017 ~ The Council of Alphas (Part I) ~

"...Then answer me this, Alpha Victor." Damien's voice cut cleanly across the council chamber.

"If Ashfang insists on controlling the eastern trade routes, what exactly are the rest of us gaining from this alliance?"

The room fell quiet.

Selene stood a few steps behind Victor's chair, her hands loosely dropped before her. This was the third council meeting since the Alphas had arrived, and nothing had changed.

No one trusted anyone.

Victor rested his elbows on the table without the slightest hint of irritation. "You gain secured borders."

Ryker leaned back in his chair, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

"We already have secured borders."

Victor looked at him. "Do you?"

Ryker's smile stretched even further across his face. "Last I checked, my territory wasn't the one asking for an alliance."

A few council elders exchanged uncomfortable glances yet

Victor's form didn't change, not even a wrinkle appeared on his face. "And yet you're sitting here."

"I'm curious."

"You're ambitious."

"I can be both."

Damien folded his arms. "Let's stop pretending this is about patrol routes." His words drew every eye toward him.

"We've spent three meetings discussing grain, taxes, border security, and military support." He looked around the circular table. "None of us crossed three territories because we're worried about wheat."

A faint chuckle escaped Ryker's throat. "Now we're finally having an honest conversation."

Victor remained silent.

It was Elder Rowan who spoke next. "Alpha Damien."

"What?"

"You seem eager to accuse everyone in this room of having hidden motives."

Damien met the elder's gaze without hesitation. "I'm saying we should stop hiding them."

The room held its breath until Ryker's voice broke through it "I'll go first."

He crossed one boot over his knee. "I want influence."

The blunt admission drew startled looks from around the chamber, but Ryker merely glanced between them and shrugged. "What?" A corner of his mouth twitched. "You all do."

He pointed toward Victor. "He wants Ahsfang leading the alliance."

Then toward Damien. "He wants shared command."

Finally, he looked at Kieran. "And he..." Ryker smiled knowingly. "...still hasn't told us what he wants."

Every eye turned to Kieran, who had spent the meeting in silence, watching, listening, and weighing every word before speaking.

Victor met his gaze without so much as a blink. "I'd like to hear the answer myself."

Kieran rested both hands on the table. "What I want isn't complicated."

"No?" Victor's eyes almost popped out as though he wanted to see through Kieran's skull

"I want an alliance that survives."

Victor lifted his eyebrows, obviously annoyed. "And you believe the rest of us don't?"

"I believe some people are more interested in leading than building." His voice didn't rise, yet each word landed with crushing weight.

Victor gave a smile that sat perfectly on his face. "Should I assume that observation was directed at me?"

"Assume whatever helps you sleep," the air shifted so much that Even Ryker stopped smiling.

Selene lowered her gaze to the council map spread across the center of the table, but she could feel the tension tightening around every chair.

Victor tapped one finger against the polished wood. "You've questioned every proposal I've presented since arriving."

"I've questioned the ones that benefit Ashfang more than everyone else."

"They benefit the alliance."

"They benefit your position."

"And if they do?" Victor leaned forward. "Would that automatically make them wrong?"

Kieran didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked quietly, "Tell me something."

Victor nodded. "Go on."

"If this alliance succeeds..." His gaze swept around the chamber. "...who leads it?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Victor answered, "The strongest Alpha."

"And who decides which Alpha that is?" Kieran fired back.

"The council," Victor replied.

Ryker laughed under his breath. "The council?" He repeated the words as though tasting them. "That's a generous way of describing politics."

Damien looked at him. "What would you call it?"

"A bidding war with nicer furniture."

Several elders frowned but Ryker ignored them. "You all know what's coming."

No one argued so he continued.

"The current High Alpha is old, his health is failing. When he steps down..." He looked around the chamber. "... Every Alpha house will fight for influence."

Elder Rowan nodded slowly."The Council of Elders will oversee the election."

And this alliance," Ryker finished, "will decide whose voice carries the most weight."

Selene watched the realization spread across the faces of the younger council members as they understood what all this was really about.

It had never been about peace or whatever dream they were sold. The alliance was a ladder with whoever climbed highest shaping the next High Alpha.

Victor rubbed his palms together, "I'm pleased we're finally speaking honestly."

Damien's eyes narrowed. "Then answer me honestly."

Victor inclined his head. "Of course, ask."

"If the council supports you..." Damien's voice hardened. "...will you support the next High Alpha?"

"Of course. I ..."

"Or become him?"

The room fell so still that not a single chair scraped or servant dared move.

Still the smile on Victor's face didn't leave. In fact, it widened across his face. "You flatter me Damien, I..."

"I asked a question."

"And I gave you an answer."

"No." Damien shook his head. "You avoided giving one."

Before Victor could reply, Kieran spoke up. "This discussion is pointless."

Victor looked at him. "Why?"

"Because we're arguing about leadership." He paused. "When we haven't even established trust."

Victor's fingers stopped moving. "Trust." He repeated the word quietly. "An interesting choice of words, I must say."

"It isn't a choice." Kieran held his gaze. "It's the foundation."

Victor smiled. "I disagree. Trust is earned."

"No." Kieran's voice remained steady. "Trust is offered first."

"And if it's betrayed?"

"Then you deal with the consequences."

Victor's smile thinned. "A dangerous philosophy."

"Not exactly." Kieran didn't look away. "A necessary one."

No one spoke as Selene watched the elders exchange thoughtful glances, each of them definitely lingering on the same question: what became of trust once it had been betrayed?

Somehow, the conversation no longer sounded political but painfully personal.

She looked up without meaning to only to find Kieran already looking at her.

It was just for a heartbeat yet something in his expression made her chest tighten with a chord of regret

He looked away first and Victor noticed.

His fingers tightened around the carved armrest so smooth hardly anyone noticed except Selene

Ryker also noticed but he didn't say a word. His eyes flicked from Victor... To Kieran... Then to Selene.

The corner of his mouth lifted, lingering just long enough to suggest he'd found exactly what he was looking for.

Just then, the chamber doors opened. A young attendant hurried inside, bowed deeply, and whispered something into Elder Rowan's ear.

The old elder's expression changed as he slowly rose to his feet.

"I'm afraid," he announced, "we have another matter that demands the council's immediate attention."

Every conversation stopped and Victor frowned.

"What matter?"

The elder looked around the room then his gaze settled on Selene. "There has been..." He hesitated. "... A complaint."

The chamber fell silent.

"A complaint against Lady Selene."

Every head turned toward her and Victor's eyes darkened.