The Kitty Cat's Mates (ManxMen)

28 | Bad News

Kain walked down the hallway with an aimless glare while rubbing his hair with a face towel. He sniffed himself, wondering if he still smelt of garlic and vinegar and found only the hint of citrus.

Good, he thought, removing his nose away from his armpit.

After winding around the cryptic hallways and meeting people with diverse expressions who similarly bowed at his presence, Kain finally stopped in front of the double doors that led to the boardroom. He looked at it and contemplated, readying himself for the 'naggers.' Finally, he opened it and stepped in.

"Hi," Kain said nonchalantly. He ignored the glares from the people sitting around the large conference table, and went and sat on his seat.

"Took your time, didn't you?" Geoffrey sarcastically said.

"Time is gold." Kain grinned at him.

The forty-year-old Sentinel threw a displeased look at Kain before he coughed and looked back at the other members, twelve of them, mostly high in rankings, which sat around the long table.

"Back to what I was saying," Geoffrey cleared his throat, "do you think that this was a good idea, having the Tierra Madre prowl around our territory and expect for them to comply with us?" He scoffed. "These cats are swank, born with a silver spoon in their mouth. They think highly of themselves."

"And probably," one of the female members said, "they think nothing of us than a bunch of nouveau riche barbarians who'll allow them to piss around."

There were short-lived murmurs of agreement. Zachary looked neutral at the head seat, while Kain tapped a foot under the table, already feeling lethargic and dozy, and wondering why he even bothered coming here.

"Well, first thing first," Yusef cut in, seating sideways and relaxed as he tapped a pen at the wooden base of the conference table. He looked at the chap on the farther side, who had a cold compress resting on the purplish spot on his busted cheek. "Why did the fight break out, Gian?"

Gian twitched. "W-well..." he stammered, fingers tangling around each other under the table. "O-one of their members tried to h-harass me w-when I was passing by."

Geoffrey slammed his knuckled hand on the table. "See?! Those damn braggarts are really asking for it!"

"Calm down, Geoffrey." Zachary sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. There was only a small stack of paperwork waiting for him in his room, but it's already a minute away from midnight. "As much as I understand your current feelings, I wish you would stray away from such negative thoughts at the moment."

Geoffrey clenched his jaw.

"Tierra Madre will contribute more than what we're seeking. The pride is a vital piece for us.

"And in this era of enterprises, rather than traditional territorial rivalry, we need to keep up with the industry," Yusef cut in. He twirled the Mont Blanc pen on his fingers as he eyed each expression of their men. "We can use this as a stepping stone, can't we? And besides, the pride knows how to fight." He smiled at frowning Geo, who was always so pessimistic about everything that Yusef — and not just Yusef — wanted to throw him out of the window every damn time.

Yusef glanced at Gian. "Anyways... Is that what really happened, Gian?"

Gian twitched. "Y-yes, Alpha!" he exclaimed rather high. The man's nervousness rose when Yusef just statically smiled at him. Yusef knew. He's going to have to ask King later.

The conference door swung open, and their heads turned, only to find Ark, dressed in a fading polyester overcoat, who welcomed himself in.

"Everyone's well?" Ark warmly greeted them.

Zachary and Yusef's brows rose at the sight of their uncle, and Kain puffed air out of his nose.

"Ark, good timing," one of the older members said. "How did the search went?"

Ark's expression didn't suggest good news. "We're still tracing Gabriel's disappearance. Looks like he was onto a lead before. And now that he's missing, then we probably know he found more than a lead... Or more like the lead found him."

A heavy wordless stance slithered in the room. Zachary closed his eyes and tilted his head down. Kain's knitted brows turned into a grimace, and he clicked his tongue, while Yusef frowned, all of them worried for the state of their missing comrade. If Gabriel was indeed caught, then they fear of what was happening to him right now.

"We'll find him," Ark said, and the others wished they did as soon as possible. Ark decided to change the topic. "Anyways, I heard about the commotion with the werecats. First day, and it's already a cat and dog situation?"

"Exactly," Geoffrey jeered. "And this is just one of the hints already that it's not going to work out with them!"

Ark shrugged, crossing his arms against his chest before he leaned into the paneled wall. "Well, I believe friends can start as enemies. And don't you think its too late to change minds now, Geo? Why not see how things go on, I mean, it's only temporary. You never know."

"Hmph."

With a weak smile, Ark shook his head.

After a momentary paused, Zach finally drew out what he wanted to say: "From now on, we will be completing training sessions with them."

The members gave him varying looks.

"I don't mind whipping their asses into shape," Kain said.

"Kain," Zach warned.

"Yes, yes."

"Anyways, I know you peeps are all caught up with this whole new shenanigans but aren't you preparing for the next month?" Ark inquired.

They stared at him.

"And why would we prepare for the next month?" Kain cocked a brow.

Ark stared back at them, eyes blinking faster than average. All of them looked confused, before Yusef and Zachary's brows quirked up.

"Oh," Yusef quietly exclaimed, lips curved into an 'o' before he darted his distantly gazing eyes on the table.

"Wow," Ark said, "You guys must have been really distracted to forget about that."

"What the heck are you going on about, old man? Just spit it out, would you?" Kain spat.

"... Mating season?"

Their eyes widened.

"Everyone?" Ark chuckled. "Wow. You guys really forgot about it."

Zachary placed a hand to cover his eyes. "Right. The season." The season where all the weres — werewolves and werecats — of ages twenty-five and above experience the infamous itch on their crotch — the heat.

Yusef and Kain exchanged gazes and swallowed the knot that somehow made its way into their throats. Here they were, still planning phase one and how they would control and deal with their King situation. And they haven't even finished yet, but surprise motherfucker.

***

While sitting on the floor and leaning on his bed with an ice bag on his face, King sneezed. Weird, he thought as he rubbed his nose. The air conditioner was off, so why was he feeling a chill running down his spine?