Antoine and Keira entered the common mess area full of wolves from different packs.
"I'll grab a to-go box," Antoine said, hurrying over to the ever-growing line for food.
Keira nodded and grabbed a stool nearby to sit on. The stool table was near the exit that Antoine would have no issues finding her after he got his food. Keira was waiting patiently when she felt a pair of eyes on her.
She slowly turned and saw the General giving her a death stare.
What's his problem? Keira wondered.
Is that jealousy I smell, teased Sabelina.
I doubt it, Keira said.
Keira chuckled and waited for Antoine. When he eventually made it through the line, they had only 10 minutes to get to the meeting site.
"I'm sorry for the wait, Captain," he said, rushing over. "It won't happen again."
"Come on," Keira said, standing up and walking out of the mess hall with Antoine following behind her.
Keira quickly walked out of the packhouse and led the way to the Summit. While they walked, Antoine ate the food as quickly as possible.
"Thank you for letting me get some food," Antoine said, chewing quickly. "I don't think I would have lasted through the meeting without eating something."
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I was so tired from yesterday's trip."
Keira waved his apology away. She wasn't upset - everyone was tired from the long trip.
The walk through the woods went by quickly as Keira and Antoine sped down the paved path. Only those invited to the Summit knew where it was going to take place and at what time.
"Just through here," Keira said as the trees parted to reveal a clearing with a building in the center of it.
"Captain Grace," one of the guards greeted as they emerged from the woods.
"Josh," Keira called out in greeting. "How are you?"
"Better now that you're here," Josh teased as he waved her through the metal detector machine.
Keira pursed her lips and shook her head. Josh was always teasing her.
"What would we do without the Task Force protecting us?" Josh asked flirting with her.
"Probably die," Keira muttered.
Josh laughed.
"This is Antoine," Keira continued as Antoine waited to be let through. "He's accompanying me."
"He checks out," Josh informed her, waving at Antoine to pass by. "You can leave the styrofoam container here. We can't have him embarrassing you."
"I-I wouldn't," Antoine stammered, defending himself.
Keira patted Antoine's shoulder and shook her head.
"Thanks," Antoine muttered, leaving the container with Josh.
"I'll see you later," Keira said as the doors to the building opened and she walked in, followed by Antoine.
"Is he always like that?" Antoine asked as they walked further inside the building.
They walked past the small, lightly furnished waiting area.
"He's harmless," Keira answered. "He's that way with all of the Lunas. He enjoys making the Alpha jealous."
As they approached the main doors, Keira stopped in front of the door.
"Antoine," Keira said, making him stop.
"Don't speak until you're spoken to," she instructed. "These Alphas are just itching for a fight with all the testosterone in the room. Don't be the reason why a fight breaks out."
"I understand," Antoine said. "I'll be a ghost."
I hope so, Keira thought, opening the doors before her and entering. If you don't, they'll eat you alive.
As both Keira and Antoine entered, the chatter didn't stop, which was a good thing. Keira secretly hoped that no one would notice and she could go find their seats undisturbed.
Almost there, Keira thought as she saw her name on a place card.
But luck wasn't on her side...
"Who the hell is this?"
"Are you lost, Luna?"
"You're in the wrong place, honey!"
"Did they hire you for the entertainment?"
Keira resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
Let me out! Savelina roared beyond angry. I'll rip their heads off! How dare they?!
Captain, Antoine said through mind-link.
Ignore them, Keira said to both of them as they neared their seats.
As they approached, Keira was only a few inches away when it happened. One of the new Alphas stood up and stood before her, a smirk on his face.
"You're here for me?" He asked, smiling down at her.
"In your dreams," Keira said, sidestepping around him.
But he wouldn't let it go. He reached out and grabbed her by the wrist. Everyone in the room visually stopped and looked at them.
"Let go," Keira warned.
Sabelina was roaring to come out.
"Don't be like that," the alpha said, his smirk never leaving his face. "I just want to have fun."
Instead of replying, Keira grabbed his foreman with her free arm and started to squeeze.
"Let go or have a broken arm," Keira said, borrowing Sabelina's strength.
Still, he wouldn't let go. By the look in his eyes, he wasn't taking her seriously. Keira began squeezing his forearm, not caring if she did end up breaking it.
Keira could feel the resistance of his bone beginning to weaken, and in one swift movement, she squeezed with all her might. The loud snap of the bone could be heard all over the room.
It wasn't long until everyone roared to action. The alpha released her wrist and collapsed on the floor before clutching his forearm. Another wolf beside him stood up, probably his beta. All the other new alphas stood up as well.
"I told you to release me," Keira said as a matter of fact. "I'm not someone to take lightly."
The alpha cursed something under his breath, ready to stand.
"All rise for the King, King Richard," the announcer said, cutting off whatever he was going to say.
The rest of the room stood up and faced the King.
"I see the party started, " he said, taking note of the situation, and no doubt was already aware of the situation.
"Alpha Zeke," King Richard continued. "I don't condone harassment of any kind on my territory. Since Captain Grace gave you an appropriate punishment, I won't take further disciplinary actions against you. If it continues or you seek retaliation, you do so at your own risk."
Keira could tell everyone was surprised at his words. Everyone knew that the king didn't tolerate harassment, but for him to allow Keira to extract punishment without repercussion was something new.
That's because we're family, Sabelina commented, happy that the alpha got put in his place. If it were me, I would have ripped his eyes out.
"Please be seated," King Richard continued as he sat at the end of the table.
Keira and Antoine took their seats, along with everyone else. It was only then that she saw General Donovan and the other man she had seen earlier today sitting in front of them, on the other side of the table. He had a weird expression on his face.
"With us today, we have several new Alpha members," King Richard said. "Stand and introduce yourself, your Luna, and your beta."
The alpha from before stood up, as well as three other alphas Keira didn't recognize.
"Zeke, Alpha of the White Plains," the man gritted through his teeth. "No Luna and Nick is my beta."
"Finn, Alpha of the Blue Rain," another man introduced himself. He had dirty blonde hair and light green eyes. "Luna Allison and George is my beta."
While the rest of the alphas introduced themselves, Keira felt a pair of eyes upon her. She didn't have to look to know who they belonged to.
He's staring, Sabelina commented. Is there something on your face?
Keira hushed her and went back to paying attention. Once everyone had been introduced and seated, the King started the Summit. He went over the rules and expected behavior from everyone.
"We have several items on the agenda we need to discuss," the King began. "In front of you is a folder that goes into the agenda in detail and corresponding documents."
"First, we have the continued grievance between Alpha Luke and Alpha Will."
"We were under the impression that the issue had been resolved," the King continued.
"It was resolved," Alpha Will reply. "We paid what was due and have fulfilled the contract."
King Richard looked at Alpha Luke for his defense.
"The shipment we received was tampered with," Alpha Luke replied. "We were missing a lot of items, and some of the goods were damaged."
"Was the issue investigated? " the King asked.
"We sent a messenger to Alpha Will," Alpha Luke said. "But they got turned away. Alpha Will wouldn't see them."
"Is this true?" King asked.
Alpha Will nodded but didn't say anything else. There were a few murmurs around the room.
"This is unacceptable," King Richard said, shaking his head. "Alpha Will, since the shipment was sent by you, you have a responsibility to investigate what happened."
"Captain Grace," the King directed his attention to Keira. "From your reports, you have also encountered something similar occurring in other places."
Antoine connected the laptop, Keira instructed Antoine.
"This isn't the first time we've encountered something similar," Keira confirmed. "But it has been our most recent attack in the last 4 months."
Ready, Antoine replied, pulling up the report and documents on the screen in the room.
"While scouting the area and collecting evidence," Keira said, pointing at the highlighted area where the attack took place between the two territories. "We found signs of rogue activities in the area."
There were more murmurs around the room. Rogues were bad news. And if they were banding together, then that was even worse.
"Did you find the main group?" the King asked.
"We found a large number of them, but I don't believe that was the main group," Keira replied. "We also found some items that match the description of what was stolen."
"You let them get away!" a voice called out.
Keira locked eyes with the speaker and instantly recognized him as Alpha Tom.
"If you recall, Tom," Keira began. "I personally sent several requests and messengers to ask for permission to cross your borders, and they were all denied."
More murmurs erupted around her.
"I have a signed letter from your Beta stating that your pack would take responsibility for going after the intruders," she continued.
Alpha Tom huffed and puffed but looked away without another word.
"What about the group you did find?"
Keira suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, General Donovan wanted to put in his two cents.
"They're dead," Keira replied bluntly. "We were able to extract some unopened crates. We disposed of the bodies."
"Since the perpetrators have been dealt with, I will send the items that were missing to Alpha Luke's pack," the King said. "If there aren't any more issues or concerns, this matter is now resolved."
"From here on out, no pack will deny any messengers, no matter where they come from," the King commanded.
Keira sat down and had Antoine shut off the projector. He quickly came to sit beside her.
"Next item on the list is the financial funds of each pack," the King continued. "All of you have sent over your finances, and they have all been reviewed."
"There were some issues that need to be dealt with. The issues and concerns have been emailed to your pack's finance personnel."
"If you wish to discuss these issues personally, please schedule a meeting with Mr. Drew, and he'll set up a time to meet," the King offered.
Are we on the list of issues? Antoine asked as the King moved on to the next item on the list.
No, Keira replied. The Task Force hasn't had financial issues since Grandfather took over.
Keira turned her attention back to the Summit.
"The annual matting ceremony and tribe selection will be occurring in 6 weeks," the King was saying. "We need to discuss member distribution."
"I don't think we should," Alpha Tom spoke up, interrupting the King.
The whole room took a breath and looked at the King for his reaction. No body interrupted the King.