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I ignore him, yawning and patting my mouth.
“Let’s begin,” Jang says before a war can break out.
Another thing that’s common with wolves is fighting. We run hot, both physically and emotionally. It leads to a lot of brawls, and there is more than one claw mark along these floors where Jang has had to drag us out. Betas are better about keeping it outside, but it happens a lot.
Sparring is a way to work out arguments, and it’s natural.
When Jang glances down at his list, I put my thumb into my mouth and blow into it, pumping my middle finger up like a balloon before I shoot it at Tetrim. He snarls but quiets when Jang throws him a glare filled with alpha power, making him shrink back.
No matter how much Tetrim wants it, he will never be alpha. He isn’t strong enough nor able to control his wolf sufficiently. That’s why he needs me, and he knows it.
“So there is some worry about crops for the harvest festival,” Jang begins, ignoring our antics. He only gets involved if he has to, and he can’t show favourites.
“The corn is good, but they are right about the latest tomato crop. It isn’t great,” Filmia, the only other female beta, replies. “I have suggested that they dig up the old plants, leave that area of soil to heal, and replant on the southside. It means we will have less this harvest but more next year, and in the meantime, Dom has contacted a supplier to deliver what we are missing.”
“Good, very good.” Jang nods, marking it off, and Filmia sits up taller under the praise. She’s a middle-aged lady with bright blonde hair, brown eyes, and a kind face, but she can kick some serious ass. I know since she kicked mine often when I was a bratty teenager. Despite that, she’s never been anything butlovely and welcoming to me, even when some were not. I throw her a thumbs-up now, and she grins.
“Next issue. We need three new mate houses after the recent joinings. I suggest we start structures on the left side of the mountain where there are fewer. Leave the details up to them, but we will need extra supplies and help while they nest. Get their positions covered for now.”
“Got it,” White, the oldest wolf here other than Jang, responds. With a shock of white hair and eyes, it’s no wonder the nickname stuck. He’s a big bastard but a gentle giant. Jang told me that when I was younger, I never feared White. Instead, I always ran right towards him with kindness, and White has never forgotten that I didn’t show fear. He avoids pups even now so as not to scare them, which always saddens me. He is a great caretaker and has a way with stories. We all hoped he would have his own one day, but he has never mated, much to Jang’s shock.
He meets my lingering eyes and smiles softly, and I smile back. When the time comes, he will support me, but I wish he would find his own happiness. He’s always been focused on taking care of this pack and looking after my father—his best friend.
Jang once told me he could have been alpha. He could have bested him in a challenge, but instead, he conceded, and when Jang asked why, since they were so young, White admitted that he was a good fighter but not a good leader. Despite his strength over Jang, he knew Jang would be a better alpha. That’s White, always doing what’s best for others. It makes an idea form in my mind—get White mated.
It will have to wait, though, since Jang is still talking.
“Our final issue is the hunters. I’m worried about the rumours I’m hearing from other packs. They are moving closer. Ideas?” Jang says.
I sit up taller. We all have our own areas, and mine is pack protection as well as overall education. It is my responsibility to keep the pack safe. Tetrim starts to speak, but I beat him to it. “I’m going to lean on some ferals I can trust or buy out and have them scout the new hunters’ HQ. They are within fifty miles, which is worrying, but I’ve heard there are only one or two teams around here. They could be searching for local packs like ours, but more likely, they are hunting trolls or something else in the area. Even so, I will handle it. I suggest we double patrols over our territory, but for now, let’s not scare our people,” I rationalise. “We don’t know if they are here for us, and creating unnecessary panic would only cause loss of earnings, fear within the younglings, and eventually rebellion. Until we know the truth, we’ll continue moving forward with the fact that we have been safe for this long and just take extra precautions.”
“Very well said. Fine, I will leave it to you. Keep me updated, but take one of the betas with you,” Jang orders. “Just in case.”
“Of course, Alpha.” I bow my head and lower my eyes out of respect, but when I lift them, his shine with pride, and Filmea shoots me a thumbs-up.
I’m getting there. Once, I would have rushed into battle and signalled the alarms. They are not the first group of hunters we’ve had to deal with in our area, but I’ve learned raising the alarm each time isn’t the way to go. Sometimes, you have to ignore your wolf instincts and use your human brain. A good alpha can use the best of both our sides, making us more than wild animals.
It's what’s kept this pack alive and safe for generations.
“Are there any issues we need to discuss?” Jang opens the floor.
I elbow Dom, giving him his chance. He takes a deep breath and lifts his hand. Jang nods for him to speak, and Dom clears his throat. “I was hoping to propose a gathering for next Friday.There are some of us who have recently graduated from our masters, and I was hoping to surprise them with a celebration.”
“Of course,” Jang replies, like I knew he would. “They are our future, so they should celebrate their accomplishments. Outline what you will need, and I will sign off on it.”
“Thank you, Alpha,” Dom says, grinning widely. He was worried Jang would reject his idea since it’s a human university and some of the elders are still stuck on the old ways, thinking we shouldn’t have any connection to the humans, but Jang is new school.
Fuck those wrinkly old elders, respectfully.
Humans aren’t all bad. Hunters are asses, but they don’t make up all humans, just like ferals don’t make up all wolves. I even have a few human friends in the local town. We don’t hang out a lot, though, since I can’t exactly bring them home. I’m pretty sure they all think I live in some local convent, but they don’t complain. Our pack brings in business, and we keep to ourselves.
“Anyone else?” Jang asks.
Tetrim speaks without even putting his hand up, the asshole. “I would like to formally request a mating with Quinn.”
The room goes silent, and my claws sharpen. Dom covers my hands, reminding me what will happen if I gut the bastard.
“No,” is all Jang says, and I blow out a relieved breath.
