C2 CHAPTER 2

NATHANIEL POINT OF VIEW

I stare at the board room in silence, wondering what this meeting is for. We call it boardroom, because we can’t as well call it a pack meeting. This is not just the Rhode Island Pack, but in a meeting with Boston’s – the Golden Claw or something.

“Good day everyone, we are grateful you granted us audience.” The Alpha says, but we keep silent.

I glance at our Alpha, my Uncle, Alpha Lucien, with his Wife, Rain. Everyone else is present.

“The Golden Claw Pack has brought an offer of partnership, we will like to extend our pack and merge with yours. We will be the strongest pack in America.” Alpha David says, and I look at him with mild amusement, he is with his son – Collin, I think, and his Beta, and Omega, I also heard his wife died years ago, turned him into a stone cold motherfucker.

We have avoided the Boston’s for so long, we like to stay on our lane, we do not go over the bay, and now, here he is.

“We are Lycans, we don’t need anyone or any alliance, David.” Alpha Lucien frowns, looking really confused.

“I know, but I believe there is a threat to both of our pack.” He says, and I sit upright.

For decades, we have stayed out of the limelight, not because of fear, but because we have everything we need, we do not compete.

“Is this a joke, David. There are no threats.”

“I have heard rumors of attack against my pack, Lucien. If you believe you face no threat, help us fight ours. We just need fighters, and we know you need land. We can help each other, this could be symbiotic. If the war is just mine, then so be it, we need your men to fight, but if the war is ours, nothing changes, we will still need the same men to fight.”

“I will like to cut off the head before it grows, and plant more seeds. Help us, and we will make it worth your while.”

“Our children and husbands are not mercenaries, David.” Rain says, and I smile at her poker face.

“I know, Luna. We need your help, we will be forever indebted. Think about it, that is all we ask.”

____

“What do you think?” Lucien asks me when we are alone.

“What do you think, Alpha?” I ask him, with a smirk.

“I think we should help them. I am unsure of merging our packs though, we have so much power and they offer practically nothing.” He says, scratching his hair.

“I think we need to have a lot of people indebted to us, they need to owe us something, this way, we buy their loyalty, not like we could ever need it. We have had decades of peace, that doesn’t mean it will continue, the world is getting darker.”

“We draw a line in the sand, and stay on our side of it. We do not cross the boundaries we created. We help, and we leave. We check on them occasionally. They fear us. We are Lycans, they want to be us, we are superior.”

“Easy there, Nathaniel, lest it get to your head.” Luna walks in, and sits on her husband lap, but I don’t bat an eyelid, they are embarrassingly affectionate, have always been.

“I do understand what you mean. I spoke to the women, I sent Roman to speak to the youths, the young men, and Lake to the young ladies, they all said the same thing. They are cautious though, they are growing, building families, and are scared that something will threaten all they’ve built.”

“We protect them.” I say, and they nod.

“Then it is settled, in a couple of days, we go to Boston, to the Golden Claw Pack.” He says, and I nod, knowing he had the meeting with his board, and they probably reached the same conclusion, he just needed my input.

“You’ll lead them.” He says and I jerk.

“What? Do I have to?”

I know I sound like a child, and not the thirty-two years old Soldier.

“You already lead them here.” Luna says, getting up.

“You should find someone to marry.” Lucien says, as they walk away, leaving me alone. I should be mated, but you don’t force things like this, so I wait, for someone that might never come.

___

“Are you okay?” Roman says, as we walk out, and I nod.

It has been three days since the meeting, and now, we are on our way to the Golden Claw Pack. We are moving in numbers, just thirty of us, leaving almost five hundred of us back home.

“Sup’ losers.” I hear and grin.

“You shouldn’t be here.” I say to Lake, she is the youngest of us, Roman and I little sister.

“Take care of yourself, be watchful and don’t lose your guard, brothers.” She says and I smile, hugging her, while she ruffles my hair.

I watch her speak to her actual brother in silence. I used to hope my parents would have more kids when I was younger, but they had just me, tried to give me a sister but nothing happened. I have Lake as my niece and sister, but sometime it is not enough, sometimes it is very lonely, that I don’t have someone to call my own.

However, I am Nathaniel Christian Carter, I don’t show that, if there’s anything my parents has taught me, it is don’t let them see you cry, because they will take advantage of my vulnerability. Happiness will find me eventually.

“Bring me books and flowers.” Lake says, as she heads back.

“We will bring you your flowers, Persephone.” I smile at her, then ordered my men to stop.

“Are we ready?”

“Yes.” They chorus.

“We are heading far from home, let your guard be up, do not fucking flirt or dance around with any of their women. We are not fucking merging with them, we are just helping them, because they can’t help themselves. If I catch any one fucking around with the rules, you’re fucking done. Do you understand!”

“Yes, sir.”