It has always been you

I'm not sorry

We entered the meeting together and Zander smirks at us. I roll my eyes at him as everyone takes their seat. Dean pulls out my chair as we sit at the head table alongside Greggor; Deans father, Jordan; The Beta, Roman, the third in command alongside Edward and Jason; two of the town elders. The remainder of the council take their seats in front of us.

Zander stands up. He begins to explain how, whilst out on patrol, him and Clara spotted four wolves near the boundary. They radioed to some other wolves to assist with checking them out, but by the time they had got there, the wolves had disappeared and they couldn't trace their scent. My body begins to stiffen as they discuss the possibility of lone wolves prowling through our territories. Dean places his hand on my thigh and gives it a light squeeze, grounding me, as if to tell me not to worry. I can hear the worry in the councilmen's voices as they question the need to inform other packs of the breach, as per the East Coast Alliance.

"We should have an emergency town meeting, to let everyone know" someone suggests.

"No". I stand up.

"If we call an emergency town meeting this early on, we'll create mass hysteria. Not to forget, that we will be faced with questions that at this point we do not have solution to. I suggest that we increase patrol for the night, and meet in the morning to discuss the outcome. Then, we will arrange a town meeting and I can inform the council on results, not scenarios." 

"I agree" Dean states. "All those in favour of increased patrols and holding meetings tomorrow, say I". The large majority of people raise their hands and agree in unison. Dean gives me a half smile.

"Why does she get to decide everything?" Whispered Sophie to another council member. I feel rage boil inside me, my claws pushing against the tips of my fingers.

"Why the f**k is she even here?" I demand. Sophie's only been coming to these meetings for the last three months, and fancies herself as the c**k of camp because she's been f*****g Dean.

"Because... Vannah, I'm Deans girlfriend". she flashes me a sickly smile and I roll my eyes.

"Oh honey please... If you were Luna, or mated... hell if you were even exclusive, I might consider your standing. But your not. Now leave. I don't want to see your face at these meetings again".

Sophie glares at Dean expecting him to say something, and other council members sat with their jaws open, looking between each other, waiting for the finale of my explosion.

Dean says nothing, and the atmosphere in the room becomes thick and uncomfortable. 

I check my phone and find a message from Ava, my secretary. 'Done' it reads. 

"Meetings over. You're all dismissed" I call, and the council begin filing out of the room. Sophie heads over to where Dean and I are standing and I take a deep breath, pinching my temple with my fingers. She throws her arms around his neck and whispers in his ear, loud enough for me hear...

"Hey baby. why don't we get out of here and into your hot tub" 

Dean looks impatient and removes her arms from around him and steps away.

"Soph. I've to find additional men on a Friday night to give up their free time to take patrol and then figure out where to distribute them. Then, I've to form a strategy to hold a meeting in the morning based on the outcome of something that hasn't even happened yet!" he snapped.

We all knew the real reason why he wouldn't be seeing her tonight. She looked from Dean to me again. I smirk. Fortunately, she had enough decency not to day anything, because that would be embarrassing. for her that is, causing a scene. I'm a young, single wolf, I can sleep with whomever I choose. She strides out of the room and I stifle a laugh. 

I know how it sounds.

And if it was anyone else I might feel sorry for her and guilty for my relationship with Dene. But she's a gold-digging b***h, and only with him because of his position. I guarantee if he was a random wolf she wouldn't even look twice.

Dean looks at me and raises his eyebrows at me. 

"I'm not even sorry" I say as I leave the room.

Dean shakes his head at me and follows me down the hall into the pack house lobby.

"Now, I was thinking... we usually have around 300 men on patrol right? so I was thinking of trying to scrounge up another... what, 60 men? that's 20 percent. we could have them mainly scour the boarder, and place a few additional men in town. after all, its Friday night, its going to get busy. Now, we need to look at whose on patrol and who we think we can get to help..." he starts.

We reach the front door and I open it and step out on the porch. Dean looks at me confused, but mirrors my actions anyway. He looks out and gasps. The pack house lawn is filled with men and women knelt before us, ready to serve.

"How...." 

"I'm not just a pretty face you know" I grin.

Dean looks at me. Admiration in his eyes and grinning. My stomach is filled with butterflies. I love when he looks at me like that.

"75" I whisper. "I thought we'd increase by 25%. I had Ava find out who was on patrol and then gather some of our strongest wolves"

"Thankyou all for coming" I begin.

"Now... this is not an order, its a request. None of you are required to stay. You can all go home to your families, friends... cats and enjoy your evening. But those of you that stay? Will be rewarded. Now, the reason that you are here, is there was a breach at one of our boarders, and we have not yet located the four unidentified wolves that were trespassing. so we ask you, tonight, to serve your pack. We need additional patrols at the boarders and in town. So those of you willing please stand. And those of you who do help, will receive an additional bonus on this weeks stipend, and two VIP tickets each to the masquerade ball next month." 

Everyone rises, and nobody moves.

"Zander will assign you to your posts." Dean states.

Zander begins assigning wolves to their posts and Dean and I step back into the home and close the door. Zander gives me a devilish grin, showing his perfect teeth, his eyes glistening.

"You're amazing" he whispers. 

Its 9pm, and the housekeepers approach the door, ready to leave. One of them halts, a young girl, barely 18, hair and eyes as black as a raven, and skin like porcelain. 

"Miss Greyson? I mean... Alpha... umm"

"Yes?" I cut her off. She seems nervous. 

"Well... I just wanted to say i'm sorry... you know... about you and Felix."

"I'm not" I reply. "But thankyou".

She gives me a small smile as the three women leave.

Dean looks at me, and I give him a weak smile. 

"We haven't talked" he says, guiding me into the lounge as we sit closely on the large sofa.

"We talk all the time" I say, slightly confused.

"I mean... about you and Felix"

"There's nothing to say"

"That's not true Vann, and you know it. You were with the guy for two years. Normally, when you meet a guy, you're fed up within months and back in my bed. You loved him. So tell me what happened."

"Why? It's not going to change anything. He broke up with me. We're over. That's it."

I'm not continuing this conversation. I don't owe anyone an explanation.

I lean towards him and put my hands on his face and kiss him passionately. He deepens the kiss, and I need up to him. He pulls me closer so our bodies our pressed together.

Dean moved quickly and lies me down on the sofa without breaking our kiss. My legs are parted and he's on top of me, continuing his assault on my lips.

I need him.

He nibbles on my ear, then whispers...

"I won't be you're rebound. Not again". 

He stands up and leaves the room.

What the f**k just happened?