TWO
WE LANDED SAFELY at Heathrow two hours behind schedule. The flight should have taken us about seven hours, but due to the loss of the engine and need to fly lower it took close to nine hours. No matter, I, and the rest of the passengers, were just happy to be on the ground in one piece.
“I guess it was a good decision to come a day before the meeting.” Sterling chuckled.
I smiled in return, opening the pack bonds to let Leo know we had arrived safely. I got no response from him, though I didn’t expect to. Sterling and I bypassed the baggage claim and whisked through customs to claim a taxi outside the airport. After instructing the driver to The Great Northern Hotel I sat back and relaxed for the first time in hours. I listened as Sterling called and checked in with his bar manager, letting him know we were safely on the ground. I was ready to get to the hotel, grab a shower and a good night’s sleep before we faced the council.
Sterling paid the driver as we exited the taxi. I checked us in and handed Sterling his room key as we ascended the stairs. An elevator was available but my wolf didn’t like confined spaces so I avoided them whenever possible. Our room was on the fourth floor. I was pleasantly surprised to find it spacious and inviting when I opened the door. I tossed my carry-on bag on one of the two queen beds and headed to the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower and then try to get some sleep. Why don’t you call down and put breakfast on order for tomorrow?”
“Will do, boss.” Sterling picked up the phone to contact room service as I closed the door. Stepping under the hot spray of water felt wonderful. My muscles relaxed and I let the water stream over me. Tomorrow would be difficult. Convincing the council to make any type of change was hard, but I knew it was the only way to survive. I only prayed I wouldn’t be executed for creating the pack before being granted permission to do so. The members were old school when it came to how things should work in our world. I knew the liaisons from the vampires and witches would be more open to what I had done. I just hoped they had enough sway to convince the rest of the council.
I woke to the sun streaming through a crack in the curtains and a warm body wrapped around mine. I looked down to find Jackie’s hair fanned across my chest as she slept. My mate, my true love. Things couldn’t get any better than this. My body stirred ready to take her again, but I stayed still. She would probably be sore from the last two days of our mating frenzy.
As that thought ran through my head I felt a hand close around my cock and I looked down again to find Jackie’s eyes greet mine dark with lust as she stroked me.
“I may be sore but that won’t stop me from wanting my mate.” She climbed on top and guided me to her entrance, slowly sliding down the length of me, exhaling in pleasure.
The cold water brought me out of my memories. I missed Jackie more and more every day. My mate. Most shifters either died or gave into their animal side after a mate’s death, choosing to stay an animal instead of face the world. I held on because that is what she would have wanted. Jackie was my biggest supporter in bringing the shifter world together. She had helped me plan the new pack, and was ready to help those in need, hating the hunts even more than me.
The new Pack dynamic was going to be a hard sell but we were both determined to show it was the only choice left to us. “Is the slide show ready?” I needed confirmation one more time.
“Yes, boss,” Sterling replied as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I already checked in with Leo as well, and the Pack is doing fine at the moment. There were a couple of perimeter alarms triggered. I sent Wyatt to check it out, but no humans were found.”
“Good. I want to make this go as quickly as possible so we can get back.” I stretched as he gathered our dinner plates and set them outside the door for room service to retrieve. I notified the front desk of the time we wanted our wakeup call and climbed into bed. Tomorrow morning would get here soon and we both needed a good night’s sleep.
THREE
THE TOWN CAR dropped us at the London alpha’s home promptly at nine a.m. All those in attendance had agreed beforehand this would be the safest and most easily defended location to meet. It’s always dangerous when so many alphas come together. The tension in the room would be high, and it wouldn’t be helped by the presence of the Vampire leader, or the leaders of any of the Other races. Meeting with everyone had never been done before, but it was the last option we had to find a way to save our races.
“You ready, boss?” Sterling asked when he saw my hesitation.
I sighed. “Not really, but no use in delaying the inevitable. Let’s go.”
We climbed the stairs and reached for the brass door-knocker. The door swung open before we could knock. “Maverick is expecting you. Please follow me into the meeting room.” An elderly butler bowed to us and preceded us down the hall. Maverick is the head of the council and the oldest alpha still around. He’s actually the oldest shifter on record having lived over a thousand years or so the stories go. He has never admitted to his age though so no one really knows the truth. They say he is one of the first lycanthropes to have been created and helped father the wolf shifters that live today. He has retained his position as council leader and alpha because his pure bloodline comes straight from the gods. I’m not sure I believe that tale, but it has helped him hold his place as the head of the council for years. I didn’t relish the challenge of convincing him it was time to change.
“Has anyone else arrived?” I asked.
“A few yes, we are waiting on two more,” he replied over his shoulder. I looked at Sterling with a raised eyebrow. That meant the other shifter alphas were here already, as well as the witches.
We entered the room and a shiver of magic fell over us. My wolf growled in response. Maverick sat at the head of the table. “Do not fear, Jerome. This room has been spelled to prohibit the use of magic by all races. It’s a preventative measure I took years ago when we started having these types of meetings. Discussions can get heated, and I do not want bloodshed in my home.”
“It would have been nice if you had told us that before we arrived,” I growled.
“If I tell everyone before they arrive then many would choose not to attend. This is the most important meeting in our history. Though I don’t know what you hope to gain from it.” The butler showed two more guests into the room. “It looks like everyone is here. Come sit, we can make introductions and get started.”
Sterling and I took the last two seats next to each other. Those that had come after us sat at opposite ends of the table, but it didn’t look like that bothered them in the least.
The meeting table was a long oval shape allowing for a dozen or more people to sit comfortably, which was adequate for normal shifters, but adding in all the other race leaders we had twice that many in attendance. Personal space would be intruded upon making for a tense atmosphere. I noted the twelve alphas, two vampires, two witches, and about eight Others I didn’t recognize.
Maverick stood. “We have gathered here to come to a decision on how we proceed going forward. The Vampires have been out to the humans for decades now and have found a way to live amongst them without fear. Shifters have not had the same experience, and many of you still hide in the shadows. Today we must make a choice on how to go forward. I would like to hear how the Vampires achieved their peace with the humans. I hope that will give the rest of us a blueprint on how to do so ourselves. I know many of you are tired of hiding, just as we shifters were, but now, after being hunted, our numbers have greatly decreased. Many species are near the point of near extinction. I open the floor to Draven to share the vampires’ experience.” Maverick gestured and the vampire stood with regal grace. His power radiated off him demanding attention without a word spoken. His speech was eye opening for some. He and I had spoken before, and his ideas and implementations had inspired my own. The vampires had created nests where they lived together in peace and under the radar. Each nest had no more than a couple dozen vampires, with one leader reporting
back to Draven’s council. On each continent they worked with the government placing one or more of trusted seethe members to help police their own kind. The humans did not have the experience or strength to subdue rogues, or those that went against the laws. They did not feed on random humans only from those who were willing donors, and only for a period of time. They had created a worldwide list that each donor human had to register with so they couldn’t hop between nests. It was a way to keep everyone safe. Being a donor can be just as addictive as taking blood. Draven detailed how they tracked each vampire, and what rules they put into place for punishments. It was rocky to begin with and he admitted it took about twenty years to iron it all out, but their system had proven fruitful and peaceful since then. That was over one hundred years ago.
“Thank you, Draven, I greatly appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and experience...” Maverick spoke again. “Now I know there are a lot of questions, but we have an alpha here who thinks he has the answer for us. I don’t know that I agree with his plan, but have decided to allow him and his second to share with us.” He turned to me. “Jerome, please.” He extended his hand, indicating the floor was mine.
I rose. “Thank you.” I tilted my head in respect. “Our coming out did not go quite as well as the vampires. For the last thirty years we shifters have been hunted by humans. Their fear of what we are overrode their common sense. Many of our species have died off, or are close to. My pack included. The humans enlisted the help of witches who practiced blood magic and the black arts. I know that doesn’t make sense, but what human’s mind does? We were hunted on our land, herded into a trap, and all but myself and three others were killed. I watched my mate die right in front of my eyes.” I paused to take a breath.
“I could have given up and joined her in death. I didn’t because my mate and I had been working on a plan to bring the shifter world together, and I knew that she would kick my ass for all eternity if I gave up on our plan and joined her right then.” I smiled and some around the table laughed. “I grieved for days before picking myself up and I still grieve every day, but I now have others that depend on me, and are the only reason I keep going.” I gestured to Sterling. “Sterling was with me during the massacre. We had been acquaintances before, he within his den of foxes, and I in my pack of wolves. He was alone, his pack having been wiped out during a hunt that happened at the same time as mine. We banded together for survival, and I eventually shared my idea to join shifters of different species together in one pack.”
Gasps came from a few at the table and a low murmuring started. I knew this idea wouldn’t be accepted immediately. I raised my hands. “I know, it sounds crazy, but that was ten years ago. Let me show you how far we have come. With the help of some very smart members we have grown from just Sterling and I into a good size pack that works together, lives together, and strives to make the shifter world better.” I pointed to the screen as Sterling set up the slide show. “We have brought pictures to share. Of the good and bad.”
Sterling pressed play and the faces of our pack filled the screen. Wolves, big cats, small cats, fox, bear, lion, and the winged predators that made up our family. “Our family isn’t perfect, but we take care of each other. We do have to spend time apart to keep our animal sides happy and calm. Wolves hunt together, cats hunt together, and the Others run, hunt, or fly as they need on our property. Not all the shifters here have decided to reveal themselves. If you notice, we have a few pictures of their animal side, but none of their human. That’s their choice, and we respect that. We have built our compound up to over one hundred acres now. Any pack member who joins and wants to live on our land may do so. We keep a good distance between each home, but the alpha house is always available to all.”
“How do you choose who joins your Pack?” one of the other alphas asked with a smirk on his face. “Do they have to challenge you and not die?” He laughed.
“No, we have an application process. Each shifter wishing to join must go through a strenuous background check, including contact with their current or previous alpha. If they have none they must put down where they have been traveling. We then contact all alphas whose territories they have been through to see if they have caused any issues. Once they are accepted, they have a probation period of six to twelve months where they have to prove they are an asset, that they can respect the hierarchy of the Pack, and that they are willing to follow the rules. If they still seem like a danger, we will escort them to the edge of our territory, wish them luck, and advise them not to return.”
“And how has that worked out for you?” the South American Pride alpha questioned. Tomas was not an alpha I respected in the least. His hate was pungent, and the evil that churned inside him showed in his eyes.
I squared my shoulders and met his gaze, my wolf glowing from within. “Very well, we have only had to eliminate one threat in the past ten years. Each species has evolved with the Pack to accept everyone. We have also taken the next step locally to integrate some of our most loyal into positions within the community. We have one on the police force, and an EMT who makes sure to go on any run that may have a shifter involved. We also have a few who own businesses within the community. Sterling here is one of them. He has a very successful bar that caters to shifters and humans alike. It’s a safe haven for locals and anyone traveling through.”
More murmuring started around the table and Maverick stood again. “And how is this supposed to help the rest of us?”
“Because the only way we as shifters can continue on is to rewrite our own rules. If you continue to live in the past where species are segregated then we will die out. We must learn to come together, and show that we aren’t the deadly animals the humans see us as. I think we should take a note from the Vampire’s book and create a council that includes a shifter from each species who will work side by side with the governments of the world. My pack is an example to show that it can work.” I had no more to share so I sat back down.
The meeting went on for hours as the shifter alphas argued back and forth. Finally Draven stood up. “Arguing will get you nowhere. You have heard how we vampires adapted to live within the human society, you have been given an example of how one shifter Pack has evolved to do the same. The witches and fae seem to be staying quiet, maybe we should hear from them.”
Silence enveloped the room, all eyes turning to the witches as one stood. “We had to learn to live within society many years ago. Keeping our true powers tamped down to survive. I know of the coven that works with Jerome’s pack, as well as many covens who work with vampire nests. I am part of the coven that works with Maverick’s pack here in London. It’s a wonderful relationship, and a win all around. Our loyalty is a pledge to the London pack.” She pulled the sleeve of her shirt up to show the tattoo on her wrist indicating her pack loyalty. “I also know that each coven will have to decide if they choose to stay loyal to a pack which can include multiple species. That will all be decided on a case by case basis. What I do know is to move forward we all have to learn to adapt and evolve. I, as the representative of the London covens, agree to help any pack who chooses to put Jerome’s idea into place.” She sat down and all eyes turned to the two fairies in the room.
She didn’t rise, but addressed the group. “The fae are not ready to reveal ourselves to the world at this time. If that ever changes, then we will revisit how the different species of “Other” have prospered and decide then. I do not feel I am needed here any longer, if you will excuse me, my King has requested my return.” She left the table and the room.
The discussion around the table went on until nightfall. My wolf was getting irritated at being cooped up with all the other alphas in this room all day. Sterling’s phone rang and he excused himself to answer it. I had left mine in the hotel room, not wanting to be disturbed, and knowing Sterling had his. Maverick pounded on the table for attention as Sterling walked back in. “No concrete decisions will be made at the rate we are going. I suggest we
all take the information we have learned today back to our individual packs and prides and take a vote as one. As council leader I am not going to demand you do anything, but think long and hard about where you want to be in fifty or one hundred years. I know I am taking all the information received today and will be holding my own meeting with the top in my pack.” He turned toward me. “Jerome, thank you for sharing. I will admit when you proposed this idea years ago I thought it was a foolhardy thought and would backfire, but you have proven me wrong, and I can respect the dedication you have to shifters and your pack. Would you be open to helping any of us who want to make that transition?”
His question came as a shock to me. “Of course,” I replied. Sterling chose that moment to lean over and whisper in my ear.
“We need to go, boss, there is trouble on the property that requires your attention. Leo said he has a plane on standby at the airport.”
I stood so fast my chair fell backward jolting everyone’s attention to me. “I’m sorry, Maverick, but we just received word that there is a situation I must attend to at home. I apologize for the disruption, and thank you for your hospitality while we were here, but we must go.” I headed toward the door, Sterling close behind.
“Of course, Jerome, you must go where you are needed.” He gestured to the butler. “Please have the car brought around and take them to the airport.” He joined us at the front door. “Jerome, anything you need just let me know. I’ve not always been the nicest or friendliest to you, but I do recognize that we need to start working together to survive.”
I shook his hand. “I thank you for that, and will let you know if I do ever require your assistance. The use of your car right now is all I need. I must head home.”
“Very well, safe travels.” Maverick backed up and watched us leave down the driveway. I had no idea what was awaiting us, but my wolf was eager to get there.
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