Witch in wolf's clothing - Namaari

Chapter 25: Flabbergasted

The sound of heels clicking on the floor catches my attention. I look up, following the sound from the ground. My gaze travels along shapely legs to a fitted pencil skirt and a crisp white blouse that hugs every curve. I stare a brief moment at the long, wavy and dark brown hair with subtle red tones that stand out in the light. Finally, my eyes land on the most beautiful, intense eyes I've ever seen. Deep green eyes with gold flecks. I swallow hard, almost unable to believe it.

"Ari?" I mumble, the word slipping out before I can stop it.

Namaari looks at me with a confident smile. "Hello, Alpha Tazzym. May I remind you, the name is Namaari," she says, her voice laced with pride.

Nikolaj adds for the whole room, "Princess Namaari, to be precise." He sits down with an intense stare directed at me and my brothers, as Namaari takes her seat beside him and greets the rest of the room.

Zyméo mind-links us, "Is it just me, or has Namaari suddenly become... so feminine... so grown-up?"

"It's not just you," I manage to reply, still processing the transformation.

"Focus, brothers," Kaynim interjects, reminding us of the task at hand.

Elder Gavner clears his throat and looks at Namaari with a condescending smile. "Princess Namaari, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. Perhaps you would prefer to join the women in the living room for tea? This discussion might be a bit dull and complex for you."

Namaari remains polite, but her eyes flash with determination. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Gavner. However, I assure you, I am more than capable of understanding and contributing to this discussion. I believe my presence here will be anything but dull."

The room falls silent, the air thick with uncertainty. Nikolaj breaks the silence with a small smile. "So, is everyone in agreement that my sister stays? Excellent. Now, let's begin."

He shifts his focus to the gathered leaders. "I'm here with my sister because, besides the occasional attacks from the mountains, you're also struggling with smaller packs that have turned against you, correct? Given that in our kingdom, we are accustomed to dealing with numerous packs and the problems that come with them, we are here to offer our insights and, hopefully, our assistance."

Alpha Reed, looking amused, leans back in his chair. "It’s an honor to have Princess Namaari with us. Hopefully, she finds this entire affair intriguing." He then gestures to one of his elders. "Elder Ashnar, would you mind explaining the situation to Prince Nikolaj and Princess Namaari?"

Elder Ashnar nods and stands, addressing the room. "The Driftwood pack is located furthest from the coastline. They have vast grasslands with fertile soil, perfect for growing crops. Normally, the other packs purchase large quantities of produce from them. However, due to the ongoing war, they've become more cautious, hoarding much of their food and significantly raising prices. While the cost isn't an issue for our three major packs, the limited availability is. The other smaller coastal packs also rely on Driftwood pack for their food supply, but now there's simply not enough to go around. To complicate matters, Driftwood Pack prefers selling to the smaller packs rather than us, believing that we, being the strongest, can fend for ourselves."

Nikolaj listens intently before responding. "I understand. What proposals have you considered so far?"

Alpha Flint, his expression stern, speaks up immediately, his Beta Larc nodding in agreement. "We believe the solution is straightforward. We should offer a substantial amount of money to secure the majority of their crops. If necessary, we can exert a bit more pressure to ensure they comply. The smaller packs will need to find alternative solutions. Our packs require sufficient food to maintain our strength and continue defending against the rogue attacks."

The elders around the table murmur their agreement, nodding in unison.

Elder Gavner chimes in, his voice authoritative. "Indeed, I concur with Alpha Flint. This method ensures we have the resources necessary to maintain our defense capabilities. Driftwood Pack needs to understand the larger picture and their role in supporting it."

I can't help but mind-link my brothers and Beta. "Gavner just can't keep his mouth shut, can he?"

Kaynim responds, "He's always got to add his two cents. It's like he thinks we can't handle a single decision without his input."

Zyméo snickers quietly. "Don't let him hear you say that, or we'll be here all night."

I stifle a laugh, trying to stay composed. Our Beta, River, attempting to steer the discussion in a more productive direction, interjects, "Perhaps there are other solutions we haven't considered yet. Maybe we could negotiate a fairer distribution that doesn't strain Driftwood Pack too much. We might also look into alternative food sources or growing more of our own crops."

Elder Gavner immediately counters, his tone dismissive. "And what makes you think Driftwood Pack will agree to that? They have their own interests to protect. We need immediate results, not idealistic suggestions."

River mutters under his breath, "I won't say anything more," and falls silent.

I glance over at Nikolaj hoping for a more balanced viewpoint. Nikolaj, noticing the tension and the thoughtful look on Namaari's face, turns to her with a slight smile. "Namaari, what do you think of Alpha Flint and Elder Gavner's proposal?"

Elder Gavner's face contorts with anger as he snaps, "Are we really going to let a woman without any leading role have her say in this matter?"

Zyméo's eyes narrow, and he speaks up firmly, "Elder Gavner, you're still addressing a princess. Be careful how you speak about her."

Alpha Reed, sitting back with a calm demeanor, interjects, "Yes, listening never hurts. Enlighten us, princess," he says, flashing a charming smile at Namaari. I can't help but feel a sting of jealousy at Reed's obvious interest in her.

Namaari, unfazed by the scrutiny and the dismissive attitude of Elder Gavner, stands with confidence. "Thank you, Alpha Reed," she begins, her voice steady and clear. "I believe we need a solution that benefits everyone involved — Driftwood pack, the smaller packs, and your packs."

She pauses, ensuring she has everyone's attention before continuing. "Instead of forcing Driftwood pack to comply through pressure or monetary incentives alone, we should offer them something of real value: protection. If we can assure them that their lands and people will be safeguarded against rogue attacks, they would be more willing to share their resources at a fair price. In return, they would receive regular patrols and immediate response teams stationed near their borders."

She turns to Alpha Flint and Elder Gavner, addressing them directly. "Furthermore, by including the smaller packs in our plans and ensuring they have access to essential resources, we prevent them from feeling marginalized. If we ignore their needs, we risk them turning against us, which would only exacerbate our current struggles. We need unity now more than ever."

She looks around the room, making eye contact with each person, including me and my brothers. "We should establish a council that includes representatives from Driftwood pack and the smaller packs. This council would work alongside the Beta’s of your packs to ensure fair distribution and address any concerns that arise. By working together, we can create a more resilient and cooperative network, capable of withstanding both the rogue attacks and internal disputes."

The room falls silent as everyone absorbs her words. Even Elder Gavner seems momentarily speechless.

Nikolaj, smirking, breaks the silence. "Are we all in agreement with what my sister has said, so that we can now proceed to discuss these ideas in greater detail?”

I see Reed nodding in agreement, and Alpha Flint, though reluctant, gives a curt nod. Zyméo and Kaynim exchange glances, clearly impressed by Namaari's poise and insight.

I can't help but feel a swell of pride mixed with my lingering jealousy. "Alright, let's get started," I say.

Zyméo’s POV

The meeting drags on for another two hours. We discuss the finer details of Namaari’s proposal and other pressing matters, before finally scheduling our next gathering for the usual time, next Friday. As the room begins to empty, everyone says their goodbyes. Nikolaj and Namaari stand by the door, shaking hands and exchanging farewells.

I watch as my brothers and I approach them. Just as we reach the doorway, Alpha Reed stops to take his leave. He shakes Nikolaj’s hand firmly. Then he turns to Namaari, taking her hand gently and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “It was very pleasant to meet you, Princess Namaari. I look forward to our next meeting.”

I catch a glimpse of Tazzym's eyes momentarily turning black, but he quickly composes himself. I know my brother well enough to see that Namaari affects him in ways none of his flings ever have, though he'd never admit it.

Once everyone else has left the room, Kaynim claps a hand on Nikolaj’s shoulder. “I’m so glad we finally get to see each other, friend. Don’t expect me to call you Prince Nikolaj all the time, though — only when the other Alphas or Elders are around.”

Nikolaj laughs. “Kaynim, you dropped the 'Prince' title long ago in texts and calls. I didn’t expect anything else. But don't expect me to address you with Alpha either.”

We all share a laugh. Kaynim then turns to Namaari, his tone slightly awkward. “And a surprise that you’re here, Namaari. Welcome back.”

Namaari's smile is almost too perfect. “My brother doesn’t need the formalities, but as I recall, we don’t share much of a bond. So, Princess it is for you, Alpha Kaynim. Now, can you show us our rooms? I could use a bit of freshening up.”

She strides out of the room towards the hallway, leaving Kaynim standing there, flabbergasted. Tazzym murmurs, “She can't be serious.”

Nikolaj grins. “You heard her.” His smile then fades as he adds, “Between us, things may be good now, but I haven’t forgotten everything. Leave my sister be and treat her with respect.”

For a moment, tension hangs in the air. I step in to defuse it. “That won’t be a problem, Nikolaj. Let’s show you to your rooms.”

We head towards the hallway, ready to escort them to their quarters.