Alpha's Chosen

19

Meredith's POV

After waiting, impatiently, for the required thirty minutes we finally head off. Most of the convoy having already left whilst Cole waited for the medication to take hold.

He's also driving like I'm broken, but as long as we are headed in Red lake's direction I keep my thoughts to myself.

"Does this thing ever stop?" I groan before taking yet another phone call, calling into question just how soon I will grow to regret my eagerness to take on his calls.

I mean if the people on the other end had even a little humor, they might be a little more manageable, but four calls today and no luck so far.

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Another phone call from Henry has me forcing my eyes open, his voice my new most hated lullaby as the car continues to bump along the back roads.

"How long has he been annoying you?" I ask Cole's eyes averting to the backseat, to a very heavily sleeping Bella before looking back at me.

"She sleeps like the dead" I supply, giving the Alpha the assurance it's just us.

"A few months... before that he just visited".

"And I'm guessing you were conveniently absent for those visits?" I guess, smirk forming on my lips as I do.

"Not so convent as it turns out" Cole adds, rolling his eyes as he does.

"I would say karma, but nobody deserves to hear his voice every day" I laugh, Cole sharing a small smile with me.

"Does he have a mate? Oh my goddess, does he have a pup?" I ask, Cole shaking his head in answer to both.

"Imagine though" I smile, "Just imagine a pup, a little chaos to all his perfect order. I bet the wolf irons his undies for goddess sakes".

Another smile and even though they are small I still can't wait to see the next.

"Ummmm.... I... I feel like I should also tell you that each time I answer the phone to Lily and Mary they automatically hang up. No words, just a few signature beeps to let me know they've gone" I admit, his smile falling instantly and making me wish I kept my mouth shut.

"Mum and dad?" he asks, face grim as he does.

"They're polite..... but they really want to speak with you" I answer.

"Later" he breathes, "Lets get through today first".

"Right today" I repeat, ready to move the conversation elsewhere.

"Today we are finishing off the demolition and clearing the areas in preparation for Embry pack's delayed arrival tomorrow. I'm also waiting until a not so ungoddessly hour to call to confirm they haven't encountered any more delays".

With Cole's firm nod I continue.

"I also received a call from Beta Dilan earlier, and he is keen on the tournament idea too, even pledges to enter it himself.

He also thinks, given the current volunteers and workers avliable it shouldn't be too hard to erect a simple structure for the event which the pack could then use in training and as a gathering space in future.

Also Alpha Antony has invited you to stay for dinner tonight, so if you accept, it could give a great opportunity to talk it over with him too".

"He'll go with whatever Dilan says" Cole supplies, making me frown but then shrug all the same.

"Okay, well just let me know and I will get started on all the planning.

Starting with the guest list and then invitations, the more notice we can give the more wolves whom may be able to make themselves available.

If we invite Alphas first also we may be able to bring in more draw cards like you".

"Like me?" Cole asks, eyebrows raising as he glances my way.

I feel his quick glance from my eyes all the way down to my toes.

He's listening.

And not just in a can you hurry up so you can shut up kind of way but a ... a I value what you're saying kind of way....

How is it, after barely knowing me a few days, he can look at me like this, but my family... my brother ... my father... look at me as smart but... useless. One for ideas not... not the execution of said ideas....

As one whose good to sit in an office, look over numbers and draft projects but never be of any real use?

Is it really all just down to one thing... or the lack thereof?

"Meredith?" Cole prompts, bringing my attention back to him and making me stutter as I try to remember where I was and what exactly we were talking about.

"Draw cards" he adds.

"Yeah... ummm... yes" I mumble, clearing my throat before focusing back on topic.

"If we confirm Alpha's entry we could put their names" I pause, sharing a smirk with him as I add, "And yours", even though he hasn't agreed... yet, "Onto the invitations. An incentive to warriors among the packs and any others whom may receive the invitation".

"Are you going to email... or...?" he asks, knowing just as I do how tragic and slow the current post system is.

"More an email chain I'm thinking. You know you're invited, bring a friend kind of deal".

He doesn't seem unhappy with the idea... but he doesn't seem happy either. A lack of reception that has my mouth moving without my consent.

"Or we could always do via post. Or phone. Or private invitation through email. I know an email isn't as personal as some other methods can be. Maybe we should do...".

"Meredith" Cole says, halting my words immediately.

"Email... chain... is fine" he says, the concept sounding a little foreign to him... and then te thought hits me.

"You don't know what an email chain is... do you?".

"Of course I do" he says, sitting a little taller and pushing his shoulders back as he does.

"But for the sack of clarity...." he asks, trying to keep his pride and secret technology struggles in tact.

"I send it to a bunch of people off my mailing list and ask them to send it on to theirs.

Think of it like a tree, with branches. I start the ones off the centre, but from there they divide and multiple, hopefully reaching as many wolves as we can in as short a time as possible".

"Email... chain" he repeats the concept obviously still new to him.

"Email chain" I smile, already forming the guest list in my mind and envisioning just how much good this could do for Red lake.

"Sooooooo" I smile, the Alpha groaning as I do.

"Is that a yes groan or still a maybe one?".

Cole looks over to me, a look which has me smiling ear to ear.

"Just get a few others so it isn't my name just sitting there" he breathes, the big bad alpha apparently not only reserved but also a little ...... shy.

I bite into my lip to hold my smile, apparently not fooling anyone as Cole rolls his eyes, looking back to the road ahead instead.

"You should probably wake her, we'll be there soon" he says and as I look around I see the truth in his words.

"Bella, Bella wake up" I say, stretching out to shove my friend and then shove again a little more incessantly as I add "Oh wake the fu*k up".

"Alright..... alright" she groans, squinty eyes glaring at me before she readjusted to stretch herself out.

"What?" I ask, looking back over to Cole to see his small smile back in place.

But instead of answering me he nudges his head forward, my eyes following his.

Here I thought we were late.... but instead I look forward to find our welcome party eagerly awaiting us.

Here we go.