Come Back To Me

Rajesh

I've gone through two glasses of bourbon waiting on this guy to get off the phone. Dad and Mr. Nikolova sat patiently but it wasn't their patience Alpha Marcel needed to worry about. It’s mine and it’s wearing thin. Easy, rajesh. My father mind-linked me. I don't know how the old man always knew that I was seconds away from losing my composure but he did. Which is lucky for Alpha Marcel- looks like I won't be crushing his phone today. This is disrespectful of our time father. I have better things to be doing back home than to be here watching him talk on the phone for 30 minutes. I didn't try to hide the disdain in my voice. We may have accepted the calling to this meeting but that didn't mean I'd be waiting around all day for him to get his social life in order. "Sorry about that" he said, finally ending his call and coming back to sit down. "That's fine" my father spoke up before I could tell him to shove his sorry up his ass. RAJESH, say something! My father kicked me from under the table. As if him screaming in my head wasn't enough. "Yes. It's fine. I know the struggles being Alpha brings. Shall we get back down to it? I'm sure we both have things that need to be tended to" I wasn't even remotely lying. I had trainings to oversee, warrior assignments to approve, and general pack business to see to. The faster I can get this stupid treaty meeting over with the better. "Yes please. So our packs haven't been allies in the past and that's the sins of our ancestors. I would like to establish an alliance now." he said with such certainty as if it was a sure fire thing. I scoffed. Northern Ridge has enough allies to last it a lifetime. Some built on friendship, familial terms, and others mutual respect. What could he possibly have to offer that I need? I leaned back in my chair and swirled the rest of my drink. "Why would I want you as an ally?" I sipped my drink, never losing eye contact. I wanted to see his face. If he tried to lie to me, I'd know it. "Not want.. Need. You need me as an ally." Well this ought to be pretty good. "Need? Interesting. I have 5 other packs that I'm allies with so any threat would be snuffed out without hesitation or difficulty. So do explain." Yeah. Explain so I can turn you down. I'd like to go home. "5 years ago something happened to your pack." That got my attention. I slammed my cup down and sat up. Dad and Mr. Nikolova perked up as well. If he had anything to do with what happened I'd end his f*****g life here and now. I searched endlessly for answers to what happened that night. I exhausted all resources and overworked my wolves, trying to find a shred of information about what went down. I pushed it to the point of almost hurting the pack. Eventually I had to stop and it killed me to do it- We all lost something that night. I'd have retribution for it now. My pack would have retribution for it. My family… The Nikolovas’. "Speak!" I yelled, grabbing the patrons inside the restaurant's attention. He looked around and lowered his voice. "You're drawing quite the audience. Let's take this outside." I looked around and he was right. Everyone's eyes were on us. Shocked and scared looks all around. Damn! The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to us. "Fine." I stood. "Let's go" Not waiting for anyone to follow I walked out and across the street to the town square. There were enough distractions there that if I snapped his f*****g neck no one would notice. And I'll do just that if he has any involvement in the attack. My family still felt the sting of what happened every year on the anniversary of that horrendous night.

Alpha Marcel walked up with my father and Mr. Nikolova in tow. “Now that we’re alone… well somewhat alone” he said. “Let’s continue. I need warriors and resources for a war that is brewing between me and the Grimrock pack. They’ve killed one of my own and refuse to follow wolf law and turn the perpetrator over.” He can’t be serious. Breaking wolf law is one thing but we have no digs in this fight. Why would I risk my wolves for a tiny glimpse of hope that he has information about something that happened years ago. “You want me to get in a fight with another pack because they killed a member of your pack. Why the hell would I even..” He cut me off. “It was my first born son- he was a child.” As much as I hate Alpha Marcel, what he stands for, and how he runs his pack… I can’t sit back and ignore a problem like this. Alpha Tyson of Grimrock has stepped over the line. Marcel has every right to execute that wolf for the murder of his son and heir to the pack. That wolf killed an Alpha. Something is eating at me though. There’s more to this story that I haven’t heard yet. “What aren’t you telling me?” Before I make a decision I will take every fabric of information into consideration. I won’t let my wolves potentially die to aid in this man's revenge fantasy. “Tyson has garnered Alpha Matteo of Autumn Moon on his side. With that you know that he’s got Alpha David of Silver Fang. Since the packs are tied by a lifelong bond and now a marriage.” Just like that the other shoe dropped. Going up against Silver Fang and Autumn moon is going to be a real b***h. They have the biggest packs around not to mention they are also my allies. I’ve known David and Matteo since we attended Alpha training together years ago. I even got the pleasure of being there the night he laid eyes on his Luna, Valerie. He's not just asking me to assist him,he's asking me to break an alliance. I looked at my father and Mr. Nikolova. That's why I'd brought them. As the former Alpha and Beta of the pack they knew better than anyone the tough decisions I needed to make on a daily basis. I wanted their input on what was said today and also needed them to keep me in check. It's been years since I've been able to control my rage. If the restaurant was any indication, I made the right call bringing them. "We'll think about it. You're asking a lot for some information." He looked annoyed and frustrated but nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. "Call me when you've decided. I promise what I have to say is worth hearing." I took it, exchanging it with one of my own. "It seems your group has left you behind." I looked around and I'll be damned he was right. They were gone. "Come. I think I saw them go this way" I growled at the candor in his voice. He spoke to me as if I were below him. Just as his father had before him. Marcel walked off and I followed closely.

Despite all the people in the crowd, I could spot my father a few yards up ahead. Standing in front of a group of dancers that were performing in the square. He’s never had any interest in dancing before this unless my mother demanded a dance. I wonder what’s so special about these people. The crowd began to part as Marcel and I made our way through, our Alpha aura seeping through and making a path for us. We’re in a human town so it’s interesting to see how our aura still affects even them. They parted like the red sea to let us through. “Dad?!” I said, trying to get his attention. He didn’t budge, what the hell is he looking at?