Just a note. This is the second to last chapter of Wolf's Pet. Will it answer every single question? Of course not, if it did I wouldn't have any sequels. But I am planning on it. So if you have any ideas, feel free to email me. And if you're tired of the short chapters, there will only be one more after this, hopefully within four to five days.
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The North American Council waited patiently in the dining hall. If the Europeans thought they would have a say in the goings on in one of their packs they would learn a hard lesson. They had no say here.
Carr watched the convoy of cars being escorted by his Betas. Cole and Brett led them to the main house where the cars parked. The Baxter Betas outnumbered the Europeans and their entourage. They may be the same species but there was no love lost between the Europeans and Americans and very little trust. They had no business being here without being invited. Carr vowed to be polite but firm. This was his pack, his lands, his right to refuse their request to stay if he so decided.
Rhys and Alistair stood next to Carr. They were sure what this was about and knew their own council would back them up. And they would have Guillame on their side.
The Head of the European Council stepped out of the car and looked briefly around the compound. He stood there in his expensive Italian tailored suit. How provincial he thought to himself. He had a bored look on his face as he approached Carr and bowed formally. "You must be Baxter. I am Rudolf Metzger."
Carr appraised the Were as he returned the bow. "Welcome to Baxter Pack lands Sir. And what brings you here? I don't recall inviting you to visit." Carr didn't think much of what he saw. He looked extremely weak for a Were. He was used to more vigorous Council members. Alistair and Rhys had held their own in the recent battle. This one looked like he would have run.
Rhys had to stifle a laugh. Good for Carr, get right to the point. Why waste words?
Rudolf cleared his throat. He wasn't used to such poor manners. The Alphas in Europe knew their place. He needed to find a way to make sure Alistair left the Council. Maybe his cousin Niklas would make a better Council leader. "We have heard rumors that you have found some surviving Vlkolak. If that rumor is true it is our business."
Carr controlled his rage far better now than earlier today. Maybe it was good he was able to blow off some steam at his visitors. It did help him to keep a firmer hand on his wolf now. "I really don't see how anyone who is under my protection is your business." He took a good hard look at Rudolf. He looked amazingly like Niklas Metzger, same brown hair, same black eyes, and the same last name, relatives? Even the same attitude. "But if we're going to argue, then let's do it in private. This way." Carr led the way to the dining hall.
Cole and Brett were of the same mind. They didn't trust this Metzger anymore than they did the last. They would never let any of these Council members out of their sight and certainly never alone with the Alpha. All of the Vlkolak had been sequestered together in the Omega quarters and there were guards inside and outside the building. They wouldn't be letting any of these Weres anywhere near them. They followed closely behind the group as they entered the dining hall and waited outside, but none too patiently.
Rudolf walked into the hall, seeing the American Council waiting for them. Ah, and there was Guillame. He looked as unkempt as the rest of them. What was that he was wearing? "Hello Guillame. I had heard you came here ahead of us. What emergency business could you possibly have had with an American pack?" His disdain for the Archivist was obvious to everyone in the room.
"Family business Rudolf. But apparently it is also your business." Guillame had never liked Rudolf. He was an egotistic, pompous ass.
"Family? What would your family have to do with the Vlkolak? They are our only interest here." Rudolf turned his back on Guillame to address Alistair.
"My family are the Vlkolak." Guillame had decided the time for secrets was over. If need be he could stay here in America. He wouldn't mind being close to his grandchildren.
Rudolf's mouth was open, ready to speak when he heard Guillame's words. He turned slowly to face the Were he had always hated. He'd wanted him dead years ago, but now maybe, this would be his chance. If he called the Vlkolak family then maybe he was the one who had smuggled them out of Europe. If so, he had committed treason which carried a death sentence for the guilty. He had an evil smile on his face. "Family? Please tell us Guillame. How did this happen? Aren't you Belgian and not Hungarian?"
"My mate was Vlkolak, and my granddaughters are Vlkolak." He knew what Rudolf was thinking. He looked around at the surprised looks of the European Council members that were attending. The Americans had been given all of the pertinent information earlier today.
"Mate? What mate? I don't recall you being mated." Rudolf was enjoying this. He wanted to make Guillame hang himself with the information he gave them now. The Council would have to kill him for his treachery.
"When you sent me to Hungary to investigate the reports of the Werepanthers. Remember? I was there for several years, sending you reports. I met her my first day with the pack. We mated the next night. When you gave the order for the Vlkolak to die she was carrying my cub." Guillame was on the verge of tears with the memories of reading the orders from the Council, and rage as he thought about the deaths of his mate's family and his own mate's exile.
"So you purposely disobeyed our orders and helped some of them escape? Helped your mate escape? I will enjoy your execution Guillame. Your deceit will be known to all of the packs and your name will be synonymous with traitor after your death." Rudolf so enjoyed this. He'd been waiting for many years to have a chance to push him out of his position. This was even better.
Alistair stepped forward. "There will be no execution Rudolf. You are not in Europe now, you are in America and you have no authority here. If your wish is to kill Guillame, then as long as he is here, he is under the protection of the American Council. You have no say." His stance showed he was ready to fight if need be.
"You have no idea what these women can do. They will destroy the packs. That was why we originally voted to kill them. And now you've let these vermin go on to breed. How many of them are there? Do you even know Guillame? How much damage will they do to our species before we can eradicate them?" Rudolf looked at the assembled Weres and noticed he had no allies among the American Council. Where was his cousin? He would be on his side.
Rhys stood by as long as he could but couldn't take any more. "There will be no eradication Rudolf. The women are under the protection of this pack and our Council. If you lift a finger to harm any of them, there will be a war, I can guarantee that." He rose to his full height and towered over the smaller Were. He was even the same size as his cousin Niklas. "Will this be a war between your Council and ours? Or is it just you that wants the women dead?"
Rudolf's face turned red as his anger boiled. He looked at his companions , they did not look as ready to back him up in a fight as he had thought they would be. He then looked to the American Council and mainly Alistair. "So I take it that you will help this traitor in his pursuit to destroy our kind?"
