CHAPTER 7 - A MULTITUDE OF CORRUPTION

~AIDEN~

Looking at my watch, I rolled my eyes. The time seemed to be tricking me. For what felt like minutes, were really seconds, and hours were that of minutes. Without removing my gaze, I watched the second’s hand on my watch face creep up to the next number, like a tiny predator ready to catch its next meal. God, was I really comparing my watch to a wild miniature beast? I suppose that highlights how interested I am right now… Ugh… I much as I need Jarrad’s help right now, his voice was slowly killing me. So monotone… So boring. A bit like him... Actually, a lot like him. His sister Tia should have been born a male to take the Alpha position. She certainly has more balls. ‘And a deeper voice…’ My wolf interrupted me with his smart mouth… Hmm, I had to agree with him though.

    “Ahhh…” I signed in a long mocking tone, still with my eyes affixed upon timepiece attached to my wrist. “And how do you propose to execute that plan, Jarrad?” I had listened to whatever crap left his mouth, but I cared so little for it. This meeting is taking too much of my fucking time already.

    I cast a sceptical eye in his direction. “This is not a game! Thinking of half-hearted ideas will only result in more deaths! Trying to play cat and mouse with a fucking Hunter without knowing who or where is he is fucking ridiculous! Especially, now we know there is more than one of these bastards attacking our kind!”  My voice rumbled, reaching each corner of the great hall. Jarrad lifted his head to meet my pissed expression. He looked like a chastised child. My words were cold and sinister, but I didn’t give a toss. I didn’t want any more deaths within my pack. Apart from one or two. My wolf eagerly nodded in agreement.

    “With all due respect my King, my brother is here to support this pack. Go easy on him.” Tia looked at me with disapproval. Her eyes narrowed into slits and her lips pursed slightly.

    Stop fucking calling me your King. I am not yours.

    “With all due respect Tia, your brother is here as the Alpha of an adjacent pack. He needs to act like a fucking Alpha and, everyone in this goddamn room needs to remember how dangerous this threat now is! Even more so now as the boarders are being breached.” I plagiarized her expression, before turning my head to look away from the bitch’s cold face. “He is also here, to ensure no attacks take place within his pack. He is not here to provide idiotic ideas that will result in more deaths.” I scolded, not even giving her the satisfaction of resuming eye contact as I spoke.

    Part of me felt apologetic for that public display of disrespect to Jarrad, after all, he was an Alpha himself, but I couldn’t help but admit, he was a shit one. 

    Inhaling deeply, filling my lungs with oxygen, I continued.

    “As you know, we previously believed these attacks were conducted by a single hunter, using weapons that would injure yet not maim or execute. However, today we lost an excellent wolf and pack member, Gilly. He had been badly beaten and shot with a silver arrow. A second arrow, along with footprints were found nearby. This has now cemented our suspicions of there being additional hunters, meaning more occurrences are likely to follow, particularly as they have successfully killed. This will only increase their confidence. Other than that, we know little else.” Standing up from my chair, I walked towards the window. I could always think better when I looked outside. “This situation has now changed, and the threat is more severe.”

    “We have started investigations into arms dealers to source the identity of the arrow, but we are doubtful this will reveal much,” Kieran added.

    Jarrad coughed to clear his throat, still embarrassed by my previous outburst which was aimed directly at him.

    “Alpha Aiden, I will have my warriors patrol day and night around the borderlines. We will start training at once in case we are needed for war.”

    Finally, the boy is getting it. I nodded in approval.

    I walked over to an old large writing desk which stood proudly up against the wall with many windows. Opening its secret compartment, I pulled out an old map. Taking it back to the meeting table, I unravelled it.

    “This is a map of our territory. So far we have had attacks in these areas.” I positioned green pins in the reported zones. “We have had one death here.” I sited a red pin where Gilly was found. “The arrow and footprint were found here and here.” Yellow pins were placed this time. “I want all details reported on this map so we can keep track of their movements, this includes scent trails, footprints, weapons, even attacks.”

    I lifted my body upright to straighten my posture. “I want the best tracking wolves around these grids which are close to the human domain, they may pick up movement before the hunters get deeper into the woods and closer to our territory.”

    I paused and I reluctantly turned to face Tia. “I need you to take the lead of my female warriors, including their training.” She nodded in agreement. Good girl. I despised her but she was strong, and right now, I needed her.

    “We need to catch these bastards, but we cannot do this without basic planning. I will be in touch with each of you over the next few days to push forward with my plan.” I sat back down on my chair and interlocked my fingers, concluding my orders to those in the room.

    “I do believe that’s a wrap everyone. Stay safe and stay in contact.” Kieran announced to the room after receiving my mind link telling them all to fuck off.

    The sound of chair legs scraping against the floor and the hustle of bodies vibrated around the room, but soon silence fell in its place. I turned my chair to face one of the many windows that dominated the back wall and gazed out into the sea of green that surrounded the Packhouse. What a fucking day. My wolf and I were exhausted. Mentally and physically.

    “Alpha.” A deep and gravelly voice replaced the quiet. “I know the timing for this discussion isn’t the best given the current circumstances, however, the council are pressing for this matter to be addressed, particularly since you banished us from the last council meeting after it was raised.”

    Here we fucking go…

    I sensed Elder Richard walking deeper into the room. I turned to look at the piece of shit, who once again, failed to leave a room when ordered too. I couldn’t stand him. My wolf couldn’t stand him. He was the Elder who arranged the marriage between Me and Tia. He was also the Elder who crowned her fucking Luna. He was arrogant and thought he was far more superior than most. He seemed to be involved in everything, even when unwelcomed. Hell, I even had my suspicions about him being involved in my father’s death, although I had no proof, my instincts were sharp enough to be distrustful of him.

    His grey hair and wrinkled skin, his green eyes which no doubt held a multitude of corruption and his ageing body, were all physical signs of his Elder’s status, but I wasn’t fooled by his old man demeanour.

    “I ordered you all to get out because I didn’t like your suggestion, and I still don’t like it!” I answered. I could see through his bullshit. This wasn’t the council’s idea… It was his.

    “I see…” He tilted his head to one side, almost in a mocking manner, which pissed me off further. “You have a title. There are certain behaviour’s that are expected from you… You are strong and there is no denying that, however… You are not as strong as you could be. As one of the only Lycan’s left, you need a blood bond to increase your power and the safety of your pack… Your father would not have wanted this for you.”

    “What the fuck do you know about what my father would have wanted!” I hissed, leaping up from my chair. “You want me to reproduce with Tia, who is NOT my fucking mate, and for what? For the sake of this pack… Or for the sake of you staying in your position of power? I have already appointed her as my fucking wife and as the pack's Luna, but I cannot and will not sleep with her to reproduce!” My anger drowned every word that left my lips, causing the atmosphere around us to sink even lower. I felt the rage burning from within. My wolf made his presence known by changing my eyes to his own.

    “I suggest you leave right now Elder Richard before we have a second death to deal with.” My claws started to dig into the flesh on my palms as I attempted to hold some form of restraint.

    “Hmm.” He bowed his head with respect, turned and cupped his hands behind his back and made his way to the entrance of the grand hall.

    “Aiden, you cannot continue like this. We cannot continue without an heir.” He said, without stopping to look back.

    I felt my vision zooming in, focusing on a single artery pumping in Elder Richard’s neck as my wolf was getting ready to attack and execute in one swift move.

    “Planning to kill me off too Elder?” My tone turned sarcastic. I wanted to see how the son of a bitch reacted to my rhetorical question.

    He stops in his tracks momentarily, before disappearing behind the doors. 

    ‘Fucking bastard!’ My wolf refused to release his attention from the door as if by chance, Elder fucking Richard was to re-enter.

    We were enraged. My eyebrows curled together, and my jaws tightened, causing my jowls to move in rhythm with my rising heartbeat. Blood dripped from my clenched palms onto the floor below and my skin began to darken. I felt the inferno of my wolf, coursing through my veins, rising like a volcano ready to erupt.

    No, I can’t set you free, not like this.

    Tilting my head back and lifting my chest, a hideous thundering roar split through me tearing my shirt apart.