeting.

I’d asked for more details, but Aatos wouldn’t explain anything more than that. He refused to tell me what he wanted to discuss with my father, what information they were looking for and even more importantly, who they worked for. If nothing else, I understood they were acting on someone else’s behalf. Somehow, that bit of information seemed critical.

All of those thoughts had rolled through my brain as I listened to Alpha Mason. I needed more information, and I suspected the Alpha had what I wanted to know. I just needed to ask the right questions. A direct approach wasn’t working, so I came at it from the side and snarled, “What did you do?”

“Research,” Mason replied simply, ignoring the accusing tone in my voice. However, I found nothing simple about his response. If anything, it only led to more questions.

I hammered on, “What kind of research could you have possibly done?”

The Alpha ignored my question and replied, “When I found out who I was dealing with, I extended an invitation to meet.”

Screw coming at it from the side. I demanded harshly, ”Who? Who are we dealing with?”

Mason shook his head. “Part of my agreement was discretion, and I have no intention of going against my word...not with this man.” His expression was hard and cold, leaving no question he intended to keep whatever word he’d committed to. And I couldn’t really fault him for maintaining sworn confidence.

I hadn’t learned anything specific from Alpha Mason, however, if nothing else, it sounded like Aatos had spoken truthfully that all they required was a meeting. And whatever they had said when they spoke with Alpha Mason had convinced him the vampires were not a threat to him. Still, that didn’t mean they weren’t a threat to Alpha and by extension, our pack.

I hadn’t refused Aatos’ request outright. I didn’t want to provoke a confrontation when Ryder and I were outnumbered, but I also hadn’t committed to helping arrange the meeting, only that I would discuss it with Alpha. I had planned on discussing it with him when I returned. Now, I wasn’t so sure.

Langdon coughed, drawing me out of the memory, and bringing me back to the present. I looked up to find all of them still waiting for me to answer Jax’s question. I replied, “Alpha Mason wouldn’t share his reasoning, only that he met with the vampires, and whatever they told him, convinced him.”

“What the fuck?” Jax scowled again, his frustration evident on his face.

Langdon’s expression was equally grim. “Okay, let’s circle back around to Brinley. I think we need an exit strategy in place for her. If something goes wrong, she can run. My mother will take her in.”

“That won’t work,” Brinley whispered next to me.

I shook my head to Langdon, agreeing with her. “If Alpha knows she has run, he will turn her rogue, and the minute she passes our pack border, any and every Wolf she comes along will try to take her out.” A hard shiver went through Brinley. I tightened my hold on her, rubbing her arm with my hand.

“Shit...that just leaves the humans. Do you have any contacts...someone that would be willing to take her in?” Langdon asked.

I thought about it for a moment. “No, but even if I did, no human would be strong enough to defend against a Wolf hell-bent on killing her. There are too many wolves out and about, even in the cities. Brinley would only have to accidentally stumble upon one for her life to be too easily compromised.”

I was shocked when Ryder spoke softly, “Maybe we should look for an ally elsewhere.”

I met his eye. I knew where he was going, but waited for him to continue. I wanted to hear what he had to say because I was pretty shocked he felt confident enough to even suggest it.

We hadn’t discussed the details, but I knew from the scents in the room, that he and Aatos had experienced some form of intimacy. I couldn’t say I understood what was happening between them, but I had to trust Ryder when he told me Aatos hadn’t hurt him, which meant whatever they had done, had been consensual and sufficient to get them both off.

“What do you mean?” Langdon pressed.