Lola

11

Second Beta Ellieanna had unlocked Leonidas's cage to move him to an interrogation room, he had seemed poised enough to leave his cage, but as soon as she had opened his cell he immediately sprinted out of the room.

When she called Marcus to tell him he had simply told her she was screwed before promptly hanging up. Even with all of her efforts to find the beta, she had come up with nothing.

-

Alpha Atlas had not liked her explanation, he glared at the redhead, his gaze was oozing with malice and his sharp jaw was clenched tight.

"You lost my first beta and waited until thirty fucking minutes from the town meeting to tell me?"

"Alpha, you told me to interrogate him and bring you a transcript and video! I didn't think he would-" Ellieanna started, she couldn't say anything that would save her from punishment but she had at least wanted to explain herself.

Atlas slammed his hand on the table, "-that's the problem! You didn't think! You didn't use common sense, I didn't think it took a genius to think about unlocking the cage with at least a couple of delta's to help you?"

"He looked like Gandhi next to the other pack members, they're acting like a bunch of ravenous zombies,"

"Do really think jokes or sarcasm is going to help your current situation?" Atlas laughed sardonically as he pondered what to do with the woman in front of him. He pursed his plethoric lips before scratching the scruff along his jaw.

"What punishment do you think is fitting? Should I deny you of your primal nature or strip your rank away? I'll let you decide, and it would behoove you to your common sense for this one." He mused as his steely gazed turned hot, it was a stare that would melt diamonds.

Ellieanna shifted awkwardly and lowered her dark gaze, her crimson waves covered the splotches of red on her cheeks.

"That's not a choice at all!" She cried out, "take my rank, but not my wolf please." She fell to her knees and lowered her head to the ground.

"I expect you to tell Second Beta Marcus about his newest promotion, and while you're at it, tell him I want trackers on Leonidas right now." Atlas sneered before standing up, he moved to kneel neck to the woman on the floor.

He absolutely hated mistakes, especially easily avoidable ones.

"Look at me Ellieanna." His silky voice was filled with power. Her brown eyes met his as she silently begged for more clemency.

"You should be kissing my feet as a thank you Ellieanna." Atlas whispered, but his voice was far from gently. A blind man could see how furious he was. She trembled as she quickly did so, her petite mouth kissed his dress shoes slowly before she turned her gaze back to his. "Thank you Alpha."

"Now leave. Tell Marcus I expect him at the town meeting." Atlas stood up, when the woman closed the door behind him he let out a sigh. What a waste, he thought.

Atlas adjusted his tie before he made his way to the town hall.

-

The cramped auditorium grew hot and loud as more people piled into their seats, some gazed were glued to the empty podium on stage.

After another few moments, the light music playing in the background had abruptly stopped as the new second beta made his way to the podium.

"The alpha will be up here in a few moments to speak on the current events of the pack and answer a few questions that you all may have. It would be best for everyone to silence your phones and remain quiet during the duration of this meeting. The meeting is only expected to last two hours but we will run over that time if needed." Marcus read off some cards in a monotone voice, he was never a good public speaker.

He gestured one arm to the people sitting on plush chairs to the audiences left. "The following people are here to give updates on the progression of alpha assigned tasks. Please welcome to the stage, Gamma Margarite Mendetta!"

Backstage was bustling with people as the Alpha rehearsed his speech in front of a mirror.

"Beta Marcus just started sending speakers up for the meeting, you're up in forty minutes." A gamma male informed him as he stood off to the side. Atlas was absolutely stressed and drowning in political issues and distractions, but he needed to remain calm. He decided to try and relax for the remainder of the forty minutes and waited until the gamma to get him.

Atlas's breath slowed as he massaged the temple of his forehead. Moments of peace weren't common to him, and he struggled to unwind. Stress and anger were emotions that just came more easily to him.

He let his eye's flutter shut.

His head began to lean downwards as sleep slowly crept behind him. As a few quiet moments passed the chill air of the room seemed to rise in warmth. A soft breath caressed his ear. Small hands reached to massage the tough muscles of his shoulders, and he felt his chest swell with warmth and desire. He bit his lip as he envisioned dark chocolate thighs and comely doe eyes. Soft hands traveled from his shoulders to his neck and she squeezed playfully.

A gamma barged into his room, and Atlas snapped awake from his light sleep before he heard, "They're ready for you." The Alpha was rushed to a wing on the left side of the stage.

Atlas couldn't believe that forty minutes had melted into ten so soon.

"Now please welcome, our beloved Alpha Atlas!" Beta Marcus introduced their Alpha on stage and quickly scurried backstage.

After the applause had subsided, the Alpha smiled.

"Let me address the elephant in the room. As you all know, there was an incident this morning involving four, possibly five, pack members. After having a violent year so far with many deaths, it saddens me to say that another warrior has joined the Goddess in another lifetime." He paused to let his words sink in, "There are two more injured, Charlie and Jared. We are all doing all we can to investigate the mysterious occurrence that is also linked to the disappearance of a Vivian Payne. If you have any information on the case I implore you to talk to our newly promoted Second Beta Marcus or Delta Ellieanna. Now to the original reason for our town meeting.

Our way of life is changing, we all know this. Our children have become numb to the sight of carcasses and maggots because of this. Our kind is ceasing to exist, exterminated by a government too scared to give us the same rights as a weaker species. It's time that our pack stops hiding."

People had grown restless in their chairs as Alpha Atlas dropped the biggest bombshell of all,

"Hiding from the cursed ones has proven to not be enough anymore. The more we are denied our true nature, the more we grow sick with lycanthropy. The council has asked us to go to war with them against the cursed humans, and I have said yes. We will join our brothers in arms. I'll be taking questions now."

A crowd grew loud as a hundred hands shot skyward.

-

Jody was excused from the town meeting that evening since they considered the old woman to be an insignificant part of the community. Many people respected her, but at the end of the day, she was just another cursed shifter to them, a wolf born without its skin.

She sent a slightly drunk Augustus to attend the gathering, although he was also initially excused due to him having the same disease as her.

Jody felt useless as she twiddled her thumbs in her bakery.

I should have gone with her, there's still so much I haven't told her, so much she needs to know. Jody thought as she reorganized the kitchen pantry.

She hoped that Augustus came back with a full report on the alpha's announcement.

Calm down girl, for all you know it's just another agriculture report.