Page 40 of Wolf Traded
I hope we can because this woman looks as if she is wasting away and if she is like this its because her pack is even worse. I have never seen an alpha female that didn’t care more about her pack members than she did herself. “I’m sorry but I don’t know what pack you run. Maybe we can provide a trade agreement that helps us all.”
“I’m not sure if my mate will agree because of the backlash he will get from the other alphas.” She hangs her head and I see red. Her mate doesn’t care that she is literally wasting away?
“Okay that is your task then,” Lynn says softly. “Get Malcolm to take a private meeting with Archer. No one wants your pack to starve Emily. And by the looks of you they are.” The woman Emily starts crying softly. Fucking hell what is wrong with the rest of these packs. Emily’s mate has no honor if he would rather let her and their pack starve rather than upset the other alphas.
“This is bullshit. We are wolves not idiots. Why is anyone starving?” I’m so angry seeing this and I just don’t understand. “Everyone but Bonnie work on your mates. I will get Archer to trade with all of you. I’m sorry Bonnie but I don’t even think we can bridge the gap between Archer and Kyle but maybe we can work out some trade from what we trade the other packs to go to your pack if you need it.”
“We are lucky and not starving yet, Jara. Whatever you trade with the other packs let them keep it. Kyle can suffer a while longer.” Bonnie sighs. “Maybe it will show him that his ideas and ways are stupid.”
“I’m sorry Bonnie but you are right. If wolves are starving because their alphas are too proud to adapt then we need to help them.” I can’t believe alphas are acting like this. They would let people die rather than help them? We can help them. “Look, Archer won’t let you have anything for free or cheaper than it is worth but we will figure something out. I’m so sorry about your alpha, Emily.”
“They are all stuck in their ways but at the same time if we all help each other maybe we can all thrive whether your alphas believe in this way or not. But, none of our people should be starving. Least of all the alpha’s mate.” I yell and all the women look at me with concern. “Grayson’s pack was nowhere near the best but we weren’t starving so there is something to be said about that. But, he is one of the worst offenders. He doesn’t like change and Archer does or is it that he doesn’t like me specifically? I’ll never know.”
“Everyone has their tasks and we will all meet for dinner tonight. Archer is the only alpha at this point not acting like a complete idiot.” Lynn laughs.
“I mean right now. Give him time.” I smirk and she chuckles. “But if we can get some trade going between the packs and us then maybe we can save these peace talks.” I hope I am right. If we can gain some support from the other alphas then maybe we can destroy whatever plans Grayson and Kyle have to take over our pack.
“This is a terrible idea.”Archer says as we sit at the table Lynn reserved at the hotel restaurant.
“It’s not though, Archer. You saw Emily. Her pack is starving. I know we can’t just give them things but we can trade with them. Lynn thinks that if we all have dinner together then it will show their alphas how stupid they are being.”
“I think they will get angry I am here and start a war against our pack, Jara. They are bullheaded on the best of days. Hot headed on the worst of them.” He grumbles. He’s not wrong but I have to believe this will work. For everyone not just to keep my own pack safe.
“Jara, darling, you look lovely as usual.” Lynn calls as she makes her way to us with the rest of the alpha females.
“It’s good to see you, Lynn.” I smile as they all sit around us. “Your mates didn’t give you too much trouble, right?”
“None at all and Emily has good news.” She smiles at the other woman and relief fills me. She looks much better than she did this afternoon and I can’t help but wonder if it’s relief making her better.
“Oh?” Archer asks with a raised brow looking at Emily.
“Malcolm said that he would meet us in the bar after dinner.” She smiles and nods to Archer and me.
“Thank goodness,” I breathe. I feel so terrible for the woman.
“I’m afraid the bar might be too public.” Archer scrubs a hand over his face.
“That’s why Malcolm picked it.” Emily grins. “He’s tired of only doing things the other alphas approve of and hurting the pack in the process. He thinks they are being idiots too. He wants them to know that. He said if I am picking a side then go big or go home.”
“The other alphas will not be pleased.” He grumbles.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Sibyl says with a grin. “Care to have breakfast with Jack and me in the morning Alpha Archer?”
“How did you pull that off, Sibyl?” He frowns at the other woman.
“I had a similar conversation with Jack about the other alphas and following their lead is only hurting our pack. We aren’t as bad off as Emily and Malcolm but we could be and soon. Jack decided to take a meeting and with both Jack and Malcolm on your side before the talks resume in the morning then we will have more support for peace and new ways to feed our packs. I don’t see a downside.” I don’t see a downside in this either. To me this sounds like everyone wins except Kyle and Grayson though I can’t bring myself to care. They made their beds.
“You’re okay with this, Bonnie?” I ask looking at the woman for the first time and a smug smile lights her features.
“I am more than okay with it. Maybe my mate will learn his lesson and stop following Grayson around like a lost pup.” She chuckles.
“There’s only one problem,” Archer says softly and everyone gives him their full attention. “There are seven alphas on the council. Even if I can trade and gain the support of Malcolm and Jack it’s not enough. I can guarantee you that Grayson and Kyle are trying to do the exact same thing we are right now to gain support to overthrow me and dissolve my pack and split my assets. That entire meeting today was all a bluster about why I was a horrible alpha for mating with Jara and how because I use human technology and have human businesses I’m putting us in danger of being discovered by them.”
“Fucking bastards,” I say before I can stop myself. Archer grins at me. It’s probably the fire in my tone but I don’t care. They are not dissolving my pack when I just found a place that kind of feels like it could be a home.
“You leave that vote to me,” Lynn says with a sinister grin. “Just get Malcolm and Jack’s support and I will do the rest.”
I have no clue what she’s plotting, but I hope it’s something good or we are all screwed.
