“Jack! Wimbley here! How are you, son?”
“That’s Alpha Laighin. Only my friends call me Jack, of which you are not one. And I’m certainly not your son.”
“It’s a term of endearment. I meant no disrespect. You know me better than that,” he said with a chuckle.
“As a matter of fact, I do, but let’s not go there yet. I’m more concerned with the reason I’m calling.”
“Alright. What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to know why there has been no formal communication from the Council regarding the slaughter of the Gamieyon Pride.”
“Whoa, now. Slaughter is a powerful word. I’m not so sure I’d call a personal battle between the Gamieyon Pride and the Falwell Pride a slaughter.”
Jack looked up just as he was about to answer and saw Bonnie helping Gwen down the stairs.
Rance got up and went to help her get to the table more quickly, then gave her his seat and pushed her up closer to the table.
Jack looked her in the eye, wanting to know if she wanted to be a part of the call, but she gestured that he should continue.“Considering that there are slightly more than forty survivors of a very large Pride, I’d call it a slaughter.”
“I’m afraid you’ve been given incorrect information, Ja… Alpha Laighin. The Gamieyon Pride is alive and well. Did they suffer some casualties, yes. But so did the Falwell Pride. I hate these petty blow ups and power grabs between our Prides as much as you do, but when you get two powerful Prides vying for the same territory, in certain circumstances it’s unavoidable.”
“The Gamieyon Pride WAS in Missouri. The Falwell Pride is in Oregon. The Gamieyon Pride never encroached on the Falwell Pride. However, I know the Falwell Pride recently tried to take land in Idaho. Twice. And when faced with a force standing against them the second time, they skittered away. There was no power grab from the Gamieyon Pride. They never ventured out of their own territory. Furthermore, witnesses put the Falwell Pride on Gamieyon land as the aggressors.”
“Again, Alpha Laighin, I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed. And if they’re all gone as you claim, how could there be witnesses? And have you considered that it might not have been legal under our laws for you to be on Gamieyon land with a third party.”
Jack raised an eyebrow at Gwen as he spoke to Wimbley. “I said more than forty survivors, and for your information, they sought sanctuary here. They are the witnesses.”
“Well, I’m sure they’re pretty shaken up. Whatever they say should be taken with a grain of salt, Alpha Laighin, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
Gwen sat up a little straighter. “Council Member Wimbley, this is Reigna Gwen Gamieyon. Forty plus members of my Pride, all but five of them women and children, arrived on Laighin Pride land and requested sanctuary. It’s been granted. I can tell you first hand, every other member of my Pride, including my mate, Alpha Grail Gamieyon, is dead, murdered in thisunprovoked attack. The safe rooms under the Pride house and elsewhere on the property were compromised and set ablaze with women and children in them. This was nothing short of slaughter.”
“Reigna Gamieyon, please allow me to extend my deepest sympathies on the loss of your mate, and your Pride members. I had no idea.”
“Lie!” Rance snarled.
“If I had known, I would certainly have made it a point to personally investigate. I was told that it was just a typical battle between two Prides vying for control of the same land,” Wimbley said, choosing to ignore the accusation of him lying.
“Obviously, Council Member Wimbley, you’ve been misinformed,” Gwen said haughtily.
Jack snorted, and a couple of other males barely stifled laughter.
“I have been granted sanctuary here indefinitely. In light of the protection, shelter, and safety the Laighin Pride has given me and mine, I have insisted that Alpha Laighin take control of all my land, and exert any decisions and actions in my stead. Alpha Jack Laighin and Reigna Bonnie Laighin are now speaking for and acting on my behalf. They have full discretion to make decisions on my behalf, and protect Gamieyon land and legacy in any way they see fit, as I take the time to mourn my mate, my people, and heal from an attack that almost killed me. You will deal with Alpha Laighin in my stead. And as to your question of was he allowed to be on Gamieyon Pride lands; only he, his people, and those he deems acceptable have permission to be there. You and your people are not allowed to set foot there.”
“Of course, Reigna Gamieyon. But we will have to complete an investigation before we can take action of any type.”
“I’m not speaking to you anymore, unless you plan to do your jobs any time soon. You’re obviously of no more help than you’ve been in the last couple of years.”
“Reigna Gamieyon, I am aware that you are distraught, but that kind of accusation will not be tolerated,” Wimbley said.
“Wrong, Wimbley. I’m not distraught. I’m pissed off. I’m angry, and I’m vengeful and I’m raging! I want to wipe the entire Falwell Pride off the map, with the exception of the females and children. I have at least a little more dignity than the Falwells do and will not murder women and children. But I am finished with diplomacy. Consider yourself fortunate that Alpha Laighin still thinks you’re worth the time it takes to listen to your lies.”
There was silence on the other end of the line.
“Let’s move on, shall we?” Jack asked.
“Of course,” Wimbley said. “I am truly sorry for the trauma and destruction she’s enduring.”
“We all are. At the risk of repeating myself, as I’m sure you heard me tell your secretary, resulting in your sudden availability, we are now allied with the Variant. We have conducted a joint investigation of the Gamieyon property. We’ve buried those the Falwells couldn’t even be bothered to bury, which I find disgraceful. We’ve found and taken into our possession evidence that indicates the Falwell Pride along with a small number of captive Variant males are responsible.”
