05.

NATHANIEL’s POV.

I had one way of relieving stress. Drinks or Poker.

As casually ambiverted as I might have been about other things , I had this flare when it came down to life. I took life lightly but firm not seriously.

I was generous to life and the good gracious life repaid my kind gesture on many occasions, it was like a give and take situation, an uncomplicated open relationship. Knowing I had to give life something to get another in return.

I leaned back in my chair and cracked the stiffness in my neck, I could feel the stiffness crawl down through my nerves to my knuckles as I cracked them too, It wasnt until

then that I recognized the restlessness that had been in my mind and was hovering over it.

My mind had been haunted by the thoughts of how close the hunters were getting at their business of hunting the supernatural. As much as I tried to bury my head in the sand that it was not a serious issue we couldn't take care of, the thought of it alone ghosted under my

skin and I felt the chill crawling all over my heart from time to time, freezing it till I could hear the cracking sound it makes while breaking.

I didnt know how I was going to get through the Werewolves vs Hunter's business, not with the lack of idea of how to stop the hunters that was a constant in the corner

of my mind.

It was the exact reason I didnt want any more other complex relationship than the one I had with life that was complicated enough, Right on each side of the mahogany table sat two rows of five men that we both shared a common view 'How to get the Hunter's off our goddamned ass.'

The fan in the conference room spined slowly, or was it an effect of my heightened wolf sense triggered by my distress. I couldnt think about

anything as my mind was far away from the meeting, far away somewhere in my mind wondering how good a can of beer would taste like at that moment –

Smooth and refining – Sour upon my tongue.

A good beer would taste better than the thoughts I was having.

I hadnt planned to do it but I chuckled . It drew unwanted attention to where I was at the head of the

table. I raised my hands in apology at the men that had wondering why I was chuckling at such an important topic and the look on the old men face made me muffle another laughter and swallow it down my throat.

Most of the men seated if not all were quite older than I was, the had been part of my father council cabinet that were passed down to me along with becoming the Alpha.

I could still feel the irrational burn of their stare searing

through my veins. So, I raised my hand again in apology.

I'd tried to pacify myself on many occasions that I was a good Alpha them, don't get me wrong I had my flaws everyone seated on the conference table did, but when it came down to the the pre-existing issues of Hunter's vs Werewolves it was like a game of chess, a case of critical thinking and not endless debates that would lead to nowhere, I listened to Caleb speak.

Heres an idea,I cut Caleb off, my voice calm as it should be . Why dont we all call a truce?I suggested not imposed.

A tense air crept through the room as everyone deliberated in their mind, perhaps that was what I thought the silence that engulfed the room was for.

The Could see Caleb's face turned red

and blotchy, he clearly never liked me and I had repayed the gesture of not giving a shit about him either It was an advice, from one man to

another and I was in no way imposing it,

"A Truce... Why would you even say that, why would you suggest a truce when this fucked up people are staking our men down like flies."Caleb voice was impassive to everyone except myself, I could see the deceitfulness in them.

"Look, this is the thing."I paused and looked round the room before speaking hoping they were paying attention to the wisdom I was about to pour into their skull.

"The hunter's as well as many others are more than we are and trying to fight them just as Caleb suggested would be ."I chuckled . "commiting a mass sucide."

The men nodded their heads in deep understanding except Caleb of course.

"So your best idea is 'a truce'? "Caleb asked in disbelief.

"We keep running forever, we can't keep attacking without expecting a retaliation. The earlier we find a way to live at peace with them the better."

Caleb grunted . "That is a very poor idea from an Alpha ."

"Well, if you have a better idea you can either say it or leave ."I spoke back at Caleb without looking at him for a reaction.

"I would say we retaliate, we have one of the Hunter's under our custody, why not let us send a message down to them that we mean business."Caleb suggested.

His suggestion came with a frown from most of the council members at the conference room.

"But that would mean war, and are you sure we have the arsenal for that?"Alexis my beta asked . He was the other young person present at the table aside myself.

"Who needs an arsenal of weapons when we have this! "He flashed his sharp claws that glittered under the light in the room.

"They have crossbows, guns and silver stakes ."I said .

"Wolf banes too..."Alexis whispered to my ears.

"And Wolf banes... How do we fight that with just our claws?"I asked .

I could see that my advice was drawing a lot of wanted attention as everyone were pondering about it, no werewolf would want to go into a battle with the odds massively against them.

"So what do you all say, A TRUCE or war?"I turned the question to the men seated .

"What would the Truce be about?" One of the man asked .

"I guess it would be something about boundaries, we don't go to them and they don't come to us either." I suggested.

The men nodded their heads in agreement.

"So a Truce ?"I asked again.

"A Truce "They all echoed a reply.

I could see the burning anger in Caleb as he stood on his feet.

"You all are all Cowards, I refuse to be apart of this ."He gnarled before walking away .

Caleb slammed the conference room door behind him as the noise echoed in the room.

Are we done here?I asked the table.

With a smile and healthy gestures and maybe some shifting gazes, the men

all got to their feet and headed out of the room.

Well,Alexis said from the seat beside me,

someone is really getting smarter this days.

A smirk crawled at the side of my cheeks.

Itd been close to two weeks now since I saw him and had thought he wouldn't be coming for the meeting.

I turned and gave my friend a good hug and a firm sounding handshake.

"When did you get back?"I asked .

"Just last night."Alexis replied .

"And you came for the meeting?"I asked puzzled.

"I wouldn't miss your speech for the world, moreover it would be nice getting under this old men skin again ."Alexis said with a mischievous smile.

I gave a little laughter of my own, I wouldn't deny I enjoyed getting under their skin as well .

Even if I knew how jackassed Alexis was he had been by far my bestie and someone I could trust, though I had abstained

from following his footsteps when it came to his fetish endless sex. I couldnt deny I had a thing for the guy, a kind of brotherhood love a code of conduct that couldn't be broken. We shared a Bro Code.

I wouldn't call myself a saint when it came to sex , there was no sense in saying I was casual at it as well but there was no particular reason for me to lapse as well and join his orgies as I had done in the past while much younger, I was an Alpha now with responsibilities.

"What are you doing tonight?"Alexis asked as we walked out.

When he said this it meant three things : Sex, Alcohol and gambling right then I could go for any as I had acquired a more recent occuring hard-ons from going a long time without having sex.

"Are you seriously still thinking about it ?"Alexis asked with amusement.

"Are you going to say no to drinks, music and women ."Alexis said grabbing his crotch as he said "women".

"You look old already ."He added laughing.

I shook my head laughed at how unchanged he was after so many years.

"Alright, but drinks are on you ."I said .

Alexis raised his hands as he walked away. "Good thing I am rich."He snapped it and made a dancing spin before tapping his feet, he was a good dancer.

"I would put a call through, be ready."Alexis said walking away humming to a imaginary song.