The Rise of The Alpha

Chapter 5

I looked up, wondering who was entering the room mid-meeting and as I was about to holler at whoever it was for interrupting the meeting, I was hit with the smell of vanilla and pine trees, making my eyes go wide but I remembered what she said, what she kept insisting. I saw Hunter stiffen as I watched as she entered the room. This women whom I'd never met before, except for in my dreams, held a look of such ferocity in her eyes for the crowd of people surrounding me. She was tiny, no more then five feet tall. But she held the attention of the room in such a manner as no one dared to utter another word as they all exchanged glances at this unknown female amongst them. I watched as she walked to the table and took a seat at the chair opposite myself, as that was the last chair open.

“What is your business? Interrupting an Alpha’s meeting?” The Alpha of the Jade Pack, Nash, spoke up.

She turned to him with a look of disgust, “This is a meeting for Alphas as you just said. So I am here.” She turned to face me and a wicked smile appeared on her face, “As an Alpha.” I refused to let my poker face falter at her words. This cannot be. There has never been a female Alpha before. All at once there was a commotion amongst the men.

Nash stood as I did, his arms out gesturing for the commotion to settle so he can speak without having to yell over everyone, “If she is an Alpha like she says she is. She should have no problem sparring with Alpha Cole. Let him be the one to deem if she is a real Alpha or not.” Nash sat back in his chair, nodding towards me, having spoke his peace. All at once the men turned to me, I could feel Jane's eyes on me as well.

“There are other ways to prove she is an Alpha without having to spar with me.” I replied, settling in my seat as well, looking at her trying to convey my message.

“I’ll accept the challenge.” She spoke looking at me with defiance, unwilling to accept my help. I nodded her way and grasped my gavel. "The challenge shall be held in one years time. In which I will send my Beta to your pack and assess the situation. Proceeding the fight you will remain in my pack and train among my warriors." BANG! It was done.

I stood up abruptly, "This meeting is over, all other matters that weren't taken care of today can be taken to the council and they will handle it." I didn't even bother looking at her as I exited the office. I could feel Hunter behind me, but I could hear multiple pairs of feet proceeding me in the hallway. I knew my mate was with him because her intoxicating scent was still flooding my senses, so I chose to breathe through my mouth so it wouldn't affect me as much.

I kept walking until I met Thomas and Chase at the entrance to my packs wing, "Shut and seal the wing, no one else enters but Hunter and whoever he approves." I told them, pausing for a second then continuing on to my office.

I didn't know what to do, I knew now that since she accepted the fight and the terms that there was little else that I could do. After I made it to my office I sat in my chair and waited, knowing that Hunter, my mate, and whoever else would be entering soon after me. I saw that Liam had texted me stating that the building the council had erected for Jane's stay was finished, and asked him to have another room prepared in my quarters, not telling him it would be for my mate.

A few seconds later the office door opened and her scent hit me like a freight train, my hands gripped the arm rests of my desk chair so tight my knuckles were white. Immediately stood and went to open the offices singular window, hearing the rest enter and the door shut behind the last person I steeled myself and turned around. In front of me stood Hunter, Chase and Thomas, as well as my mate and another female who I assumed to be Hunters mate as she was placed between my mate and Hunter, holding his hand.

"Care to fill us in boss?" Chase asked, looking between my mate and Hunters, confused. "It appears that Thomas and I missed a lot." He finished sitting in a chair.

I walked over to my desk and gestured for everyone to take a seat, Hunter and his mate choosing the small couch we had in our office while Chase, Thomas and my mate chose to take the seats left in the room. I took a deep breath, "Before anything starts we need your names." I directed towards mine and Hunter's mates. Hunters mate turned towards my own, questioningly.

My mate sighed, "My name is Selene." She nodded towards Hunter's mate, "That's Lydia, my Beta." She finished, giving me a pointed look.

I nodded, "Thank you." I turned towards Chase and Thomas, "Meet mine and Hunter's mates. The new Alpha and Beta of the Spirit Wolf pack, if I'm correct." I said, looking at either of them to see if what I said so far was correct, when I didn't receive any objections I continued, "Alpha Nash also challenged Selene," I pointedly looked at her, receiving an eye-roll, "to an official Alpha fight with me to prove her Alpha status. Which she Accepted." I finished with a frustrated growl.

Selene suddenly stood up, "You act like I was supposed to back down. I won that title from Evan, I earned that title." She snarled at me as she began pacing around the room. I felt Xerxes finally present, watching her as I was and apparently Lydia had noticed this too because she stood and brought Selene back over to sit, placing herself between us so Selene wasn't as visible.

"You don't even know the consequences of your actions." I snarled at her, "Did either of you notice the other two women in the room? Maybe question who they were? What they might be doing sitting in on an Alpha meeting?" I hollered, my voice raising, as I stood out of my chair, causing everyone else in the room to stand up and place themselves in front of Selene.

Hunter walked over to me with his palms facing me showing he wasn't threatening me as I was huffing air in and our of my lungs trying to prevent Xerxes from emerging. "Calm down dude. They just decided to come here and to the meetings today. There's no way they could've known." He said, trying to calm me down, I could see that Lydia and Selene were having their own heated discussion as well.

"There's always going to be consequences to actions boss. We know more then everyone else right now so we have a head start on trying to figure this out." Thomas said walking up to me with a water bottle from the offices mini-fridge.

Selene stepped around Lydia and walked towards me, "Look I get it there's a lot of stuff that we just walked into the middle of but if you think that we're just gonna sit here and not at least try and help then you're clearly mistaken." She finished as she came to a stop in front of me. I was looking down at her with my eyes open wide, she had always ran away and seemed to shun our bond.

"Then you and everyone else need to sit down and let me explain everything without interrupting anything because the sooner that you and Lydia understand what's going on the sooner we can come up with a plan." I replied gesturing to the seats as I sat down myself. Once everyone was seated I took a deep breath and began telling them everything that had happened, starting with when Hunter and I lost our fathers, going to Jane betraying me. as well as how the council gave me the deadline to find my mate, all the way to how they just told me that I now have to let Jane board in my back and how Jane now also has the right to challenge her for her status as my mate and Luna.

Selene and Lydia stood up furious but Lydia spoke quicker, "That it not fair! It is Selene's goddess given right to be your Luna. Not that traitors." She snarled, Hunter placing his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down, which she shrugged off, "No. This is so wrong. This Jane girl does all of that and the council REWARD HER?!" Selene held a hand up at Hunter and wrapped her arms around her friend in a hug whispering words in her ear calming her down.

"What language was that?" Hunter questioned with his brow raised, "I haven't heard that spoken before." He turned towards me to see if I heard it but I shrugged.

Selene smiled, "It's Portuguese, I made sure that all the females in our pack who were in agreement to me overthrowing Evan's rule learned it so we could communicate without anyone running to him and telling him what our plans were." I felt my chest swell in pride at my female as I smiled, she was smart and used her knowledge of a foreign language to fool that idiotic wolf.

Hunter nodded and turned to me, "We'll send Liam and David to Selene's pack to make sure everything is kept in order while she trains for the Alpha fight." He then turned to make sure he was addressing Selene and I both, "And you two need to tell the council. Jane has the right to fight you now regardless and she will most-likely wait until right after the Alpha fight to challenge you, Selene." Lydia nodded in agreement, as did I, Hunter was right if Jane was still conniving like she to be she would because Selene would still be recovering from our fight and wouldn't be at her strongest.

"Actually," Selene began, "According to old pack laws. A Luna or Alpha cannot be challenged to multiple fights without at least forty-eight hours in between them, allowing for proper healing." Chase and Thomas looked between Hunter and I to see what we would say.

"Jane would just use it as an excuse to call you weak if you denied her challenge, say that you weren't fit to be Luna." Chase said shaking his head.

Lydia smiled, "It doesn't matter, the council wrote those laws. They've been around for years, they can't just disband a law without going through the proper proceedings." she paused, "Which all Alpha's must attend and the vote has to be unanimous."

Hunter smiled proudly and looked at me, our girls knew their laws. Now the only obstacle would be how the council handled the news of Selene being my mate, since she is legally the Alpha of the Spirit Wolf pack they have to determine if our packs will become one or if she must name a new Alpha.

Looking out the window after noticing the slight chill the room had I saw that night had fallen, looking at the clock I noticed that dinner would be served soon, "How about we get everyone over the initial shock of us being mates and you take your rightful spot next to me at dinner?" I asked turning towards Selene with my eyebrow raised in question.

She smiled at me and took my hand tentatively, our eyes both widened at the sparks that exploded when our skin touched. Lydia grabbed Hunter's hand as well and we all exited the office making our way to the dining hall, upon passing what was now Selene's wing Hunter and I noticed that they no longer had the doors closed and you could openly see a few girls moving from room to room.

"The council allowed you to bring a few girls as well? I thought that was just Evan." I asked Selene after we passed the wing, normally we were only allowed the max of two guards to travel with us but it seemed Selene had double that.

She smiled and nodded, "The girls traveling with Evan were never guards as the council thought, mainly they were entertainment. I need the girls for security purposes as a female Alpha, I have more of a threat against me then the typical male Alpha." She replied simply. And it made sense, I had never heard of another female Alpha but it was to be assumed that once the news Evan was no longer an Alpha to his pack but a female was, no doubt that she would be in more danger then she would've been if she were a male.

"Then why not just cooperate your efforts with a male?" Thomas asked, "There would be less of a threat to you and less responsibility as well." Thomas genuinely looked confused.

Selene bristled at Thomas's last comment but I kept her hand in mine and kept walking forward turning to Thomas instead, "Shut up." I snapped, "Don't say anything else about it for the rest of dinner and we will discuss it tonight afterwards."

Thomas nodded and stopped walking until he was next to Chase at the back of the group. Chase and Thomas started talking and we all paused and looked back when we heard a slap and saw Chase with his hand in the air above Thomas's head and Thomas mid-flinch, his hair now disheveled. We all started laughing and the mood noticeably lightened after that.

Once we arrived outside the dining hall doors our party paused, I looked down at Selene and she took a deep breath then nodded, signaling that she was now prepared. I gripped her hand tight as I heard Hunter offer slight words of reassurance to Lydia as I opened the door.

I didn't even bother looking at the table of Alpha's, as we entered and made our way directly to the food, I kept my eyes on Selene the whole time as her hands grip on mine tightened a bit after we had crossed the threshold. Chase and Thomas positioned themselves on the other side of Selene and Lydia to act as a wall between them and the other Alpha's, Jane and Bane as we passed the table.

When we reached the food I turned to Thomas and Chase, "You can get your food and sit down Hunter and I can handle it from here." We watched them get their food and as they began making their way to the table we stepped up.

"I don't understand how the brown haired one can just speak without thinking clearly." Selene said to me holding her plate as we walked towards the food.

"His name is Thomas and he tends to do that more often then not." I replied, smiling down at her, "What are you thinking?" I asked turning towards her again as she started gesturing to me what food she wanted on her plate.

"Well so far the only people in the room who doesn't seem entertained that I walked in with you is the two lady's who I'm assuming are Jane and Bane." She said as she glanced in their general direction, I looked over and noticed that indeed Jane looked infuriated that I was serving Selene and Bane, though looking as though she had tasted something bad, seemed to be attempting to calm Jane down.

I turned back to Selene, "You have nothing to worry about when it comes to her. I can assure you." I finished as we began walking to the table behind Hunter and Lydia, hand in hand again.

She squeezed my hand as we arrived to the table, looking at me as I cleared my throat to gain the attention of the Alpha's, Beta's and guards who had turned back to their own conversations and meals. They all looked up the table to me and I could practically could see Jane shaking in anger.

"I would like to inform you all, this is Selene." I pulled her forward more so she wasn't tucked behind me, "A lot of you may remember her from the Alpha meeting? She has agreed to come with me back to my pack with her Beta and instead of Hunter going to her pack to oversee it, my Gamma Liam and Delta David will go there." A few of the Alpha's looked to Hunter for confirmation and he nodded.

I cleared my throat again and squeezed her hand, "Selene is also my mate." It was so silent after that so I chose to grab Selene's hand and guide her to sit in the seat to the left of mine, Jane watching with an undiscernible look which concerned me.

After I pushed Selene's chair in and sat down Jane cleared her throat, "Selene, is it?" She asked turning towards Selene who nodded, "Well I'm sure since you're Cole's mate that he's told you the stipulations the council put in place?" She questioned curiously.

Selene finished the mouthful she was chewing before responding to her, "Yes he very well did and I do not agree with how the council proceeded." She made a tsk sound, "After the wars you'd figure the council knew better then to let a traitor have the chance to become a Luna." My mate finished with a smirk on her face as she wiped the food from her lips.

I didn't want buttons to be pushed tonight but looks like Selene had other ideas because she had Jane furious, "So you're aware that I will be coming to the pack as well with two council members?" Jane asked, seems like her arrogance was getting the best of her once again.

Selene raised an eyebrow, "I don't know what silly little dream you have in little head of yours Jane but as long as I'm around there's not a chance for you to become Luna. Council or not." Selene turned towards Jane to face her fully, "I'm an Alpha. I won that title on my own. And by goddess given right I am a Luna. The goddess doesn't make mistakes." With that Selene stood, held her hand out to me and I took it standing with her, and together we exited the room, her pulling me through the glass double-doors and towards the training arena.

"Everything okay?" I asked rubbing my thumb across the back of her hand, "Don't let anything she says get to you, she's just used to the council giving her what she wants." I muttered trying to reassure myself at the same time.

Selene smiled up at me as I opened the arena's doors, "I'm fine, not worried about anything but that Jane girl is quite the character." She said chuckling with me as she made her way to the locker room.

Once we entered she pulled a combination lock out of her pocket and chose a locker, upon stepping out of her dress I saw she was already wearing a tank-top and loose shorts under it, after placing her clothes in the locker and clicking the combination lock in place she exited the gym, leaving me staring after her dumb-founded. I didn't even know that she was wearing anything of that nature under the dress.

After quickly changing I made my way into the main part of the arena to see Selene already in the ring with Tara, the girl who seemed to be in charge of delivering the meals to her wing before she revealed herself to everyone. Nodding to Tara and Selene in the ring I made my way to the treadmills, lifting one up and turning it around so I can watch Selene spar, and begin my warm-up.

I carefully observed Selene while she was sparring with Tara, how she stepped forward with her right front just before she threw a punch or how her calves rippled before threw a kick. I was still jogging on the treadmill when Hunter and Lydia walked in holding hands, I noticed that as they were walking towards me Lydia changed direction, heading back towards Selene. I was intrigued, Lydia had snuck up behind her while Tara had Selene distracted and jumped on Selene's back surprising her but Selene had Lydia on the ring mat in front of her pinned by her throat.

Hunter looked worried for a second before Selene let Lydia up and all the girls started laughing. I chuckled and shook my head, girls and their games. I was proud of Selene for being able to disable Lydia that quickly while being able to keep her eyes on Tara at the same time.

"Our girls are best friends dude. Selene isn't going to maim Lydia just because she challenged her while she was sparring with Tara." I joked as I stepped off the treadmill walking towards him, wiping the sweat from my brow with a hand towel, "It's time to go inside and get some sleep. We head home tomorrow.." I stated happily, kissing Selene on the top of her head, and began walking towards the entrance of the arena.

Hunter and Lydia were laughing with me at a joke Selene had just told as we entered the main building again, almost running directly into the councilmen. Jane and Bane stood at the back of the group and Jane had a wicked smile on her face Selene stiffened next to me, and I saw Hunter and Lydia looking between themselves with worry.

"Councilman Adam, what can I help you with?" I asked squeezing Selene's shoulder for reassurance in an attempt to calm her down.

The councilman smiles deviously, "I heard that you had found your mate and I wanted to see it for myself." I looked towards Selene, "You must be the Spirit Wolf Packs new Alpha, I've heard a lot about you." Councilman Adam said nodding his head in greeting, it seemed to be then that he realized that my arm was around Selene and Hunters was around Lydia and his eyes widened in understanding.

"It appears that you and your Beta have found your mates Alpha Cole." Councilman Desmond stated, stepping forward, "Congratulations to you both." He said looking from me to Hunter, "But Cole I hope you are aware that the stipulations are as they were at the beginning of the weekend. Jane and Bane will be accompanied to your pack by Councilmen Nelson and Henry." I nodded in acknowledgement, grinding my teeth in frustration.

"We would actually like to discuss matters pertaining to the Spirit Wolf Pack and the Blue Moon Pack combining." Selene spoke, stepping towards the councilmen, "As per usual the she-wolf, me, will go to my mates pack, but since I am an Alpha there are obviously a few more steps to the process." Selene stepped back to my side as she finished speaking.

Jane went to step forward but councilman Adam held his hand up to her, "Unfortunately dear Selene, Jane does still have rights within the next two years to challenge you for the position of Luna, the councilmen and myself have come to an unanimous decision that shall she fail to challenge you before your official fight with Cole, Jane will forfeit her rights to the Luna position. Until the fight takes place the packs will remain separate." Adam stated, simply shrugging his shoulders, an apologetic look on his face.

Selene inhaled sharply and shook her head, "As you wish councilmen." She turned and began to lead me back to my packs quarters, "I wonder what type of power being a councilman holds for a few old men to think that they're able to enforce their rules over the goddess's pairing." She stated with a tsk, shaking her head as we rounded the corner.

The second we stepped into mine and Hunters personal office Lydia and Selene howled with laughter, leaving Hunter and I looked between each other, utterly confused. The girls carried on laughing for a few minutes, attempting to catch their breath but failing each time, while Hunter and I were sitting in our respective desk chairs sipping on some scotch that we had stored in the respective drawers of our desks for random, celebratory or stressful occasions.

After Selene and Lydia calmed down Selene made her way to my lap and Lydia to Hunters. Selene let her head rest in the crook of my neck as she checked her phone, humming a song as she did so. A knock sounding at the door had all four of us jumping, and then laughing at our skittishness.

"Come in." Hunter's voice boomed from across the room. The door opened and Alpha's Oliver, Turner and Tsar entered with Chase and Thomas following close behind.

"Sorry to intrude," Oliver started, nodding at both mine and Hunters positions with our mates, "but we figured you'd want to know that Kellan and Jason are sticking to Jane and Bane almost disturbingly so." He gestured to himself and the two other men who followed him into our office, "We wanted you all to know that we will side with you no matter the outcome."

Turner turned to Selene, "And we also have the utmost respect for you. You're right to say that something is surely amiss within the council for a bunch of old men to behave like they know better then the goddess." Turner finished with a shake of his head.

Tsar cleared his throat, "Jane and the councilmen will not make this as easy as you seem. They're hold a meeting now to discuss how the room and board should go now that you are obviously mates. They are more then likely going to end up making you have separate living quarters to make sure the mate bond is not completed without their knowledge before Jane can challenge you for the Luna title." Tsar looked as if he didn't want to say what was next on his mind but the looks he received from Turner and Oliver made him continue, "The council is speaking of having Selene placed in Silver Caves during each heat that she has to keep you both from consummating the bond."

Selene sat up and snarled at Tsar's last sentence which caused him to fall after he tripped over himself as he backed away from her, causing me to smile. I looked between Oliver and Turner and they nodded their head confirming what Tsar said to be true.

"How were you able to find it out? They wouldn't have told you so much information if they would've known you'd come here." I questioned, finishing my drink as I stood, placing Selene in my chair.

Oliver stepped in front of me with his palms out, "Tsar has agreed to be our mole. Since his Grandfather is on the council they believe his loyalty is the same. Which gives us a benefit because we'll know what's going on even if they 'forget' to inform us." He stated, using his fingers to make air quotes around the word 'forget'.

Selene stood from her chair, "The stipulation is that Jane can challenge me, correct?" she asked looking to me, I nodded, "Then what's to stop me from challenging her? The council has left too many loop holes. I will figure this out." She replied before walking to me and kissing me on my cheek. Selene then motioned for Lydia and they began walking towards the door.

"Chase, Thomas, follow them and make sure they make it to their wing okay." I replied, my eyes remaining locked with Selene's until she smiled and exited the room.

"You have one determined mate Cole." Turner said as he slapped my back, "Valerie would've lost her mind and attacked Jane before the council uttered those words." Shaking his head he went to leave, but as he opened the door Sawyer burst in.

"The council is trying to remove Selene! They're trying to say she must stay in Kellan's pack until the challenge!" He shouted, turning to run towards the sound of commotion, with Hunter and I on his heels. Tsar chose to use the distraction to sneak his way back to his wing to look less suspicious.

Once arriving the first thing we saw was Lydia and Selene's other women positioned defensively in front of her. Jane was sneering from behind her line of councilmen, as I saw Kellan take a step forward to once again attempt to get through Selene's guards I snarled.

"What is the meaning of this?" My voice thundered throughout the entryway, rising above the low warning snarls emitting throughout the area, causing them to stop but the women remained planted before Selene.

I could see the way Kellan's eyes raked their way up and down Selene's body causing me to snarl and walk until I was standing in front of her, arms crossed I easily looked down on Kellan. I could feel Selene's shaking hand curl around my left bicep to try and calm us both down, Hunter took his place next to Lydia who was now standing next to Selene.

Adam smiled at me, "Kellan has offered to house Selene before the fight." He said, patting Kellan on his shoulder as if he was praising a toddler.

"Alpha Law states that the individual whos Alpha title is challenged must remain in the reigning Alpha King's pack until the set challenge date." Lydia voiced stepping forward, "My Alpha will be residing in Alpha Cole's pack."