Seth Bowden argued against his betas not being allowed to carry their firearms inside of pack grounds but Quinton wasn't about to budge on that rule. Silver bullets were never allowed, under any circumstances, within Black River lands. Seth could chose to leave his betas outside by their vehicles, or they could escort him in but unarmed. In the end, he chose to allowed them to accompany him but without their guns.
Quinton led Seth to the Den and then inside and to his office. Zev and Jase followed them in while both Seth's men as well as Quinton's waited in the lobby. The tension was thick between the two groups but they were under orders not to engage with each other unless either side made an unprovoked attack on either Alpha.
"Is all this really necessary?" Seth grumbled as he took a seat in the chair across from Quinton who took a seat at his desk.
"Yes." Quinton answered flatly. "It's not that I don't trust you..." It was in fact though. He didn't trust the other man at all. "But, let's face it, Seth. You've been involved in some shady dealings in the past. I'm simply looking out for my pack."
Seth sighed and rolled his eyes. "Let's get on with it then." He crossed his leg over his knee and leaned back in the chair, one arm draped over the back, his other hand on the arm of the chair, his fingers drumming against the wood impatiently.
Quinton opened his lap top and waited for it to buzz to life then opened a new file and began to type. "I'm typing up the terms as you've presented them to me." Quinton explained. "I'm making sure to add that the challenge was presented as a 'fight to the death' but that I personally would accept surrender and total submission with the provision that should I spare your life, you and your pack mates leave Black River and never return, and that you take Shelby with you as she will then be exiled from Black River for the rest of her life and never permitted to return, under any circumstances."
"Yes, yes, fine." Seth huffed. "Type it, print it, I'll sign. Let's just get this over with."
"You seem pretty eager for a man about to get his ass handed to him." Zev smirked. "Maybe being beaten by a bigger, stronger, Alpha turns you on."
"Fuck you." Seth sneered.
"Nah." Zev shook his head mockingly, "You ain't my type."
Quinton looked up at Zev and frowned but then went back to his typing. "Since Shelby, a member of my pack, made the initial challenge, I reserve the right to have the fight take place here, on my lands or, if you'd rather, you could choose neutral ground by having the challenge take place at the northern territories public arena on council grounds. Of course, that would mean getting the council involved, having the challenge approved, and reserving the arena for a future date."
"Here is fine." Seth was growing more impatient with every passing second and his annoyance at the whole ordeal was showing.
Quinton nodded and added the location of the challenge to his form. A couple more moments passed and he'd finished filling out the form then printed it. He printed out two copies and handed both to Seth and Jase to read over before having them each sign one copy, Jase signing as a witness.
Jase merely glanced at the form then folded it up and stuffed it in his back pocket, not really concerned with the details. He leaned against the wall near the window, phone in hand, and appeared to be playing some video game from the sound of it. Seth paid him little mind as he read over the form which was essentially a contract between them holding him to the terms of the challenge. Quinton had added in a small clause saying that the fight was between the two pack Alphas, fighting in wolf form only, and any interference from either of their packs would cause the one breaching the contract to forfeit the challenge.
Seth seemed fine with the contract and eagerly signed his name. At his command, Jase quickly scrawled his signature beside his brothers then went back to his game. Quinton and Zev also signed and then Quinton made a copy of the signed contract and handed it to Seth who then handed it to Jase. This one he also folded up and stuffed into his pocket with the first copy, never even looking at it.
"I'll send a copy of the signed contract to Hollister as well." Quinton said, making eye contact with Seth, letting him know the implications of what he was saying.
"Yes, I understand." Bowden waved his hand through the air as though he found the entire thing pointless. "You'll make sure the council knows if I try to renege on the deal. I get it. Can we get this over with now? You've dragged this out long enough."
"Fine." Quinton slipped his own copy into a file cabinet near his desk then motioned for the others to follow him out of the office and back into the lobby where the others waited.
Seth nearly leapt from his seat to follow. Jase staggered along behind, still showing little to no interest in the situation. Odd, Quinton thought. He would have expected Jase to be more concerned that his brother might die but he acted as though a fight to the death was a normal, every day, occurrence.
Seth's behavior was equally as strange. He was so sure of himself. Looking around the landscape as though scouting out a new home rather than a man that was walking to his death. Quinton wasn't sure yet if he actually planned to kill the other wolf or not. It would certainly be within his right and would also avenge Rhys death. He knew that Seth wouldn't hesitate for one second to kill Quinton if he got the chance and probably planned on doing just that. Still, his entire challenge made little sense. He was completely out matched and stood little chance of winning.
Maybe he sensed that Quinton didn't intend to kill him and that was why he didn't appear worried. Even if that were the case, why bring the challenge to Quinton in the first place? What did he stand to gain from it? Knowing he'd likely lose. It couldn't have been just to save Shelby. Why would he care about her at all? Would he really be willing to give up his coveted prize, a magical omega, to save one beta he barely knew?
No. Quinton already knew the answer to that. Seth was out for himself and what he could gain in return. He didn't even care about his own brother. That was obvious from the way he treated him. Jase was just another thing to be used for Seth's own benefit. So, why was he so willing to put his own life on the line in a fight he knew he couldn't possibly win? There had to be something else. Some angle that made Bowden think he had the upper hand.
Quinton pulled Zev to the side, close enough that he could speak to him without the others hearing. "I want you to keep an eye on Bowden and his betas when this fight begins. Something isn't right here. He's way too cocky."
