High up in the council chambers, the elders Andreas, Auden, and Pearce had convened in their large meeting room overlooking the woods to discuss the matter of the young ex-Alpha taking on a larger role in the council now that he would be staying in the pack.

The meeting room, which was designated exclusively for the three men, looked more like a men’s lounge than a place for conducting business. Because they spent much of their time in council chambers discussing pack matters, particularly following the death of the last Alpha and Luna, Andreas believed in incorporating leisure at every possible turn. He sat on the edge of his antique desk with its ornate golden accents smoking a cigar as his two colleagues sat in leather chairs on either side of him.

“I don’t like it,” Auden said simply for Andreas to hum in agreement.

“I agree, Auden. But rather than exposing more of the council to him, we could instead use the opportunity to keep him close,” Andreas said, squinting his eyes as the smoke billowed out of his mouth. “We would have control over his schedule and time.”

Auden’s eyes showed a spark of interest at these words, bringing a dull life to his otherwise weathered and grim face. “To separate them,” the old, tense man sat a little straighter.

“Well if he marks her, I’m not sure how much that will matter,” Andreas replied. “Time is of the essence. Pearce, has Marius provided anything further of interest?”

Compared to his colleague next to him, Pearce appeared more relaxed in his high back leather chair. “Simply that the girl seems fond of our young Alpha. And that she had another fever. This morning, in fact.”

“But she recovered?” Andreas asked for Pearce to nod. “In regards to the mark, if she feels any kind of pull toward him, it is only a matter of time,” Andreas mumbled around the cigar. “If she were lycan, it would already be done.”

“He cannot mark that witch,” Auden hissed.

The concern over the human girl turning to a witch was real given the nature of the pandemic and her role in Eliade’s experiment, but it wasn’t actually something the elders had discussed much until the day she awoke. She had injured Marius in a way indicative of enhanced power, but then she was in a coma for three weeks. They assumed that she would die and become yet another sacrifice to the human’s pandemic, resolving the issue of their returned Alpha in the process.

But Miss Cady had awoken, and now they were scrambling to get ahead of whatever revelations would take place in Graeme’s mind as a result. The elders had secrets that would be dire if exposed, and this altered human girl who was apparently the mate of their rightful Alpha could give him the confidence to return and dig into them.

Finding one’s mate brought a sense of purpose and responsibility, and if Graeme was empowered in that way, the council would have little choice but to bow to his authority. It was easy to keep him in the dark when he was younger, and they had gone to great lengths to ensure he would have few attachments in the pack that would keep him from wandering.

What the genetically transformed human was capable of was another matter entirely and not a factor they had concerned themselves too much with. They had Marius, after all. He could deal with any issues should they arise. It was really Graeme’s presence that was more threatening, particularly now that he had suggested taking up a role in the council.

“Was mentioning witches yesterday not a mistake?” Pearce asked, eyebrows raised in question.

“A mistake? Did you not see how Graeme nearly lost control? On the contrary, I think it was brilliant. And if either of our dear twins mentions the history of this pack to the girl, it should terrify her. Not to mention the fear the pack members will have with regards to it,” he smirked at this. “Perhaps it will even plant doubt in Graeme’s mind.”

“Or it will make Graeme more determined,” Pearce pointed out lazily.

“His determination is there regardless. She is his mate,” Andreas waved it off. “She’s in a precarious position right now. All it takes is a push in the right direction.”

“Right off a cliff,” a wicked grin spread over Auden’s features, “and with it our young Alpha.”

Andreas rolled his eyes behind the cigar smoke at Auden’s remark. “Yes, Auden,” he said, annoyance evident.

“We should assign him immediately,” Pearce said as he looked absentmindedly at his nails.

“Yes. And let’s bring her out into the open. Whispers of an outsider witch will do well for our purposes in the pack. When was the last time the council had one of our fabulous feasts?” Andreas asked of Pearce.

“The soonest it can be arranged would be next Saturday. Calix is off land for business,” Pearce replied. “There’s also the pack’s Samhain celebration at the end of next month. It’s a full moon this year,” he gave Andreas a meaningful look. Extra care would surely be going into such an occasion.

Andreas clicked his tongue. “That’s right. I suppose we can’t have two gatherings that close together. But Samhain is too far off. There will be bonfires for the upcoming full moon. Have Marius keep tabs on whether they’ll be going to any of them. Let’s think of a way to stir things up.”

“You would wish for them to go to a bonfire?” Pearce’s eyebrows peaked again.

Andreas growled to himself. “It’s unlikely that what you’re thinking of would occur—our customs are completely alien to her. They should frighten her more than anything. And we need her exposed to pack members. It’s the best way to sow whatever discord exists already.”

Auden glanced nervously between the two other elders when he heard Pearce sigh heavily. A tension had started to build from Pearce’s position in the room, and that alone was unusual for the elder known for his calm and relaxed demeanor.

Andreas raised his hands. “I acknowledge it is not without risk. But risk is inevitable at this point. There is no avoiding it. And, not to forget, we have Marius.”

“What will Graeme be doing during his time here?” Pearce asked. “It can’t be too trivial or he’ll grow suspicious.”

“Well we need to give him something he wants,” Andreas answered.

“It would make sense to put him with Damon in his watch on Eliade,” Auden said.

“It would. However, that has stalled in recent weeks. And that would drive him outside the pack and focusing more intensely on his mate. We can give him the brief on it, of course. Perhaps we can instead distract him with that which brings the most unease to his mind. Remind him of his guilt. Of his fear. Of his inability to lead this pack,” Andreas said.

“The alyko files,” Pearce nodded.

“And perhaps his parents’ case file,” Andreas replied, another billow of smoke curling out of his mouth.

“But then we know where that will lead,” Auden scoffed.

“It will lead precisely where we want it to, Auden. And end where we want it to. Send Zosime to my office when we’re done here,” Andreas replied, smudging out the cigar.

***

We did it! We made it to (and past) 80 PS, so you, my dear readers, are in for a Halloween treat of 5 chapters tomorrow night starting at 7 EST.. Thank you so much for your support in helping grow LMSF. It’s so fun sharing this story with you!