Stand Down

Beta Pierre swallowed, “we have a problem.” 

Alpha Ciandra moved out of the way as Alpha Alphonso pushed Beta Pierre onto the seat. From the way he looked at his beta, Alpha Ciandra knew it wasn't something new. She only hoped it was something she didn’t have to deal with Beta Pierre for more than the necessary time. 

For the little time she had spent with him, Alpha Ciandra wanted nothing to do with him if not necessary, better fight the rogues than sitting with the guy. 

Alpha Ciandra shoved down the heating sensations she was feeling and asked, “does someone care to fill me in?” 

Beta Pierre explained, "I was at Tagadi Town, Alpha Ciandra sent me to bring some bows and arrows..." 

Alpha Alphonso cut him off, with a voice laced with sarcasm, he puzzled, "are we going to learn the real problem anytime soon or should I gather the pups for you to tell them the story? Damn it, Pierre, out with the shit already." 

Alpha Ciandra crossed her arms over her chest, she could see now why the letter stated the pack needed a strong warrior, the man had anger issues. 

“Sorry, okay." Said Beta Pierre as he tried to stand. However, he returned to his chair when Alpha Alphonso shook his head. "As I was saying, hunters are on their way to our pack, and no, they are not happy at all, my alpha." He finished.

“Let us meet them halfway before they get into the pack.” Alpha Ciandra advised. 

“Pierre, I swear if you don’t tell me what you did exactly, you will be the only one being hunted while I am watching.” Alpha Alphonso turned to Alpha Ciandra with fury evident in his eyes, “why didn't you go?" 

I don’t have ten hands or twenty bodies. She wanted to say this. Instead, she answered calmly, "I had work to handle." 

"Leave. Gather ten warriors." Alpha Alphonso ordered Beta Pierre. 

"And Elder Karela?" 

"For fucks' sake P, of course with Karela." Alpha Alphonso growled.

Beta Pierre pouted and left the office. 

"Where were we?" Alpha Alphonso asked as if he didn't hear hunters heading towards his pack. 

"Alpha Alphonso, we should be on our way out." 

Unfortunately, her worry wasn't the same as Alpha Alphonso, and Alpha Cindra concluded the alpha knew something she didn’t. Smiling, he grabbed her arm. “If it were any other day, you would be thrashing around as I take you into a dungeon." 

Alpha Ciandra scoffed, prying her hand away, "the Vagabond Pack sent me here to protect you, how is it related to you throwing me into a dungeon?” She didn't see a reason for him to make a such stupid remark.  This wasn’t exactly how she ever saw her conversation with the alpha would go after their first meeting. Guess the moon goddess and karma were working hand in hand. 

Alpha Alphonso looked around her office, his gaze resting on a single book on the shelf, he said lowly, “I see you have settled yourself in.” 

"Alpha…” 

“This is my pack, I give the orders and ask the questions, you only listen. And maybe from time to time, be pretty to your mate.” Declared Alpha Alphonso with a hint of both amusement and warning in his voice. 

As much as she wanted to ask him not to call her pretty and shit, she knew she didn't have the luxury now, however, she didn't plan to back down, so, she inquired, "we got the answer, didn't we?" 

Before he answered, she walked out of the office in search of Beta Pierre so at least he could tell her what was happening and why the alpha wasn’t acting immediately after learning of the hunters heading their direction. 

She heard footsteps from behind, and chose not to look back, she knew who it was without looking. Grunting, she entered Beta Pierre’s office and found him with Elder Karela and other wolves.

Elder Karela waved at Alpha Alphonso, "I remember telling you we shouldn't make him the beta." 

Beta Pierre huffed.

For the second time in the day, Alpha Ciandra was confused as fuck. Although she doesn't remember the last time the Vagabond Pack had to handle a rogue attack or hunters, she knew they weren’t friendly. So, what the actual fuck was happening? Why wasn't the elder worried? 

"This is Beta Pierre's doing." A wolf commented.

Alpha Ciandra inclined her head to the side. A sign to say continue.  Elder Karela explained slowly, with her eyes on Alpha Alphonso. Seemed like she had another file to read, the beta was quite a handful and if she didn't handle him sooner, he would be an added thing to a list of problems she didn't see coming.

Beta Pierre was a lot of things and everything he did affect the pack negatively. The council of elders had asked Alpha Alphonso to strip him of the title and each time he answered, "I am the alpha, this is my pack." 

Alpha Ciandra asked them to wait outside, after listening to Elder Karela and her explanation of what Beta Pierre did, she couldn't help but want to talk to the alpha so she would tell him talking it out would be better than fighting them. Clearly, it was Beta Pierre's fault.

"Your beta can't go around insulting humans after getting drunk.” She said.

"Alpha." Beta Pierre called from the door. 

"Yes." Both Alpha Alphonso and Alpha Ciandra replied at the same time, making Alpha Alphonso chuckle sarcastically.

"It is time." Beta Pierre reported.

"Where are they?" Asked Alpha Alphonso. 

"They are halfway here." 

"Good, we are coming." Alpha Alphonso answered with his eyes on Alpha Ciandra, when Beta Pierre didn't move, he asked, "what else now?”

"Oh." He said and shook his head on his way out. 

"Now, we need to straighten some things out. I am the Alpha and you are my ma..." 

Alpha Ciandra slapped her palm over his mouth. No way in hell was she allowing him to say that word.

Removing the hand from his lips, Alpha Alphonso matched the fire in her eyes, "I am back, I am the alpha and you have to follow what I do." 

"Alpha Alphonso, this is about the pack's safety, and as I was saying, we should talk to them instead of fighting."

"We have to go, they are nearby." Elder Karela's voice came through. 

"This conversation isn't over." Alpha Alphonso opened the door to allow Alpha Ciandra to walk out before him. 

Since she was new and hadn't read anything about Beta Pierre's behavior of always disturbing the humans at Tagadi Town, she half-heartedly allowed Alpha Alphonso to lead the way.  She cursed mentally when she saw the gate left open, again! For fuck’s sake, was she the only one with a reasonable mind? She doesn't remember visiting any pack and finding their gates open, it was either; 

1. She was failing. 

2. The gate wolves were lazy.

3. The pack didn’t give a shit. 

She hoped it was the last two options as the first one seemed like a disaster. They walked on the road leading to Tagadi Town, the wolves speaking in a hushed tone, from the corner of her eyes, she could see Alpha Alphonso piercing her skull. Those eyes…

"So, you said, you got drunk and told them your leader will take over their lands uh? Because we are powerful? Am I recalling your words well? Beta Pierre, we were clear about this, no going around screaming how powerful we are.” Elder Karela reprimanded.

"Yes, I promise it won't happen again." Beta Pierre mumbled. He sighed, “before I visited him, I destroyed all the arrows and bows at the bowyer’s shop.” 

“Good Pierre, you have outdone yourself.” Alpha Alphonso commented. His phone vibrated, he stopped, read whatever he had received, and called, “Ciandra, handle it.” Without giving her a chance to ask why he was returning all of a sudden, he walked back to the pack. 

Elder Karela chuckled, “my dear, that is Alpha Alphonso for you.” 

Alpha Ciandra nodded and looked at Beta Pierre who was texting on his phone. When she looked in front, she saw an arrow shot towards Elder Karela, “duck.” She shouted as she pushed her out of the way. 

They ran to a bunch of trees and hide behind them. Although they could handle the hunters easily, they all knew the hunters didn’t just come with any arrows. “No fighting.” Alpha Ciandra spoke.

“Are you crazy?” Beta Pierre asked.

“You are in no position to call me names, Pierre. I will talk to them and it is final.” Alpha Ciandra stood, it wouldn’t be easy to reason with the hunters, right? 

“No.” Elder Karela yelled as she stood with her hands pointed in the direction the hunters were in. 

Realizing Elder Karela was there to use her magic on the hunters and that was probably why Alpha Alphonso was in no hurry to handle the situation, she ordered, “Elder Karela, stand down.” 

Elder Karela dropped to the ground with her hands on her head, “what do you think you are doing you lowly warrior?” 

With no luxury to ask why the witch wolf elder wolf was on the ground holding her head as if she was in pain, Alpha Ciandra ordered the wolves once more to stay back, she would handle Elder Karela later.

As she gazed to see the exact position where the hunters were, she only hoped they were only angry at Beta Pierre for thrashing the bowyer's shop and hadn’t had prior arrangements to attack the pack.