Alpha meeting

*Tjeck*

 It is a rare occasion for all the Alphas to gather for a regular meeting. Most of us happily send our betas or another top member of our pack to handle these matters. If there are important issues to discuss, we would be notified in advance. Yet, Kattie remains the only one without the A tattooed on her neck… the symbol of an Alpha. She still bears the B from her time as Adis's beta.

 As always, we begin by selecting someone to moderate the discussion, and as always, Kress is chosen when he’s present. Not even Zombie or Sunny protests. Zombie knows Kress is honest in these situations, while Sunny simply doesn’t care. He attends only because he has to, in order for The Suns to maintain their privileges. Kress is the oldest among us, not counting Sunny, and no one ever does.

 "Okay then. Since I know everyone has questions for The Shadows, I’ll let Kattie take the floor first," Kress says, nodding toward her.

 Kress believes she-wolves belong in the kitchen and the bedroom… an opinion Thorn seems to shares, which is likely why Kress chose him as his beta. It took both of them a long time to accept Kattie as an active warrior with the same rights as the rest of us, but over time, she has earned their respect. A few well-placed kicks and her proficiency with a gun have helped her immensely.

 Kattie has never allowed their condescending attitudes to affect her, and she has risen to every challenge. As kids, she followed me, Mike, and Thorn everywhere. Whenever we told her she couldn't do something, she made it her mission to prove us wrong. Her gender has never been an excuse for her.

 Kattie stands and begins her story from the beginning. She recounts how they found a girl in the woods who closely resembles Amber and what has transpired since. There’s no hint of the worry or pain I know she feels. She describes every wound, mark, and scar we found on Amber's body. She explains that KC has identified her as Sarah Nobel and that she woke up without any memory of who she is. It’s not until she reaches Adis's reaction that her voice falters slightly. Before I can step in, KC has moved to stand beside her.

 "Adis does drugs," KC states. "Again," he adds in a lower voice. "He was still high when she woke up, not knowing her name, and he offered her the name Amber. She accepted it."

 I glance at Zombie. His lips are a thin, hard line, and his normally green-blue eyes have nearly turned black. Anger or sorrow? Perhaps a bit of both.

 "Adis came to his senses and regretted his actions. So, he decided to dye her hair darker to diminish the resemblance," KC continues. "But the name stuck, and if we take it away from her now, Adis would have to explain about Amber, and he isn't ready for that."

 "The underworld isn’t ready for a new Amber," Zombie hisses angrily. What he really means is that he isn't ready.

 "Done is done," Kattie replies. "Adis has forbidden us all from telling her who she really is, and we support him… not because she doesn't deserve to know, but because we want to protect her from returning to the abuse she has endured." All insecurity has vanished from Kattie. "There’s another detail: she is engaged." Kattie glances at me. "To Toph."

 "Toph?" Zombie lifts his head. "I thought he was long gone." Zombie has no idea why his beta left back then. He doesn't know about the secret Kattie and I have kept all these years.

 "We all thought that," Kattie answers, looking at the floor. "But he’s well on his way to becoming a member of the Nobel pack. Well, he was… until his fiancée ended up here with us. He goes by the name Christopher now."

 "If we know who she is, how come she is still here?" Sunny asks hoarsely. He always sounds that way; it tends to happen when you smoke several packs of cigarettes each day. "We have a powerful weapon against Catrista's most influential family. With her, we can control Catrista."

 "She has marks from being raped. Kattie and I visited Christopher, and according to him, it is her own father who did this. If we show up telling him we have his daughter, the chances of him bombing us are far greater than him complying," I say angrily. I’m furious with Sunny for even suggesting it. I don’t believe in using people like that.

 "Moreover," Zombie begins hesitantly, "we have sworn that anyone can seek refuge and safety with us and that we will never betray one of our own. If this Sarah… or Amber..." It’s easy to hear the pain in his voice as he mentions the name. "... wishes to stay here, then she is one of us. Our rules and pledges compel us to protect her from Catrista."

 "Precisely!" Kattie seizes the opportunity. "Which also means we have to protect her from her own name. She can't know she is a Noble. She deserves the chance to create a new identity here."

 "And what about the name Amber?" Kress asks. "Are we going to protect her from the truth behind that name too?"

 "It isn't up to us to tell her," Kattie replies quietly. "Adis should be the one to explain why she carries that name and why it elicits such reactions."

 "But Adis isn't going to do that, is he?" Zombie says through gritted teeth.

 "He will have to, sooner or later," Kattie says, bowing her head and sitting back down again. "But right now, he is in jail, and as long as he is there, he can't tell her anything."

 "And where is she while he is there?" Zombie asks.

 "With me." I shoot him a warning glare. "With Adis gone, I’ve seized the opportunity to start her training. She has a lot to learn if she wants to stay here and carry that name. I'm asking you nicely, Zombie. Don’t turn this innocent girl into a pawn in you and Adis's game."

 "Too late for that, Tjeck," Zombie replies in an icy voice. "Adis has already done that. And even you can't protect her forever."

*****

 The meeting drags on longer than anticipated. With so many topics to cover, it's well past noon by the time I finally make my way back. My stomach growls, reminding me that I need to find something to eat before I search for Amber and Mike. Lunch may have been taken off the table, but as the Alpha, securing a plate from the kitchen is hardly a challenge. 

 I settle down at a quiet table, enjoying my meal in solitude when Drew, my beta, takes a seat across from me. 

 “She isn’t stupid,” he states, his tone serious. I don’t need to ask who he’s referring to; it's clear he means Amber. “She’s noticed the glances directed her way, and she has sharp ears that catch bits and pieces of gossip about her. She’s started asking questions.”

 Drew is older than I am, and had fate been kinder, he would have been Sacha's beta. Instead, Sacha's untimely death before Chark left me in the position Drew might have otherwise claimed. I often feel as though I’ve cheated him out of his rightful place. While we may never be friends, there is a mutual respect between us that keeps The Eagles functioning smoothly.

 “What kind of questions is she asking?” I inquire, unease settling in my stomach. It’s too soon for her to start probing. I’m not prepared to handle her inquiries.

 “She wants to know which war people are talking about, why they whisper her name as if she’s on the brink of death. She’s curious about Adis and the zombie rumors.” Drew shakes his head, frustration evident in his expression. “Sooner or later, she’ll start connecting the dots.”

 “And she’ll probably come up with the wrong answers,” I sigh, feeling a weight in my chest. She’ll never be able to guess the truth. “We have to keep her away from the others.” It seems like the best solution for now.

 “Forever?” Drew raises an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. “She deserves the truth, Tjeck.”

 “Don’t you think I know that?” I throw my hands up in resignation. “But it’s not my place to give her that truth. I don’t have the authority to do so. I don’t want to make an enemy of Adis over this.”

 “Adis is in jail. It could be months before he’s back on the streets. Do you really want to keep her isolated for that long?” Drew snaps, anger creeping into his voice.

 “Well, then it’s up to Kattie,” I reply, rising from the table before Drew can unleash more frustration about Adis’s situation. I know this isn’t over, but I also know I need to tread carefully.