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The first thing he did upon returning to his house was activate one of the countless Verizon phones he had. Most of his pack had at least one spare phone, in case of emergencies. He’d just plugged the cell phone up to its charger when there was a slight knock. Sloan entered the office. It was sometime after six in the morning but he wasn’t surprised to find his beta awake. He’d found out centuries ago that Sloan disliked sleeping. He was probably the one were Conall had ever met who disliked sleep.
Sloan closed the door and stood before it. When seconds passed with Sloan simply staring at him, Conall snapped, “What?”
The calm expression on his friend’s face never faltered. “The Elders are here. They’re demanding to see you now.”
Conall glared at the clock on the wall. It was six thirty five, to be exact. How did they even know he was here?
“They saw your truck,” Sloan replied, anticipating the question.
He drew in a deep, steadying breath. The headache was growing in intensity and both the human and animal part of him were irritable. Sighing, he sat down in the burgundy leather chair before his desk and tried to calm himself. He would have to face the Elders sometime, and despite the ridiculously early hour, now was as good a time as ever.
“Send them up.” He closed his eyes, feeling Vivienne despite being miles away.
“Are you sure?” Sloan asked quietly. An emotion flickered quickly in those metal-gray eyes before it vanished. Conall recognized concern.
He nodded. “I’ll have to speak with them at some point.”
Sloan nodded and left. By the time the Elders arrived, Conall had managed to grab hold of his temper. He’d leashed it, so to speak, but still it lurked.
“Gentlemen. Ladies,” he acknowledged in greeting, staring at the five ancients who looked for the most part like casually dressed, middle-aged humans, approaching him. Brennus led the way, followed by Gresham, Latriel, Zahira, and Verity. Two had scowls on their faces; the rest wore masked expressions.
“What do you think you’re doing?” That question came directly from Brennus, who glared at him as if he’d done him a personal wrong.
“Please…sit.” Conall waved his hand in the direction of the chairs and sofas that the Elders had bypassed.
Brennus and Greshman ignored him as Latriel, Zahira, and Verity moved to take seats.
“There are laws, ancient laws, that govern us! No one is above the law.” Brennus might have well said “You are not above the law” because the pointed stare he gave Conall after stating it told the alpha all he needed to know.
“Weres do not mate humans! And it is common courtesy to seek the blessing of your Elders when you decide to mate! Our law—”
Latriel made a slight sound that brought Conall’s attention to him. He was glaring at Brennus’s back. He hadn’t had a meeting with the Elders in years, and had forgotten that Latriel was Brennus’s biggest heckler, and vice versa. That thought leashed the temper that was already threatening to come forth.
“It has been done before,” Latriel interjected easily, earning a glare from Brennus. Latriel, who was a few hundred years Brennus’s senior, continued in his droll voice. “Perhaps we should let our alpha speak?”
Brennus looked ready to object, but he eventually took a seat and lifted an arrogant brow at Conall. Gresham followed suit.
“There is no written law against the joining of two different species—”
“Most of our laws are not written, but passed down,” Gresham interrupted.
“That rule was passed down to prevent the unnecessary death of innocent humans.”
“And is your human not innocent?” Brennus challenged snidely.
Conall felt his patience give. The amiable expression fell from his face and his voice was like a whiplash when he said, “Her name is Vivienne.” He paused, waiting to see if Brennus or Greshman would say something—anything—to set him off. They didn’t.
Tearing his eyes away from Brennus, he looked to the other Elders. Zahira, one of the two females, the other being Verity, were staring curiously at him. No one was certain of Zahira’s age as she remembered little of her life before being rescued by her mate’s pack, but one thing was certain: she was strong. She’d been the alpha bitch to her own pack before an attack killed her mate. After, she’d walked alone until she stumbled upon his pack, at that time led by his brother. She’d been staying with them when a larger pack had attacked. Conall had been strong, Gregory had trained him personally, but he’d been young and lacked the stamina of a seasoned warrior. Exhaustion had almost gotten him killed, before Zahira stepped in and viciously killed a wolf twice her size. Gregory repaid her loyalty by offering her a home with them. Since then, she’d never left his side.
