Chapter 33 - 32. Proposition

Alpha Carter's complexion was getting worse. Drops of sweat formed on his forehead and trickled down his temples. A pallor set in on his skin from the wound, and the veins surrounding the shallow cut tinted a dark blue that spread as the poison progressed. The alpha opened his mouth again when he saw that his ally was now useless.

"I wonder what these humans could have said to you that was so interesting. Human pack? Don't tell me you're talking about those two WIA fools who were so concerned about this defective... "

The blade of the knife sank a little deeper into the skin, this time opening a large gash from which another rush of blood escaped. Silver stared at the scene and noticed Connor's hand shaking slightly in anger.

"Agent Everett, even though I enjoy watching this scene, I would like to deal with this man myself. Please, step aside. "

Connor held his position for a moment, then abruptly pulled the blade out of the alpha's skin. Christopher Fern waited for the agent to take a step back before releasing Carter Red Creek's hand. He put his hand to his neck at the wound, which he squeezed in hopes of stopping the poison from infecting his body any further. He glared at Silver and narrowed his eyes, cursing inwardly at Connor.

"If I die, I swear it will be war, Silver! My pack will not stand idly by. "

"I thought I told you not to address me so casually, Alpha Carter. You break into my territory and now you try to threaten me? Who the hell do you think you are? "

The black furry werewolf with golden spots stood up and straightened up to his full height to look at the intruder. A look filled with disdain, which Carter met without answering and just gritted his teeth. Several werewolves had come in as a backup and the room was now filled with fighters. Across the table, Basile Stones flinched as the situation escalated. The man was trying to make himself smaller than he was. His eyes scanned all around him, trying to gauge how he could get out of this.

The Grey Wolf alpha knew that the Bloodhood pack was powerful enough to not fear a direct clash with any pack, but who would have believed Alpha Silver was ready to browbeat not one, but two alphas? He had indeed come without making an official request, but it was a scenario he wouldn't have anticipated even with his worst calculations.

Grey Wolf's leader looked at the one who had dragged him into this coming disaster. The man was sweating from large drops after being injured by a human. Since when did these Bloodhood barbarians agree to talk to the WIA? This pack was the wildest and most withdrawn of all the werewolves packs. What could have prompted them to give the green light to a liaison officer? His eyes narrowed at Connor and the man's jaw clenched. No. He had no intention of leaving like a coward. They had a plan. A plan that, if done right, could still spare their lives.

"We have come to ask for a 'dead-end'!"

The voice that wasn't so loud brought a precarious calm back to the room. Animosity froze at its height as all of the Bloodhood werewolves present wondered if they had heard the request correctly.

"B-Bloodhood invited us o-over to di-discuss a ma-mating pro-proposal." Basile Stones' voice, higher than normal, stumbled as he pulled out his trump card. He played it all for everything. It had to work or there was no way he'd ever come out alive. The alpha had no desire to find out what would happen to his pack once those around him learned of his disappearance. Grey Wolf owned the smallest territory in the whole country. If he had been willing to listen to Carter's Red Creek plan, it was because the man had assured him that no matter what, he would come out a winner and more powerful. The man swallowed hard and as if he had found new courage, he resumed in a firmer tone.

"On the night of the interviews, out of nowhere, an alpha who wasn't among the final suitors was suddenly announced as the fated mate of the omega."

"Are you telling me, that I should have allowed one of his mutts who tried to assault my son to mate with him, despite knowing that he has a fated mate?"

The werewolf shuddered at hearing Silver's tone.

"O-Of course not. However, not all of the alphas present were involved in the incident. The candidate sent by my pack wasn't even around and yet he didn't have a chance to defend ... "

"What does he want to defend? They are fated mates. He should know his place ... "

"How can we be sure you aren't trying to fool us?" Basile cut off, a vicious glint in his eyes. Silver Bloodhood narrowed his eyes but Grey Wolf's leader didn't step back this time. He knew he had a point and a very strong one.

Knowledge about fated mates was little and most of them were from ancient times. After so many years without the blessing of the Moon Goddess being granted, most of the packs no longer believed it. If the Bloodhood Pack wanted to appease the anger of the packs they had offended, they had to prove that the Alpha that had been chosen was indeed what he claimed to be.

Carter stood up painfully, but a triumphant expression on his face. The man stared at Connor, a dark glint in his eyes, then turned to Silver. His smile was conceited despite the sweat covering his forehead.

"If we came, as Alpha Stones announced, it was to come up with a solution, a solution that will make everyone satisfied. We want to have a dead-end. A fight to the death between Grey Wolf's alpha and… " He turned to Glen, who hadn't budged an inch the entire exchange. "My son."

"Give me only one reason to accept?" Silver taunted, an eyebrow raised.

"There are several packs that are ready to come and wash the honor of their alpha you have humiliated. And if it is to be done by shedding blood, they will not hesitate to get that far. "

"So it's either a dead-end or a war, is it?"

The Bloodhood's leader stroked his chin, detailing the man who was trying to maintain his posture despite the poisoning spreading out. The mark was already larger than the size of his hand. Silver pondered the pros and the cons and folded his arms.

"My son chose his alpha, I don't see why I should…"

"I'll do it."

All heads without exception snapped to Glen who had just spoken. The young alpha stared at his father who had put on the smile of a man whose greatest desires had just come true. Before anyone could react, he continued.

"We will formally discuss the details of the fight. I can already tell that it will take place in three days. Purple Eyes Pack offered to provide a neutral ground for staging the clash. I'm afraid my… condition won't allow me to stay longer so I'm going to excuse myself."

The man turned to the door and walked as straight as he could. He was followed by Basile Stones who, now that he had fulfilled his end of the bargain, wanted only one thing, to leave as far as possible from this cave of misfortune and these barbarians. The horde of fighters who had entered the room escorted the two leaders beyond the borders of their territory as their alpha asked them by link.

When he got into his car, Basile finally released the pressure he had been feeling all along. The alpha shuddered as he thought back to Silver Bloodhood's frightening look. The man was ready to choose war rather than give in. He lacked common sense. For a moment, he wondered if he had made the right choice, then shook his head to chase away his bad thoughts. Red Creek's alpha was a cunning man. More than a werewolf, this man was a vicious snake. But if he had come to him, it was with a plan that could not fail. Everything could only go their way. After all, Carter Red Creek himself had said so, that alpha wasn't even a true werewolf. His only strength was in his pheromones.

Stayed back in the room with his beta Archer, Glen, and Connor, Silver Bloohood waited for absolute calm to return in the hallway before turning to his son's alpha. His expression faltered between anger and another emotion the man couldn't quite define, but which struck him as positive.

"Do you know what you got yourself into?" Silver started in a voice whose coldness surprised Connor.

"Yes, Alpha. I'm well aware. "

"So, tell me why would you agree?"

"I know this is all set up to either kill me or use me to get hold of Bloodhood. My father probably made a deal with Grey Wolf's alpha to make sure he was a winner no matter what the outcome of the fight was. "

"If you know that, why did you do it? You're not only putting your life in the line, but also the future of my son and that of my pack. "

"Because I'm Eden's mate. Or to be exact, I'll be when we'll be bonded. And because I'm your son's mate, I'm meant to be Bloodhood's alpha one day. If I don't take care of the person who thinks that I don't deserve my place, the pack will be in danger when I become the alpha. If I got it right, they won't even wait for me to become alpha to challenge my position, so agreeing with the fight was the only remaining choice. "

Silver listened to his words without answering. The alpha knew that everything the werewolf said was one hundred percent true. He had fully understood the situation and he had easily seen the alpha's intentions. Still, he couldn't help but think about the young alpha's condition.

How did he hope to be on par with a werewolf who outshines him in speed and strength, because he masters his shifting? Even if he wanted to rely on the power of his pheromones, domination was an option that quickly found its limits whether the opponent was of equal or greater strength. He remembered how his men and the invited alphas had ended up on the floor on the evening of the banquet and looked into Glen's eyes for a trace of doubt or fear, but the two green orbs staring at him didn't avert his gaze.

"I'll let you fight your own battle."

Right after he had his words, Silver left the room leaving Glen and Connor together. Acher had followed the linked track.

[Are we preparing the men?]

[No. It will be useless because he won't lose.]

________

Back in his pack, Basile Stones untied the first button of his shirt and threw his jacket on the sofa in his study. He got out of this mess unharmed, but it was close. If he hadn't taken over the reins in time, he would be dead meat right now. Red Creek was right, Bloodhood was way too wild and dangerous. This pack was a bunch of savages just good at causing problem after problem. It's time for an alpha worthy of the name to take the lead.

He linked the young dominant he had chosen as a champion for the fight which would take place in a few days and glanced at the copy of the contract he had made with Red Creek. The document with their two signatures was still on top of his desk. He scanned it again, a smirk of satisfaction on his face when there was a knock on the door.

A man who could be called a giant entered and walked into the room. He was followed by another of less imposing size. His phoenix eyes rested on his leader and the two men bowed their heads slightly in salute.

"Bloodhood's alpha has agreed to our request. Like I told you, you will be our champion, Donovan.. As for you, Sol, I have a very special mission for you. "