Alpha Wyler
It was Christmas Day and I'd called for a meeting with the commanding males at sunrise. If the interruption to their holiday hadn't been enough, what I was about to tell them next was.
Johnathan sat next to me at the end of the table. He'd drawn up some notes for a plan of action, but so far only he knew what was going on. The males filed in slowly, grabbing a coffee from the hot machine near the boardroom door.
They were almost all sitting when I cleared my throat. “I understand it's Christmas but the matter needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Let's get on with this then.” I glanced around the table, adjusting my shoulders in the creaking leather chair. “Some of you may know my sister-in-law and niece have been living with Silvermoon. The issue is- my brother. I took them out of an abusive situation away from him and he apparently wants them back.” I picked up the note from in front of me and passed to the male closest to pass on. With each passing of that note though, their expressions got harder and more annoyed.
“So we need a plan to deal with him--” Johnathan was cut off.
“No offence but these females aren't our pack's problem.”
My eyes went to the male known as Tyler. “It may not seem like it to you, but as long as Silvermoon has me as their Alpha, they're our problem. Any other opinions?”
The room stayed silent and I looked to Johnathan to continue. “Yeah, so, we need a plan.” He got up and walked to a map of the territory. “We don't know where he is but they are sure to make some sort of attempt to attack – we don't believe it will be much of a threat but we should still be ready.” He pointed out a few weaker spots in the territory. “Here and here. These places need to be manned twenty-four-seven until further notice. Tyler, you can be in charge of getting members on that?”
“Sure,” Tyler grunted as my eyes swooped over him.
The knock on the door stopped Johnathan's next sentence. He huffed, going to answer it as I took back Jackson's note from the last male to read it.
“Oh, sorry...”
I turned my attention to the door as Olivia stood there with a Tupperware container full of fresh baking.
“I brought cookies.”
Johnathan didn't let her past the door frame, “not the best time, Liv.”
“Let her in, John.” My Beta stepped aside on command and Olivia took the baking around the room. The warm cookies made the males happy but what made me happy was watching her in her Christmas dress of red velvet, showing off how nice and pregnant she was.
“Caleb,” she whispered, stopping next to me as she leaned down to put the tupperware to the counter. “We want to open presents.”
The whole thing might have been a ploy to get in the room to tell me that but I still found satisfaction in it. “We'll be awhile.”
Olivia grimaced. “Your niece...”
“Let Krissy open hers then.”
Olivia nodded, straightening up and realizing all the males were watching her as she gave me a smile with her hand on my shoulder. She might have found it embarrassing but I loved all those men watching her and knowing she was my Luna. Once she left, Johnathan's impatience with the subject resurfaced.
“Just so you're all understanding, any outsider is to be captured and brought in for questioning. if we find out anyone let someone go without permission, well...” He gave me a glance to gain my support.
“They'll be terminated from their position,” I affirmed, which had the room frozen in silence but it was clear. I'd moved around my patrol already once, and I would do it again if I'd made an error in judgement for this new team. The next three hours were spent on how to deal with intrusion. I wanted to be prepared. my brother had a knack for stupidity when intoxicated – which is likely what we would be dealing with. I called the meeting to a close after Johnathan went over the map a final time, making sure they all understood their positions.
“Merry Christmas.” Johnathan concluded and there was a murmur of the returned words. They filed out as Johnathan rolled up a map. “I'm a bit concerned...”
I turned to my Beta as the last member wandered out of the boardroom. “Why?”
“They seem bothered about this issue.”
“This isn't an issue unless one of them fucks up and it becomes an issue.”
“I'm just saying, Caleb, they seem put off.”
“If they get put off from doing their job, they are welcome to resign and you can remind them of that. I'm going to find Olivia before she's actually put off about me missing Christmas.”
Johnathan gave me a weary smirk. “Have fun with that.”
“See you tomorrow.” I left the boardroom and the thought of the patrol being weird about the threat of my brother on Silvermoon entered my mind long enough for me to question what I was doing. That happened to be a new emotion for me to feel. I didn't like the feeling of questioning my own orders. That thought faded though when I walked into the living room with the fire crackling in the corner next to the tree and Olivia on the couch with Krissy and Lara as they waited. They hadn't touched any of the presents.
“Uncle Caleb!” Krissy jumped off the couch and I caught her mid-flight off the cushion.
“Merry Christmas, my favourite niece.”
She smiled at me, grabbing my cheeks. “You took so long.”
“I know, I'm sorry. Let's open presents. Go get a few...” I dropped her down on her feet and she scurried over to the tree brimming with presents, all wrapped to perfection.
“Merry Christmas, Lara.” I smiled at my niece’s mother. I'd bought her a gift and though it might come as a surprise to her, it was the decent thing to do for her. She said Merry Christmas back to me and I looked to my mate then as she stayed put under a blanket. “Are you cold?”
“I'm cozy,” she replied with a rosy blush coming across her cheeks as I invaded the space next to her.
Leaning into her ear, I whispered, “can I be cozy with you and our pup?”
Olivia smiled, cupping my cheek before kissing me with gentle lips. “Merry Christmas, Alpha Wyler.” The way her soft voice called me Alpha would never get old. I never expected her to do that but it was hot when she felt inclined to call me it.
The growl in my chest got her inching closer to me. All females liked a turned on growl but Olivia seemed to love it. I wanted that pup to come so I could fuck her like I used to.
“Krissy....” I turned my head to catch the little girl’s attention. “Can you bring your aunt the small silver bag there?” The little girl ran over to fetch it happily.
Olivia smiled. “Is that from Santa?”
“Definitely.” I wanted to spank her senseless.
“I thought I was too naughty this year....” She dug past the sparkling white tissue paper as I chuckled from her understated comment. She had been difficult at times but now our life together had smoothed out. I wouldn't change anything, aside from my older brother disturbing my peace. Every time I thought of him, I pictured the way his face would look when he realized I'd won.
Olivia squealed beside me and snapped me out of my day dream of ending my brother. She grabbed my shoulders and leaned in to kiss my cheek. My fist released to catch her waist and belly as she clambered into my space.
“I love it, thank you,” she murmured in a sexy little voice that made me forget all about my previous thoughts.
I smiled, finding her mouth with mine for a quick kiss. “Let's put it on.” I took the red velvet box from her hands and removed the delicate white gold chain and diamond pendant. It had taken me well over an hour to pick out at the jeweller in town. The longest I'd ever spent looking for a gift for a woman. Olivia settled beside me, moving her hair so I could put it around her neck. I leaned in to do the clasp up and kissed her neck softly once finished.
“It's so pretty.”
It was a large diamond. I'd spent a bit much on Christmas, considering I'd helped Lara out with her presents for Krissy and the rest of the tree was also courtesy of my bank account.
“Olivia,” Lara interrupted as we parted from one another. “This is for your pup from Krissy and I.”
Krissy ran the bag over to my mate, crashing into the couch beside her with a giggle.
“Oh, thank you.” Olivia took the bag from my niece and found the card.
I put the velvet box back in the small bag as Olivia opened her present. “Where's my present?” I joked as Krissy ran past.
“Mommy said you have everything you want.”
I glanced over to Lara who gave me a weak smile. It was true though, I did have everything I ever wanted.
“This is so cute.” Olivia held up the mini basketball jersey of my favourite team. The gift threw my mate, I could tell.
“When I saw it, I had to get it for your pup, being Caleb's favourite team and all.”
“Thanks, Lara.” I gave her a nod as Olivia folded it back up and put it in the bag. A new awkwardness had taken over the room, no one immune aside Krissy. The little girl had ripped apart almost every gift with her name on it, bringing any gifts not for her over to the adults.
I'd gotten Olivia a couple more small things and she had got me a new watch and a pair of nice runners. The morning went into the afternoon with Christmas cartoons on the television, the turkey cooking in the oven, and the sweet smells of cinnamon and bread baking in the air. Lara had volunteered to make dinner and Olivia had also come to the conclusion she was helping too, much to my dismay – they'd given the female staff the day off. I guess it made sense but I wasn't a fan of watching my pregnant Luna slaving over dinner all afternoon.
I watched her carefully out of the corner of my eye while sitting and watching cartoons with Krissy. She'd pause, rub her side, her belly, her forehead. Either dinner was stressing her out or the pregnancy had started to catch up to her that day.
Right when I got up to confront her on doing too much, my cell phone rang and I had to take it, being it was Johnathan. “Hello?” I walked out of the living room and Olivia watched me with concern. She knew cell phone calls weren't a normal occurrence for me.
“We saw some wolves run off down a steep embankment when we got here, it was too dangerous to get down fast enough. They got away.”
“I'm coming. Where?”
Johnathan went on to explain where on the territory it happened as I started to unbutton the shirt I had on. This was a shifting matter. I'd get there faster and amped up to fight if I had to. First though, I had to tell Olivia what was going on.
“I need to go.” Direct was always the easiest way but I was prepared for my mate to protest.
“No. Dinner is almost ready....”
I gave her a smile as I took off my shirt, pulling it free from my belt and pants. “I'll be back soon.”
“You're shifting?”
I heard and felt her panic.
“What happened?”
“Not much. The patrol thinks they saw something. I'm just going to see how well their noses are working.”
“No, Caleb....”
I eyed her down and it shut her up. “See you in a bit, baby.” I kissed her forehead and didn't look back once stepping away from her. She'd stare at me in fury or sadness and I couldn't let that affect me, I needed my head in the game. Just in case.