Chapter 5: The Convergence

Malachai was seriously pissed.

The early morning mist still clung to the Convergence Point, the sun barely cresting the eastern horizon. He sat on a smooth rock near the stream, listening to the distant waterfall while the other three argued for what felt like the hundredth time in the past hour. His eyes drifted to the water, watching it flow past without purpose and effort. That's what he wanted to be doing right now. Flowing, drifting and maybe sleeping.

Instead, he was stuck here listening to grown men bicker like children.

"Malachai!" A sharp voice cut through his thoughts and he sighed before dragging his attention back to the present.

Gerald Stormborn stood glaring at him, those red eyes glowing with barely contained fury. The youngest of them all paced like a caged animal, his crimson hair wild around his face. He wore simple leather and fur, practical fighting gear that showed off the claw marks running from his right shoulder down to his left abdomen. Scars from battles Malachai didn't care to know about.

Malachai wondered where he got the energy to be so loud and angry all the time. It was really exhausting just watching him.

"Calm yourself, Gerald," said another voice, cold as winter ice.

Ugh, Blackwood.

Joefrey Blackwood didn't pace. He stood perfectly still in his dark armor, arms crossed, silver streaking through his black hair despite being barely past his twenties. The man looked like he'd been carved from stone and left out in the cold. His ice blue eyes held no warmth as he watched Gerald's tantrum with obvious disdain.

This was the one who somehow thought he was in charge, though he didn't remember anyone voting him in that position.

What a self pompous prick.

"Perhaps you could contribute something useful to this discussion instead of daydreaming?" Joefrey's gaze shifted to Malachai.

Before Malachai could respond, the fourth Alpha leaning casually against a tree and examining his nails scoffed with apparent disinterest. Nikolai Vale looked like he belonged at a royal court rather than a war council. Golden hair perfectly styled even at this ungodly hour, green eyes sharp despite his relaxed posture. He wore expensive clothing that somehow stayed clean despite the wilderness around them.

Of all the Alphas here, Nikolai was the only one who truly made Malachai uncomfortable. There was something too calculating behind that easy smile.

Malachai stretched lazily. "I'm waiting for you all to cool off before we actually have a conversation. Right now, no one is making sense or coming to any real conclusion."

Gerald's face went red and he took a step forward, fists clenched. But to Malachai's genuine surprise, the young Alpha bit back whatever he was about to say. His jaw worked, veins visible in his neck, but he stayed silent.

Malachai felt a sudden urge to provoke him further. But he supposed he should actually contribute something useful first.

"My scouts have been tracking the shadow wolves," Malachai said, his tone still lazy despite the serious subject. "They're strong. Invulnerable, it seems, but I don't believe there's no weakness. Everything has a weakness."

Joefrey nodded once, sharp and precise like a military commander acknowledging a report. "Agreed. We just haven't found it yet."

Gerald grunted his acknowledgment, still pacing, still radiating that barely controlled energy.

"I thought as much," Nikolai added smoothly, pushing off from the tree with fluid grace.

Malachai continued, "But here's what concerns me. My people bring reports that these creatures are beginning to coordinate. They're attacking as groups now, not the usual mindless charges we first saw. There's intelligence behind it."

Gerald stopped pacing. "Intelligence? They're mindless beasts, Malachai. Some kind of disease turning wolves mad. There's no way they have the capacity to plan coordinated attacks." He ran a hand through his wild hair, frustration evident in every movement.

Nikolai's easy smile turned cold. "Perhaps if you spent less time swinging your sword and more time actually observing, you'd notice the patterns forming. But then again, expecting strategic thinking from you might be too much to ask."

Malachai felt a smile tug at his lips. He couldn't help it. The subtle insult was refreshing after an hour of pointless arguing.

He laughed.

Joefrey's expression shifted to one of tired frustration, the kind of look a man gets when he knows exactly what's about to happen and can't stop it. "Don't..."

"What did you just say to me?" Gerald's voice dropped dangerously quiet. His eyes began to glow gold, his wolf rising close to the surface. Every muscle in his body tensed like he was about to spring.

Malachai leaned forward, unable to resist. "Come now, Nikolai isn't a coward. If he had something to say, I'm sure he'd be brave enough to repeat it. Wouldn't you, Vale?"

To his absolute delight, Nikolai did exactly that. He crossed his arms, green eyes glittering with amusement. "I said that strategic thinking might be beyond Gerald's capabilities. His approach to most problems seems to be 'hit it until it stops moving.'"

Gerald moved forward, closing the distance between them in three strides.

"Gerald, no!" Joefrey stepped between them, one hand on the younger Alpha's chest. The silver in his hair caught the early morning light as he physically held Gerald back. He shot a glare over his shoulder at Malachai. "Damn it, Duskbane! Stop instigating!"

Malachai took a moment to observe the scene he'd helped create. The four greatest Alphas in the known territories, all gathered at the Convergence Point because of strange new attacks by beasts they'd come to call shadow wolves. This was supposed to be a unified front against a common enemy.

Instead, they were moments away from tearing each other apart.

Honestly, Malachai had provoked them on purpose. He wanted to see each Alpha's temperament, to gauge if he could actually work with these men. But right now? He was disappointed.