Inlustris

Pluviam

It was another cloudy day. I noticed as I looked out the window. 

I hoped it would rain. Somehow, I hoped, the rainfall would calm me down before heads started rolling in the council room tonight.

I had been three days since the same discussion had been going on. The council had already agreed to let the wolves from Aluvia come and remain with us for three weeks. I would not consent to a single day more. They were right that wolves from my pack needed to meet others packs to find their mates but the amount of unmated wolves coming for this event was too large to not arouse suspicion.

I sighed looking down at my black and grey dress that clung to my body. God I hated this dress. My Black hair was pulled into a ponytail and my black heels gave me a boost of three inches. Satisfied with my appearance I closed my eyes breathing deeply. 

I grabbed the folder from my dresser and walked to the door on the other side of my room. The walls that were normally blue and white, right now seemed very dull in the meager light entering the room from the french doors. The lights were all turned off giving the room a gloomy look that reflected how I felt right now.

I had a sudden urge to crawl back into my bed and surrender to sleep. The white and blue sheets looked very inviting. I stared longingly at the bed before exiting the room.

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"They want to what?" I asked the council member in case I had heard him wrong.

"Alpha, since their Alpha is next in line for the throne for the next Regem, they want to send the Protectors along with him. The number is very small and the Alpha seemed adamant that he Bring them with him." The council member replied looking slightly apologetic.

"Fine. I will take it up with the current Regem. If he consents to it I will have no choice in the matter." I replied tersely.  This was not going well. What did the Alpha think, that I was going to have him murdered.

I then groaned inwardly. Of course. Of course that's what he was thinking.

"Self-absorbed asshole." I muttered under my breath, fully aware that the others in the room could hear me due to their werewolf hearing. I heard a chuckle that was quickly covered up as a cough.

"Alright, aside from the protectors coming and the 100 un-mated wolves coming in two weeks, we also have to talk about who gets assigned for what duties." I looked over everyone in the council. They were all at least in their late thirties.

"Malachi, you're getting the security set up." Malachi was a huge man. There was no other way to describe him. He was tall and built like a tank. His tanned skin and olive green eyes complemented his black hair. He nodded solemnly. 

"Jacob, I need you to work for their accommodations. Refer to Azaria, she will know which cabins are open and can be used for the un-mated wolves's stay. Corin and Azazel can help with the costs of having them stay here. I want the bills prepared and sent to me by tonight." I told them. 

"I am not paying for them staying here. Let's see how much Aluvia likes paying for their pigs staying here." I muttered under my breath. More sounds of coughing were heard.

"Alpha." Zoran, my Beta muttered under his breath. I cleared my throat. 

"Anyways, I want them to feel welcome." As much as I don't want them here. This was muttered over the pack link. I felt the amusement of my pack members over the link. I could also feel Zoran's disapproval as clear as day.

 "Zoran, since you seem so concerned with it, you can be their guide and be responsible for them." I smiled at him mischievously and turned away before he could say anything.

"The rest of Pack business will proceed as normal." My voice turned serious. "All of the pack members who meet their mates need to come and tell Joana." I motioned towards my other Beta. "If their mates want to join the pack, we will test them. If they want to leave and our pack members agree, I will contact the other pack's Alpha but under no circumstance is a mating to be kept a secret from me." I maintained eye contact with all the members so they knew how serious I was. They could feel the power of my command over them, they would know know how important this was. 

"If a rejection occurs or is at risk of happening, If the pack member is from our pack, they need to give a valid explanation, if not then we will intervene before the rejection is complete. If the Were is from the other pack then escort them to the nearest human settlement and they can find their way back to their pack. I will not have them here for no reason at all." I stood from my seat.

"Do we have anything else to discuss?" I asked now looking at the head of the council, Mathew Shaw. He shook his head and also stood following my lead. Zander came and stood at my left while Joana from the seat at my right to stand on my right side. I bit my lip to keep back a smile at their protectiveness. 

Malachi Lee, Jacob Anderson and Azazel came to stand behind me. The council member stood up as well. I nodded at them and left the room. 

As soon as we stepped out I sighed. Zoran squeezed my hand in sympathy and I gave him a weak smile.

"Joana, I need you to make sure the council follows the routine for the pack. I don't want them handling the newcomers. I want either Jacob, Zoran or Azazel handling them. Malachi, I want them monitered and any suspicious behavior be thoroughly investigated. They will not make any trouble for us here." I kept walking as we exited the building. The sound of children laughing and people walking around made me relax slightly.

Joana, a woman in her late twenties with black hair and black eyes nodded, her glasses slipping down her nose which she pushed back up to place. Zander wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. His deep blue eyes were alert as he looked around despite being around his mate. His red hair seemed like flames in the sunlight. He nodded at me as he walked away with his mate.

"Jacob, I need you to help Zander with the newcomers. Good cop, bad cop routine. You can be the good guy." I looked up at him as he cracked a smile. "I think that will be all. You and Malachi can go. Azazel walk with me." They said as they were told. 

I walked with Azazel for a while and smiled at anyone who made eye contact with my from the pack. The children playing waved at us and I smiled back at them. I looked back at Azazel, his blank expression giving nothing away. I smiled at the asian male with brown hair and chocolate brown hair. 

"You alright?" I asked him quietly and he nodded, not making eye contact. 

"OK." I led him towards my house where he was currently staying with me. "I still don't see why I have a huge ass mansion." I mussed and as always he looked at me blankly. I sighed. He wasn't going to be a chatter box any time soon.

I had met him three months ago and he had already proven himself to be trustworthy. His wolf was a little feral hence him staying with me instead at the pack house. He was already worming his way into my little group aside from the council. The Council was a pain in my ass, not gonna lie.

Zander, Joana, Jacob, Malachi and now Azazel were my Betas. The last of the group Kiron, was missing as he was in Aluvia to work things out with the Alpha and finalize the coming of the hundred weres. Of course our own were going there too but only after I sent the ones from Aluvia back to their dens. I scowled. 

I didn't like to be tested and Aluvia was definately doing that. The next Regem coming here was also going to be a problem. He was bringing his protectors with him. They were bo doubt going to be over bearing assholes who will try to challange my authority because of their rank.

Being one of the few female alphas was something to be proud of bht it was also a pain in my butt.

I had been discovered about 50 years ago to be one of the most powerful beings on the damn planet.
The other weres were not happy with that. Imagine a woman being more powerful than a man. Oh the horror.
I snorted with disgust.
Azazel looked at me curiously for a moment before looking away.
I pursed my lips thinking of Kiron. It had taken him longer than I was comfortable to come back.
As a werewolf time mattered little to me due to our extended lifespans. I was about 70 years old but looked as if I was late in my teens.