6 Alpha Meeting- Spain 5

Ashton POV

I have absolutely no interest in being here anymore. These meetings are pointless as I can’t think about anything other than Alaina, and Janus isn’t doing much better with keeping his mind off Tyche! I am currently in a meeting with the North American packs, trying to sort out alliances, and trade partners. For the most part the packs in North America own their own companies. Pack members generally work for them, but we often have humans working alongside us. These companies are what pay our bills, buy us food, and give the pack members their own money. My pack also lives in a very fertile are of the country, so we have acres of gardens, and greenhouses as our growing season is a little shorter than we need.

Alpha Johnson, from Blue River pack in St. Bruno, wants to open trade negotiations with me regarding our produce. Currently we sell the extras at a farmers market, it makes a decent profit, but we could get more from selling to another pack. It would also help the local Hutterite colony prosper a little more, when we made the decision to go to the market, I know we took part of their income. I have never felt overly good about that, but we had few options... until now. Alpha Larkin, from Silver Lake pack, in Weyburn, agreed to lower the shipping costs if we use his fleet of tractor trailers. I love that the North American packs are like this. Sometimes we end up with the same business as another pack, Alpha Clark from Turtle Mountain pack in Osoyoos, also has a trucking company, but they work together fairly well and try to help each other succeed. Most of the time we have businesses in different sectors from the others, which makes it easier to secure allies by negotiating using what our businesses have to offer. Sometimes there's a little bit of horse trading that has to happen, but generally we are fairly happy with the outcomes.  

      “Alpha Lupin, along with the produce, do you think we could throw in a bit of your security system?” Alpha Johnson all but whispers in my ear.

      “I mean, yeah, we can talk about it. Is everything ok?”

      “Oh, yeah, everything is copasetic...”

He doesn’t continue when he looks at my face. It’s not hard to figure out that he is trying to hide that he has a problem, but it’s really surprising that he would try to hide it from me. He should know better than to lie to me, I ALWAYS find out. I am pretty much a Lycan lie detector, no magical gifts or anything, those don’t exist, just a feeling I get and I have yet to be wrong.

      “OK, FINE” he whisper yells “I have been having issues with some rogues. They attack every couple of days. It’s not on a schedule, 3 days later here, a week later there, then the next day, it’s to a point that my warriors are getting barely 4 hours of sleep a night as we try to keep our border control as tight as possible, and yet they are still getting through.”

      “Yeah, a system could definitely be arranged. I would like to come out personally to take a look, if you don’t mind. I will need to walk your border, see what the terrain is like, what kind of equipment we can use, and what not. It will likely take close to a month to get everything sorted and put up, then another week or so for one of my techs to set it all up on the back end. The biggest problem you might run into though is our equipment and programming are all patented and kept private, so no one else would be able to fix your system if something were to go down. We have contracts with other packs, throughout Canada and the US, and I have a team of, about 10, techs that are constantly traveling and checking on our systems. Typically, they hit each pack once a month, but can get back to you within 24 hours of an issue arising. Are you going to be ok with that kind of delay, and having one of my pack members constantly in and out of your territory?”

Alpha Johnson takes a moment to think, and out of the corner of my eye I catch her hair. You can definitely find her in a crowd! I love her hair! It’s almost symbolic of her personality. Wild, untamed, and individual! The fact that she isn’t one of those pretenda-barbies makes Jan and I almost vibrate with excitement. Most she-wolves just bow down to what their mate says. There’s no conversation, there’s no push back, you don’t get to truly know them because they don’t voice their own opinions. I have tried to get my female pack members to come to me and open up about things, doesn’t matter what, give me their opinions on... anything really! I have only had a small few come to me with different ideas, one suggested repainting the pack house so it didn’t look so dreary –so we painted it a light yellow-, another one suggested we do an annual carnival for the kids –which this year was AMAZING-, but my favourite one was the omega who suggested that we change how things are done in the kitchen. Instead of omegas cooking everything and having plate service 3 meals a day. Breakfast is now a ‘fend for yourself’ meal, the cooks generally bake muffins, and cookies, fresh bread, throughout the day and we are able to quickly grab something before training, or we can make our own eggs, waffles, bacon etc. Lunch and dinner are prepared by a rotating staff of omegas, warriors, even the ranked members have to go in and help with meals. I have found that the pack is getting to know each other better. My Beta, Austin, is now very good friends with an omega carpenter, they had never even crossed paths before. It makes me think about what kinds of changes Alaina might bring to the pack!

      “Yes, I think I can agree to those terms. Would we be able to make it so the same tech comes each time though? To minimize the number of outsiders into our land?”

I nod, my mind wandering, not really paying attention to what he is saying.

      “I don’t see that being a problem, with the exception of an emergency basis. I cannot promise your normal tech during an emergency, and I am not going to leave you with out your system until your tech is free.”

      “Mmhm, that’s reasonable. What would you like for a trade? We already have the agreement for the produced to be paid for financially, what are you wanting for the security stuff?”

I am only half listening as I watch my mate grab her plate and starts walking down the buffet line. Maybe we should do our weekend meals as buffets from now on. I watch intently at which foods she grabs, in theory she will grab her favourites, or at least the stuff she likes most. Lamb with mint jelly, scalloped potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, salad and what dressing? I can't see what dressing she grabbed, well I managed to catch most of it, it’s a start. Something small, but it might be my in!

      “Um, I’m not too sure. You own a lumber company, don't you?”

      “Yes, I also own several mills.”

      “I am going to be building several new homes, stores, and maybe a movie theater, how about I do the security for you, and you sell me the milled lumber at cost?”

      “I agree, with one more condition, your company deals with the monitoring at an offsite location.”

That’s odd, why would he want me to be privy to things going on in his pack? Is this his way of asking for help, without asking for help?

      “I think we can arrange that. Now, which trucking company do we use?”

      “Well, we used Larkin for the produce, since he has refers, we should probably talk to Clark as he has the flatbeds and step decks. Plus spreads the work out.”

      “I don’t have anything to trade off with Clark, do you?”

      “Yeah, he already asked for lumber and gravel, but I didn't have anything that I needed from him, at that point, so my side was to be determined. I guess it’s now been figured out” he chuckled.

I look up from my plate when I see a flash of red shoot up out of a seat a couple tables down. 

      “WHAT THE H3LL DO YOU MEAN BY THAT ALPHA YU? ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME THAT I AM WORTHLESS?!?! WHAT, BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN???”

      'Ooooo she’s BIG mad! I am pretty sure Tyche is trying to take over.'

      'Oh, Fack this is not going to end well for anyone!'

I quietly stand up and slowly, very cautiously, make my way over to Alaina, making slow and VERY calculated moves, much akin to approaching a wounded animal. 

      'Don’t EVER let THEM know you have compared them to a wounded animal!'

      'I may not be the brightest cookie in the crayon drawer, but THAT I do know!'

I have to chuckle at Jan, he legitimately sounds scare of them!

There’s a flurry of voices, I can’t tell who's saying what, but they are trying to calm her down.

      “No, that’s not...”

      “Alaina, SIT DOW...”

      “I HAVE WORTH” well at least she knows that without needing to be told.

      “I know, I was jus...”

      “You are making a fool of ou...”

      “CALM DOWN GIRL”

Oh fack, ooohhh holy fack, shat, fack, mother trucker, holy goddess help us all

      'Is Alpha Kendrick stupid? Does he have a wish to be unalived?! YOU DONT TELL A WOMAN TO CALM DOWN... and you don’t call her a ‘girl’.' I pretty much whisper the last part to Jan

      'No kidding, that’s the best, and fastest, way to get your arse handed to you. Kendrick looks like he’s still a pup, probably just turned 18 not that long ago, he is going to learn this lesson rather fast but I don’t think it will be one he’s going to forget any time soon.'

I take a quick glance at the situation unfolding in front of me. It seems Kendrick now has her full attention, this could work to my benefit! If he can keep her distracted, I might be able to sneak up and grab her.

      'And then what dipshit? You going to throw her over your shoulder, smack her arse, and tell her she’s been a bad girl?'

      'WHAT. THE. FACK?!?! Am I going to WHAT?!?!'

The sound of Alaina’s voice, over everyone else, brings me back to the task at hand. Save her from herself!

      “CALM DOWN? ARE YOU FACKING KIDDING ME? CALM DOWN?!”

      “Oooh he shouldn’t have said that,” I could hear several mated Alphas whispering amongst themselves. A few were chuckling, with a knowing look in their eyes, they knew exactly how this was going to go down, this was going to get ugly fast!

Just as I reach Alaina, she takes a swing at Alpha Kendrick. I don’t have enough time to grab her arm so her fist connected with the side of his jaw and down he goes.

      'Mate is left handed...'

      'This is NOT the time'

      'But now we know someth...'

      'JAN NOT THE TIME'

Before she is able to throw another punch, I grab her from behind, pinning her arms to the side.

      “I’m sorry, I know you don’t want me to do this, I know I promised I wouldn’t...”

I try to whisper, and she fights to get out of my grip.

      “GET. THE. H3LL. OFF. OF. ME... NOW!” 

      “I need you to take a few br...”

I am suddenly very aware that the way I was holding her gave her the perfect angle and leverage to cow kick me in the dingle berries. I am, however, able to continue holding her, keeping her from booting anyone else, thank goddess for small favours! 

      “Good goddess Alaina, I’m not trying to whisk you away, I am trying to help you relax enough that you are not going to be unalived by every Alpha here!”

I tighten my hold a little as she goes completely limp in my arms. Nope, not getting away that easily!

      “Beta Callum, where is Alaina’s room? I think we might all be safer if this conversation were to continue there.”

      “Fourth floor, corridor to the right and then the last door on the left, the tower.”

      “Thank you, Beta, I appreciate it,”

I nod as I pick Alaina up just enough to carry her, but not quite enough for her to get her leg back up to kick me again. Moving as fast as I physically can, I head to her room. Unfortunately, I have to take the stairs one at a time, otherwise her feet would get caught on the stairs. Fack she has to make everything so difficult!

      “Let me down now Alpha”

The amount of venom in her voice when she said Alpha tugged at my heart a little. 

      'I think I just made this MUCH worse.'

      'I think so too, but what choice did we have? This or allow a room full of Alphas take on our mate and her Beta? She’s good, but I’m not sure she’s THAT good.'

I opened the door to her room and unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed and shut the door, with my foot. I slide down the door, rubbing my hands down my face and rest my elbows on my knees. I’m not really sure how long we sat there in silence, but she was the one who broke it.

      “Are you going to go away?”

I look up at her and see that she’s laid back staring at the ceiling.

      “Alaina, please, I am trying here! I am trying to give you space, I am trying to give you what you want so you will be happy, but at the same time... I want to get to know you, I want to be the thing that makes you happy, want to be the thing that you want! But I also won’t allow you to be in a position where you could be unalived!”

She sits up and I am pretty sure if looks could unalive someone I would be 6 feet under several times over!

      “Aaaand this is why you can go fack yourself”

She huffed, while rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.

      “What are you talking about?”

      “You! Trying to control me. You are like every other Alpha. Possessive, gives their mates commands, doesn’t allow their mate to do ‘anything dangerous’. Sorry Alpha not what I want, at all.”

      “I have no idea what the fack is going on, but I can tell you that none of that is me. Well, at least not to the extent as most. Yes, I am possessive, but I don’t expect you to be at my side 24/7. I wouldn’t dream of commanding you to do anything, I am not interested in a mate that follows blindly. I NEED a mate that challenges me, makes me think, pushes me to be better... and as for dangerous... do you know how many Alphas and Betas were in that room?! Almost a thousand. You start a fight with Yu or Kendrick and you would have more wolves on you than Janus could fight off. I wasn’t trying to get you out of there because you may have had to fight one or two people, I was getting you out of there because I was afraid, you’d have to fight them all!”

We sit in relative silence for a while, just looking at each other. The look on her face slowly softens, maybe she’s thinking about what I said, maybe it is enough of an olive branch to at least get her to talk to me! While staring at her I notice that she has freckles, across her nose and onto her cheeks. They are faint but it just makes her even more beautiful to me! She has her nose pierced, I don’t think I noticed that before, I definitely would have noticed if Tyche had a nose piercing... something to ask her about when we have known each other for a while. This time, while fidgeting nervously with my fingers, I break the silence. 

      “Just so you know that I think that you standing up for yourself was really sexy. And punching Kendrick, I have to give it to you, that was impressive! I don’t think he will be telling anyone to calm down any time soon!”

I started as a whisper, and ended with a really good belly laugh.