TORN BETWEEN A WEREWOLF AND A DRAGON

CHAPTER 2: THE MEETING

APPLE'S POV

I swallowed hard as my father held the Moon Sceptre in his hands. His forehead creased as he sat down on one of the two high chairs. The other once belonged to my mother but since our pack hadn't had a Luna in over a decade I had been sitting by my father's side since I turned 18.

We were gathered in the woods nearest to our pack house. A spot my mother named the Sacred Circle. This place was used to hold high meetings like the one we were about to have.

After realizing that my father made a deal with the infamous Dark Alpha, I immediately mind-linked Beta Lionel, and so he called this meeting to talk over strategies with our pack's council members.

The twelve members settled on the forest seats made of coconut tree trunks, which were formed in a semicircle, while I sat on the high seat made of oak in the centre next to my father.

We were in the open, just like how we preferred it. No walls or ceilings to confine us, just the company of the stars and the moon to witness this serious meeting.

The atmosphere was tense, but the relaxing scent of nature drifted through our noses as the gentle breezes caressed our nervous bodies.

I exhaled, ready to do everything in my power to ensure the safety of my people.

“I have called this session because our Alpha has something important to discuss with you all," Lionel commenced as his eyes landed on my trembling father, whose eyes widened at the Beta's declaration.

“Who me?” my father asked confused, he never had to speak at these meetings. My mother did it for him when she was alive, and Lionel had been doing it for him after Luna's death.

“Yes, Alpha. You owe it to our people to explain what is coming," Lionel bowed as he spoke.

The worried, whispered voices of the council representatives brought some commotion to the meeting.

“What's going on? Is there a war coming?" Elder Whitaker questioned. The noise died instantly as the council members waited for an answer.

My father stood up, but his jelly knees were too overwhelmed by all the excitement that his ass dropped back in his seat.

Lionel lowered his head, embarrassed for his Alpha but also worried about what some pack members might do when they find out that their daughters may be at risk to be taken by a stranger and not just any old brute, but The Dark Alpha, a man so ruthless that it was believed even the Moon Goddess herself was afraid of him.

Frustrated, I grabbed the sceptre from my father, and it glimmered even brighter than it had in his hands. A magnificent royal blue light lit up the darkened night.

The sceptre is made of a moonstone that the Moon Goddess gifted to our pack many generations ago. It glows when an Alpha holds it. And even though It glowed when my father held it, in my hands the light was almost blinding.

“She's an Alpha female!" elder Whitaker exclaimed. “I knew you were strong, we can all feel the dominance of your wolf, but Alpha females are rare.”

This was known, but from the first time I shifted, my wolf told me she was an Alpha female. A fact only my father and Lionel knew.

“Yes, Elder Whitaker, I am an Alpha female, but this is not what this meeting's about. Our Alpha gambled away our lands –"

Gasps and curses could be heard around the camp. “Wolves without lands are rogues. Are you saying we are rogues now?" Elder Barnaby scowled.

“No, if everyone would just listen–" I tried to silence the rowdy bunch, but none of them were listening now. Lionel was deep in thought, and I knew what he was thinking. The thought crossed my mind a few times since I learned about our dilemma. “Beta," I spoke, so only he could hear me. “None of the other packs would go to war with The Dark Alpha. There has to be another way."

“What other way is there, Apple? Remember, I have two daughters." Lionel growled.

I knew he had two daughters. His adoptive daughter, Tulip was my best friend, but she was an omega, so I doubt they would pick her. Something told me that they would choose she-wolves from high ranked bloodline. The Beta's true-born daughter, Lilly-Ann though was a strong and feisty little thing, she may be at risk. We weren't friends or enemies. We got along fine when need be, but she was a bit too high-maintenance for me.

“I know, Beta, and I promise you, your daughters will be fine.”

He nodded his head. His face was stern, but the worry in his eyes was still evident.

“And what about our daughters?” Christopher Charles spoke as he appeared from behind the bushes. He wasn't a part of the council, so what was he doing here?

“What the hell are you doing here?” Lionel snarled. “This is a sacred place for the council members only.”

“Forgive me Beta, but I don't give a f**k about this shithole pack right now especially since we are neck deep in debt, and now I learn our coward Alpha gambled away our ancestor's lands," Christopher grumbled, then his views landed on the glowing sceptre in my hands, he seemed surprised. “Tell us, Apple, why is the Beta so scared that his daughters might be in danger?”

I jumped from the podium and strode up to Christopher. My eyes glowed dark as I lifted the sceptre and smacked him across his face. He snarled, displaying his canines in a threatening manner. His claws also grew out of place. He swung his arms near my face in a weak attempt to scratch me, but I easily dodged him and hooked my claws in the back of his neck. I made sure I pierced his skin. He hissed from the burning pain. I threw him to his knees in front of my father. “How dare you speak of your Alpha like that?” my voice was menacing and my wolf was enjoying her power. “Apologize to your Alpha, you mangy mutt.”

He tried to fight my dominance, but it was stifling and by the looks on the faces of everyone present, they were fighting hard not to submit. Christopher blurted out his apology, which my father accepted far too quickly and with too much ease. “I'm sorry, my Alpha.”

“You're forgiven," my father declared.

I scoffed and kicked him from in front of me, he rolled to the side in the dirt.

I turned to confront the gathered members. “I hate to tell you all this, but I must. It is true that our Alpha gambled away our lands, and it is also true that wolves without lands are considered rogues," I announced. “But the Alpha that my father lost the bet to has agreed to let us keep our lands if he and some of his high-ranked wolves can choose mates from our pack.”

Beta Lionel glimpsed over to me when he noticed I deliberately left out the most important part, that this Alpha was Alpha Killian Brimstone, better known as the Dark Alpha. But I had my reasons.

“Do we even know these wolves?” one member voiced.

“My daughter won't be going anywhere unless it's with her fated mate," another one bellowed. Soon they were shouting and cursing at everyone and the Moon Goddess.

“Silence!” I commanded, and the noise died down. “I have a plan. We will hide our young unmated she-wolves deep into the woods, so when this Alpha comes, he and his wolves won't have much to choose from, and I don't think they are that barbaric to try to take she-wolves that are already mated."

“Apple, this might work. But they won't leave unless at least their Alpha gets to select a mate," Lionel added.

“True, but you don't have to worry. I will make sure the Alpha chooses only me," I laughed. I was gonna go with him, f**k him if I must, then s***h his throat in his sleep.

“Apple Pie, remember I already promised you to him. He is coming here for you," my father added. “He was fascinated by the stories I told of you and he was also impressed when I told him you are the one who takes care of me and this pack."

“Really?" Lionel asked.

“Yes, he is even considering making Apple his Luna."

“Well, he's in for an unpleasant treat if he picks her to be his Luna," a familiar voice that I hadn't heard in a while spoke.

“Julius!” I squealed when I saw the big-headed wolf making his way to me. I ran into his arms, almost knocking us both to the ground. “I didn't know you were back.”

“My dad informed me what's happening, so I flew back the first chance I got," he explained to me. “How are you?” he questioned, and I smelt his arousal as he looked me in the eye and I knew he smelt mine too. I guess we would always have the hots for each other. We dated back in high school and we couldn't get enough of each other. We were each other's first, and everyone thought we would be fated mates. I was the Alpha's daughter, he was the Beta's son. It all seemed like a match made in werewolf heaven. But Julius went and found his mate, a human at that and he was torn between the two of us. So, I made it easy for him and broke it off, so he could be happy with his mate. It was the right thing to do.

“I'm great, Julius," I sighed as memories of our last love-making session came flooding my mind.

I took my seat again next to my father as we continued the meeting. Eventually, the members calmed down, and an arrangement was met. They all agreed to my plan of hiding our unmated she-wolves in the woods, and that I was going to be the only she-wolf there to greet them.

The meeting was adjourned. I gave the sceptre to Lionel before he accompanied my father back to our house. The others went about their business, leaving Julius and me alone in the woods at the same spot we f****d the last time.

“Do you remember what happened here?" he asked with a glint in his emerald eyes.

“Vaguely," I lied, and he seemed a bit disappointed by my answer. His blond hair brushed against his shoulders as he licked his lips.

“So, you're not mated yet, huh?” he made small talk.

“No, but that doesn't stop me from having fun," I smirked. If my fated was out there, I know he wasn't saving all that d**k magic for me. So this she-wolf will be learning a few new tricks and positions that she could enjoy with her mate one day.

“What? Are you sleeping around?" his smile turned upside down. “With whom? Our pack is small, and I'm friends with most of the guys here.”

“Who I sleep with is none of your business. How's Shelly?" I inquired about his mate.

“She is–" he paused. “She is with pup.”

“Oh," I let out. “Send her my congrats when you talk to her.” I walked off.

“Wait, aren't you gonna tell me who you're screwing from the pack?" he called after me. “Is it Adam or Derrick?”

But I didn't answer him. To be frank, I had never slept with anyone else from our pack apart from Julius, but he didn't need to know that. I knew it wasn't his fault that he wasn't my mate, but I would be lying to myself if I said finding out he wasn't didn't hurt.

“I'm late for my shift, Julius. I'll talk to you later," I giggled as I left him stunned in the woods.