The Alpha’s Companion - Chapter 62

Outside, Brogan walked over to Julien, standing in the center of the practice field, and whispered something to him just as Lacey was putting on her MMA fighting gloves. Julien looked over at Lacey and frowned, then he went on to address the pack. “Young warriors, you will train with the Alpha Queen today, Team Alpha is with me, Team Omega is with Kodiak….” Then just before they broke into their groups, Julien added, “Scarlett, a word.”

“Well, at least it isn’t me this time,” Lacey said to herself as she jogged off with her young warriors. She was tired of Scar and her antics. If Lacey had anything to say about it, Scar’s days in the pack were numbered.

The day was uneventful, and her warriors did a wonderful job. The young warriors had trained with Kodiak while she was away, and they had blossomed under his guidance. It was true that it takes a village to raise a child… and it takes a pack to raise a wolf-shifter.

“Okay, everyone!” Lacey announced at the end of the day. “Gather round!” When all her young warriors were in place, she said, “You are all becoming warriors in your own right and I am very proud of you. You have taken my advice, Kodiak’s advice, Alpha Grey’s advice, and the advice of other more advanced warriors and have made their techniques your own. Keep up the good work!”

“Aye!” they all yelled proudly, smiling.

“But when it comes down to facing the Wildclaws, you will follow Alpha Grey’s or my orders. Understand?”

“Aye!” they yelled again in unison.

“Pack it up and let’s meet in the practice field,” Lacey ordered. “I’m sure that Alpha Grey has some advice or orders we must follow.”

“Aye!”

Once the young warriors were all packed, they headed to the practice ring and Julien announced, “Tonight, I’m calling a Council meeting after dinner. Members of the Council will meet in the small dining room. All Council Members must attend. Dismissed!”

Lacey had never been to a Council Meeting before so this would be a first.

“So, how did it go?” she asked Julien on their way out.

“Good. I think we’re ready,” Julien slid his arm over her shoulders and smirked. “How did it go with your young warriors?”

“Well, Kodiak did a great job with them while I was away,” Lacey replied. “They’re all coming in to their own as warriors now. I’m very proud of them.”

Julien nodded, as a crease formed between his eyes. “Do you think they’re ready?”

Lacey nodded. “Yes. But I told them that when the Wildclaws came, they are to follow yours or my orders.” Then she looked into his eyes. “Julien, between us, I want to keep them out of the fight, if possible.”

He nodded once. “Well, they may not have a choice. When the time comes, I have a feeling that we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

***

Tonight, Lacey and Julien had dinner with the rest of the pack, but it was uneventful. With the impending Wildclaw attack, no one felt much like celebrating.

“So, are you ready for this?” Julien announced, giving her a cocky grin as they headed over to the small dining room after dinner. “It’s your first Council Meeting with the Harvest Moon Pack, after all.”

“It’s my first Council Meeting with any pack,” Lacey corrected. “But yes. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Everyone stood when they walked in and Lacey was surprised that Scar was there. But then again, before Lacey came, Scar had been his top advisor. Lacey just hoped that she behaved herself during the meeting, at least. She would no longer tolerate Scar’s disrespect.

Julien walked to the head of the table, and Lacey took the seat to his right. “I appreciate all of you coming tonight. But with the Wildclaw threat, there are some logistics that we need to go through. Also, I will start holding Council meetings on the first Monday of every month. I will let you know if there are more.” Then he looked around the room. “Four packs have answered the call and have promised to help. One pack from the Ute Tribe in Colorado offered, but they have a werewolf infestation they are dealing with, so I told them not to come. Two Packs have refused. One is The Silver Pack. The other is The Starlight Pack. Their Alpha has become complacent, so I will pay him a visit after everything is said and done.”

Lacey wouldn’t want to be the Alpha of the Starlight Pack when Julien was through with him.

“That said,” Julien continued, “I want to go over logistics. Every team needs to have a place to defend.” So, Julien spent the rest of the meeting fine tuning the well-oiled machine that was The Harvest Moon Pack. “But when it comes to Rex, he’s mine… unless you have no other choice. According to Wolf Code, if a rogue Alpha is to be put down, it is up to his brother or closest family member to do it. And as his brother, I claim that right.”

A rumble of disbelief resonated throughout the room.

“But shouldn’t his demise be put to a Council vote?” Scar asked, her voice filled with concern. “He could always be captured and then his case revisited in about seventy years.”

Julien shook his head. “No. I’m claiming the right.”

“But Julien, for your own safety—”

Julien slammed his fists down onto the table. “Scarlett, enough! Believe me, I did not come to this decision lightly.”

“Alpha Grey, if I may,” Raye interjected. “I think that in this case, she’s right. It should really be put to a vote. I fear that, since Rex is brother, you may be too close to the situation.”

Julien nodded. “Okay.” Then he looked around the room. “What say you? If you are agree that Rex, the leader of the Wildclaws, should be put down, then answer with Aye. If you disagree, answer with Nay. Agreed?”

A rumble of agreement resonated throughout the pack.

He turned to Lacey first. “Nay.”

Julien’s head snapped up.

“I don’t feel that you should have to kill your own brother,” Lacey interjected.

“This isn’t a matter of how it’s done, Alpha Queen,” Julien corrected. “This is a matter of whether or not Rex, the leader of the Wildclaws, should be put down. He has been after my pack because he feels he is the rightful Alpha. Now. I will start again.”

He turned to the other side this time and, one at a time, every person answered with “Aye”. But when it came to Scar, Brock, and Raye, they all answered “Nay”.

Then it came back to Lacey. “Aye.” She sighed. Even though she didn’t want the responsibility to fall upon Julien’s shoulders, she couldn’t deny that going against the Alpha of all Alphas and trying to take over his pack was an offense punishable by death.. She just hoped that Julien could live with it, and that he didn’t get hurt in the process.