Page 31 of Silas

There is a clearing of a throat and based on the scent, I know it’s Warrick. I glance up from my paperwork. “What’s up?”

He runs his hand on the back of his neck, “There is another wolf from the Ghost River Pack. Do we have an answer for them?”

I drop my head into my hands. “We are a thousand shy, but we are going to tell them we have it. I don’t care that it isn’t true, but I won’t show our belly just yet.”

He nods his head down, “Makes sense to me. Alright, let’s go out there and get this man to leave.”

I stand up and follow Warrick out of my office. We walk into the meeting hall to find the wolf wandering along the walls looking at all the past alpha’s family photos. Clearing my throat, “Can I help you?”

He turns around with a smirk on his face, “I would assume that you would know why I am here. You have two days, Alpha. Have you made your decision yet?”

A low growl rumbles out of me, “I told you the last time you graced us with your presence. We will pay the debt back. Since I have two days, you can see yourself off the pack land.”

He lets out a chuckle, “See, I don’t think that you will pay the debt back.” He looks around the room and up towards the Crest of our pack hanging above the fireplace. “I can’t wait to make this place ours. I noticed some fine-looking females on my walk into the pack house. Can’t wait to take them for a ride, either.”

Growls erupt from myself and Warrick, “You will do well to remember that I am still the standing Alpha of this pack and Iwon’t tolerate the discussion of our females as if they are nothing more than meat.”

Tsking, he throws his hand in the air in a shooing motion, “We will see about that. As for how I talk about your females, you are not my alpha. I am also protected under the laws that visiting embassies can not be attacked while on a diplomatic visit. So I think I will do as I please.”

I take a step towards him, baring my teeth, “Now I know you are a young pup so I will let this slide, but the amendment to that law is that the visiting embassy is to respect the wishes of the Alpha he is visiting. So if you are going to quote the bylaws, be sure that you know them in their entirety. Now, you will be leaving.”

He shrugs his shoulders and brushes past me towards the exit. “I look forward to your failure in two days.” With that, he slams the door.

I am just about to turn to Warrick when I catch the scent of Nova coming into the room. I turn to see her coming through the door that leads to our private portion of the pack house.

She looks concerned, “What was all that growling and shouting?”

Warrick claps me on the shoulder, offering a soft smile, before heading out of the room.

I hold my arms open to her to see if she will willingly let me give her a hug. She easily walks into my arms, allowing me to wrap her in my arms. I place a gentle kiss on her forehead before I pull back from our hug.

“That would be an emissary from a rival pack. I haven’t brought you into this part because you are still so new to beinga wolf. When I took over being alpha for this pack, I found out that our old Alpha was borrowing money from a rival pack. It seems like he was selling something for a time, but I am not sure what. When they found out that I was the new Alpha, they sent someone to demand that either I pay them back the debt, continue doing whatever he was doing for them, or I forfeit our pack to them.”

Her mouth drops open in shock, “Okay, that isn’t what I expected to hear this morning after grabbing my peppermint coffee, but here we are. So what does that mean? Obviously, you aren’t forfeiting the pack to him and I am sure that you would never do whatever he was doing to make the money. Do you have all the money for the debt?”

I breathe out a heavy sigh, “No, we don’t. The festival earned us a huge chunk of it, but we are still $1,000 shy.”

She sucks in a breath, “Okay, what does it mean if we don’t come up with the money in two days?”

I give her a grim look. I know she knows, but she needs me to say it out loud. “If we don’t come up with the money in two days, then we will have to forfeit to their pack. I know you don’t know this group, but they aren’t known for being pleasant. Their females never last, which is why they are always searching for packs to take over. I am not 100% sure what they do to their females, but there are rumors.”

“Shit, this isn’t good. Do you have any ideas on how to make that last thousand?”

I shake my head from side to side, “No, I actually had planned to talk with you about this today to see if you had any ideas.”

She seems to think as we walk back into our private area of the Pack House. We are just entering the living room when she speaks up. “I think I have an idea. It might be a dumb idea, but it’s worth a …”

“There is no such thing as a bad idea when it comes to this. I am always willing to hear ideas. We might not use it, but I always want voices to be heard. Especially yours, as my mate and my Luna, your opinion is the most important one.”

A blush creeps across her cheeks, “Uh, thank you. That is very sweet of you. So I was thinking, what if we did a yard sale? I know that it would have to be quickly but I am sure that we can all throw in items that we are no longer in need of or want anymore. What’s that saying, ‘one man's trash is another man's treasure?’ What do you think?”

I place my hand on her shoulder and give a gentle squeeze. “I think that is a wonderful idea. Want to lead the event and get everything together? It would be a great chance for you to meet more of the pack and them to meet you.”

She covers her face with her hands, “I don’t know Silas. I have never led something like that or organized something like that. I think there is someone else that would be far better suited for it.”

I gently pry her hands from her face and put my finger under her chin. I tilt her head up till she is looking at me, “You will do amazing at this. Don’t doubt yourself. I will have Gail help you if that will make you feel better.”

She nods her head while still looking at me with vulnerability. “Alright, let’s find the meddling woman.”

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