Page 3 of Branches of the Willow

I nodded to Andre. “Thank you for your candor.” I quickly glanced at all the other leaders who sat around the table. “Does anyone here share in Mr. Freedman’s feelings about a female ruler?” I waited. There were a couple men who shifted around nervously but made no move to say a word. I took note of the ones who seemed uncomfortable with the question, for future reference.

“Okay, then. Let’s get this show on the road. I want to get busy with the immersion plans as soon as possible. As many of you know, there has been something lacking in the way we have been choosing mates for our kind. Wolves are being born with less and less power as of late. It’s not just the Lesser packs who are having this problem. The Ancients have also seen a steady decline. Not only in abilities, but in the birth of females.” I listened as a round of grumbling agreement permeated the meeting hall.

They all knew what I said was true. Each pack had been dealing with these issues for a couple generations now, since the last white wolf who had a true mate had been around. “I’m proposing something, a step beyond the AI Program. We need to also make sure our kind are mingling more amongst the different packs. I know everyone has their territories to protect, but we need to come up with a peaceful way to introduce wolves from other packs to potential mates. A true bonding pair won’t necessarily live in the same packs. That means everyone is going to have to step outside of their comfort zones and allow for some unorthodox socialization.”

“Maybe, we can set up a central location, times, and dates, to get people together. Perhaps throw a party, barbeque, or whatever occasionally so interested singles can get together and mingle?” Susan Oliver offered up in the form of a suggestion. She was the only female pack leader at the meeting. The other seventeen present were all men. She was also one of the few who were openly excited about the AI Program, as her pack had been suffering from not having high enough caliber males to mate with their females.

“I think that’s a fantastic idea. Why don’t you take the lead on finding a good, centralized location that we can begin building up for that purpose?” Susan inclined her head in my direction and started taking some notes on a legal pad in front of her. She seemed to be the only one prepared to take down any kind of notes today. “If any of you are in disagreement with the measures discussed here today, I really hope you’ll come forward with your issues, so we can get them worked out.”

“I have an issue.” Brian Maynard stood and looked over all the other leaders in the room before he turned to address me. “You are still young. I am not sure you’ve thought things through. The impact this will have on packs, could be staggering. What if none of our females are a true match for the males in our pack? Where will that leave the pack?”

“It leaves you needing to explore the other options available. Your single males will need to show up to the social events that Susan proposed. I know this doesn’t seem ideal, but we are all aware that previous leadership, and strict regulations against intermingling with other packs, have led to the current issues our people are facing. We’re just going to have to find ways to work around the issues, so we can ensure the survival of our kind.”

“What if we find more human women and change them?” I didn’t recognize the man who spoke up.

“You are?”

“Drew. Drew Ryan.” He looked me up and down, and then continued. “I know we’ve all been in silent agreement about not purposely turning humans anymore, but maybe that’s the answer to our problems more than these proposed parties, and Ancient Infiltration Programs.” His tone was flippant and beyond condescending.

“Ancient Immersion.” I corrected him. “What would you have us do? Take out an ad inThe Times? Wanted: women who want to walk on the wild side. Take your 70-30 chance at death in order to mate with lonely werewolf men?” Snickers followed my sarcastic response, but there were some curious, too interested, looks as well. “It was a joke,” I snapped. “Seriously, how the hell do you propose going about finding these women? Are you planning on changing them against their will? What happens when they die? Not to mention, what if they do change, and they decide they don’t like you? It would draw far too much attention to our kind.”

“Not if we do it right. We can look for the strongest women, the ones who we think can make the change ok.” Drew argued back.

“No.” I spoke firmly, so there was no question as to where I stood on the matter. “I will not have a bunch of human women ending up dead in some crazy rush to re-populate our female stocks, like we’re some kind of chattel to be replaced, or made, at a person’s whim. We’re talking about lives here.”

“Didn’t he turn your best friend for you?” Drew pointed at Mikael, who hadn’t said a word yet.

“I didn’t have any intentions of turning anyone, and certainly not for mating material.” Mikael managed through his clenched teeth.

“What happened with Ashley Reynolds isn’t something we’re going to discuss, as it wasn’t a matter of finding mating material.”

“But she did become mating material. His buddy, Asriel, is with the girl now, is he not?” Drew pressed on.

“If it weren’t for Asriel’s abilities, Ashley probably would not have survived the change. You already know 70 percent of human women don’t make it. That is too great a risk to ask of anyone, outside of special circumstances. If you feel like you have an exception to the rule, by all means, bring it to me. We’ll evaluate and go from there. As a whole, we will discuss and implement other measures before I allow that to happen.” Drew inhaled, ready to push the subject further. “That is all I have to say on the matter, right now.” I threw my power behind the words, making the statement stick as a command. They all felt it. Those who opposed it felt the sting of my words as well. Drew twitched where he stood, before he decided to take his seat again. It was clear that he was unhappy, so I added him to my mental list of leaders to keep an eye on.

“Does anyone have anything else to put on the table right now?”

“What of Malachi? I understand the White Wolf traditionally trumps any claim to the throne, but shouldn’t he have to concede that claim before you just waltz in and take over?” At the warning growls coming from Mikael and my father, Drew quickly amended his question. “No disrespect meant. I just think clans like Freedman’s would be more willing to fall in line if things are done correctly.”

“From what I hear, Freedman’s Clan isn’t going to just fall in line, no matter what I do. Unless I magically grow my own cock and balls.” I ignored the chuckles, most of which came from Mikael. “Even then, he’d take issue.”

“He also didn’t play nice with Antoine when he was King,” Mikael added.

“I don’t think we have anything to worry about there. You all know that Malachi is a wanted wolf, for his assistance in murdering another of our kind and his assistance in the attempt on my life and that of my mate’s. If he’s seen, I expect a call. If he’s captured, you will hand him over. If you are caught harboring him, you sign your own death warrant right along with his.” My voice grew stern as I spoke. “On this subject, you will not test my resolve.”

“As Malachi is wanted, and will likely lose his head anyway, that makes me the next in line for the throne.” Mikael added, power radiating out with his words. “I have already conceded the right to rule to Jessica. Let there be no further question of her legitimacy.”

“I know you all have had a long day. Some have travelled quite far to be here. I suggest we table this discussion for the morning to give everyone time to think things over, and to sleep on those thoughts.” I stood and looked over the faces of the pack leaders once again. “Does anyone have anything further before we close for the night?”

“I do.” It was Brian Maynard again. “It’s all well and good for each leader to come see you, and verify that there’s truly a white wolf leader, but what of our individual clans? When will you come speak to them?”

“I will be traveling to each clan, but before that happens, I want you all to set up a council. I’ve spoken to some of you about this before. Each council will have equal representation. Men, women, old, and young. We’ll discuss the rest of the details in the morning.” I slid my chair out from behind me and moved back from the table. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some other business to attend before I can call it a night myself.”

2

Mating Service

MikaelandItookour time heading back over to my parents’ house. It was already late evening, and the stars were hovering bright overhead. “I wish we could just go for a run.”

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