Dinner with the Alphas

When we get downstairs, I'm shocked to see even Ismael and his mate present. That's unfortunate. "Dawn, what is going on," Siobhan asks. Her tone drips concern as do her eyes as she takes in my haggard appearance. "The Ferals are getting worse. They attacked and killed one of our children. The Elites found her body outside the gates. There was also another body, one we can't identify, found in the woods further out with a note shoved into his chest cavity." Siobahn blanches when I mention the dead child.

She grips Rolando's arm to steady herself. "I know they kill indiscriminately but to actually hear that a child is dead is still sickening." I nod my understanding, watching her specifically. Siobahn was kidnapped and tortured before she met Rolando and unfortunately the lasting trauma is her inability to have kids. It doesn't stop them from trying but she is especially sensitive to the subject. "Perhaps if the child's alpha had been paying closer attention and had better control of her pack, the child would still be alive." I tense up, snarling at Aiza when she speaks.

"Watch yourself, mutt. You're on that alpha's territory and I'm not afraid to kill you where you stand," I growl. She growls lowly at me, crouching down into a defensive position. I scoff, rolling my eyes. "Call off your dog off Ismael or I'll put her down."

He shrugs nonchalantly, pulling his phone out to check text messages. "Waste of a mate," I grumble. Aiza snarls loudly. "How dare you disrespect my mate." When she lunges, I easily sidestep her, grabbing her by the back of her neck and slamming her face first to a wall. "Listen and listen well because I'll not say it again. I have put your so-called mate on his ass before. You're no stronger than he is and I'll do much worse to you. He won't bother to defend you either. He isn't now and he won't then. Am I clear." She snarls, her eyes shifting to a reddish color as she struggles. I tighten my grip. "I said am I clear," I repeat. "Yes Alpha," she bites out. I throw her to the ground, stepping over her to rejoin the other alphas. "Now that that's been dealt with, the Elites will show you all to your rooms for the time being and then we will gather for dinner and discuss these matters further." I smile brightly, hugging Siobhan tightly before she and Rolando follow one of the guards upstairs.

"I don't trust Ismael's mate," Jules says, coming up on my right. I narrow my eyes, watching the two of them follow another guard. "Ashton, make sure to have at least two extra guards on them at all times. Make it discreet though." He nods before walking off, speaking into the communication device on his wrist.

"You don't think they'll do anything do you," Misty asks. I chew the inside of my cheek thoughtfully before answering. "I think they'll consider it and even that I can't and won't allow. This is my territory, my pack, and Ismael has not made it a secret that he wants it and if I won't give it to him, he'll wipe us out." She and Julianna growl simultaneously at the reminder. "Get Caspor and bring him to my office, please." Julianna and Misty nod, turning and walking out to locate our newest member.

Going upstairs, I head straight to my office. As I'm opening the door, a voice catches my attention. "I certainly hope your pack makes it through this. Whatever this is," Ismael says. I turn to meet his eyes, resisting the urge to beat the smirk off his face. "My pack is strong enough to withstand anything. We will put any dog down that challenges us." His eyes shift color as the smirk falls. "Watch who you threaten, little Alpha. You never know what kind of power they have." I raise an eyebrow. "I'm not too concerned, Ismael. Everybody has their weakness. Including you."

He opens his mouth to reply when Caspor comes up the stairs smiling. "Little Red. Misty said you wanted to see me," he says, brushing past Ismael. He hugs me tightly before turning to look at Ismael, his smile faltering. I look at Ismael and narrow my eyes when his face loses its color before turning a bright crimson red. He glowers at Caspor before turning and walking away wordlessly. I release a breath of relief, rolling my eyes. I gesture for Caspor to follow me into my office, closing the door behind us. I sit down behind my desk, motioning for him to sit opposite me.

"I wanted to tell you myself that, as you just saw, I have visiting Alphas and their Pair Bonds staying here. The one you just saw was our very own esteemed Alpha Ismael. I would like you to join us for dinner to help make some plans regarding the Feral issue. I will introduce you to them, but I would also like to show them exactly what type of wolf you and Caesar are. We've never seen anything like you. But it proves Ferals are capable of changing or thinking rationally to some extent. If we can figure out what makes you different, why the alpha blood kept you from going mad, I think we can work towards finding a cure for being Feral."

He leans back in the chair, his hands folded under his chin as he absorbs my words like a sponge. He stares at me, but doesn't really see me. I can see the dazed look in his eyes, no doubt communicating with his wolf to see how he feels. After a couple of minutes, he focuses back on me, nodding cautiously. "We'll do it. But please, if Caesar looks like he is about to snap, knock me out by any means necessary." I can see the fear in his eyes. Whether it's a fear of what Caesar will do or a fear of what the alphas will do, I wouldn't be able to tell you. I sigh, nodding reluctantly. I glance at the time, noticing it's nearly five o'clock. Standing up, I offer him a smile. "It will be alright, Caspor. I won't let them hurt you or you hurt them. Except maybe Ismael." I chuckle as he smiles, but it looks forced. He stands up, turning to leave. "Oh, by the way, do you know him? He looked like he had seen a ghost." I see his shoulders tense. He doesn't turn to face me as he replies, "No. No I don't know your alpha Ismael. I must have looked like someone he knew. Everybody has their skeletons, Little Red. I'd suggest leaving his in the closet." He opens the door, strolling out. I furrow my eyebrows, narrowing my eyes thoughtfully. He's looking a little dodgy there, Wynter says. I sigh, nodding my agreement. "He's lived alone for goddess knows how long. Who knows what kind of secrets he knows about all of us alphas." Wynter huffs, knowing I'm right.

I exit my office, locking the door behind me, and head downstairs to the kitchen to speak with the cooks.

I smile when Sunny and Shadow run up to me squealing. I laugh, picking them both up and spinning them around. Ruby and Caine follow behind them with Caine slightly in front of Ruby protectively. I smile gently at them, crouching down to their level when I put the other two down. "Hello, darlings. Have you eaten?" Caine nods curtly as Ruby clutches his arm.

"Yes alpha," Eileithyia says, coming up behind them. I smile, standing up. "Thank you for taking them," I say, inclining my head to the gentle she-wolf. She beams and I can see her wolf in her eyes, pride oozing from her at the compliment from her alpha. "Eileithyia, would you and the others mind cooking up a dinner for the visiting alphas this evening," I ask. She beams, her eyes lighting up more. "It would be an honor, alpha. What would you like prepared?" I smile, happy to see a member of my pack so excited. "I leave the menu in your capable hands." Her eyes widen and she practically bounces with excitement. "Thank you alpha! Dinner will he ready within the hour," she says before turning and bounding off followed by the kids.

For the next hour, I walk outside, inspecting and watching the training units. When I get a link from Eileithyia letting me know dinner is done, I dismiss the trainings, heading back inside. The Elites have already alerted the other alphas, requesting them to join us in the dining room. I stand at the head of the table as Bear enters, taking his place on my left. Julianna sits on my right, leaving a seat between us empty intentionally, and Misty on Bear's left, the rest of the alphas and their Pair Bonds filling the rest of the seats. I smile when the kitchen staff bring out the dishes, setting them onto the table. Ismael sits down first with Aiza, earning low growls from Julianna and Misty, as well as the other alphas.

It is seen as incredibly rude to sit before the alpha whose territory you're on. And he knows it. He smirks at me mockingly. I resist the urge to snarl at him, holding my hand up to silence the girls and other alphas. I take my seat, motioning everyone else to do so as well. "Dawn, who is missing," Alpha Lindon asks, referring to the seat beside Bear. I smile tolerantly as they all watch me with questioning eyes. I reach out with my mind, finding Caspor. I gently brush his mind, knowing better than to intrude, lest I trigger Caesar to lose his absolute shit. His scent wafts into the room, causing the alphas to tense when they smell the underlying Feral scent.

I stand up, going to the doorway where Caspor lingers hesitantly. I smile at him, gesturing for him to come with me. Leo is on his feet in an instant. "What is this? Do you bring a Feral here to slaughter us all?" I growl lowly at him, tensing. "Sit down, Alpha Leo, or we will remove you from this meeting," Julianna says in a bored tone. He snarls at her but falls silent when I snarl over him. "Enough, Leo. If you would, kindly shut up, sit down and let me speak." He glowers at me, but does as I say regardless. I smile at Caspor, leading him to the seat between Julianna and I. A seat safe where we can act should someone get out of hand. "Now, if we are done with the interruptions, I will explain. This is Caspor King. He is a Feral, but also not a Feral. He and I have known one another since before the fire that destroyed my pack the first time. At the time, I did not know him know him. He was a faceless friend I called Mr Wolf. Recently I met him again for the first time. Ashton and I found his cave in No Man's land. His wolf is Feral but isn't. He is typically of sound mind unless triggered. Unlike other Ferals, his wolf can focus. Hunt. Something triggered him when Ashton and I met him the first time. we raced out of his cave and there were dozens of things that would've diverted his attention were he truly Feral. Instead, he kept on us. His wolf resembles a cross between a normal pack wolf and a Feral one. He is here because he has information on the Ferals and their movements. He was chased by a group of them a while back."

I can feel the confusion permeating the air as the alphas stare at him. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat under the scrutiny. "Now, after dinner, Caspor has agreed to show his wolf. When he does so, I ask that you keep an open mind, and choose your movements carefully so as not to trigger him." Ismael scoff, sneering at Caspor. "You bring this...thing onto your territory and act like he is no threat but tell us he hunted you and your captain. You must enjoy the attention you get from having not one but TWO snakes now in your pack and now you have this monstrosity." I snarl warningly at him. "Shut it before I shut it for you, Ismael. Don't forget whose territory you are on. I am within my rights to kill you should you disrespect me or my pack." He growls lowly at me, clenching his fists. I spare a glance at Aiza and for the first time she looks almost fearful of her mate. Good. "Enough," Orion snaps, drawing me and Ismael out of our snarling match. "Orion is right. This is Dawn's territory, Ismael. Stop egging her on," Devon adds. Rolando and Eric nod their agreement. "I don't know about all of you, but this food looks delicious and I'm starved," Birch says, trying to ease the tension pervading the air.

The other alphas agree and slowly start piling food onto their plates. Caspor sits wordlessly beside me. I take his plate, piling food onto it and sliding it in front of him. He looks up to me in shock as I smile at him. "You're alright. Ignore Ismael," I say softly. He nods, picking up his fork and starting to eat. Conversations begin all around the table, Holly and Hazel talking animatedly between themselves softly, their heads bent together as they eat. Mikael's Pair Bond, Heather and Orion's Pair Bond, Galaxy, talk to Devon's Pair Bond, Kylie excitedly. The three packs border one another and it's good to see Devon not only finally found his Pair Bond, but that she also fits so well with the two Pair Bonds from their neighboring territories. I clear my throat after a while, drawing everybody's attention. "If everybody is done eating, I would propose we go outside so Caspor can demonstrate his wolf. Afterwards, we will get down to business." The alphas all nod, standing and offering their Pair Bonds their hands.

Bear, Julianna, Misty, Caspor and I lead everyone out into a more secluded section of the training grounds designed for the younger wolves should they lose their shit. I hold a hand up, halting the girls and Bear. I step into the center of the area, standing opposite of Caspor. I smile at him encouragingly, nodding the go ahead. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes as he shifts. I wince when I hear him snarl in pain during the shift. Wynter wants to comfort him, not in a romantic way but a familial way. She has bonded with Caesar like a daughter would her father. When he finishes shifting, he stands tall, his head whipping around when the other alphas gasp. Goddess please don't let us regret this.