Taint, Time and Tangents✔️

≑ Chapter Thirty Two

To my twitter buddy, coyheartslee <3

  ∞ 32 ∞

ISAIAH

"If nothing happens, or if you don't hear from any of us within half an hour, you go and tell the pack," I said, looking up to Sam briefly before returning my weary eyes to an extensive map fastened on the circular chestnut table before us. It was a detailed map of Frostweed Town, filled with blue, red and black-inked circles over some areas. Dagger, colored pins and darts punctured some places as signs of our rendezvous points.

Convened in a newly-constructed building at the edge of the school boundary - the furthermost place away from the celebration - we huddled for an emergency meeting, a last round-up meeting for the strife later this night. Earlier, the wardens has notified about the approaching Elites.

We already anticipated this. After a large-scale meeting last week between our packs, we already knew that the Royals were the ones we would be facing against. But for them to come headfirst, without even masking their scents, they were pretty confident.

And it doesn't sit well with us.

Strangely, I was both nervous and thrilled at the turn of events. Whatever the outcome is, it would surely be written in history. The only question was if this night would conclude everything or would turn out just a part of the whole warfare.

But as I could see from Caldwell, he has no plans in backing down. He was very determined for this to be the last - or maybe he would do everything to end this tonight.

I understand, the sooner he would finish this, the sooner he would be with Callie

But there was something within me saying that it wasn't his sole reason. As I remembered the number 17 displayed in Callie's mirror last week, my instincts were telling me that it was more than a number. It seemed to be ticking down to something, spurring Caldwell to take action.

"If there was no one around, use Signum 4. Understood?" I continued on, my steady voice ricocheting against the four walls of the small meeting room. "No one should-"

The door suddenly opened, interrupting me. My jaw clenched as the dim doorway spewed a silver-haired guy. The room was immediately devoured by rattling tension. Even if we had already held few meetings together, seeing two conflicting Alphas in one room and putting their heads together, it still brought uneasiness among the members.

He just stepped in a bit when I smelled it.

My fingers clenched as I repressed my annoyance. In the corner of my eyes, I noticed how his pack mates threw startled looks at each other at the sight of their Alpha, with a very unusual disheveled hair and scrunched clothes smeared with a hint of recent arousal - a scent they never smelled before from him.

He was undoubtedly with Callie. And the bastard didn't even bother concealing it.

"Good for you to come here," I couldn't help but remark, my irritation palpable in the air. I didn't miss how the growing grins from the lips of Licorice curled to snarls upon hearing me.

Caldwell didn't seem to be affected by any of it and walked straight into our huddle at the middle of the cramped room. Only higher ranks from both our packs were summoned here, making last arrangements before the Elites arrive to our boundaries.