Chapter 43

DANTE

The hall was filled to the brim with the senior members of the pack. It was a well-designed and modern hall that was just opening today, designed to hold the pack's meetings. Alpha Dante Lockwood always had a thing for breathtaking architecture, it was of no surprise that after his father left the pack for him 10 years ago after he died, he dedicated his blood, sweat, and tears to making his pack the most perfect there is in that part of the world.

He made it the first first-world wolf country in the history of werewolves and that was why it attracted the most tourists every year like witches, vampires, and even dragons. Supernatural creatures loved coming to his city since they couldn't go out to the human world and see what civilization is like without being stigmatized and other times killed.

"Welcome to the first meeting in our newest hall." Beta Louis stood up from the chair that was next to Alpha Dante's, but significantly lower to show him the respect.

They all made an acknowledging sound in reply to his opening statement.

"We are finally done with this part of our structure that we have been working on for years," he looked up at the high ceiling and massive chandelier that gave out more than half of the light in the hall. "Our other works are still under construction, like the bridge and the new pack headquarters."

"What happened to the old headquarters, Beta Louis?" One of the senior wolves asked.

Louis turned to look at Dante who held the usual poker face.

"We are emerging into the new world of civilization. We are planning to make the best out of our resources and talents to be the first werewolf country that is not still living in a bayou or the woods." Beta Dante explained and the senior wolf nodded in understanding.

"Good day Alpha Dante, good day members of the pack." The man who was in charge of delivering news from the mouths of the wolves to the ears of the Alpha stood up and greeted them.

They all answered him in unison except the Alpha.

"Some matters have been brought up by the wolves and I would like to bring it up to your attention." He said bringing out a book from his bag.

"Go on." Beta Louis said.

"The Omegas are complaining about the high tax rate and low minimum wage, they are threatening to put all their good works on halt until the pack's senior committee do the needful." He read out from his journal.

"How high is their tax rate?" Alpha Dante asked with a frown on his face. Usually, he would leave Louis to handle these kinds of work for him because he always had more pressing matters to attend to.

"5% higher than last year."

Alpha Dante sighed disappointedly, "Are they getting paid on time?" He asked because he knew he always signed the paychecks of all the workers a day before the month ends.

He didn't want any of his workers to lag because of salary, and now that he heard what had been happening without his knowledge, he knew he needed to talk with his Beta Louis, who was also his cousin.

"Yes. They get paid before the fifth of the month because the banks have increased their time for issuing that huge amount of money to the public."

Alpha Dante nodded.

"The next issue stated here is that a controversy is going on between the members of the pack and they ask for the Alpha to come and express his opinions on the case."

"What is it about?"

"Arranged marriage," he sighed. "A lot of people are getting married against their wishes in the pack right now, it is beginning to look like a trend."

"Ah," Beta Louis gasped. "Why would they do that?"

The senior wolf sighed, obviously not into the matter as much as Louis was. It was a very touchy topic to talk about because a lot of women, and even men were dragged into loveless marriages by their parents which will eventually lead to terrible consequences.

"For business arrangements, debts, and even revenge in some cases. The people really need your word on this Alpha Dante." He said.

"I see nothing wrong in that," Louis chirped in, making the wolf pass a subtle glare at him. He was always talking on behalf of the Alpha and most of the time, the Alpha didn't mind so he wouldn’t say a word about him because he trusts his judgments. What the Alpha didn't know was that his second-in-charge was the most terrible decision-maker the pack had ever seen.

"I mean, if it is for bringing families together then our forefathers and fathers have done it, I see no reason why we can't hold up their legacies."

"I thought we were emerging into a new world of civilization? This is simply barbaric and should not be practiced in a country that is claiming to be a first-world."

The rest of the members all grumbled in agreement to their member which sparked ire in Beta Louis.

"What did you say to me?" He got up from his seat, towering over most of the wolves there because of his strong royal blood.

"Sit back down Louis, this isn't the time to argue. Stop behaving like a goddamn two-year-old." Alpha Dante chastened him, and Louis sat back down even more angrily than he was when he stood.

He hated it when his cousin, the Alpha, treated him like a baby. He didn't like how he embarrassed him in front of people when he didn't even deserve the throne he was sitting on. He hated him, but he knew he had to have Alpha Dante close enough to him so he destroyed him where he never expected it.

"I am not going to impose a new law that is going to stop this, even though I am very much on the side of the people that dislike the idea of forced marriage, and I would put a word out about it."

"Thank you so much, Alpha Dante." The man ducked his head down.

"Any more questions?"

He shook his head, "No, your highness."

"Then you may all go." He dismissed them.

They all stood and left one after the other, leaving Alpha Dante with his cousin.

"Why did you have to shut me up like that?" He turned to glare at his cousin. His eyes were an angry shade of red and a few veins popped out of his forehead.

That didn't move Alpha Dante even a bit. If Louis wasn't his cousin, he would have been long dead because no one dared to question the actions of the Alpha, not even his Beta.

"You were acting like a kid Louis, what did you expect me to do?" Brain asked as he adjusted his position. Now that there was no one in the hall, their voices echoed back to them with every move and sound they made.

"Keep it in your system until we are alone."

"Stop whining, you were about to beat the shit out of a senior member. Do you know what that impression leaves for you as my Beta?"

Louis scoffed. He hated it when the Alpha addressed him as his. It was so frustrating because he knew he was supposed to be in his shoes, he was supposed to be Alpha while Dante was his Beta. If the things were going the way he expected them to go, he was going to demote Dante to the least of the Omegas to die alone in penury.

"Fine," he fake smiled, which Dante could never figure out because of the blind love and trust he had for his cousin. "I am sorry I behaved that way. I will be on my way now."

"Do you want to have drinks in my chamber while we start going through the new citizenship applications?" Dante asked.

That was supposed to cheer Louis up, but it didn't. It surprised him that he didn't feel even a little bit of joy at the thought of his pack having new wolves to join them. He loved the pack more than he loved himself, more than he loved his mate Cassandra and his father Charles, who stuffed in all the hate he had for Dante in his system.

"I am sorry man, I will have to go now because Cassandra is waiting for me at my chambers." Beta Louis lied before he got up from his seat.

"Good night Louis."

"Good night Alpha Dante." He said with respect before he left to the usual place he always went after he had a long day. The brothel in the outskirts of the town, near the entrance of another wolf pack that held all the vicious whores of his pack; the Aurora pack, and the neighboring pack, Tick Moon pack.

~

After Louis left, Alpha Brain laid his head on the back of his plush comfortable royal chair. He couldn't move a muscle because the feeling that was creeping into him and overwhelming him for the past few days had just shown up halfway through the meeting.

He hated the feeling of restlessness, he knew he was a strong Alpha that was unbeatable so the feeling of something overpowering him emotionally drained him- and he couldn't give the pack his best if he was emotionally drained.

He didn't know who to fall back to with the matter because everybody assumed he had it all- from having the best pack that moves forward with every single day that passes, to a Beta that supports him in every decision he makes, to having every single woman he wishes to have at his disposal and also, striking good looks.

He thought he had it all too until he started having that feeling deep in his guts and now that he thought of it, he knew exactly who to call. She was somebody that would never get tired of him complaining to her because she knew his life wasn't perfect because she also had an issue with people assuming she had a perfect life.

Dante picked up his phone from his pocket, then strolled down his contact list until he found her number, and he tapped on it. He waited for her to pick, and she did on the third ring.

"Hello big brother!" Maria's lively voice boomed out of his speaker.

"Hey, Maria, how are you?" He asked with a tender voice as his heart filled with so much joy and peace.

Maria Lockwood was the only person in his life that brought out that side of him. Ever since his parents died when he was at the tender age of 16, he knew he had to take care of her because she was all he had and he was all she had.

"I am good. How is being the almighty Alpha of our pack treating you?" She asked.

He looked around and smiled. It was one of the only things he was proud of in his life, something he achieved all by himself with very little help from his beloved Beta and uncle.

"I mean, I built a first-world wolf country, aren't I supposed to be proud?" He chuckled.

"Don't be so full of yourself B." She laughed too.

"How is Xavier? Hope he is treating you well too, and you are upholding our family legacy well?" He asked, referring to the family business she took up instead of being stuck in the palace with royal duties.

"He is fine Dante, everything is going great." She said in a plain tone which he quickly picked up. He hated that she didn't call him when something wrong was going on in her life. He didn't want to accept his little Maria was all grown up and can handle the harsh things life throw at her.

"When are you free to meet up?" He asked.

"Do you want me to meet you at the palace? Anytime is good." She offered.

"No, I'll come to your office. Goodbye, sister."

"Goodbye." She said before he ended the call.

Dante quickly found a place to squeeze into meeting with his sister because at the moment, no other thing was more important.