Beta Carlson was glad that Alpha Nygaard left shortly after their discussion, because holding back his revulsion at the man was becoming difficult. With Coral gone and a challenge coming, Alpha Forrest told him to return to his Pack and prepare for the challenge. Enforcers, along with Counselor Long, would be sent in two days to conduct the voting for the Pack. If a third of the Pack didn't accept Sawyer as a potential Alpha, his exile would become permanent.
He stood at the bottom of the main stairs as the former Alpha of the Adirondack Pack, Charles Smith, arrived in a car driven by one of their Omegas. He stepped out, not smiling, and was joined moments later by a striking young woman. "Mr. Smith, welcome to the Bitterroot Pack."
"Thank you, Ron. It's been too long." The Beta had visited the Adirondack Pack two years earlier on a training visit, basically an excuse for unmated males and females to spend time with other Packs. "This is my assistant, Ashley." He took her hand, disappointed there was no spark, and welcomed her.
"Let's get you to your rooms, then I'll take you to greet the Council. They've been informed of your arrival." Two Omegas had already grabbed their bags and without a word led them into the house and up to the guest floor. Charles got a VIP room as a retired Alpha, while Ashley got a small room closer to the stairway. The Omegas returned to get sandwiches and drinks for them, while Ron walked them down the hall to the conference room to meet the Council.
"
Arriving with Charles Smith and his assistant,"
he sent to Alpha Forrest.
"
Bring them in."
He opened the door and held it as the two entered the room. Charles walked over to where the men had stood up from the large table, starting with the Council Chair. "Chairman Gruber," he said as he shook hands with him. "May I introduce my assistant, Ashley Madden."
The Chairman smiled as he shook hands with the young she-wolf. She was wearing a dress that exposed her unmarked neck, and her dark brown hair was pulled back in a braid that went down to her shoulder braids. "A pleasure," he said. "Are you seeking?"
"Assisting," she said. 'Seeking' was visiting other Packs for the express purpose of finding a mate. She wouldn't object to finding hers, but Charles was not exactly computer literate and he didn't know Rori like she did. Charles brought her in case they got close to a skittish Rori. "Anything else is a bonus."
"Well, you never know when you'll find the one," he said. They greeted Councilmen Forrest and Waterman, then they were passed to Beta Carlson. "The Beta will see to your needs. It must have been a long trip for you, and we've had a busy day. We will see you at ten AM here."
Beta Carlson pulled out his phone while standing at the far end of the table, cursing under his breath as he dropped it. He knelt down next to the chair and reached for it, coming back up a few seconds later. "I'm sorry, sir, I need to make sure that appointment is on my calendar. I will make sure they are here on time."
"Thank you for your hospitality, gentlemen," Charles said. "You are right, it's been a long trip and we have much to do tomorrow." With another round of handshakes, Beta Carlson followed them out and closed the door.
They didn't say anything, but when Ashley turned to go to her room, they followed. "Bring the food along, we need to talk," he said. They all moved into the larger room. "Go ahead and eat," he said as he walked over to the desk. They looked at him as he pulled out a pad and pencil, writing something then showing it to them. "
Don't say anything other than small talk, just eat. Room is bugged."
Charles nodded, and they started to eat, commenting on how good the bread was and their thoughts on the Pack House. "
The Council is desperate to get Rori King under their control. I need you to come with me. When you are done, say good night and run the shower, then come out with me."
They both nodded and finished their food. "That was good, but I'm heading to bed," Charles said. "What time is breakfast in the morning?"
"Anytime between six and eight. Ashley, leave the plates outside the door and the Omegas will pick them up. May I escort you back to your room?"
"Of course, Beta. Thank you." They walked out, waiting down by her door until Charles quietly closed his door. He led them to a back stairway to the basement tunnel that took them to the garage. He opened his extended-cab F-150 and they all jumped in. He pulled out, not saying a word, and drove a gravel road a few miles until it was at the top of a hill. Parking the truck, he got out and they followed him over to a large boulder where he set his laptop down and booted it up.
"What's going on, Ron?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." He pulled the memory card out of the voice recorder and inserted it into the reader. He attached the file to an email, sending it to three people as they watched; Alpha John Coffey, Charles, and Chase Nygaard. "You watched the hearing?"
"Yes, we left immediately after. Martin and I couldn't believe what a flimsy case they had on her. If Chase is her mate and Coral her Beta, we will do whatever we can to help them."
He filled them in on what had happened with Coral that afternoon, plus his suspicions about Alpha Forrest wanting to do anything to keep her under his control as bait. "When I was in the witness chair, I put a recorder under the table. That's what this file is. Alpha John wanted it sent out, over cell network not Pack internet, before we listen to it. You'll get the file, but don't join the wi-fi network here or listen to it in any of the buildings or around anyone but me."
"You think they are dirty?"
"I think there's far more to this story than we know." The file had finished downloading, and it took a few minutes to find the part where the Council had kicked out everyone else. He turned up the volume as they listened in.
Gruber: "This is a complete fuck-up, Craig. We looked like idiots."
Forrest: "You wanted her kept here, and we had to make up something. If our lawyers got involved, it never would have been charged."
Waterman: "It would have worked if we didn't have Sawyer show up. The kid is sharp, I'll give him that. I can't believe Will's falling apart like he is. He's a bigger security risk than Rori is."
Gruber: "Expedite the challenge. He's old, his mate leaving him has already weakened him, and Sawyer will be a good Alpha. We're better off with him dead, the fewer people who know about that night the better. If anyone finds out about him covering for Todd, it's going to open up way too many questions."
Forrest: "Agreed. He's losing it and his Pack is falling apart. I wouldn't be shocked if the vote for Sawyer is unanimous."
Waterman: "So we get rid of Will, but what about Rori? She's still out there, she's found her mate and she's the heir to the Arrowhead Pack. We have to kill off Chase, and quickly, before her usefulness plummets. Once she mates, we'll have to wait for her to have a daughter and her to come of age to have another chance. Rori will only have the fertility blessing with her first mate. Giving her over after killing her mate would be no different than giving your boy any other female."
