My Lycan Mate of Suicide Forest

"I thought this would be a good place to meet," Graeme was standing next to the black map on the wall of Zoe's conference room with the council members, Sam, Sylvia, and Charlotte all gathered.

He looked fierce: dark eyes glinting with accusation as he scanned the faces around him, hair tossed large and wild around his bearded face like the mane of a lion, posture wide and commanding. And the aura that extended even further than his physical presence was every bit the Alpha he was born to be. There was something benevolent and yet threatening about being in the presence of an Alpha—a magnetism that drew one in with trembling limbs, bent involuntarily in submission.

But the council members here were not bent or trembling. Many of them stood with admiration and respect, finally able to behold the will of the Hallowell Alpha. Among them were the nine representatives, three from each area of the pack—Meadowside, Lakeside, and Woodside—all male, who had slightly bewildered and appreciative expressions. They had clearly never seen this room just as they had never seen the fully developed Alpha version of Graeme that was within it.

"As you can see, this room has the required space. It was created to hold an impressive team of people—the head of which, a 14-year old named Zosime, is currently locked up below in our dungeon. Was the entirety of the council aware of this operation that plots alyko on a global map?"

Andreas' face was impassive as everyone but the elders looked around at each other. A small curve of Pearce's top lip made it appear as if he would snarl an obscenity at any moment, but his reserved nature was keeping him in check.

"The council members who represent their given areas of the pack congregate for pack matters and are put on committees for pack matters. This is something much different," Andreas said in his most professional voice he could manage, although the edge in his tone was clear.

"This does not concern the pack? The tracking of alyko?" Graeme asked, head tilting to the side in question.

"It is much more than that," Andreas answered through gritted teeth.

"Why would we not be aware of it at least?" a middle-aged male from Meadowside asked. "This appears to be a massive operation."

"That is a great question James," Graeme replied, recognizing the male. "How often do issues revolving around the alyko come up during council meetings?"

The members murmured amongst themselves while the elders shifted at the far side of the group. Andreas was openly glaring at Graeme now.

"It typically does not come up, though since you arrived with your mate, we have heard more reminders from the elders about the danger of witches. The fear we should all have with one back in our pack. We have not had any here since your parents died," a short, balding male answered.

Graeme nodded in response. This was as he expected, and it was a bit of a relief. At least the alyko files and map and Zoe's team were not done with the blessings of the full council. The elders must have been concerned that it would not pass a vote or that there would be too much division about it within the pack once everyone learned of it.

"Then this is something we must discuss together and at length. There is much happening within the pack that you are not aware of and that I have just come to learn. Our elders have taken a great deal of liberty in their decision making when it comes to this subject specifically and with wide implications," Graeme explained.

"It is simply because the witches are such a distinct threat. Security is paramount and unquestionable," Auden growled, the force of his words lifting him nearly off of his feet as his thin white hair flopped up and down against his forehead. "You are endangering our pack and lycan-kind simply by revealing this…" he continued before Andreas grabbed his shoulder and cut him off.

"I am endangering our pack by revealing this to our own council members?" Graeme's eyebrows pinched together. "Until we are able to discuss this matter and learn more of its details, its team, how long it has been going on, with whom it is shared, and whom within our pack has been affected by its surveillance, I am shutting it down," he said with finality.

"You would be making a grave mistake, son," Andreas replied.

The word 'son' made Graeme's eyes go steely. By using it, Andreas was asserting a kind of innocent dominance that was meant to sound endearing. But it was for that effect only.

"You are not to call me son, Elder Andreas," Graeme bit back. "You can explain to us all the depth of my mistake in your petition to resurrect this map." Graeme walked out into the hallway and called for the young lycan who was Zoe's colleague.

When Kai walked in, Pearce turned to him with his hands folded conservatively behind his back. "Kai, please tell us of the most recent event that occurred on our map. I think it will illuminate the Alpha's motivation today."

Kai froze mid stride on his way to shut down the map feed as Graeme had instructed. This Alpha version of Graeme was intimidating, and his eyes darted to that intimidating presence in question. What was he to do? Listen to Elder Pearce or wait for some kind of approval or command from the Alpha?

As Kai fumbled internally for an answer, he become aware of the thirty eyes that were trained on him in surprise, expectation, concern, and confusion. This was not his place—he should not be put on the spot like this. Zoe was always the one to answer questions and explain the map. Kai just kept his head down and did his job.

"Yes, perhaps if our council members had a glimpse of what the map does, it would expedite the need for this discussion. I would prefer not disconnecting the map at all, so if we could have this discussion now…" Andreas added.

"Do you have the team assembled for us to interview?" Graeme asked, gesturing with a hand toward the door.

"No, but most of them could be gathered quickly enough. They have other jobs, you see. This is not a full-time duty for most," Andreas replied.

"I would like to see what the map does," one member said, interest piqued now with how much contention seemed to surround the large ominous map displayed on the wall.

"Me too," another member agreed, followed by a chorus of similar calls for demonstration.

Behind Kai on the map, a light blinked to life on the western side of the U.S. before going dark.

"What was that light? Did you see it?" one male asked, turning to the members around him as he pointed to the place where the light had appeared.

"I saw it, too," someone replied.

Andreas walked to the center of the room next to Kai and turned to address them.

"That light was a witch."