Page 93 of Alpha Jax

“Now that we’re all here, we should probably get started,” Gray says, and the others nod and grumble in agreement. While the host typically runs the council meeting, it seems that Gray’s taking over that responsibility for Vaughn this time around since he’s the one who called the meeting. We all find seats- Jax sinks onto one of the couches and pulls me in to sit beside him- and once everyone has settled in, Gray wastes no time in getting right to it.

He takes a position in the front of the room, facing the rest of us. “I appreciate everyone coming together on such short notice. I know you were all with your packs for the run and likely had to cut your post-run gatherings short.”

We’re all listening intently, the tension in the room building as we wait with bated breath for Gray to go on.

“I got a call from Alpha Cole up in Denver,” he sighs grimly, bringing an arm up behind his head and pinching the base of his neck, rubbing away the tension there. “While their pack was gathered for the full moon run tonight, their security systems alerted them to multiple breaches at their borders.”

I feel my entire body tense up. This can’t be happening- according to the data we’ve been able to gather in IT, the shadow pack wasn’t planning on attacking Denver for at least a couple more weeks.Could we have gotten it wrong?

As if sensing my building apprehension, Jax slides his hand underneath mine, lacing our fingers together. Reminding me that he’s here and I’m not alone. That as long as he’s by my side, I’ll never be alone again. His touch immediately eases my anxiety, calming me to some degree.

“They believe they were scouts for the shadow pack,” Gray continues. “Sent to gather more information about Denver’s pack and territory in advance of their attack.”

The room is eerily silent as everyone in it hangs on Gray’s every word. The weight of his message is not lost on any of us- an attack on Denver isn’t just a probability anymore, it’s a certainty. The threat of the shadow pack is real and it’s about to be at our back door.

Gray draws a breath, exhaling slowly. “They probably thought that they’d be able to get in undetected since Denver was busy with the full moon, but they tripped the border alarms… which must’ve startled them, because all four scouts ran off before Denver’s security could pursue them. We’d planned on discussing how to handle an impending attack on Denver at our council meeting next weekend, but tonight’s events have obviously increased the urgency of our response, which is why I called everyone together tonight.”

“Are you still suggesting that we lend our support to Denver by sending our security squad?” Alpha Vaughn asks, rubbing his chin between his thumb and forefinger.

Gray nods. “I am. Squad leadership has met to discuss it, and we’re all in agreement.”

“But what about our territory? What if something happens to the six-pack while the whole squad is gone?” Dad grunts, furrowing his brow.

Jax leans forward beside me, resting his elbows on his knees. “That’s why we’ve been training the reserve squad. They’ll stay here to defend the six-pack while the rest of the squad heads to Denver.”

“I don’t like it,” Damian grumbles, side-eyeing his son. “Taking away our best soldiers leaves us vulnerable, no matter how you look at it.”

“Then look at it this way,” Reid pipes up. “We want to neutralize the threat of the shadow pack, right?” He glances around at the others. “That’s why we all came together in the first place. If we can join with Denver and actually beat them, and fight the battle far away from our own territory where we aren’t putting all of our citizens at risk, isn’t that the smart play?”

Dude’s got a point. A silence falls over the room as everyone contemplates Reid’s words.

“We can put it to a vote,” Gray finally says, breaking the silence and looking from Vaughn, to Damian, to my dad. “But I’d much rather we all be in agreement. I truly believe that this is the best course of action, and not only do I stand behind it, but I’ll personally be going to Denver to fight beside them.”

“Me too,” Theo adds, as Brock, Reid, and Jax all nod in agreement. I find myself nodding along, no question in my mind that I’m ready to go fight beside my man.

“Hell, I’ll go fight,” comes a voice from behind us. I crane my neck to look over my shoulder, spotting a younger guy as he walks into the room. I’ve never seen him before, but I can only assume that it’s Alpha Vaughn’s son, Chase. For a high school senior, the kid is huge- tall, broad, and bulky with muscle. It’d be startling if I didn’t grow up around alphas and know that they tend to be physically larger than average. He’s definitely got the cocky swagger of an alpha as he enters the room, looking around at everyone gathered.

“Chase, go back upstairs,” Vaughn scolds, his tone icy.

“Why? Clearly this meeting isn’t just for the council members,” Chase scoffs, folding his arms over his chest as his gaze bounces between Theo and Jax. It slides to me, and he gives me a pretty obvious once-over, smirking as if he likes what he sees.Gross. Then he zeroes in on Brooke, squinting his eyes. “What’s up withher?” he asks with disdain, wrinkling his nose. “What kind of shifter wearsglasses?”

“The fuck did you just say about my mate?” Theo growls, shooting to his feet.

“Theo,” Dad warns, but it’s too late- my brother has a hair trigger and he’s got murder in his eyes as he stares Chase down.

I grew up around the twins, so while their need for glasses is an oddity in the shifter community, I’ve never really thought twice about it. Shifter healing doesn’t typically allow for deterioration of eyesight, but the twins require glasses or contacts due to a super rare recessive gene that their mom passed to them. So yeah, it may be odd, but it’s still pretty fucking rude for this Chase kid to call Brooke out on it in front of a room full of people. I glance over at her to see that a deep blush has formed on her cheeks.

“Easy, bro,” Chase chuckles, holding up his hands. “Didn’t realize she was your mate.”

His cocky attitude has Theo seething. “Why don’t you listen to your daddy and go back upstairs?” he hisses through gritted teeth.

Gray steps over to Theo, setting his hand on his shoulder. “Cool it, man. Not the time or place,” he murmurs under his breath.

Chase opens his mouth to speak, but his father cuts him off.

“Don’t make me ask you again,” Vaughn says sternly, pointing in the direction Chase came from and putting alpha command behind his voice. “Upstairs.”

Chase scowls, mumbling a few choice expletives under his breath as he retreats from the room. As soon as he’s gone, Theo sinks back onto the couch beside Brooke, sliding an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in tight.

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