The Alpha Summit

Chapter Fifteen

Mel sat to the left of Achilles. His hand was placed on her thigh as if he needed to prove to anybody she was his.

"There is a rat," Achilles stated simply. "The problem is we have no idea where they are. They have information on Mel that not many people know."

"What do they know?" Bentley asked.

He and Jax were sitting next to each other. Their shoulders were touching but nothing else was.

At least some of us are keeping us PG. She rolled her eyes at Achilles without him noticing.

Achilles cleared his throat, "Well it's not that much as far as we know. All the rat knows is about Mel's past."

Bentley nodded, "Then we should make a list of people that know Mel's past and go from there."

Mel nodded, "We can start there, but with the gossip going around I have no way of knowing how many people actually know."

"Well, that doesn't matter," Jax stated, standing up. "All we need is the source. It doesn't matter who heard after that."

Jax returned with a piece of paper and a pen. He sat back down next to his mate and clicked the pen.

" Only people you directly told first, then we will move down to people that miraculously know. "

Mel furrowed her eyebrows in thought, "I told, well, all of you guys. That's really it. I don't think I told anybody else."

Achilles looked taken aback, "You must have told somebody else."

While Jax immediately popped into Achilles' mind he couldn't put together a reason for Jax doing a thing like that. Why would he try and get Mel to be Gamma if he had it out for her?

Mel started blankly ahead before she spoke, "I told Alpha Wren. She's the only other person."

Everybody looked shocked. None of them could think of a single reason Aloha Wren would do something like that. Then again, none of them really knew Alpha Wren.

"When did you tell her?" Jax asked.

"I told her the night of The Alpha Summit."

Achilles sighed, "That gives her plenty of time."

Mel felt her heart sink. It had to have been Alpha Wren. Nobody else could have possibly shared this information. Her idol betrayed her.

"We need to cut off all contact with her," Achilles stated firmly. "Anybody heard mentioning her will be brought to me from now on. Have all of the warriors listening in. Got it? We have no idea what her plan is or who she has working for her."

"What about Kasay," Mel asked. "Alpha Wren could have her."

"That would mean that she has somebody inside our pack too, "Bentley said. "How else would she know that Mel and Kasey were talking?"

Achilles sighed deeply. Why couldn't he just find his mate and have everything go normally? Instead, he had to fight with every fiber of his body to make sure she stayed alive. But he would be damned if he let her go.

"Okay," Achilles started. "We need to make up a need to meet with Alpha Wren. Then we can find a way to search the land. We need to be convincing. She can't suspect anything."

"We could say we need to redefine the terms of your alliance?"

Achilles looked at Jax, "We just did three months ago."

Jax rolled his eyes, "I'm trying here."

"You're doing great," Bentley assured, rubbing Jax's shoulder.

Mel smiled at their cuteness. They made such a good couple. Too bad they had found each other at such a stressful time.

"What about a celebration," Bentley suggested.

Mel looked at Bentley, it wasn't a bad idea. She just wasn't sure how they were going to have it be at Alpha Wren's pack.

"For what," Mel asked.

"That's the part you guys may not like." His eyes flashed between herself and Achilles.

"Tell us." Achilles demanded

Bentley leaned into Jax, "We're going to have to give a bit of information to get information. There isn't a way around that. What if we had Mel call Alpha Wren and tell her about Achilles being her mate. That way Alpha Wren will want to throw her a party. If any of us know Alpha Wren then we know how extra she is about everything she does. Not to mention she'll want to get that information out to everybody fast."

Bentley hid a bit behind Jax waiting for Achilles to explode. He knew his Alpha would despise the idea of putting Mel in any more danger.

Achilles sat silently contemplating the idea. His initial thought was to tell Bentley there was no way he was putting Mel in that kind of danger, but as he considered the plan more he realized it could work. They needed to work out the details, but the outline of the plan seemed promising.

"Okay."

Bentley's eyes bulged out of his head, "Really?"

Achilles scoffed, "If there was a better idea I would have said no."

Mel punched him lightly, "Be nice to him."

Achilles looked at her with a raised brow. He didn't care about pleasantries, he cared about keeping his mate safe. He would do it one way or another. Circes had been the one he spoke to before. He didn't figure the rat was outside of his pack before though. Mel looked into his eyes with confusion. Mel was the only one that didn't know about it being Circes. He din;t know how she would react.

"Mel there is one more thing," he said.

"What?"

"The man I was talking to on the phone was Circes."

He watched the fear spread over her face. Bentley and Jax watched in shock at his honesty.

Achilles quickly pulled her into a hug, "Now you know why I reacted like that earlier, but I'm glad you stopped me. We're going to do this together."

Mel took a shaky breath, "Yes we are."

Mel's head felt light. She needed a break. All she wanted to do was finish this plan and get to executing it, but there was no way she could right now. She needed to breathe and get some water before she passed out.

"I need a minute, guys," she said.

Jax nodded, "Bentley and I will stay here and start drafting a script for the phone call. It will just loosely help you know what to say."

Mel nodded, not really paying attention to what Jax was saying. Achilles said something back to them and then grabbed her hand. She felt the tingles shoot up her arm and he led her out of the room.

"It's going to be okay, Mel. We're going to get through this," Achilles said quietly.

Mel felt her chest ease as they walked into the kitchen. Not many people were in the kitchen which made Mel grateful.

Achilles sat her down and went to get her some water. She watched as he filled up a cup and then went to the refrigerator.

"Luna?"

A voice pulled Mel's attention to it. A tall brown-haired girl stood in front of her. The girl smiled widely at her.

"Wow! You are beautiful," the girl commented.

Mel felt herself smile, "thank you! And you don't have to call me Luna."

The girl giggled, "Yes I do! Achilles claimed you in front of everybody. It was so romantic. I can't wait to have a Luna again!"

Mel felt her heart skip a beat. Achilles had done that. Perhaps this would work out in their favor though. If the gossip made its way to Alpha Wren just before the phone call then it would seem more real.

Mel plaster on a big smile, "I am so excited to be Luna for you all. I plan on taking the position very seriously."

"I know you will. Some people doubt you, but you do have a lot of people that support you, Luna. Most of us want what's best for the pack, while some of us just have our eyes set on the Alpha."

The girl had thrown her head in the direction of a group of girls. They were staring at Achilles as he walked over to Mel and the girl. Unsurprisingly, the girls from the garden were in the group.

"Thanks for your support," Mel said.

The girl scurried away as Achilles came over. A low growl left Mel as the girls eyed him. Mel grabbed his arm and pulled him closer to her.

He chuckled, "what is this all about? Not that I don't like handsy Mel."

Mel rolled her eyes, "They keep looking at you."

She growled and gestured in the direction of the girls. As Achilles looked over they all giggled and waved. Mel growled again.

"Is somebody jealous?" Achilles teased.

Mel scoffed, "Maybe just a little bit."

Achilles laughed but quickly sobered up, "I'm just kidding. I only have eyes for you, Mel. None of them even come close."

Mel sighed, "I'm not worried about you. I just hate how they look at you."

Achilles chuckled darkly, "You don't even know how many guys I want to punch for looking at you. Not to mention you kissing Jaz."

Mel smirked, "You deserved that one."

Achilles shrugged, "I guess I can make it even by kissing one of them then?"

Mel growled lowly and pulled Achilles to her, "No."

Achilles smiled, "Oh, you don't like that?"

"No," Mel growled.

"Good," Achilles muttered.

He pulled Mel in and she eagerly met his lips with her own. They melted against each other. Mel's hand ran down Achilles' firm chest. He growled in pleasure as he held her waist tighter. Before the kiss got too deep in public Mell pulled away. Their eyes were both dark with lust.

"I think that should set most people straight," he whispered in her ear.

Mel smiled widely and took a sip from the cup of water on the counter. She could get used to that. Sadly, the matter at hand crept back into her mind.

"We should get back to the meeting," she said quietly.

Achilles groaned, "Why don't we just go back to my bedroom and-"

Mel cut him off by grabbing his arm and taking him towards the stairs. Achilles laughed loudly as she did this.

"What you don't want to-"

"Achilles! Finish that sentence and we will never kiss again!"

Achilles' eyes widened and he immediately closed his mouth. There was no way he was gambling with those stakes.

Mel sighed, "I wish we could be like this all of the time."

"If only things could be that easy."

As they neared the door to the room the mood shifted. It felt heavy like it did before. Mel clammed up and Achilles tensed. They looked at each other with sadness in their eyes.

"We'll get through this," Achilles said.

Mel placed her hand in his and opened the door.

Bentley and Jax were mulling over a piece of paper. As Achilles and Mel stepped into the room their eyes flashed up.

Jax smirked, "Looking a bit disheveled."

Mel's eyes widened as she attempted to fix her hair and shirt. Jax and Bentley laughed at this gesture.

Achilles let out a small growl, "What do you have?"

Bentley passed the paper to Achilles, "It's just a guideline. Just so that it seems natural and she has something to say if she is caught off guard."

Achilles quickly read the script, "Should be good."

He passes it to Mel. It's what she would have said anyway so it wasn't a gamechanger to her. She would more than likely just wing it.

"Should I make the call now?"

Jax sighed, "You probably should."

They had determined the landline would be the best option. That way they all could listen in from a different room so it made it seem like this was purely Mel's idea. Mel remained in the room while the three men left.

She took a deep breath before dialing the number that lived in the depths of her brain. She remembered calling it when she was the Gamma. Alpha Wren had given her good advice then. Maybe she could just pretend it was one of those times. She dialed the number and the phone rang.

"Wren speaking."

Mel took a deep breath, "Hey, it's Mel."

"Mel! Oh my goodness how have you been? I heard about everything that went on with you. How you left when they named you Gamma. Why did you just storm out?"

Mel guessed she hadn't heard about her and Achilles yet. Either that, or she wanted Mel to confirm it for her.

"I've been good, "Mel said. "As for the reason I left, I met my mate."

Mel heard a squeak on the other end.

"Who is lucky the guy!" Alpha Wren exclaimed.

"Alpha Achilles."

The line went silent. Alpha Wren definitely did not know before this moment. If she had she already would have crafted a response.

"Does anybody else know?"

Mel looked down at the sheet. It said to say that nobody else did. It hit Mel that it would increase the chances of Alpha Wren wanting to have a party for her and tell the entire United States.

"Um no. Other than Achilles Beta, nobody knows but you."

The lie sounded convincing.

"We need to throw you a party!' Alpha Wren squealed.

She fell right into the trap.

"Are you sure?" Mel asked.

"Yes! We can have it in my pack and everything. You know I have that huge ballroom. Oh, my Goddess, I am so excited. It's like my little girl has grown up!"

Mel bit her lip, that line hit her hard. She put on a fake excitement before answering.

"That sounds amazing! I'm sure Achilles would love it, he had been begging me to tell people. I was just nervous, you know?"

Alpha Wren laughed, "With his reputation, I would be too."

Mel felt her wolf bubble up. She did not like Alpha Wren insulting her mate. Mel fought back a defense.

"Uh, yeah. Who are you going to invite?"

Alpha Wren giggled, "Everybody! I will have my Beta contact your Beta to help with the setting up. Usually, the Beta females would do this, but neither of our Betas are mated. How odd?"

"Actually," Mel interjected. "Achilles' Beta found his mate."

"Him too? Wow, everybody is finding their mates over there? Who is she? Do I know her?"

Mel bit her lip, "Yeah you know them."

Alpha Wren giggled, "Well spit it out! Who is she?"

Mel rolled her eyes. She knew how this was going to go over.

"Bentley's mate is actually Beta Jax for Dark Fang Pack."

"Beta Jax," Alpha Wren said, surprised.

Mel felt a smile cross her face at the confusion, "Yeah, they are a super cute couple. I'm sure they would both love to help set up the part with you.

"Yeah."

Mel heard a bit of annoyance in her tone. Suddenly Mel was disgusted that she had ever idolized her. She could feel anger bubbling up inside of her again, but was forced to snuff it out.

"I have to go, Alpha Wren. But I am so excited about this party!"

"Me too! I will see you then, Mel."

Mel disconnected the line and growled lowly. Alpha Wren was not her hero anymore.

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Reading Questions:

-Do you think the plan will work?

-Did you like the little scene Achilles and Mel caused?

-Can you believe the nerve of Alpha Wren?