The Compromise

ALPHA COLE'S P.O.V

The council meeting was already making sure that no matter what I did, I would be in a bad mood. I leaned back on my seat, my fingers gently rubbing my temples, as I tried my best to keep the mounting annoyance in before I exploded on every single person in here.

"Alpha," Council man James said, leaning forward. "Talks have been going around about the more recent... changes going on in the pack."

I raised a brow. "Changes?"

"Well, for one, the taxes on omegas and the commoners. You have shifted those to the dignitaries. Not only that... we are receiving reports that you intend to make a few announcements at the full moon ball. Announcements that the council is still unaware of. It is genuinely unheard of, Alpha."

My eyes drifted to Isaac, who was sitting on the left side, his back straight. Fucking bastard. Desperate to do anything in order to try and keep his leash on me, isn't he?

I gave a small, nonchalant shrug. "To be honest, I am not exactly sure what your source of information is. Up until two days ago, when I was convinced by my lovely mate, Sylvia, I had no intentions of attending this year's New Year's ball. Maybe Sylvia has something to announce, but I don't."

Isaac looked up and met my eyes. I held his gaze. He had no evidence. I have put together everything myself. Not even Beta Sean was aware, much less that woman, Sylvia.

He gave a small smile, then turned away. I turned back, my eyes thin. If he thinks I will stand by and watch him play with the strings he has tied me to forever, then he is absolutely wrong.

"Alpha," another council man said. "You still have not addressed the issue of the tax."

I shrugged. "Do you council members really need all of that money? I am genuinely curious. Besides, reforming the tax may help in..."

"Alpha," Isaac spoke up, his voice slicing through mine cleanly. I felt a surge of irritation rise in my throat. "The tax reform may encourage the omegas to work less and make them lazy. They only work right now because of the taxes."

"Well, then, maybe they shouldn’t work. Anyone can assume the jobs that are associated with omegas, and they can live like they are a part of the pack instead of..."

"Alpha," Isaac said, interrupting me yet again. "There has always been a clear hierarchy. The hierarchy that allows you to be Alpha and for anyone threatening your position to be cast a traitor. Removing the tax on omegas will make them our equals."

"So they are beneath you because you get to step on them while they scrub your floors? There is still a hierarchy. Just one that is less..."

"Anything less than what we have right now..."

"Shut the fuck up, Isaac and let me speak! You are not Alpha, I am! Don't you fucking dare interrupt me."

The entire hall went quiet. I hadn't even intended to lose my temper, but the old bastard was good at testing me.

"I am not changing the tax reforms. If it eliminates the hierarchy system and makes all of us commoners, then so be it."

I stood up and turned away, knowing I wouldn't be able to last one more minute with those men in there.

"Alpha."

I stopped, letting out a small breath. Beta Sean covered the distance to me, then gave a small bow.

"I have some news regarding yesterday's attack."

I nodded. "Meet me in my study."

I turned away and headed up the stairs, towards the study. I opened the door and left it open for Beta Sean behind me.

He walked in, then closed the door behind him. "We received news of the location of the rogue pack. But before we did, they sent a representative to bring word to you. This happened around an hour after the attack. And from my calculations, maybe a few minutes after they must have returned to the settlement."

I nodded. "What are they saying?"

"They have requested to meet with you directly. They have stated that the attack was purely accidental, and they will be on their way today in order to explain it to you directly. It was not meant as anything more than an accident."

My brows slightly furrowed. "They are coming... to me with no assurance of what I could do, to tell me that it was an accident?"

"Yes, Alpha. The other soldiers present there stated that it wasn't a coordinated attack. The offender was a very young werewolf who possibly went out of control. The rest of the people he was with tried to stop him too. No one took it serious at first, and that is why."

I leaned back. Honourable, I must say. It doesn't change that two of my soldiers are injured and one is dead, but it was better than another set of wolves trying to piss me off.

"I will see them directly later," I said, leaning forward. "Stop the plans for the attack on their pack. If anything, since their honesty doesn't change that my soldier is dead, I might imprison the offending wolf. We will see how I feel when they arrive."

Beta Sean nodded. "Should I prepare the meeting hall?"

I raised a brow, and he immediately nodded and scurried away.

I leaned back on the seat as the door came to a close. I remembered discussing the tax reforms with Selena. The way she had been passionate. How she hated that the poor are forced to pay and the rich just get wealthier.

I closed my eyes. I am doing it, and she isn't even here. The well has been poisoned, and us... however divine we could have been... we fell.

I had started to doze off on the table when a knock came on the door once more.

"Come in."

Beta Sean walked in, then gave a small bow. "They are here. I have led them to the meeting hall."

I nodded. "Is Isaac in the palace?"

Beta Sean hesitated, a glint of something passing his eyes before he shook his head. "No. They seemed to be discussing something outside the palace. A few council men were there too."

I nodded. "Inform the gamma that I would like to meet him later."

Beta Sean nodded and walked away.

I took a cold shower, my eyes closing under the spray. I dressed in a simple set, then walked down to the meeting room.

I took in a deep breath, then pushed the door open.

Five people were in there, two men, and three women. One of the men were noticeably younger, and he looked like he was about to pass out.

The offender, definitely. Another woman was crying so hard that her bow was crooked.

I turned to the other two women. Both were watching me a little differently. Like they knew me. My brows furrowed, and they immediately looked away.

"Please sit," I said simply, then took a seat at the head of the table. "I received your earlier message."

The older man leaned forward. "I am Jackson, Alpha. The oldest member of this rogue settlement. The incident is very unfortunate, but we have come here to establish that we have no ill intentions. We hold nothing but respect for your pack, and we will do anything to make up for this. We can do nothing about the dead soldier, but we have sourced some of the best healing ointments here, to help with the treatment of the other two. We are deeply sorry, Alpha."

I looked between them, my eyes thin. The devastation of the offender and the woman who seemed to be his mother, the soft-spoken way this man... Jackson was talking to me... I couldn't bring myself to punish them.

"It is very honourable on your part that you came to meet me before I came to meet you. I had full intentions of ruining your settlement. "

Jackson swallowed hard. "We apologize, Alpha. We will be mindful of..."

Before he could finish, the door swung open, and Isaac walked in, accompanied by a woman. The woman was shaking and crying, carrying the torn, bloody uniform of a soldier.

"It is easy to be sorry when you have lost no one, isn't it?" Isaac said, his voice low. He turned to me. "Alpha, you are no stranger to losing one of your own. Are you going to let them off the hook because it wasn't Beta Ian?"

I slowly stood up. Damn that snitch, Sean. "Get out of my meeting, Isaac."

"I gave you these soldiers, Alpha. One died and now another has followed. One is still battling for his life and you are in a respectful meeting with these murderers?!"

My eyes widened as the woman fell to her knees.

"My husband. Please avenge my husband, Alpha. He was serving you! He was on his line of duty and he did nothing wrong!"

I turned to the visitors. They were all standing now, the mother and son breaking down, the others solemn. Like they already entertained the possibility of this happening.

I turned to Isaac. "You are doing this because of the tax reform."

He took a step forward. "Avenge your people, Alpha. Will you be able to deal with the fallout if this makes it out of the palace?"

"Isaac!" I swallowed hard, my eyes darting between all the crying people and this bastard in front of me. "If you think this will stop me from implementing the tax reforms, you are wrong."

He said nothing, and I turned away.

"I appreciate your honesty, Jackson. But my soldiers died. Two now. I will have to imprison the offender, and I will decide what to do with him once the full moon ball is over."