Chapter 23
Kaeleen's POV
I'm pretty sure anyone who saw me would think I had lost my mind due to the smile that was plastered on my face. And I wouldn't blame them. Maybe I had but did I care? Nope. Not even a single bit. Astrid had agreed to come to Emerald Glade Pack with me. And that was enough reason to lose my mind. And I was losing it but in a good way.
She had insisted on talking to Clara, Astrid knew that there was no way her sister was going to want to come with her but like she had said, she had to try. She said she didn't try enough when they were younger and she did not want the same thing to repeat itself. I wasn't going to argue with that.
When I left the room, she was still asleep and she needed enough rest especially after everything she had gone through. I made sure there was food and water for her before I left. I didn't want her waking up to an empty room.
After leaving my room, I had a brief conversation with Rebecca and Alex. They were both livid about what had happened to Astrid, but they were also wary of what I could do due to how impulsive I was.
"Don't do anything stupid, Kaeleen," Rebecca had warned, her voice sharp. "Anything that will affect Astrid."
"I know," I said to her. "But.."
"I get why you're angry. Hell I'd kill anyone that dares to touch Rebecca." Alex said to me.
"Exactly. So you see where I'm coming from."
"But you are a leader, Kaeleen. You'd have to think before you act." He added.
"I never knew being a leader meant being a pussy." I said to him,
I understood where he was coming from. What he was saying but damn, it was annoying.
I hated how reasonable they were being, how everyone seemed to be prioritizing logic over emotion. But I understood, or at least I pretended to. My impulsive nature had landed me in trouble more times than I cared to count. This time, however, it wasn't just about me.
The meeting was being held in Moonshade's main meeting hall, a huge space dominated by a massive oak table that could easily seat twenty. As I entered, the room was already buzzing with activity. Alphas from across the country were gathering, their Beta's flanking them like loyal shadows. The air was thick with unspoken tension, a sense of unease that had only intensified since my arrival.
The reason for this meeting was the 'alliance with humans' something Leon had been pushing for months. The goal was to establish a framework for peaceful coexistence between humans and werewolves. In reality, I suspected it was just another power grab by Leon, a way to consolidate his influence and control. Maybe even get another award at being the most influential.
Everyone was present except Leon, the one who had called the meeting and the reason why we were all present. Marcus asked if Leon was trying to ditch them again when the door opened and Leon walked in hiding a limp. But I saw it and I smiled.
I watched as Leon took his seat at the head of the table, his face carefully composed. He greeted each Alpha with a practiced smile and a perfunctory nod, radiating an air of authority that grated on my nerves.
"Apologies for the delay," he said, his voice smooth and confident. "I was… detained."
Detained? More like recovering from a well-deserved beating, courtesy of Astrid. The thought brought a flicker of satisfaction to me.
The meeting commenced with a lengthy presentation by Leon, outlining the benefits of the Human-Werewolf Alliance. He spoke of the increasing number of werewolf deaths due to illegal hunting, framing the document as a necessary measure to protect our kind.
"This Alliance will provide us with legal protections, ensuring that those who harm us will be brought to justice," he declared, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction like he had just come up with the most brilliant idea ever.
I remained silent, listening to his carefully crafted arguments, searching for the flaws in his logic. It didn't take long to find them. Actually, I've known there were flaws for a while which was why I was present. And thank fuck for that if not I never would have met Astrid. I wasn't going to let a stupid decision endanger the lives of my pack members.
"The keyword is 'illegal,' Leon," I interjected, my voice calm but firm. "The Alliance won't stop criminals from breaking the law. It will only give them a roadmap to finding us."
Leon frowned, his expression tight. "What are you suggesting, Kaeleen? That we should just sit back and allow our people to be slaughtered?"
"I'm suggesting we need to think more strategically," I countered. "Signing this Alliance is essentially painting a target on our backs. It will expose our community to unnecessary risks."
I paused, meeting the gaze of each Alpha in the room. "Humans fear what they don't understand. They fear those who are stronger and faster than them. Do you really think they'll welcome us with open arms if we sign this document? Or will they see us as a threat, a danger to be eliminated?"
Leon scoffed. "That's a rather pessimistic view, wouldn't you say? This Alliance is about building bridges, not creating divisions."
"Bridges built on sand," I retorted. "There are werewolves in positions of power, celebrities, politicians, business leaders. This Alliance will force them to reveal their true nature, making them vulnerable to discrimination and persecution. Use our fucking brain, Leon"
"You're still young, Kaeleen. You need to learn to respect your elders." Someone said,
I turned to the old man. I knew who he was. But I wasn't going to show it.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" I asked him.
He scoffed. "You don't even know who I am. Know your place boy." He said.
I turned to Alex who sat beside me. "Who is he?"
"Alpha of Carven.."
"Are they relevant?" I asked Alex loudly.