The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 41

Sitting at the meeting table in front of Asteria and Gale, I watch their face as their expressions morph from shock, to curiosity, to disgust, to shock again. I can tell that they were in the dark just as much as I was with all this new information, including the abuse Rune faced in Valor’s hands and pity fills me for my ex. With two hours before the meeting between Alpha Viren and us to discus about the attack his father performed on Golden Fang and the reparations owed to us, I decided to link the two to meet me in the sound proof room and brought my laptop.

“Who else knows about this?” Gale finally asks, breaking the long silence. Removing the mug of coffee from my lips, I look at the Alpha couple and notice a heaviness in their eyes. This information is a lot to take in, even for me. But if this is all true, then that means Rune did what he did to protect Pine Moon.

“Quest but if you look at the C.C list that was sent to this fake email, you can see that Rune sent it to all Pine Moon wolves, Alphas and a few Council members. The list also includes Jonnah Cross of Blood Claws.” I watch as Gale quickly moves his fingers over the laptop buttons, his body slumping in his seat a he starts laughing.

“Kid definitely got guts from his mom.” He laughs out. I roll my eyes, resuming my action of drinking my coffee. After reading the email with Quest, I made him swear an oath of secrecy until Asteria or I told the pack. He was begrudged at first but understood the turmoil it would cause with so many Pine Moon wolves joining us.

I think about Rune and his mom. I remember Luna Clairice, remember her carefree attitude with a strong sense of justice. But that is all I can remember about her. She was always butting heads with her Mate. Claiming that the pack should be treated better by Valor who did not listen to her. We were told she passed away due to a heart attack and I spent the time after her death with Rune, helping him through the shock and grief of him loosing her mother.

“I have a feeling Onix Moon might know soon as news like this spreads fast, but they were all pretty drunk last night.” Asteria muses, bringing me from my thoughts. I hum in agreement, relishing in the hot caffeinated drink and putting my thoughts of my Ex-Mate and his mother aside. The bonfire went well into the late hours last night, ending some time around three in the morning. With it currently being eight in the morning, coffee is a Goddess given gift right now.

“I just wonder how Quincy and Quest are faring. They drank a lot once the Onix Moon wolves let loose.” I joke, getting a chuckle from Gale.

“Last I heard, Quincy was found passed out in a bush by patrol half way to his house three hours ago.” He states. I nearly choke on my mouthful of coffee as I fight the urge to spat the drink out. Since we gained the three brewers from Pine Moon, our pack has been enjoying their moon shine creations and with the idea of selling the alcohol from Tristan deep in my mind, I plan to mention this idea after the meeting with Holton. We will need to build a small decoy town soon to help bring in more revenue for the pack. Maybe we can make it a local brewing town and have our moon shine be well known in both the supernatural and human communities.

“Good morning!” Speaking of the lawyer, Holton walks in with a cheery smile, his briefcase in hand. Before we can greet him, Tristan and Alpha Viren wobble in, both looking pale and worse for wear while Alpha Viren caries a brief case in his hands as well.

“I take back what I said last night. I don’t want to buy the liquor.” Tristan groans. Taking a seat across from me and eyeing my mug of coffee. I chuckle and point to the machine just three feet away and Tristan groans again, his head plopping onto the table with a loud thud.

“I got it.” Alpha Viren sighs out, placing his brief case onto the table and moving to the machine. Pouring two cups of coffee, he brings them to the table and reaches for the cream and sweetener while Tristan reaches for milk and sugar. Their movements are almost robotic, like some sort of routine, and I watch in amusement.

“Well, I have the copies emailed to us by your lawyer but I am guessing your brought your own?” Holton speaks, his keen eyes staring at the visiting Alpha. Alpha Viren lets out a growl and, without hesitating, I growl back giving the Alpha a warning. He is in our territory and I refuse to allow him to disrespect our members. He stops his growling, looking at me with curiosity and greed and I allow him to feel my power. He may be an Alpha, but I will gladly take him on in a fight if need be.

“Behave Alpha Viren. You are in my land.” Asteria warns, giving me a small nod. I pull back my power and stop my growling, giving the man one final glare before I move to fill my mug with more coffee and returning to my seat.

“And this is why I am the one who handles the small talk.” Holton grumbles, making Gale chuckle.

“Lets get this business taken care of and then you two can return to your lodgings and deal with your hangover.” Gale suggests, his calm aura radiating in the room. It reminds me of a Luna, soft and caring, and I am happy that he is here as Alpha Viren relaxes.

“Agreed. That blasted moon shine your pack makes packs a punch. We can negotiate a trade treaty when you decide what to do with it.” Alpha Viren grumbles, opening his brief case and handing out manila envelopes to everyone at the table. I take mine wordlessly, pulling the papers out and quickly skim them. It is the same as the one that was sent in the email and I inwardly sigh. At least he hasn’t done anything underhanded.

Looking at the apology letter, mixed in, I scan it before pulling the out the list of compensation from land to money that Crescent Phoenix will gain.

“Everything still seems the same.” Asteria shrugs noncommittedly, but I can sense the excitement in her. Twelve acres of land is a lot for a growing pack as well as the three million dollars that will be sent our way. We expended a lot of money to rebuild Crescent Phoenix and buy the necessary materials needed.

“Good. If we can agree and all sign the paperwork, then I can get back to my room and sleep off the moon shine.” Alpha Viren sighs out. Holton asks to look through all the paper, taking another hour to scan through and with a grin, he hands the pen and stack of papers to Asteria. From there, a signing line is formed going from Asteria, to Gale, to Alpha Viren, then Tristan and finally me. The last person to sign the dotted line is Holton who happily hands a copy back to Tristan and Alpha Viren.

“Thank the Goddess. If you need me, don’t.” Alpha Viren grumbles. Stuffing his and Tristan’ copy into their brief case. With a small farewell, the two shuffle out of the room. Something nags at me though and I link one of the Warriors to send our sneakiest members to keep an eye on the Onix Moon wolves.

“Now. Asteria tells me you have an intriguing email to show me.” Holton calls out as soon as the door closes.