The first Alpha to enter the packhouse for the meeting was Alpha Sebastian. It was no surprise to Damir and me, mainly because he lived so close. Alpha Sebastian is the Alpha of our pack, and he has always worked to make sure we flourish, not only as a pack but especially as his leadership team. His mate, Lucy, passed away a few years ago, and everyone is beginning to get a sad feeling from him. We all know he is ready to join her, but he doesn't want to let go of our pack just yet.

Alpha Sebastian kept his hair styled in tall peaks despite his age, the silver tips cresting against the dark roots. His hair had been black for many years, but since the death of Luna Lucy, his grey hair started coming out. He was handsome for an older man, and his eyes reflected the kindness for his pack.

Next arrived Alpha Calliope. She came in the same sort of car as Alpha Sebastian, but its tires were more muddied due to the long travel. She wore a long dark cloak, covering her shoulders and a majority of her face. You could see her brown hair falling in loose curls over her shoulders, though, and her bright red lipstick. One look at her took my breath away, and Damir had to tilt my head down to bow for her out of respect. A female Alpha was rare but not unheard of, and even though I had seen Alpha Calliope multiple times, her presence always stole my breath.

"Delta Alena, glad to see I am still breathtaking," the female Alpha laughed as she passed, causing my cheeks to turn bright red and my brother to let out a small chuckle. I sent a sharp glare his way, which he either did not see or chose to ignore.

My head shot up then immediately down when the next car pulled up, and Alpha Caelan walked in. He was one of the most intimidating Alphas, and his presence around him showed it. The Frostclaw pack was northern and frigid, but his warriors still sparred and trained outside, tempering their bodies to the weather. His name never failed to make me chuckle because of how incorrect it was. He was nowhere near slender, and the muscle bulk on his chest and arms proved it. I attempted to keep my gaze on the floor, but my eyes slowly made their way up to his body. I didn't get past his waist before he had turned into the meeting room. I let out a huff, upset at not getting to finish watching the show before it ended.

The tension already filling the meeting room seeped into the hallway. There were only three alphas in that room, which meant four more and a royal left to join them.

Alpha Lawrence of the Lonepaw pack was next. He was a single Alpha in his late thirties, and he had all but given up on the search for his Luna. His pack had accepted that they wouldn't have a Luna, and he had already begun the process of setting up an inheritance for the pack. Was that what this meeting was about? Had he picked a successor?

Alpha Lawrence stopped by me and turned to face Damir. He whispered something to Damir, and the two of them took off towards the meeting room together. I guess that means I'm running this show by myself now.

Alpha Violet and her mate, the second Alpha Avalon, were next. The Palecrown pack had a reputation with female alphas, that reputation not being a good one. Multiple times they had revolted against a female leader, and Violet knew that well. She faced that giant and worked to make sure her people trusted her completely. The fact that Alpha Violet had a mate eased the discomfort of her people. Alpha Violet walked past me to the meeting room while her mate stopped next to me.

He coughed, and I drew my head higher, still not making eye contact to show respect. "Delta, it is not necessary for you to bow your head to me; I gained my title through mateship, not through birthright."

I tilted my head and made eye contact with the second Alpha of the Palecrowns. "Alpha Avalon, to what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked sweetly.

"Delta female Sophia had her child, a male. They named him Ethan. Can you help me understand?" He whispered, looking around to make sure no other Alphas were arriving while he distracted me with his question.

I nodded, a grin breaking across my face. "They chose a wonderful name. Please tell Declan and Sophia I send my best wishes and warmest regards. Ethan is a strong name and points to his abilities of strength. While he will have the birthright of Delta, I would keep a cautious eye on him for a warrior position, much like my brother."

Alpha Avalon grinned widely. "Remind me to come to you for name confirmation if Violet and I ever have children." He winked, then followed the familiar path to the meeting room.

"The Palecrown Deltas had their child? Oh, what news!" The Luna's voice nearly knocked me off of my feet, and my head rocketed down to show respect. The Nightstar leaders had arrived while I was deep in conversation with Alpha Avalon, and I was left unprepared.

I bowed my head lower to my chest. "Alpha Silas, Luna Hannah, please forgive me for my lack of attention." Alpha Silas nodded, a movement I could barely see because of the angle of my neck, but Luna Hannah lifted my head.

"Don't worry, Alena. Silas is worried about this meeting. It's one of the first that the Prince will be attending, and he feels as if he has an impression to make, especially because of the one he made on the current King." I nodded, mumbling another apology, and she walked into the meeting room.

The final Alpha to arrive was the Alpha of the Moonvalley pack. The third of the unmated Alphas, he was young and still on the active search. Finn and I had known each other from pack mingles, but he was always gentle and welcoming to all, even the females of lower ranks than himself. He offered dances to all of us and spent time individually getting to know us during those dances. Whoever was his mate was lucky as well.

Alpha Finn's footsteps came up the porch and stopped next to me. "Alena, oh joy! Be at ease." I tilted my head to look up at him. "The last time I visited, you had the stomach flu or a sort of stomach poisoning, and I wasn't able to see you. It is wonderful to see you up and healthy."

"It feels much better for me to no longer have food poisoning as well, Alpha. I hope I never have to suffer from that again. Then again, Damir had to do all of my work that week, so maybe it wasn't so bad."

We both laughed together, then Finn glanced at his watch. "Is Prince Alpha Griffin here yet?"

I shook my head but heard a car rumbling in the distance. "It sounds like he is nearing. You should head inside."

"So should you, Alena. I'll take over from the door." My brother's familiar voice jumped into the conversation, making my heart nearly leap out of my chest.

I turned and gently threw a fist toward his chest, which he nearly deflected, letting me barely hit him. "Don't scare me like that." I followed Alpha Finn toward the meeting room, looking over my shoulder to my brother, who took my stance at the door, watching for the royal car to pull up to the door.

I hadn't even made it entirely in the door when the questions began. "Delta, can you call for us to have water brought in?" "Delta Alena, will you help me find the proper paperwork for this?" I grabbed a glass of water and carried it to the Alpha who requested it, and then grabbed my binder of papers and walked to Alpha Finn, standing between him and Alpha Caelan. Once I handed him the piece that needed to be filled out, I began to turn and walk back to my seat.

"Delta Alena, to what do we owe the pleasure of seeing your gorgeous face rather than your brother?" Caelan's voice sent a chill down my spine, and I didn't know if it was in a good way.

I ducked my head, turning my body to face the Alpha that addressed me. "Delta Damir relieved me of my position and sent me in to get comfortable before the meeting began." Answers to Alphas needed to be as short and straightforward as possible. Too long could set off the temper of an Alpha, and that was the last thing needed in a room full of them.

"You're welcome to sit right here." He patted one of his thighs, and I dropped my jaw. If it weren't completely attached to my head, it would have flopped onto the floor.

I know he's an alpha, but who does he think he is? To openly flirt with me in front of my Alpha and five others!

"That won't be necessary. Delta, please go to your usual seat. Don't allow Caelan to torment you any longer." The voice was slightly familiar, yet at the same time, shocked me. Prince Alpha Griffin had arrived. I made my way to my usual seat in the back corner and looked around to the set up of the meeting room.

It was very Socratic, formed in a circle so that all of the Alphas could see each other, and none had their back to another alpha. Though there was trust in this room due to the protection of the Queen and King, there were tensions that some couldn't hide. The Alphas all sat in one large circle, and those who had brought a companion had that companion behind them. I sat near the back of Alpha Sebastian, observing all of the movements of the other Alphas. The room was a muted cream, simple and perfect for the meetings held in it. The room didn't draw attention to it, but rather the people within it did.

"Delta Alena, will you please shut the doors and lock them? The meeting is going to begin now." Alpha Calliope was always the one to request the sealing of the doors. I rose from my seat and moved to the room's main doors, making sure they were sealed and locked. My brother would be sitting outside the door for the entirety of the meeting, prepared to send a message to me if there were any urgent matters. I checked the second entrance to be sure, then made my way to my seat. A hand reached out and brushed my leg as I passed, and when I sat, I looked to see Alpha Caelan staring at me, a dark smirk covering his face. I forced my gaze away and nodded to the female Alpha.

Alpha Calliope took a sip of water, then nodded to the other Alphas. Their eyes all changed colors, and I knew that they were communicating through the mind link. All Weres have a sort of mind link. At the bare minimum, there is a connection between family members. Alphas have a connection with their leadership team, and in these meetings, they can mind link with each other for meetings. The other people in the room, Luna Hannah and the second Alpha Avalon looked around the room, appearing as bored as myself. I covered a yawn and giggled when I saw Luna Hannah have to do the same. Luna Hannah began to speak to us as the Alphas were in their meeting, but her mate grabbed her leg gently, and she covered her mouth, silencing herself and our chance of conversation during our meeting.