Page 55 of Henri's Little One
Henri whispered to Etienne what he was thinking, “In a Muslim country, the loup garou have to observe the niceties.” They continued to listen to the Europeans.
“Both Alpha Armando and Alpha Macar are correct as always,” Alpha Holt observed.
Alpha De Campo from Italy took a pastry from the tray and frowned. “We make better than this at home, and this is a world-renowned hotel.”
Alpha Lefebvre snapped, “We are not here to discuss the pastry. What do you think of the topic under discussion?”
Alpha De Campo shrugged. “My people are not wealthy but have no complaints. However, the Russians could change all of that if they continue to walk their current path. They need to be schooled. The Alpha can do the job. Besides, if he decides to take control, it would be within his purview to do so.”
“We could use The Alpha’s guidance in this area. Our people, unlike the Russians, get a stipend, but it is meager. They must go out in the world and work to supplement it. Our loup garou are wary of that. Even though they willingly came back to Europe, they still remember the burning times.” Alpha Vlasak, from the Baltic States and those of the former Eastern Bloc, shuddered.
Henri watched as Alpha Armando took a sip of his coffee as if to ward off his shiver of fear. “Remember the burning times started in Spain within our parents’ and grandparents’ lifetimes. If Russia outs us, this could happen again. There are the ultra-religious and xenophobes all over the world. What Chernof does affects all of us.”
Alpha Lefebvre turned to Alpha Chlebek, from Poland who lifted his head. He seemed to have dozed off sometime during the discussion. “You youngsters talk a subject to death. Armand La Marche has led the loup garou for a hundred years. He cleaned up his own house, now he’s going to clean the Russians and ours. It’s time we got with the program. The gods must be pleased with the North American Council. Every one of them has acquired a Mate. I am three hundred and sixty-five years old and have never been so fortunate. I think it’s because we didn’t observe the Charter we signed when we went back to Europe, and the gods are angry. They are not angry at La Marche’s people.”
A stunned silence hit the room, then everyone began to talk at once.
“Let’s vote on it,” Alpha Winter suggested. “All in favor of becoming a semi-autonomous body of the North American Council, say aye.”
All hands were raised in the affirmative.
“I think it’s time for us to make our presence known.” Henri nodded to Etienne and then to the front of the room.
Henri and Etienne stepped out of the shadows.
“Alphas, we are Sixth and Eighth on the North American Council. I am Etienne Daurensbourg, Director of Public Affairs for the Council and this is Henri Giraud, Director of Security. Both of our councils have a problem. I admit we stood in the back and heard all of what you said. What you believe is true. We are prosperous, teaching you to be the same would not be difficult for us to do. But we all have the same problem, Chernof and the Russians.”
Alpha Winter stood. “Welcome, yes, the Russians. We have identified eight Alpha candidates who speak Russian from which we can form a new council. The entire Russian Council is in disarray, and all of them are poor leaders at best if not drunken sots, and they are pushing that envelope for the loup garou, they all reek of greed and cruelty. I have personally seen Chernof drink a case of vodka. It has affected his judgment as well taken a physical toll. I’m not so sure a loup garou can’t get drunk. It just takes a staggering amount of liquor.”
“Chernof is in New York. He attempted to rape an Omega who wasn’t his Mate. The Omega fled here and turned out to be Alpha Giraud’s Mate. He hired a woman to kidnap Vitas Kosloff, the Mate in question, and bring him back to Russia just before Alpha Giraud’s mating was to take place. We caught her in the act as he climbed out of the window. He misled her into thinking Vitas was stolen from him.” Henri could see the shock on the Alphas’ faces.
“For an offense like that, he can be beheaded and never get another turn on the wheel.” Alpha Chlebek’s face was mottled with anger.
Julien continued, “He attempted to murder his Betas because they refused to go along with his plans to remove Vitas from Alpha Giraud’s home. His Betas gave him a horrible drug that Alpha Chernof, himself, manufactured to use on Vitas and left him in his hotel room, calling us for instructions. We have the Betas locked in Alpha Davidoff’s cells awaiting judgment for laying hands on their Alpha.” Henri crossed his arms and waited for a response.
“Where is Chernof?” Alpha Holt asked with anger.
“The Alpha had six Enforcers take him to the cells in his residence until we could assemble for a trial of both the Betas and Alpha Chernof.” Henri gritted his teeth.
“Do you have witnesses?” Armando asked.
“…Of the attempted kidnapping? Yes, the entire council, Henri’s staff, and The Alpha himself. We also have proof, verified by Dr. Artis, that Chernof has developed a drug that renders a full loup garou almost human for at least a week, longer if administrated repeatedly. He did this to Vitas who contracted pneumonia. Dr. Artis came up with an antidote, but the pneumonia was a close call.”
Julien and Henri walked from the back of the room to the conference table. Henri spat out. “It is the same drug his Betas injected into him but at three times the dose. By the testimony of the Betas, Alpha Mate Vitas, and the she-wolf Kristina, Chernof is also murdering humans.”
“This definitely takes his head,” Alpha De Campo remarked. “I know in my heart that he did this terrible thing, but he must be tried. We have rented this conference room. Can you make it secure?”
“No, we cannot,” answered Henri. “However, we do have secure conference rooms at Garou Industries. Let me call The Alpha and arrange for us to meet there at three. We have his Betas to bear witness against him, two collaborators, and the Omega. The Betas claim he attacked them when they called us to pick him up, and as I said, they used his drug against him as he did to my Vitas.”
§ § §
Henri’s Townhouse
Henri and Vitas’ Suite
Midafternoon
“I’m worried.” Vitas frowned, his chest tightening.
