Chapter 116
Kayden's POV
"I called you all here because I want to apologize to each and every one of you. In the past I used you and maybe you used me as well, but we all belong to the same pack and regardless I am your Alpha. My job is to make sure you're all protected, I can't do that job if any one of you goes and yaps your mouth about intimate details that we shared in the past. You can be pissed at me all you want, and yeah I deserve it, but I officially command you to not disclose any personal information that might be used to endanger this pack, do you understood?!" I definitely use my Alpha voice... Damn it, I should have done that a long time ago.
Sarah comes forward: "Alpha, can I speak freely?" Oh Sarah... She was so pissed when I told her never to come to my room again and yet now I notice that she is Marked!
"Of course, I want all of you to do so. I made a big mistake as Alpha, I never considered the rift my actions would bring the pack. So please, any grievances now's the time ladies." I owe them that much. I need to fix this, The Osupa are right, there must be harmony in a pack to make it strong.
"Thank you Kayden, that means a lot. Look... I found my mate within Half Crescent Moon, I understand how you feel about your own mate, I came to understand a lot of things when I found him and I have been observing how your leadership has really improved since you found her. I guess that's why there is a mate bond to begin with..." She turns a bit so that she can also face the others, I noticed that there are more who bear mate Marks... I guess it must have happened when Half Crescent Moon joined us because those who found mates with The Osupa left with them. Sarah is one of our Epsilons sentinels, before she served as a teacher's assistant.
"Regardless of whatever happened in the past I hold you or anyone here any ill will, at least not anymore. I am at peace with it and I am glad that despite the complications you have with the Luna, because even though your mate isn't here and is in fact the Alpha of another pack, she HAS been our Luna. She has tempered you to be a better leader, I know that Josephine was sent by her to help us improve our defenses, I am aware an Osupa team is coming to help train us more effectively and we all know she took Jason as a liaison to connect us more to their way to help us be safe. So whatever anyone may bitch about I have to admit the woman has earned not only her position, but my respect and loyalty. Alpha, I'm not the only one neither in this room or the pack who thinks this way and a lot of us already suspect what the most likely next move will eventually be. I want you to know that the vast majority of the pack stands behind you and the choice you make..." I noticed that she gives Delilah a glare laced with venom as Delilah has her arms crossed over her chest pouting, while others where nodding in agreement. "... and will follow you AND our Luna, even if she might be our Alpha in the future. From what Jason has been reporting to us and with this whole treachery from The Council it seems to me that Karaya Island is the safest place for us, we would still be together, we would have a better place to raise our pups and even if Loiza becomes our Alpha you would still be her mate and in a position of leadership who will take care of our needs." So everyone in the pack seemed to take to heart that I do plan to move the pack and from the looks of it I have majority's support, and then I notice that Sarah's belly has a small bump... She's thinking about her pups safety and future and this makes me smile.
"How far along are you?" And she smiles and looks down and caresses her stomach.
"Two months! We can't wait." She says looking up with a hopeful glint in her eyes.
"Sarah, why didn't you mention it before? I will take you from Sentinel duty, is there anyone else who is pregnant in the front line?" Now I understand why The Osupa have leave for these circumstances. Pups are precious, there's strength in numbers and the pups are the future of the pack, so of course The Osupa give leave for heats to raise the chance of them being successful, but also give it for pre and post natal care to ensure that the pup is strong and the mother recovers quickly. The rest of the pack takes up the slack, but it also reaps a new healthy member who will contribute in the future.
"You're relieving me of my duties Alpha?" She says with knitted eyebrows in confusion.
"No. Your duty has simply changed temporarily, once you have delivered a strong and healthy pup and you are in top shape again you will return to your post. Also I'm going to ask you to make a census of every pregnant member who's post is risky and send them to me. If their job is not one that will put them in direct danger still send pregnant members for a second plan, we will take everything into consideration to ensure the comfort of the future mother and health of the pup. Can you help me with that Sarah?" She smiled.
"See what I mean?! Let me guess, that is The Osupa way, right?" I just nod at her and she gives me a beaming smile as if she had unlocked the power of seer!
"Please thank our Luna next you speak with her. I will do as you say, can Annette assist me Alpha?" I look over to Annette who was very quiet, our relationship didn't end badly, it was just sex for both of us, she never had pretensions for power, just lust. And I notice that she too is Marked and is showing, even if it's less than Sarah. Annette is a Rho, according to The Osupa Greek coding they are skillful techs are have a natural affinity for invention or improving existing tech.
"Are you working on anything in particular Annette? And congrats to both of you by the way." She gives me a soft smile.
"I have been working with Benny and Carol on the mainframe to improve the signal with Karaya and every allied pack we have, as well as a few ideas that I have been developing myself. Thank the Goddess that we now know how the Greek coding really works, otherwise I would be still be stuck in that stupid kitchen! No wonder I hated it and would be daydreaming all day about the things and ideas in my head that I originally thought were crazy. I would love to assist Sarah in this, however Alpha I don't need to be on leave right now, my duty to the pack is out of direct danger and it actually helps me relax." I just realized another benefit of The Osupa way... If someone is given a chore that is plays to their natural talent, it's not really work for the member so they will give it their all. Just like Paco said... EVERYTHING is training!
"Deal, but no joke Annette, the moment you start feeling discomfort I want you to report it to me, Marcus or Avis, understood?" She rolls her eyes jokingly smiling and gives me a salut.
"As my Alpha commands!" To which Sarah and some of the others giggle and I notice Marcus and Avis who where behind the women giving me a thumbs up, they have kept quiet thinking that this meeting would be awkward and potentially turned hostile, but to our surprise with the exception of Delilah's earlier bullshit it's been rather amicable. And I got another understanding of The Osupa way and what Víctor told me: '...since you found your mate, do you find ANY interest in any of them? Have you tried making peace with them? Friends?'
Making peace...
Since meeting Loiza and The Osupa my way of seeing and approaching things has definitely changed and just the fact that I'm willing to admit that is the biggest proof. Why was I so stupidly arrogant before? Because I am an Alpha? A wolf? Marcus isn't like that and we shared the same DNA and frankly our psycho parents raised us well even though we were in the dark of their own dark tidings. We had a strong pack before, but thinking about how with just a little push to adjusting to The Osupa way we have become stronger and since there is less stress because everyone is doing something that makes them feel accomplished, camaraderie between members that had personal beefs has increased. Sarah used to LOATHE Annette! And yet here they are absolutely fine... I remembered that it's a great taboo for The Osupa to reject a mate, making their bonds very strong and besides their gossipy ways, which to be honest is not unusual for any pack, it's just that they are SO MANY that it turns from gossip to NEWS and entertainment which actually makes it hysterically funny to me, I really haven't heard of any conflict within the pack. No bad blood or animosity...