Alastair:
Both packs had been hard at work clearing out the city line of whatever these poisonous beasts were who had moved in to try and take over. To be honest, I was glad that the young Alpha had finally found the strength to join in on pushing them back from the city line. What I wasn’t glad about, however, was the trouble with the nurse.
I stood in my study waiting for Ares to return from the hunt. We were staying at the packhouse still and would be until I knew that Valene was safe. I couldn’t help but notice that her presence of late has caused quite a disturbance. It was as if there was a weird energy in the air that specifically had it out for Valene.
One specimen in the universal plot to make Valene’s life harder just knocked on my door.
“Greetings, Alpha Wade,” Ares Barbosa said sanguinely.
“Good evening, Alpha.” I replied in a tone slightly contrary to his. I was facing the window, figuring out what I’d speak about first. I probably should have addressed the status of those beasts suspiciously lining our city borders but in truth…at the moment, I was more concerned about my adopted daughter. “Come in,” finally, I turned around to welcome more tersely than intended.
He caught this, the young Alpha and found amusement in what I could not. “I imagine you’d like to know about what happened today…at the city line.”
“You bloody well know where our concerns lie!” Aziz growled in the back of my mind as Ares Barbosa was arguably the most powerful and dangerous psychokinetic in the world. His abilities ranged from telepathy to extensive telekinetic power. So, I would not be surprised if he knew exactly where both me and my counterpart’s root concerns lie.
Unfortunately, my counterpart was visibly more frustrated than I was. It was a…complicated situation that we were suddenly in. This…Shadow Veil…Virginia as whole was my territory, and an Alpha putting down-whether temporary or otherwise- another inhuman under my watch, was a no-no. Then there was the matter of why and I had a nagging feeling that the why was a certain young vassal of mine.
“You imagine right,” I finally answered after pressing Aziz to calm down. “But first…I’d like to discuss what happened at the hospital today.”
“Surely that can wait.” Ares replied. “We should really be discussing those Rogue creatures making settlement in your territory.”
“Yes…we should,” I replied, crossing my arms. “Now, what happened today at the hospital?”
He smirked and exhaled deeply. “Alpha, I-”
“You may not have been home in a century or so, but you are still an Alpha, Ares.” I reminded him. “You know what it is to cross a line in another Alpha’s territory. And you did just that by rendering swift and physical judgment on an inhuman that does not reside in your territory. By this logic alone, I should eliminate you…and your pack.”
He grinned as both he and even I knew that it would not be easy to exterminate the young Alpha as he had made a name for himself throughout the centuries. Still, we also both knew that there were better odds than not of it happening.
“You are right,” he admitted to my surprise. Ares Barbosa, after all was not known for his bedside manner. The young Alpha chuckled, shaking his head. “You know that I respect you, Alastair. I always have.” said Ares. “You…are the Alpha that I wanted to emulate when my father died and even before.”
I had met Ares well before the death of his parents. The Silver Moon and Shadow Veil had to work together on many occasions throughout the centuries because of our aligned interests. It was because of this that when I found that Ares and Zevi lost their family that I offered to take them in. Ares, however, as young as he was-as young as they both were, decided that they would find their own way. Such independents at that young age are what made Zevi Almeida who he was and Ares the Alpha that he grew to be.
“I appreciate that, young Alpha.” I said to him as it truly was humbling to know this. “However, that does not change the facts of the matter at hand.”
“It does not.” Agreed Ares. “Though, I had hoped that it would assist you in coming to the conclusion that I would not have done this had it not been for good reason.”
“And what reason would that be?” I asked.
“Your vassal,” he said after a lingering moment of silence. “Although, I’m sure that realization comes as no surprise to you…does it, Alpha?”
He already knew the answer to his question, so I did not bother to oblige him with one. Instead, I moved on to what truly mattered; the reason behind why what happened had to happen.
“That nurse seemed to have had it out for Valene since her arrival.”
“That is usually the case when an inhuman sees a human as beautiful as your little human.” he said. “But then jealousy is not limited to one species, is it?” he asked yet another rhetorical question.
“That may be true, but it is only inhumans who think that they should be the crux of profound beauty.” I replied.
Ares seemed to agree. “Your human was…utilizing her time…in an unconventional way. Or at least according to Betty,” he rolled his eyes. “She began to speak…ill of your methods concerning the way that you hold dominion over your vassals. The little human respectfully tried to save face and…she became angry and attacked.”
“I should have known that this would happen!” I cursed under my breath. “I should have known!”
“Before the woman could lay a hand or before your vassal was forced to defend herself, I thought that it would be best that I…diffuse the situation.”
“Diffuse?” I scoffed. Where my rage forced me to walk away from Ares at one point, I faced the young Alpha again. “You snapped her neck, Ares! Why didn’t you just simply stay her hand?”
“Because she’s been watching you, Alpha…and Betty has been speaking this nonsense to quite a few people of late. She alluded to uprisings being next. She spoke as if she would not be the one to cause them.” He thought that this was amusing. “And all because you have a human that is more effective than half of your city.” He laughed and his eyes wandered around my study as he expressed. “I do not envy you, Alpha…having to oversee not only your species but three? Four others?” he scoffed. “I put her down because I thought it best that you handle her personally and directly following than me allow her to leave and spread even more lies than she already has.”
“He is right, Wade,” Aziz said in agreement with Ares’s position. “We should nip this one in the bud before it gets too out of hand. We do not have time to allow this to get out of hand and grow into something else that we are unable to handle.”
“Seems that your logic is sound.” I said after listening to Aziz. “I will deal with her after we’re done here.” After that was settled, I had to ask. “What exactly was she doing?”
Ares smirked. “She was…working out, senhor…and strenuously so. I am not surprised that she is agile and strong enough to deal with low level inhumans.”
“Low level,” I repeated as I found his choice of words…amusing and curious to say the least.
“Zevi told me about the comment that you made while you two were speaking. I must say that…you have an extreme level of confidence in her. Do you really think that she can take me down? Even at my weakest?”
“Especially, at your weakest.” I stood by beliefs.
Again, Ares wore a grin and laughed. “If your human is truly that gifted then maybe you should have her train the other vassals, Alpha.”
“Valene is too humble to think that one can learn something from her.”
“Humble? Maybe so,” he said. “But there is a lot to learn from her, nevertheless. I myself, have a learned something from the picante pequinina.”
I knew as soon as he said this that Valene probably spoke out of line toward the Alpha. Maybe I should have concerned about this but there was something else altogether more bothersome than this. He didn’t seem bothered by it at all.
“You…uh…seem very…intrigued by my human, Ares.” I found myself stepping forward as if Valene was in the room with me, my countenance suddenly quite protective. He seemed to sense this and stood his ground nevertheless, something that I had no doubts that he would do.
“I am.” he said to me without hesitation. “In fact, your little human convinced me that…maybe having a vassal is not so…useless after all.”
Now it was my turn to be amused. “I told your Beta as much when he tried to assure me that my vassal would be safe around you. He seems to turn a blind eye to the reality of how…possessive and wanting you can become when it correlates to something that you desire.”
“Nothing gets past you though, Alastair.”
“Not where me and mine are concerned.”
“Of course,” he said and then backed away. “Regardless of my…intrigue, you know that I am an Alpha of my word. I would not move against you in such a way. Though, I’d be lying if I did not confess that Bain tempts me at the best of times.”
“Bain only tempts the desires that you already possess.”
“True, senhor. Either way…I assure you that…in regard to harm, she will not see it from me.” He said. “Though, I dare say that if ever it were possible....”
His words veered off and immediately, I realized what he was more than likely going to say next. “You’d want one just like her. Just like every other inhuman that I’ve come into contact with over the years.”
“I’m afraid that…is where you are mistaken, Alpha Wade.” he said as he headed to the exit of my door. “I would readily take the original. As I know that there would never be another like her. “Good evening, Alpha.” he said and departed for the night.
Ultimately, there was no question of my trust in Ares Barbosa but when it came to Valene, I got the distinct feeling that I needed to keep an eye on him.
After Ares Barbosa’s exit, I sat in my chair and called for Valene. It didn't take jher long to arrive and when she did, she was visibly anxious. With her hands intertwined and her eyes to the floor, she walked into the room.
“You asked to see me, Master Wade,” announced Valene on arrival.
“Yes, I did.” I replied, shifting slightly in my seat as she stood by the door, refusing to look up, let alone my way. “Why don’t you sit, Valene-”
“Okay, may I speak before you-I-” she finally looked my way, taking an anxious step closer steps toward my desk. “Before…” I could tell that she didn’t know how to go forward.
“Go ahead, Valene.” I spoke. “What do you have to say?” Maybe my words came off a little too brash because it seemed to make her even more nervous. “I’m listening,” I added with a smile. I’d hoped that maybe a subtle light-hearted expression would ease her mind. It didn’t seem to.
“Master Wade, I apologize for embarrassing you! It certainly wasn’t my intention and Master Barbosa only acted because I-well I don’t know why he acted, but he did save…my life. Though, I’m not sure that my life is worth the potential trouble that may ensue because of his actions. I-” she was visibly stressed. “Anyway, I…I only mean that…if there is any blame to be placed then I will readily accept it! And-”
Before she could attempt to martyr herself further, I lifted my hand to stop her from her talking. “Valene.”
“Yes, sir.”
I wordlessly gestured for her to sit down and with reluctance she did. “I’ve already spoken to Alpha Barbosa.”
She started to chew on her bottom lip and looked down again. “Okay,” muttered Valene.
I leaned forward. “He told me that you were…exercising?” I suggested with amusement.
“I-well, I didn’t have my punching bag,”
“Ah,” I laughed, shaking my head and sat back in my chair again. “Yes, it’s either that punching bag or your sweet treats. You had neither.” She shook her head and dropped her gaze.
“Am I really that predictable?” she chortled dryly. There was still obvious anxiety in Valene’s countenance. I had to reassure her.
“Valene, you have done nothing wrong,” I started in reassuring her. “My orders were strict and quite easy to understand. Her only job was to see to the Alpha’s injuries and his wellbeing. You did not initiate engagement neither did you verbally insult the nurse. She had no cause for her actions, and it will be addressed when she comes to.”
“Master Wade, I can’t help but think that-that this all is my fault.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked out of my window. “Ever the sacrificial lamb, you try to be, Valene.” I said, hinting at my frustration of what she thought of herself. “I don’t understand why you insist on staking yourself as cause to whatever goes on around here.”
“Had I not stepped forward and engaged with Master Barbosa, I would not have been chosen to watch over him in the first place!” She attempted at reason.
“Had you not stepped forward and engaged Alpha Ares, he’d probably be dead now due to his stubbornness. The boy is extremely powerful,” I sighed. “A gift among his people and ours for that matter, but he…is as stubborn as a bloody mule, that one.” I faced Val again with a softer countenance than before. “You did the right thing and had he not thought so, do you really think that he would have protected as he had?”
“Probably, if for no one else but your sake alone.” she assumed.
I chuckled, disagreeing completely. “You say that because he spared your life. The truth, however, is that had he thought you crossed a line, Ares Barbosa would have killed you without blinking an eye and then would have followed by reporting to me what he’d done without an ounce of guilt.”
It was after I said this, that she realized how harsh the Lycan Alpha really could be. “You speak as if he’s done this before.” She already knew what my response would be.
“Would I have made such a detailed suggestion if he hadn’t?” Valene knew the answer to this as well.
“So, what do you need me to do from here on, Master Wade?” she asked, standing from her seat.
“What I would like for you to do is assist Harlyn with her little party preparations.”
“Master Wade, I-”
“What did I say, Valene?” I then stood from my seat, awaiting her answer.
“Assist, Mistress Harlyn with her party preparations.” she finally replied.
“When I need you, I will call for you. Until then we will proceed as we have been in the past.”
“Yes, Master Wade. As you wish. Is there anything else you need?”
“Yes,” I stepped around my desk and sat on its corner. “That little bar and grille pub that you work at…”
“I don’t work there anymore, Master Wade-”
“Sure, what do you think of them?” I asked.
“Well, I love Bone’s place.” she replied.
“I think I’d like to have her celebration at the pub.”
“I thought she had a venue picked out already, Master Wade.”
“I think that Harly is planning the more personal festivities of her party at the moment.” admittedly, I was irritated when just mentioning this as I knew the reason behind Harly’s decision to have her little after-party soiree so close to the beach.
“So, she’s leaving everything else up to you.”
“She is,” I chuckled half-heartedly. “In a sense.”
“So, what would you like me to do, Master Wade?”
“I’d like you to make magic in the way that only you can, Valene.” I smiled, touching her shoulder.
She bowed. “I’ll do my best, Master Wade.” said Valene and started to depart.
“And don’t think that I’ve forgotten about you,”
“Sir?” she seemed confused, or maybe she only acted this way because she thought that it would help in allowing her to escape without mentioning her own little celebration.
“Don’t act as if you’re not owed a celebration for yourself, Val.”
She sighed. “Sir, I told you-”
“I know what you told me, Valene.” I interjected. “But everyone needs to be celebrated.”
The girl already knew that there was no swaying me on the contrary, and so she simply resigned. “Yes, Master Wade.”
“Oh, and Valene.” I called to her for one last thing as something sprung to mind that Ares mentioned to me before the end of our brief meeting.
“Yes, Master Wade.”
“Alpha Ares mentioned…that you had quite the mouth on you.” Immediately her expression shifted into a calm concern that she carried mostly in her averted gaze. “Don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble, as I stated before,” I chuckled. “But…I would like to know what it is that you said to him.”
After a moment of considerable silence, Valene finally spoke. “Master Barbosa said that human vassals were not of importance…that we were good for little more than a meal. I merely brought back to his recollection that had it not been for a mere human girl he’d be dead by now.”
I knew that when she said this, she had no regrets in repeating it. “That’s our pup.” Aziz cackled in the back of my mind and admittedly so did I.
“Ares doesn’t like to be told off,” I chuckled. “But he respects the candor where it is given. If it is justifiable.” I said. “You may be excused, Valene. Have a good evening, and make sure that you talk to Bones about this celebration I have planned.”
“Yes, Master Wade. Have a good evening.” she said and departed.
“I see now why the young Lycan has taken an interest in our human pup,” Aziz said.
I sighed, shaking my head. “So do I, Aziz. But when has it ever been a good omen for an inhuman to take such interest in a gold blood?”
“Who knows…this could be the first.” Aziz tried to be optimistic.
“Hmph, and when have we ever been that lucky?”