Altercations
1486 Words
The council arrive. They are mostly consisted of former alphas, or an alpha who shows great wisdom and promise. Roans father is on the council, though I suspect he will be absent as a conflict of interest. They would consider his judgement as impaired. Their laws prohibit one clan attacking another unless there is good cause, or a duel between alphas for the clan. 7 years ago, the last time the timber clan attacked, they were severely apprehended. Their former alpha was executed and their territory was reduced by a third. as a low level pack member I don't know much else than that no motive or reasons behind the attack. I expect it will be the same this time. Ryan and I are allowed out of our rooms to prepare snacks for the council, so we try to eavesdrop as much as we can without attracting attention. Beta Nathan comes to collect the food from us to stop us seeing or hearing. After that we are sent back to our rooms. I sit and text Grace, she always knows what's going on, but I doubt even her abilities reach that far. I end up falling into a very unsettled sleep from boredom.
The next morning at breakfast the new gammas are at their table, along with 3 others looking worse for wear. They must have come back from med bay. Lisa is still avoiding my gaze, her back turned, sitting as far away as she possibly can. Grace, Leon and Ryan are locked in a fierce debate over what punishment the council decided. Amal is playing on his phone absentmindedly. I don't understand how everything seems so normal after what happened. "I bet they'll skin the alpha publicly to make an example out of him". "Maybe they'll feed them to the vamps". I roll my eyes at them. "Are you serious, those punishments were outlawed two decades ago" Grace just scoffs "So was attacking other packs without cause, your point is?" "Yeah we wanna see some action, maybe the council does too" Ryan interjects but I'm not done "Vampires were driven out so long ago, bet you wouldn't even be able to find them. The whole county is wolf territory now" "fair point Remy, but you know, I've got to agree with my girl here. Gruesome punishments are far more fun to imagine" Grace pokes her tongue out from beneath Leon's arm, she really has him wound tight round her finger. Our debate is cut short by the sudden appearance of Counselor Marcus at the entrance to the hall. "Alpha Roan, they are coming. You have a day at the most, Timber and Copper have fallen- no survivors have been found" the command in his voice instills fear in even Alpha Roan. He stands abruptly, visibly shaken by the news. "You have to leave, now-" "Enough!" Roan roars. It's enough to make every wolf in the room cower in submission, except Counselor Marcus who stands in shock at the outburst. "Everyone scatter, I need the room". You don't have to tell me twice. Whatever has Roan scared must be bad. You heard what he said, if two clans are down and we are next it must be something big. I don't like this
Me either wolfy. What could it be?
We all practically stumble over each other trying to get out. Some stay by the doors to eavesdrop but are soon moved on. I can't see Lisa, she must have taken the pups upstairs. Looks like the betas have stayed with Roan, and the Gammas are guarding the doors. We retreat into the kitchen in the hopes of hearing even a little. An hour passes before Alpha Roan sends a telepathic message for all pack members to gather in the hall. This worries me, the look on everyone else's face tells me the same. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife. The hall is the full with the stench of fear, worry etched on all faces, including Alphas. He looks haggard, sat with his head in his hands, a far cry from his usual dominating stance. Counselor Marcus stands behind and addresses the crowd "The council have come to understand that the Timber and Copper clans have fallen. The Timber clan were pushed out of their territory approximately a week ago by vampires. The survivors turned to the Copper clan and were granted asylum. But the vampires persisted and eventually pushed through their defenses. We believe that the attack last night were from the hands of the few surviving wolves, acting without an Alpha out of fear. The council sent scouts to the locations of both clans and there were no survivors. The bodies had sustained bites with the venom of vampires. There is evidence they are headed towards the city. They will be here as soon as tonight, as a small pack you do not have enough resources to defend this territory. You must leave now to have any chance of survival." He breaks to study the room "The Emerald clan have agreed to grant the Silver clan asylum with the condition that your alpha submit to the Emerald clan. Roan has wisely agreed. As of now he is still your acting Alpha but he will answer to the Emerald clan. You have one hour to gather your belongings and meet at the front gates. Cars will come to escort you to your new property, in order of hierarchy, children will be escorted first, then alpha betas, gammas and lastly omegas. Should you decide to stay you will be considered a rogue and will be offered no protection. Good day" His eyes acknowledge the room but show no hint of emotion, sweeping the room before he nods and leaves. Alpha Roan doesn't even move his head before bellowing "You heard the man GET MOVING".
The room is divided between gaping mouths in horror and many protests and expletives from the mouths of others. We daren't delay or defy Alpha Roan out of fear for our own safety. My body hasn't even absorbed the information or the shock yet. I whisper to Ryan, Grace and Leon "We should pack up, and grab as much food as we can for the pack. Meet in the kitchen in a half hour?" Grace is stood still, shell shocked from the news, Leon nods his head at me, placing a gentle arm around her waist and escorting her out of the hall to her room. "W-what, I don- v-amp-" Ryan can barely form a word, the usually chatty man just stands there, mouth wide open. After a gentle touch of my hand to his shoulder he looks down at me, his usually tan face is white as a sheet. "Come on, let's go pack your things, as long as we are together it will be okay" I nudge him towards the door, the hall is eerily quiet and empty already. I take one long last look at the hall we grew up in, sinking in all the memories, the holes in the walls from alcohol induced fist fights, the table we sat at everyday since I can remember... Hoping to seal the memories inside as if I will forget. Packing was a blur, I remember watching my hands stuff clothes into a bag, they felt alien to me, almost as if I was watching my own body from a distance. Now we are stood in the cold, large black vans coming and going from the iron gates. Most of the ranked members have left already, typical that Alpha and the betas were given a limo. Grace and I huddle closer together as the wind howls hard at us remaining omegas. The thin material of my shirt barely offer any comfort, I wish I'd worn a jacket now. Grace upon feeling my shivers nudges Leon gently. He quickly places his coat over my shoulders with a small smile. It smells like Grace, like grapes fresh off the vine. Us 4 are the remainder of the pack, huddled like penguins in front of our former home. This will be the last time I take in the sights and smells of the place I grew up in. It's a scary and unknown feeling for us, but it doesn't matter where our home is, as long as I have my friends. A large man in a black suit opens the van door for me and I slide in, it's an overwhelming smell of hot leather and cleaning chemicals. The seats are comfortable and warm, almost like they're heated from underneath. A gentle melody plays through the speakers. Ryan sits across from me and Leon and Grace snuggle into each other to my left. I sigh and lay my head against the window, and the iron gates close for the last time.
- Writer
