The Council of the Alphas could be summoned in any of several locations that were hosting inconspicuous buildings which could be easily missed if one didn't know where to look. The amenities included rooms where Alphas could gather in a formal and informal setting, and also rooms where Alphas could rest.
Every location was staffed with a number of werewolves who didn't belong to any specific pack, and people addressed them as Guardians. Their tasks were to maintain the buildings and to serve Alphas during meetings, and other than that, the Guardians were neutral, and everyone treated them like national treasures that can't be touched.
Normally, these places would be used in a time of crisis, or a war where opposing sides would meet to negotiate. The Guardians ensured that matters here were settled peacefully, and some rumors spoke that they were immune to Alpha aura and they possess unbeatable fighting skills, so even Alphas looked at them with respect.
The building where the Council of Alphas assembled this time had a lounge that was decorated in dark red walls and bulky purple furniture that sat on the stone floor. One long dark-brown block of polished wood served as a bar and there were several sitting areas defined by sofas and chairs arranged in circles. That was where Alphas and their Betas gathered while waiting for the meeting to start.
Alpha Cristian and his Beta Imre arrived to see Damon, Caden, Maddox, and Maddox's Beta Oliver sitting at the bar. He didn't care about other people.
"I'm glad to see we are not late.", Alpha Cristian said while exchanging greetings with four people, and then he took a seat on Maddox's right. The assembly was summoned for dawn which should be soon, but there was no exact hour mentioned.
"Do you know who else is missing?", Alpha Cristian asked.
"We heard that twelve packs confirmed attendance, but we don't know who they are.", Beta Oliver responded.
"With you, we have nine Alphas.", Maddox grumbled.
"I see. Three more to go.", Alpha Cristian said and waved at the bartender to give him a drink.
Damon was sipping his amber-colored drink while looking at the people present through the mirror behind the bar. He knew they were watching him, waiting for him to lose composure, to give them a reason to oust him, but he had so much on his mind, that this curveball from Alpha Edward was not much.
Yes, Damon's stomach churned at the possibility of a war, because that meant casualties that could be avoided if those greedy bastards would stick to their territories, but Damon was mostly concerned about the fact that black runes were there, just under his skin, waiting to strike when he least expected, and make him forget the most important person in his life. The period where he couldn't remember Talia was like a living nightmare for Damon. He was confused and disoriented, and he didn't forget only about his mate, but he forgot about himself. He didn't want to go back there, and the fact that Talia was not by his side and he couldn't reach her via their mind-link or feel her emotions was unsettling.
Damon downed his drink and gestured to the bartender to give him another.
The nine Alphas were separated into three distinct groups.
Damon was with his confirmed allies, Maddox and Cristian at the bar. The three of them cooperated many times before, and their core values align enough that they trust each other not to go back on their word no matter what the other party offers them.
Two Alphas were sitting on one sofa in the corner, Alpha Robert and Alpha Patrick. Their two packs were the smallest ones among the packs who were members of the Council of Alphas. Damon guessed they were neutral and will side with the majority.
In the middle of the lounge, on the largest sofa, were Alpha Edward, Alpha Richard (aka Cassie's father), Alpha Peter, and Alpha William. The four of them talked in a light atmosphere, occasionally throwing glances toward Damon, and Damon pretended not to notice them. He knew very well that those four were power-hungry and eager to see him fall, but what he didn't know was what kind of agreement those four reached nor what their strategy will be so that they could be so easygoing.
Every Alpha was flanked by his Beta who observed, measured, and reported to his Alpha every detail.
The door opened with an announcement, "Alpha Adam Hessen and Beta Milo from the Silverfur pack!"
Alpha Adam was a man in his mid-fifties with a sturdy build and straight posture, but what gave away his position of power was his unwavering gaze that moved over everyone present.
After a few seconds, Alpha Adam decided to move toward the bar with his eyes locked on Damon.
Damon was surprised by this interesting development. The Silverfur pack was eighth in size, and they wouldn't take sides in any conflict, so Damon assumed that Alpha Adam will either join two neutral Alphas on the sofa or pick a separate seating for himself and his Beta.
'Jade is Beta Milo's daughter', Caden's voice sounded in Damon's head and Damon groaned in irritation when he connected the dots.
Jade, of course! How could he forget the she-wolf model who suggested that they pretend to date so that her father allows her to pursue her career?
Just like everyone else, Alpha Adam wanted to make a firm alliance with Damon, but he had two sons, and since Damon was not gay, they agreed to push Jade onto his lap because she was still Beta's daughter.
Jade was easy on the eyes, so Damon went on a date with her. They shared a meal and bed and then parted ways until Jade called him with a proposition to pretend to date, and for a brief moment, Damon considered it. That was before he met Talia, and Caden quickly burst that fake-dating bubble. Caden reminded Damon that once a female is in, it's a headache to shake her off. Every she-wolf is attracted to power and riches, and Jade won't be any different once she experiences the perks of people who think of her as the future Luna of the Dark Howlers pack.
After Damon remembered those details, he understood why Alpha Adam was approaching him openly. Alpha Edward probably reached to them in an attempt to buy Alpha Adam's vote, and that revealed that Damon was in trouble, and the old bastard was hoping to use this situation as leverage for Jade to put her leg through the door of being his Luna.
Alpha Adam greeted everyone with a big smile on his face before turning to Damon. "Alpha Damon, we meet again."
Damon turned to face the man before returning the greeting dryly.
"It seems we will be in a position to collaborate again.", Alpha Adam said.
Damon was not in the mood for bullshit. "I don't remember us collaborating previously."
