Chapter 138: Deal
[ Council Hall : venue of the All Alpha Meet ]
A single circular table stretched through the meeting hall’s center,its surface inlaid with markings older than the bloodlines that now gathered around it.
Heavy wooden chairs groaned as the Alphas took their seats one by one. Not a word was spoken.Most didn’t even look at each other.
The tension literally clung to the air like a mist.
Eyes flicked. Mouths tightened. Hands curled over chair arms. Every Alpha wore a different expression...some veiled, some openly bristling...but none of them looked at ease.
At the far end, Councilman Fenric slowly stood up.He was flanked by two other council members.
The room shifted, just slightly.
Fenric cleared his throat. "Brothers," he began, voice quiet but firm, "we are not gathered today for pleasantries."
He paused, letting the words settle like a stone in still water.
"We have reason to believe that the recent... disturbances in our world might have some ripple effects. Our treaties with the Old world might no longer be enough to hold them back.There was a breach from our end and we have every reason to fear that they might use this opportunity to strike us...after decades of peace..."
A ripple of silence moved through the room.