Eighteen

Eighteen


Daniel's POV

"Babe, I didn't know that you had arrived!" Laurie jumped into my arms immediately she saw me and I was a bit skeptical at the way she was suddenly all over me like white on rice. I didn't remember doing anything out of the ordinary for her except for sending her some gifts which I considered normal. It was just one of those things.

"Now, I'm here. What's the matter?" 

"Oh, nothing much, it's just that I've missed you."

I was beat and really wasn't in the mood to talk but would she listen? Of course not. I allowed her to take a lot of chances and sometimes I regretted it deep down. It was just the way that I was wired to be. I couldn't have a lot of things running through my mind at the same time and a female was acting clingy.

She stretched out her hands to pull me into a hug but I pushed her away softly. 

She pouted in return and even folded her arms but didn't come closer which I appreciated. 

I heard Jake snort from behind me but I was sure that he was just trying his hardest to control his anger. He didn't like Laurie, but there was nothing that he could do about it.

"May we proceed to the meeting hall Alpha?" He cut in. I liked what he did there. He was just trying to make sure that everything was ready and ripe so that he didn't miss anything.

"Good." 

Laurie glared at him. Both of them didn't see eye to eye ever since the day that she had accused him of stealing an object when he wasn't the culprit. Jake, on one drunken night, confesses that he thought that she was a witch because of the way she had acted.

"Brief me about the meeting. I need to make sure that I'm well prepared and don't stutter during the delivery of the words. Now, what are the other things that I need to get started?" 

Jake perused the to-do list and grinned at me. "we need to address Alpha Callaghan for theft and encroachment into Alpha Simon's land. She reported first but he's still refusing to admit the truth despite the evidences." 

"Also, we have to make sure that the borders of the pack are ..."

I halted and he did the same. There was a strange presence in this house. Someone had touched or changed something. The question was who?

I was pissed by the scent. "Do you smell that?" 

Jake's eyes darted around before returning to me and I stared at him waiting for him to pick it up. He had a very good nose though so I had high expectations from him. 

"I don't smell anything. What does it smell like?" He inquired, truly curious to get the scent. It was then that I realized that he wasn't faking it. He didn't know what was smelling. I shook my head. What a pity?

It was at that point, I took my time to identify the scent. I couldn't blame him because although he was a tracker, I still had a better sense of smell. So it was just there below mine. 

It was a very feathery scent. It smelt like lavender, one of those scents that tantalize your senses but left you wanting for more. "Never mind, continue the brief. So what are the things that we are to expect this time around?" I inquired and he was busy staring at me before snapping into character instantly.

I think I was pleased with the analysis and also suggestions that he gave but I was not going to use it. It was just another day in my life making sure that everyone was settled

"Don't you want true happiness?" My subconscious spoke and I froze. What the hell was going on? Why was I feeling extreme emotions of sadness and loneliness? I wasn't even sad, maybe tired. I just need a good two hours of uninterrupted sleep then I'd be fine. 

"Are you sure that you are not going to leave this place without having a small whiff of the environment?" My inner voice communicated with me. Now, unlike other wolves, I was a lycan so I had heightened senses. I could feel something speaking inside of me. 

"Alpha are you okay?" His eyes flickered in concern, as he moved behind me to make sure that if I fell he would be there to catch me.

"I am good. Go on your way and begin the meeting. I'll join you soon. I headed to the balcony and tried to catch some breath. It was enough for me to start digging deep instead I committed the scent to memory, I was going to see that creature very soon.

I overheard Jake trying to pacify the Alphas who were at loggerheads but their voices overrode his. Secondly it was that way because they were capitalizing on the fact that he was a mere Beta.

The room fell into a hush when I pushed it open. After a while, I walked into the hall and saw it fully packed with Alphas. 

Good. " Why was there noise a few minutes ago?" I began not even bothering to accept any pleasantries. We were here to face business so we were going to make sure that it was done. 

"I'm sorry Alpha Daniel, we were just trying to resolve an issue before it graduated into a full blown argument. I don't think that anyone intended to get you angry." 

I stared at them for a minute. It was obvious that they were lying but that was better than continuing their noise. 

"I see, now to the issue of the day. I heard that there's a fracas between the two packs. Alpha Keaton's pack and Alpha Callaghan's Pack. May I know what it is about?" 

I took my seat at my throne and watched them stutter, while trying to hold back their thoughts. I was guessing that there was so much that I could do with this time that they intended to waste fighting each other. It was just utter stupidity of course. "I believe that you would not do anything to hurt each other right?"

They glared at each other with anger. It only meant one thing. They were ready to be enemies with each other probably to the end of time. I was pissed anyway but didn't show it. I hated settling disputes because I saw it as childishness at its peak. 

If Alphas who were supposed to lead a pack could be found exchanging words and acting like they didn't have any form of decency, it was alarming and that showed the degradation in the system. It was very appalling. I'd rather just stay on my own instead of being in such a place. 

"Now, I don't care about the reason, what I'm particular about is what would happen if you don't do what is necessary. I have taken a lot of time off from the real world because I wanted to find something. I'd advise you to do the same and find a way to settle whatever storm is brewing between both of you. 

"Now, I see no reason why both of you would find it so hard to be able to let certain things go. Alpha Callaghan. You have no right to encroach on his land in any form, or standard, I won't take it from you if I were in his shoes unless you both had an agreement prior to this that we aren't aware of. It's going to be a lot, definitely , but I suggest that you find a good way to resolve this nonsense."

They stared at me wondering how they managed to be disgraced before other people. Alpha Callaghan coughed trying to downplay his embarrassment but I was not fazed nor was I remorseful as long as it would make them do better then they had to find a way to make it work, it was just simple. I wasn't a proponent of war over every little issue. 

I only made my stance clear to whoever wanted to listen because I wouldn't be changing anything to accommodate whoever. It was my life and my business. I deserved more than I was getting credit for even as a Lycan. The werewolf community was a strict one. Only the strongest survived.

"Thank you for your unbiased judgment. A lot of Alphas have been taking sides with him because according to them he is their friend and they can't speak against him." Alpha Simon piped up. 

Well they better get welcome to the real world because in reality I didn't have the time nor the patience for injustice.

"I can see that. Take time off and come to a compromise or agreement."

Both men nodded and I stared at them. 

"Now, to the main reason I called you. I have an ongoing project that's hidden from everyone and I would love to have you as partners."

The Alphas stared at me like I had grown two heads. Well, they better wait till I hit them with the idea. It was going to make them change. "I have decided to begin an academy." I paused so that I could ascertain their responses. It was going to tell me what and whatnot to expect from them. 

"I think that's a good idea..." Alpha Shane answered which I knew he didn't quite understand. "I just don't understand why you would need our help. I'm sorry to have asked such a question." He apologized.

I shook my head, well as I stared at him as he was acting like we hadn't just watched them doubt my abilities.

"Good question. We are going to build the biggest werewolf academy that would make all the surrounding Packs shake. So everyone has to contribute their quota to the development. I would bring in facilitators from far and wide to make sure that the wolves get premium education." 

All of a sudden, the wolves broke into an applause as they stared at me.

"This is amazing, Alpha." some of them whispered. 

I merely stared at them as they expressed their surprise coupled with admiration. I watched a dark look cross Callaghan's face and I shook my head at his behavior. His anger was probably because he wasn't the only one who didn't have a great idea up his sleeves. It was because as usual no one was willing to take his bullshit.

"What's our gain? It's a business venture. Isn't it?"

"That's a very lovely question because that means that you are trying to really know what's going on. Your gain is that your Pack gets to become developed better than the former ones." 

He wasn't still convinced but he was in no position to query me. "If you know that you don't feel like joining, you can simply just let me know. I just decided to bring it to all of you but if it's too hard, why don't we just let it be?" 

"That's not what I'm saying, I think it's within my right to ask for my cut in a business venture, unless it's for charity of course." 

A few Alphas grunted in support and I didn't say a word. I can see where the problem lies. They were trying to make it look like I was trying to rip them.

"That tells me that you're out. Now, how about you just wait and hear what I would have said instead of diving right into baseless conclusions? That's quite alarming don't you think?" I glared at him in return. He knew the reason I was staring at him that way. 

"I don't think you understand me, Alpha

..."

"Not one word from you. Now we go into the plans drawn for you." I overrode his request. 

"I think Alpha Callaghan's point is valid."

I raised my head and they went mute.

"Good to hear your sentiments. Let's take a vote." I said.