— Kaden —

It took me mostly an hour to wrap everything up, and we did go to a restaurant in town. I got us a private room, and we ate mostly in silence.

“You are trying to find a solution for something,” said Elaeya.

I looked up at her.

“Maybe,” I said. I took another bite.

“What is it about?”

I did not want to trigger another argument. But then I remembered how hiding things from her is pretty pointless.

“Earlier,” I said.

“Regarding the comments about hybrids?” she asked. I couldn’t read her expression. Once I had gotten back inside the car, she had been her normal self, which does not tell me much because she always looks so cryptic, to begin with. I couldn’t tell if she was angry at me, or just indifferent about the whole thing.

“I said there would be consequences, I can’t go back on my words. It’s not good to do in my position,” I told her.

“So you want to punish him?” she asked. Again, I had no idea where she was going with this.

“I don’t want to punish anyone, but I must follow through.”

“You think he is guilty?” Still, impassive as ever.

I sighed, this is not getting easier. “I get your point, but I can’t also go back on my word.”

She nodded pensively. “How about you send a message to him, that I ask for no retribution, and accept that I was acting evasively if he accepts that he was unnecessarily rude? That you will respect my decision—as you are asking him to respect me,” she said the last part clearly for me. “And will also mention that hostilities to strangers are not the policies of Blakemore and any of its packs, and if he ever is confronted by suspicious individuals, then the course of action is not aggressivity, but to contact the appointed parties who will take care of the situation, and will be aware if there is reason for worry or not, rather than accidentally causing strife as he did,” she said casually, then looked up at me. “If you want to insist on discipline, you may mention that if such a thing occurs again, there will be no leniency.”

I blinked.

Well, ain’t she diplomatic.

She tilted her head to one side, questioningly at me.

“Right,” I said. “That would make absolute sense.”

“Of course it would,” she said and took another bite.

“Well, you were really worried about being able to handle a Luna job. I think you might do fine.”

She looked back up at me, her mask shattering on the edges. She was controlling her emotions so much, but this, she didn’t control fully yet.

After lunch, I accompanied her back to my place and promised to get in touch with security for her. I wasn’t sure of what to do so she wouldn’t just get bored in there, but she assured me she had a few books she wanted to read. So I left her and went back to the office.

I went to Brandon for him to take care of the message Elaeya mentioned.

I had no idea who the guy was. I’ve spent so much time running around from places to place, or either burying myself in work, that I’ve not connected with my people in a very long time. Not to mention how many of them there are. Most Alphas know all of their pack members by name, I didn’t even recognize his face.

There was probably a long list of people like that. That I never even knew existed, yet were my people.

I took care of a few things that piled up and called a meeting up.

Thirty minutes later, I was in the conference room with everyone. I had called my father, grandfather, Darren, Brandon, Ylva, Anders, Sam, Mishka, and Dimitri.

“Lock the door,” I told Brandon.

He complied.

“What I will say here will stay here. I called a representative of the Council of Elders.” I nodded at my grandfather. “One of my Alphas.” I nodded at my father. “One of my team.” I nodded at Darren. “One of my Captains.” I nodded at Dimitri. “Two of my best warriors” I looked at Ylva and Anders. “For the few of you who might not know, I found my mate. I’m not ready to let this information out, as she’s still very new to this pack, and have not been made a member yet.”

There were a few nods.

“Now, I will not get into details at the moment, but I might in due time. I also want to limit this to those who already know, as much as I can. What I will tell you for now is that Elaeya is a hybrid, and part of her nature is something that has been hunted and killed for centuries. Her kin is officially believed instinct, and what little survivors there are, are probably relying on this to stay hidden and survive. She has spent all her life away from societies, especially the supernatural kind. As a stray, she’s still adapting to a pack, but I will probably not be able to keep her a secret for long. Which is why her security will have to be taken care of. She will have a bodyguard with her at all times.”

I looked at Anders and Ylva. “If any of you is not interested in this gig, I would appreciate if you helped me find the right warriors to take care of this.” I turned to Dimitri. “We will augment security at the borders and also on the main Blakemore packland.”

Dimitri nodded.

“She stays with me or on packhouse land generally, but I want her to be able to move around if she wishes it. You will also contact Blakeden city hall,” I turned to Darren. “I want more surveillance in the streets, and a detailed census of the population, including detailed information of all non-pack members. We can lend warriors to Blakeden if necessary.”

“Done,” said Darren.

“Also talk to Eva. She’s already spreading the word on Elaeya,” I turned to my father. “And warn the girls and Mom too. I will use all the time we can get until this comes out.”

“That might be more difficult than you think,” my father told me.

“Let’s just do what we can and prepare for the worst,” I said.

I turned to Brandon. “I also want all information you can get on the supernatural black market. What are the main operatives, or if any of them is getting a little too interested in Blakemore.”

“You expect involvement from that side of the world?” asked Brandon a little surprised.

“From the data we’ve had, her kind has been sold on the black market pretty actively, for breeding, or parts, and not necessarily in that order.” I saw a few faces scrunched up in disgust. “Most of them as been trafficked, raped, or just killed. I want to know also from the hitman community if anyone gets a hit.” I turned to Mishka. “Look into any of your contacts, I want to know as early as possible. You see any words on an abnormally expensive hybrid out there, it’s possibly her. Apparently, her kind gain value with hybridization.”

“Nothing gain value with hybridization,” Brandon said.

“Technically, that’s right, because those that did, had been wiped to extinction. Maybe the interest as died down, but I’m not taking risks. Also, apparently they’ve been used for political gain, so any stirring in the community coming our way that doesn’t seem to connect with anything, look into it, that could be it.”

“What kind of thing makes the black market, hitmen, and supernatural politicians excited and take value with hybridization?” asked Mishka, far less cocky than his usual self.

“I may give you this information at some point, but not now. Either when she’s ready, or when we’re out of options.”

“Damn,” muttered Dimitri, shaking his head in aversion. “You rolled the jackpot,” he said sarcastically.

“That’s not the tone you would use if you’d seen her,” said Darren.

My father snorted.

“So?” asked Mishka. “Everything in the right place?” he said mimicking a curvy silhouette with his hands. He wasn’t just being an idiot again—though that was generally a good conjecture when he was concerned—, it was also a reasonable assumption as someone like Ylva was pretty lucky in the hybrid community. The fact that she had human blood probably helped spare her from deformities. No matter how much she hates her human heritage. Most hybrids are not that lucky in the looks department.

I gave Mishka a pointed look. He shrugged unashamed and just leaned against the wall.

“Just asking,” he said. “For your own good, of course.”

Ylva punched his shoulder.

I nodded my thanks to her.

“So that will be it for now,” I said.

“Wait,” said Mishka.

I had to force myself not to roll my eyes, Ylva looked at him like she was ready to punch him again, but he walked to the conference table and pulled a notebook that he laid on the surface, followed by something as long as my hand, cylindrical, and wrapped in a dirty cloth.

“I heard Hellhound senior,” he pointed at my father.

“Technically,” interrupted my grandfather. “I’m Hellhound senior,”

“Wait, there’s three of you?” said Mishka aghast. “Wait, you’re grandpa Hellhound? Damn man. Aren’t senior citizens supposed to lay low and stop bench pressing locomotives or something.”

That got a few snickers. Mostly from Darren and Dimitri. I’m pretty sure Brandon’s sense of humour has been amputated at birth.

“Now, if you’re done being intimidated, you can tell us what the bloody hell is this thing,” said my grandfather. “I’ve better things to do than scare children, you know.”

“What has this world become,” Mishka grumbled. “Can’t be intimidated in peace.”

He moved his hand to the cloth and wipped it off in a flourish. “Tadaaaaaa!”

It was a knife.

I looked at him in exasperation.

“As I was saying, middle Hellhound,” he said waving at my father. “Did mention, discreetly—and know that I was not eavesdropping on purpose,” he told him. “That it was not a good idea to let the Brotherhood get their hand on any other artifacts, so I sneaked this one out.”

“What type of artifact is it?” my father asked. Everyone more serious now.

“Not a clue,” he said jovially. “I did some research, but I found nothing. The pad, on the other hand, contains a lot of information about artifacts from all over, who has them, how they’re guarded, that type of thing. Really not good to leave in the wrong hands.”

I signed at Brandon and he took the pad.

“Okay,” I said to my father. “Put this with the others, and we’ll sort it out later.”

I clapped my hands.

“That’s it for now. I’ll talk to the two of you before you leave,” I told Ylva and Anders.

“He didn’t even include me in the best warrior list,” mumbled Mishka mock angrily. “I kick ass, you know,” he said as he left dramatically.

“That man is so weird,” said Darren.

“But he is one of our best,” said Dimitri.

“Don’t let him hear it, or it’ll go to his head,” I said.

Ylva snorted.