"Are you certain that no one will overhear what we say?" As they made their way, Max said to Alpha Ruben under his breath.
"It's a mating ball. You believe anyone would care about anything other than scoring a mate?"
Ruben said with a rueful expression on his face, remembering when he had found his mate. He gestured to Max, and they settled down on plush couches.
"Well," you ask, "tell me what it is you'd want to talk about."
"We need to make some decisions soon. The council needs a revival. You know that. Cayden wants to know when the time comes. Will you support us?" Max said.
"Of course, I have always wanted reforms in the council but….," Ruben trailed off.
"But?" Max prompted.
Sometimes, when you see the mousetrap, you just need to trip the bar and steal the cheese."
"I don't understand." Max asked.
"Since the council is corrupt, the ring of corrupt alphas has them in their pockets. If you want their support, offer them something more. Buy them out. Once you have their support, go all out and destroy Hawk and his partners in crime."
Max was relieved to discover that Ruben shared Cayden's perspective on the matter, as it was Cayden's goal all along.
"Master Ruben, do you have any idea how horrible this situation is going to get?" There was no way to put one's faith in the Council employees.
"Councilman Jackson is on the fence; he can come over to our side, but you need to recognise that some packs will be against you and some will be neutral."
"What do you think the likelihood is that Hawk will side with our enemies against us?"
"I'm not sure. The need for more can be a negative trait.
"What do you think the proportion is that will align with Hawk against us?"
"I'm not sure. Greed can be a bad thing."
"But most packs overcame slavery and all such evils generations ago."
"It's true. Things have changed. All the surveillance cameras, everyone having cellphones, government surveillance; it all makes it more difficult for the old practices to continue. A war would be disastrous for us."
"I know," Max nodded. "War is inevitable, but sometimes we need to destroy things in order to rebuild them. Cayden is trying his best to minimize the impact. We have an advantage in that Hawk doesn't know who Cayden is. We can use that to our advantage."
Ruben looked at him.
"We had better work fast then."
"Cayden also asked me to convey that after everything is over, you will become the leader of the Alpha council."
Ruben frowned. "I never made such a demand."
"I know, master, but help should not be given freely. You deserve better for agreeing to help us." Max smiled.
"I have a tip for you," Ruben said cautiously. "I have got news that the circle is building a rogue army."
Max's eyes widened with disbelief. "By circle, you mean Hawk?"
"Not necessarily. It would be difficult to keep a large army of rogues in one place, just as its becoming more difficult to capture and trade in werewolf slaves. Other packs are also becoming stronger and resisting. So there have been none recent incidents."
"So where are they getting slaves from?" Cayden asked.
"That's what you and Cayden need to find out." Ruben said.
**********
The nervousness in Selena's body manifested itself as sweaty hands. Cayden lowered his head and brushed her ear with his warm lips, and she could not prevent herself from thinking about how his lips had felt in other areas of her body. She shuddered.
He murmured in her ear, "Remember, keep cool," as he tried to reassure her.
"Maybe it would be best if I went to see my family all by myself. They may feel threatened by your presence."
Cayden put up a fight because he couldn't stand the idea of Selena being away from him for even a second.
"Don't worry about me; I'll be alright. I know my dad is working on something. For the time being, he won't try to hurt me."
Cayden gave a reluctance-filled nod and then let her leave. The moment Selena straightened up, she stood directly in front of the mated couple. It was time for her to offer her congratulations to the newlyweds, although everyone was staring at her like she was a ghost when they first saw her. Selena, though, put up a brave front and smiled through the ordeal. She ran by people who openly looked at her and pointed at her, who murmured her name as if it were a curse, and even laughed at her, but she ignored them as she went about her business. The only thing that mattered was having a conversation with David and learning as much as she could.
"Hi David. Congratulations."
David gave off the impression that he was uncertain, and Luna Sierra's smile appeared to be more than a little fake. She did not embrace Selena, draw closer to her, or even introduce her to David's mate.
"You are back." That wasn't really a question so much as a statement that she wanted to make.
"Luna Sierra, I am currently with Alpha Cayden," Selena answered.
"Of course, not everyone is flexible enough to change their mates after all," Luna Sierra said.
Instead of responding to Luna Sierra's nasty jab, Selena turned to David.
"I am sure that you must be looking forward to the opportunity to be promoted to the position of deputy Alpha."
His smile wavered, and he appeared a bit taken aback by what had just happened. Under the custom of the pack, if an Alpha prince were to become mated, he would immediately be elevated to the post of deputy Alpha. It showed that he was the second in charge and that he would step into the job of Alpha if the current Alpha was absent. Knowing how controlling Hawk was, he would not give too much power to David.
"Ummm yes, it looks like I'll be promoted to deputy soon," David stated.
"So dad's not gonna announce it today? I must have been mistaken." Selena said innocently.
"What are you talking about?"
It did not surprise her that David was displaying signs of distress.
"Well, I was just thinking that because all the other packs have deputies, so dad would make you one today. But it's possible that he has other things on his mind." She flashed a grin.
She retreated a few paces while putting on a phoney grin. "Till we meet again, David, please accept my heartiest congratulations."
She could sense that he was eager to wrap up this discussion, so she made it as simple as possible for him to do so. She whirled around and started walking, but she did not know where she was going. She couldn't help but notice that the folks she encountered had little interest in engaging her. She had never in her life had such a profound sense of isolation. Cayden became the focus of her frantic stare. He was standing by himself with a glass of red wine in his hand. There was no one else around. She paused for a slight period. She had no one else to turn to but him.
Cayden was observing her from a distance when she looked up. She knew he had never moved his gaze away from her. David and his mate danced around the dance floor. Everyone was having a good time, which included drinking, laughing, and living their lives.
She proceeded toward Cayden. As soon as she arrived at his side, he greeted her by extending the glass of red wine to her. She cocked her brow in question. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"
"You look like you need it," he remarked.
She let out a snort. "I don't believe a glass of wine will do."
Cayden didn't laugh or grin at her; instead, he intimidated her with his piercing green eyes. She resisted taking the glass from him, even though he continued to hold it out.
"Alcohol makes people careless. It brings out the worst in them." Selena muttered.
She drained the last portion of the wine.
"You've just described the precise reason I drink." He let out a chuckle. "I will let Hawk know we are about to go. You will stay where you are while I'm gone."
Selena gave a brief nod before leaning against the wall. She was woken from her trance by a little tap on the shoulder. As she opened her eyes, her eyelids felt heavy.
"Hello, my beloved daughter," her father said.
Selena could regain her composure and stand up straight. It had been such a long time since she had last engaged in direct conversation with her father.
"D..dad?" She let out a whimper.
"How are you?" he murmured as his eyes wondered at her.
She flinched as his fingers pushed back her long dark mane where it tumbled over her creamy shoulder, her wide eyes filled with uncertainty as she gazed up at him.
"I know you are disappointed by my behaviour. I am sorry about that."
She blinked. Her dad was apologising to her.
"I invited you to hear because I wanted to mend things."
She had a hard time trying to resist her laugh. Was this a joke? After selling her and denying her existence, he was trying to 'mend' things?
"It's a little too late for that…. dad." She said, looking away towards the crowd. Where was Cayden?
"I know, but I just wanted to tell you something which has been heavy on my heart."
Her lips trembled as she tried to fight the dread at the thought of what her father would say now.
"Your mother is alive."