Alpha's Chosen

21

Cole's POV

Hanging up the phone with Lily, I scroll down to block her number before returning the phone to Meredith beside me, shame sliding through me of what she has just heard.

I eye her, but find not judgement but indifference there and I'm thankful for it.. even if it is a forced look.

Returning to George, we continue dicsussion of how the day will go, how we will divide our wolves and hopefully provide some more shelter if not housing by sunset.

"Will you also be staying for dinner?" Beta Dilan asks beside me at the mentions of sunset.

"We will" I nod, the pair of wolves heads tilting slightly only for me to nudge mine towards Meredith and raise my eyebrows to George in a silent 'By my side, remember?'.

George nods, apparently approved of my new possessivness over his daughter while Beta Dilan still looks a little confused. But I'll take confused over having to explain my new charge come assistant.

"Well, let's get started" I state, waiting for their gentle nod of agreement before moving to disperse the different jobs amongst my wolves.

As I lay out my orders I hear my phone again begin to ring, probably Lily using the house phone instead of her own.

I turn but Meredith waves me off, begining her usual 'this is Meredith' speel, waving me off again as I frown... must not be her.

"Right... right. Ummmm... should you need anything I'll leave the link open. Otherwise lunch is twelve. Sharp. No exceptions" I end, looking to Callum and Parker as I do, the pair like me, hard workers but sometimes struggle to stop once they get going.

"Yes Alpha" the group replies in unison, waiting for my nod before turning on their heels and begining their days work.

"Alpha Yukov is in" Meredith says in way of greeting as I return to her side.

"What?" I question, sure I haven't heard her correctly.

"Alpha Yukov" she confirms, "I sent out some preliminary invitations, more an email of interest rather than an inviation of sorts and he's just called. Confirmed him and ten of his best to join the cause".

"But he lives in...." I begin, trying to remember exactly which part of the north is his.

"The far north east" Meredith smiles, obviously proud of her achievement. "Apparently not much entertainment up there" she continues, her smile growing as she speaks "And Alpha Yukov was very excited to hear about the gathering, already sure also that he will have my father for breakfast and you for lunch".

I frown at that, Yukov would never say something like that.

"His words" she says, holding her hands up in mock surrender, her smile falling as the phone begins to ring again.

"This is Meredith" she sings.

"Oh Alpha Julian, so lovely to hear from you".

How the hell did she get....

I turn. No time to ponder the answer and as I look out upon Red lake, obvious I have other things that take priority.

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I keep Meredith close but she keeps my phone even closer, the small device ringing constantly and keeping the smile near fixed on her cheeks.

Why does that make me feel some kind of way?

Hanging up the phone and smiling down at it I take the chance to grab her attention.

"Who was it?" I ask.

"Beta Keith of the Golden lakes. Alpha Mikeal is unable to attend but he is coming with three of his best" Meredith answers, her eyes alight with the news.

"Is.... have you been taking calls like that all morning?" I ask, a little worried now.

"Yeah" she sighs, smile falling slightly as she does....." this might be getting a bit big for a make shift shelter".

Her eyes then round on me, the light coming back to them as she does and I can see her question coming before she asks it.

"Hunter's moon has training facilities already doesn't it?".

"It also has a training program that is currently booked out into next year" I reply gruffly, more gruffly than I internded as her face instantly falls, her eyes on her shoes, head bowed as she apologises, "I'm so sorry Cole, Alpha Cole, I shouldn't have...".

"Meredith" I interupt, her unsure eyes peaking back up to mine, "I just mean you have a lot of phone calls to make, schedules to redo, should you want to use Hunter's moon as your venue".

"I can do that" she says, no doubt.

I nod my head to the phone, "Schedules are in the calander, contact information adjoined to that and some are already grouped in email chats".

"Okay... okay" she says, already scrolling through the phone.

"You should probably also let Hugo know first. He doesn't take well to surprises" I add, remembering the last time I forgot to tell Hugo of my plans.

"Right... of course and... and should I...".

"No" I reply, not making her voice the question, "She won't care".

This time there is no time to shift her face to indifference.

This time the pity, the sadness is on full view and I'm forced to look away.

I don't need her empathy and I sure as hell don't need anyone's pity.

"Mum and dad will want to know too..... probably have already started memorizing the scheudules at home by now" I say, looking over my men as I do.

"Your parents are home? I thought they retired into holiday makers?" she asks, my body turning back to hers as she does, as she again smiles up at me.

"They came home to visit" I say, the explaination short compared to the truth of it.

"Oh, what a lovely surprise" she says, clapping her hands together as she does.

"It's a shame they didn't line it up with Hugo and then you could have been home for it" she adds, stepping closer as she does.

"Yeah... yeah shame" I say, trying to keep my face nuetral as hers continues to shine up at me.

If only you knew....