Hunt

Chapter 61: Behind the Back of a Giant

"Alright. Looks like everyone's here. So let's finally get this thing started..."

Paul locks the door behind him, officially starting the first of what could end up being many secret meetings. It had been close to a week since Reyna and I had our 'chat' with David. In the time since then it had been brought to my attention that he had still made no moves to come clean to the rest of the Silverlock pack. Concerns have been raised regarding his true intentions amongst the hunters, leading to an initial gathering of prolific members of the training team. After some deliberation we decided it best to bring everyone in, get feedback from those who are apart of the pack. In attendance were all of the hunters who had been helping with training and a handful of reliable volunteers from the Silverlock pack. Julie had insisted she at least sits in on the meetings, to which Paul agreed. Much to my chagrin.

When I proposed the initial idea to Reyna she was hesitant. Justifiably so. We'd be doing the very thing her father did to us. But it didn't take much pressing before she quickly got to work getting the word out discreetly to those she knew we could trust. Finding that more than enough of her pack were just as concerned as we were once they'd been brought into the loop. Initially we had too many volunteers, having to narrow the selection pool down for whatever mission we might end up carrying out. We end up selecting Reyna, Nyx, and Walker for the first meeting.

"All details of this meeting are to stay in this room. No word of this conversation is to be uttered outside these walls. Punishment will be great for any failure to follow the rules. Are we all clear?" Paul makes sure to get verbal confirmation from everyone before we continue. Last thing we wanted was an information leak and for word to reach Reyna's father.

I speak up first, kicking off the meeting proper. "Alright, I'll quickly catch everyone up to speed. It's been about a week since we confirmed the location of the rogue's encampment. It's was around this time that we confirmed that David Anderson and his son Markus held a meeting to discuss the rogues return to the pack. It was at the same time that I was injured and attacked by Marcus posing as Reyna..." The tension in the room was almost thick enough to see as I take a brief moment pause and catch my breath. "I want to start this meeting by opening the floor to the present members of the Silverlock pack. This is your leader and issues regarding your pack that we're discussing after all. I want your input first. How do you feel about this information and what do you suggest we all do with it?"

Nyx is the first to speak after hesitation from the others, having stepped forward from where she had been standing near at the back of the group. "Let me be the first to voice my concern about potentially going directly against our Alpha's orders. Being labeled a rogue isn't something I wish to experience, but after being briefed on what Mr. Parker had uncovered I agree that something must be done. I don't know what it is that he's planning, but keeping it all a secret has definitely strained the trust I have in him."

Nodding, I look to the other lycans, waiting for their input. But they all seem to be in agreement with Nyx's statement. "Alright, good. So we all seem to be in agreement here."

Talking back and forth we debate about the appropriate approach to take. Reyna and Paul quickly begin to argue at great length over this issue. Both agreeing that something must be done, but they stand on direct opposite sides of the issue. Reyna wants to keep things peaceful, whereas Paul wants to just be done with it once and for all. Whatever it takes. Taking Reyna's stance as pacifism and complacency rather than erring on the side of caution.

"I won't let there be any more unneeded bloodshed! Ther—" Reyna tries to explain her argument again, quickly finding out the hard way how frustrating it is to have an argument with Paul as he cuts her off.

"Look! We can't believe that they would just surrender peacefully! Blood will be spilled whether you want it or not. We just need to make sure it's not ours!" Paul is almost shouting over the top of her, asserting himself at the head of the conversation with his volume alone.