5: Pack Meeting

Chapter 5

POV: Arlan     

Dillion gave him a sign that all the packs were already complete. He sighed in relief as he looked at the vast quiet crowd gathered in the Great Hall, sitting at their designated tables ignoring other packs.

His eyes slightly stopped towards the two anxious and well-driven packs sitting in the front row of the room.

The Lunar Pack sat in the left side corner of the area – quietly and seriously talking at each other – and the Dark Wood Pack sitting on the right side of the room – who was intensely glaring at the former pack.

Arlan disappointedly shook his head at the latter pack and went near the King to inform him.

It was the day of the Pack Meeting. Even he, couldn’t comprehend what was in the King’s mind right now. He was also surprised as to why the King held the gathering inside his palace. It was the first time, and everyone was looking forward to his announcement that made him decide to go onto this far.

Everyone knew that he abhorred gatherings – especially inside his palace, so he created a separated Grand Ballroom outside – near the place to hold such assemblies.

And now?

Here they were.

Arlan just shrugged his shoulders off. He didn’t want to ask any more questions – for now. Although, he was against some of the topics on today’s agenda.

He let out a deep sighed. He couldn’t do anything about it, though. He trusted the King’s decision – and as his loyal Kingsman, all he could do was to obediently follow.

“You’re Majesty, all of the packs were already here.” He bowed his head down to give respect as he said the words to the King, who was sitting at his golden throne looking intently at the huge glass window as if it was the most interesting thing on earth.

Arlan’s forehead creased as he straightened his back and cleared his throat – trying to get the Alpha King’s attention. The King shifted his deep penetrating gaze towards him. It was so intense that the hair at the back of his nape stood directly.

He immediately swallowed hard to compose himself from the intensifying fear that was slowly creeping inside him, “W-We can start now, my King,” he carefully said – making his lips tremble a bit.

King Hades curled the corner of his lips upwards as he smelled the scent of fear emerging towards his second in command – making him anticipate more.

His wolf loved the way they feared him, and it was now at bay.

He clenched his jaw and raised his brow to govern himself from his animalistic side.

“Then, start,” his booming and unfathomable dark cold voice echoed in the entire hall, shushing everyone, and caught all their gazes turning to them.

***

Some time, before the pack meeting in the castle started…

POV: Shahara

It was not just a typical day for every pack which was in positions like hers. Being the daughter of the Alpha and Luna of the Lunar Pack requires a challenging yet complicated sense of obligation and accountability.

It was all wearing her out a bit these past few days.

Shahara heaved a deep sighed as she turned her head around the Great Hall. The moment she stepped into the castle; she could quietly feel the dark aura encompassing every corner of it. It wasn’t her first time, but it always felt like it was whenever she entered this cursed place.

She deeply smirked.

She hated this place – it was suffocating her… As well as the memories it held.

She instantly shook her head to erase that rushing excruciating thoughts.

Besides, she always loathed to wear these kind of fancy long dresses – for she couldn’t even move the way she wanted. She was more comfortable with just jeans and a shirt.

The high heeled shoes were also painful to bear, but she had, too. Her mother might lose her mind when she wore a pair of high cut shoes instead.

That was a sight to see – but she’d rather not do so, or else she’ll be bored to death inside their mansion for being grounded.

Yes.

She would be grounded, and it was awfully traumatizing.

She shook her head when she remembered the last time, she experienced that one. It was probably the most boring days of her life that she almost got maddeningly crazy.

She wouldn’t want to experience it again.

Shahara rolled her eyes upwards as she remembered how her mother looked at her a while ago while wearing this icky gagging long dress and killer high heeled shoes.

She heaved a deep sigh for the nth time.

She was now wearing a deep dark cobalt blue mermaid-cut dress that reached her ankles. It was elegant and chic – perfectly accentuated her hourglass body shape – but still, she didn’t like it a bit.

Her creamy and fair skin was flawlessly specified and matches her wavy auburn hair – tied up in a slight loose messy bun making some of the wavy strands of her hair flow at both sides of her face.

She wasn’t fond of wearing make-up, thus she just put on a mascara and an eyeliner that matches her tweaked wood colored almond shaped eyes and to at least give color to her pale face. Her lips were natural pink and she just left it as it is – making her stunningly gorgeous.

Shahara took a small sip of champagne in her wineglass as she boredly waited for the meeting to start. She wanted to yawn loudly, but she couldn’t do so. The King’s presence was too powerful and authoritative as it radiated throughout the entire room.

Besides, her parents were watching her every move. She needed to portray her proper etiquette. She wanted to gag at that thought.

She heaved another sighed and took another sip of champagne when her eyes suddenly stopped to a certain man sitting on the last step of the Grand staircase in the left corner of the room.

He was looking at the crowded place with his usual bored look.

Her hands shook with too much anticipation as she held the glass tightly and immediately placed it back on the table. Her heart beat speedily fast and her breath hitched as she clenched her fist into a firm grip to loosen the burning sensation she felt.

Her inner wolf began to move restlessly inside her, that she needed to let herself exhale slowly through her mouth.

His raven-black hair glistened through the light of the chandeliers, and his deep-set black eyes never failed to amaze hers. His toned body was covered with his fair skin.

His midnight blue tuxedo and pants – that signified power and sophistication didn’t complement where he was sitting from.

Well, what did she expect?

It was Prince Raven Pierce – the Alpha King’s strategic and virtuoso brother.

The man who didn’t care about whatever anyone said at him.

Shahara’s breath got caught in her throat as his intense gaze accidentally met hers.

He’s forehead creased as his jaw clenched firmly – his stare darkened as his eyes narrowed down into thin slits.

She couldn’t help but to swallow hard to get rid of the lump in her throat and avoid his scorching stares – it was clenching her heart painfully and burning something inside her stomach as well.

As if her eyes had their own mind and carefully looked at the man once again – and she almost gasped when he was still looking at her intently, making her toes curl involuntarily.

Her eyes looked down at the champagne she was drinking a while ago, which was now placed on top of the table. Her fingers were fidgeting on her lap as her heart was still hammering hard inside her chest.

“Then, start.”

The dark cold voice that held the greatest power and authority boomed in the entire place, making her gasp, and causing her to shiver down to her spine.

All eyes were darted to his second in command, Arlan – who was standing in front of the golden podium – wearing his stoic and outright face.

They cannot directly look at Alpha King Hades Pierce because it was a sign of being insolent – one of the many things the King abhors.

Arlan cleared his throat as he looked at the huge crowd.

“Good evening. We will proceed now with the agenda to make this pack meeting done immediately.” His hoarse voice echoed as everyone was intently listening to him.

“First agenda. Tomorrow will be the scheduled execution of the prisoners, so on behalf of the King’s command, I would like to inform the Lunar Pack and Dark Wood Pack to choose representatives to stay after this meeting for the prisoner’s trial.” His voice resonated as Shahara blinked in confusion.

Why would they need to stay?

Prisoner’s trial?

Wasn’t it the duty of Arlan – who was the second in command?

She looked at her parents with the same look as hers – and she knew that everyone was wondering why.

“May I request that the second in command, to please enlighten us as to why do we need to be there for the prisoner’s trial? Isn’t it one of your duties and responsibilities?”

The voice came out seductively from the wicked and ruthless Luna of the Dark Wood Pack – Lamina Darkwood.

Shahara crossed her arms in front of her chest and rolled her eyes in annoyance. She then looked at Lamina while raising her brow in disgust, then to the younger version of her – who was smirking smugly at her – Leah Darkword, her daughter.

She gritted her jaw and picked up the champagne from the table to take a small sip – so, she could hide her growing irritation.

Lamina was wearing a very skimpy red dress with a plunging neckline that only covered her private parts. Her light ash blonde hair was done in a sleek high ponytail and her lips were painted in deep red – like she always did.

While Leah, on the other hand, was wearing a black keyhole neckline empire dress that reached only the half of her thigh. Her straight deep ash blonde hair was flowing freely at her back.

She secretly rolled her eyes.

“It was a training for each of the packs for proper handling of those wolves who defied the law. You were chosen to assess this first batch of prisoners – as to the other packs – it will be rolled over batch by batch. This is a new command from the King.” Arlan answered plainly – never showing any kind of intimidation towards Lamina.

The room was filled with an earsplitting silence as he took the question good as done, so he instantly continued.

“Secondly, we wanted to warn every pack not to try any kind of insolence and uncalled violence, most especially on using rogues as hunters.” He continued, as a devilish smirk appeared on his lips whilst analyzing every reaction of every pack in the hall.

Shahara chilled down on her spine, not because of what he just said, but because of the sneer he just did – proving to everyone why he is the Alpha King’s second in command – and that anyone of them should not dare cross them.

And rogues as hunters?

She pressed her lips together.

Their enemies were now into this kind of tricks, huh? – She furiously thought.

“Third and lastly.”

Arlan paused as his eyes narrowed into thin slits, making him more intimidating than usual.

Shahara firmly pressed her lips together and balled her fist until her knuckles turned pale white as she heard the final announcement.

“Our Alpha King was currently looking for his own ‘Regina’ and every pack should choose one representative to be assessed by the Were Elders’ Council, Prince Raven Pierce, and the King himself,” the second in command words escaped from his lips – full of seriousness and hostility.

And the room was filled with both bewilderment and pleasure.

Finally, the King of All Wolf Borne would settle down.

Shahara heaved a deep sigh and bit her lower lip gently to suppress her excruciating emotions as her gaze stopped at the man who was supposed to be sitting at the last upper step of the grand staircase, and now turning his back at everyone walking away – at her – making her heart sank with immeasurable pain.