Beta

Chapter 6

The acceptance of the Blood Moon territory had been sent, as well as the preliminary subservience agreements that Konrad had signed. I felt a little uneasy watching the agreement between West River and Black Ridge go through. We were essentially telling the council that we planned on taking down Iron Fang and Dark Claw together and had agreed upon how it would be split between us.

The government had a rule, and it was simple. When agreements came through with information that was sensitive like this, they would not say a thing. They were neutral on all things, even residing in a section of land in the north that was not pack associated. They were lone wolves and held no loyalties to anyone. It was against their rules and if they went against it, they would be booted out of the government.

"It's done. Our secret plans are now out there in the world, no longer hidden."

"There's no way around this." Charlie offered. "Wolves are bound to the paper trail."

"It wasn't always like this," Frank interjected as he entered the office. "I seem to recall your grandfather fussing over this ridiculous idea that the government was getting all bent out of shape over. He'd look at these forms and shake his head, telling everyone it was nonsensical. All we needed was a bit of fur, hash out an agreement with our fangs, and the world would be right again."

I smiled, thinking about my grandfather, long gone before I was born. All I had were images and my father talking about him. The tales he told made me think that my grandfather was a proud wolf who led this pack with a ferocity that could not be matched. I know that my father aspired to be as good as him.

Frank's eyes narrowed as he looked at my stomach.

"You've finally popped out. Won't be long now."

Charlie moved to my side, squinting at me.

"I think he's imagining things. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry. Have a contingency plan in place."

I nodded, remembering the rules about the birth of a child in the Alpha's line. They had to be born in the pack house. It was considered sacred ground for pack wolves, and this was where I was born, my brother, and my father. When the first Nolan stepped onto this land and claimed it as his pack territory, he created this legacy, just like the other pack leaders did for their own areas. It was the rule of the land. It was what an Alpha was bound to. Leaders were born in the pack house and if they weren't, it caused so many problems further down the track.

"Hey, quick question. Don't you think that the Blood Moon land should have been split between Konrad and me?"

Frank and Charlie glanced at each other. Charlie shrugged, and Frank gave me a vague look.

"How so?"

"The Alpha attacked both of us."

"But the intent was against you, Megan. He knew that you were pregnant, and it was pretty obvious who the father was so he thought it would be fitting punishment to take the life of Konrad's child and partner."

"You know that Konrad would have said something if he was angered by it. His pack is being given the majority of the land anyway."

Gus reached the top of the stairs, gesturing for us to follow.

"I guess that our guests have arrived."

Stanley and Mick had prepared the main area with the temporary documents stacked, ready to be signed.

Both men stood near the bar, uneasy and probably worried about their safety.

"Alpha, Megan Nolan and the additional Betas. Megan, this is Caleb James and David Thomas."

"Welcome to West River. As we are in the middle of a pack transfer and about to enter into an indifference phase, we've created a preliminary acceptance of your request to urgently transfer."

Caleb nodded, holding out the papers. I passed them to Charlie with a look of expectation. He nodded and quickly started checking the request.

"When will you start the phase?" David asked.

"Probably tomorrow, depending on how long it takes to receive the acceptance from the government. We want your documents to be acknowledged before we create problems."

The indifference phase was rather generic. It was just us telling the world around us that we were pausing all transfers temporarily. To avoid issues, we had to make sure that all the other documents were acknowledged.

"While we wait for Charlie to finish with your request, why don't you sit with the Betas and impart a little information upon them?"

Caleb and David nodded, sitting at the table with the Betas, aside from Charlie. Sliding up on the stool next to him, I looked at the document in front of me. It was basic because this was an emergency transfer. There was no financial information, family history, or job status. Just their personal details and a reason as to why they thought that this was an emergency situation.

Caleb had written that his father had demanded that he take a mate and produce a child to continue the line of Alphas. He stated that his father was aware that he was gay and had mated with David. The offer of a surrogate had been refused, and his father had demanded that he end the mating with David so that he could take a female wolf and mark her. It was also written that Caleb believed that his father's attitude towards David changed instantly. He believes that his father is searching for a way to kill David without catching the council's attention.

"David's document says that he believes the Alpha is plotting to kill him because he mated with his son, the Beta of their pack."

"Do you think it's true?"

Charlie shrugged.

"If they go back, they're pretty much dead anyway."

I sighed softly as I handed back the piece of paper.

"This is a preliminary agreement. If things turn ugly, we can still refuse them. They can go back to their land as pack members, provided that Caleb doesn't try to become the new leader. I think that all he really wants is to be free of his father. The coup will cover that and if he wants to go back, then I say let him. Keep this as preliminary until the heat dies down in his pack."

"You think they won't kill him for running off?"

"I have no idea. What they choose to do with their life is for them to decide. Let them stay, let them go, give them a choice and wipe your hands of any consequences."

It was a grim thought to consider that their formerpack members might search for them and exact some form of punishment. With theamalgamation of their pack into mine, they would be free to travel, and if theywere in Ezra's land well, the open border policy would give them freedom too. Icould only hope that these other pack members would behave.