First Love

by Clymer, J. E.

  Turning to Tamika he said gently, “Ms. Brokefang the way this council works has changed since your father’s day, as you can see it has not all been for the best. There have been no more incidents like what happened with your family, though.”

  “Gentlemen, I believe you rushed to conclusions as to what caused the raid on my family’s compound, so let me shatter your assumptions right now. Yes, my father was picking off the hunters that were encroaching on his territory, but if you are looking for someone to blame for the death of my family, look no farther than me. I had befriended a little hunter boy and didn’t know it,” she said, her eyes darting to Jared for a brief moment, “He found out I was wolf. His father led the raid. You see, if my father had only worked a little quicker with killing the hunters he may still be alive.”

  The council members looked guilty as she took an exaggerated breath and added, “In interest of full disclosure, as the last of the Brokefang clan and a natural alpha, I have been hunting the hunters and killed most of those responsible for the death of my family.”

  “You did not have permission of the council!” Soren barked in outrage. While other council members yelled out similar sentiments.

  “Enough,” Conrad said. When no one seemed to hear him he slammed his fist down on the table and stood, yelling, “Enough!”

  “Tamika Brokefang acted within her rights as an alpha of the packs. Many of you seem to forget it is our job to protect our packs and when that fails, avenge them. As head of the council I have tolerate far too much over the last twenty years. How long has it been since any of you have made a real decision regarding your packs?” he said with cold calm.

  Silence echoed throughout the room. He sighed and collapsed into his chair, “Everyone get out. Ms. Brokefang, stay.”

  Everyone got up to leave, including Jared. She gripped his arm and said, “Stay.”

  “Conrad said everyone,” he said as if following Conrad was as natural as breathing.

  “You are my mate and you are supposed to be an alpha, so sit your ass back down, Jared,” she hissed.

  Meeting Conrad’s eyes she solidified her order by saying to him, “My mate stays.”

  He nodded without complaint, as his own brother stayed by his side. He sighed as the last man out the door shut it and said, “Your father would be appalled at the state of the council.”

  “I am appalled at the state of the council. It is as there is only one pack instead of six. The other four pack leaders practically cower in your presence,” she said.

  “Branston had a knack for controlling them while making them stay independent. I am not so talented. Most of them are not naturally alphas. Even your own mate has the tendency to follow instead of lead,” he pointed out.

  “My mate has enough alpha tendencies to make him a natural. I think the difference is he has never been forced to act like one. You’ve made it far too simple for all of them to defer any decision to you,” she said.

  Jared blushed as they talked about him like he wasn’t there and when he looked at Tamika he saw the unspoken power of a true alpha. She would not cower or comfort Conrad. He looked over at the man at the end of the table. If they had been mated the two of them would have been a force to be reckon with.

  The thought of her even near the other man tied his stomach in knots. Unfortunately, he felt out of his depth so he stayed silent. Tamika squeezed his hand and leaned over and whispered, “Calm down this instant.”

  Jared stilled while she eyed Conrad and said, “You did not ask me to stay to talk about your failures. What do you want, Mr. Duran?”

  Conrad sighed and smiled. “It has been so long since there was another true alpha in the room. While I find your directness…charming. You are going to have to get used to the idea that you are not in charge, Ms. Brokefang.”

  “Mr. Duran, I believe if you would bother to read the charter of the council you would find that no alpha is in charge,” she countered.

  He bristled under her steady gaze. His brother’s breathing was calm, but his heart rate betrayed his anger. Jared gripped her hand a little tighter. He would fight them for her, but he prayed it would not come to that.

  “Ms. Brokefang your father was quite thorough with your education,” he said slowly.

  “Knowledge is power, Mr. Duran. As I am sure you well know. So, you will understand any who choose to live under my protection will be under my protection first and the council’s second,” she said calmly.

  Conrad looked at her with pity as he said, “You are walking the same path that your father did.”

  “Perhaps, but my father was hesitant to do what was necessary. I have no such qualms. For instance, if I found out that anyone in council gave the hunters the codes for the family compound I would tear them apart without a second thought,” she said calmly.

  Conrad wasn’t fazed by the statement, but his brother’s heart beat wildly out of control. Jared felt the need to get her out of the room and away from the volatile wolf. He stood up and said, “Tamika, I believe it’s time to go.”

  She nodded and Conrad smirked and said, “Looks like you do have some spirit, boy, but certainly not enough. A prize such as Ms. Brokefang is wasted on you.”

  Sighing she got up from the table and allowed Jared to lead her out. The moment they slipped into his Mercedes he looked over at her in frustration and said, “How long were you going to allow me to make a fool of myself? It’s obvious I have no influence over you what-so-ever.”

  “You have much more influence over me than you think, Jared. You always have,” she said quietly. “I think it’s time we go back to the Brokefang seat,” she added more loudly.

  “The place was burned down, Tamika,” Jared said.

  “I rebuilt it five years ago. It’s not the same, but if I have to claim alpha status for my lost pack then I need to do it from my own territory,” she said slowly.

  “Once you’re alpha what happens? Do you kill the Durans?” he asked slowly.

  “You caught that, did you?” she asked.

  “Brent Duran either opened the gates of your compound to the hunters, or he knows who did. If I hadn’t gotten you out of there I don’t know what I would do. So, what do we do with the Durans?” he asked again.

  “I am already a recognized alpha. No, I don’t kill the Durans. Only the younger brother is guilty of contributing to the deaths of my family. He will die, but his death has to be untraceable. I don’t want a pack war when I have no pack,” she said slowly.

  “What you’re proposing could take years to accomplish,” Jared said, shaking his head.

  “Then I had better get started,” she said with a cold smile.