Chapter 3

• The air was thick with male masculinity, their respective Luna's retiring to another room for tea or what not. This year’s Alpha Congress was being held in Alpha Samuel's territory, in Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada. Snow fluttered down in flurries in a nearby window, the sun covered by the snow clouds casting an even darker gloom on the event.
• Alpha Samuel had a home in Iqaluit of decent size, nothing too big or too small. It was a two-story made entirely out of wood, possibly oak. The first floor had barely any furnishings, as though it was mostly unused, while the second floor housed a massive meeting room beside Alpha Samuel's office. Currently all five of us Alpha's are spread out across a large round, dark, table in an equally dark room. Barely any lights scattered the ceiling, and what little that were there flickered on and off endlessly, more than likely due to the snow. Other than the table and five seats, there were no furnishings in this room. Wooden horizontal floorboards matched the shiplap covering the walls, only a few windows scattering the room with their shutters closed tightly. Not a single rug was drawn across the cold wooden floor; the only color and life in the room are the people in it.
• Every Alpha showed up for the meeting, as usual, and each had two swords. Alpha Samuel, the host, is a rather short man for our kind. He seemed to nearly reach six foot, like me, with blond hair fashioned in a buzz cut, cold gray eyes, and prominent bone structure emphasized by his naturally tan skin. To his left sat Alpha Belam, he was a man of average height for our kind. Greasy brown hair decorated the crown of his head, his bland brown eyes skittishly looked about the other Alphas with his yellowing teeth on view due to his sneer.
• Besides Alpha Belam sat Alpha Gonzalez, a rather tall Hispanic wolf with rich curling black hair and exotic green eyes. I sat to the left of Alpha Gonzalez and across from Belam, whom I glared at since we were first seated. In between Alpha Samuel and I sat Alpha Jackel, a man with brown hair slicked back paired with piercing black eyes. Each Alpha had their Beta standing behind them, all except for Alpha Samuel whose Beta was absent for unknown reasons.
• Alpha Samuel stood up, drawing our attention. "Now, let us start our annual Alpha Congress! You all know how this goes, but, for those of you that don't," His cold gray eyes jerked to me, "we first go over anything that has been reported to Elders or Congress then go onto any personal deputes."
• Silence erupted from the table, Samuel still standing.
• "As you can see nothing has been reported." Forced fake laughs sounded throughout the room at this, for some reason unknown to me.
• The tension was thick in the room as I cracked my neck out of habit, the noise sounding loud in the otherwise quiet room. No one spoke for another handful of minutes, each Alpha seemingly not wishing to converse with the others.
• "Well," Alpha Jackel started, looking at me from the corner of his eye, "my second son is coming of age soon, and we are looking for a wife for him." Snickers sounded throughout the room in response.
• I simply rolled my eyes and responded without looking at him, "If I know someone looking to get into the good graces of a second-rate Alpha family, I'll be sure to let you know."
• Vladislav grabbed my shoulder lightly, warning me not to be aggressive. I waved him off lightly, letting him know I would bite my tongue for the time being.
• "Now Alpha Jackel, let's remember that this is a political meeting. Not one in which you try to engage your son." Alpha Samuel stated simply.
• "Trade. Weapons trade specifically, is a matter in which that needs to be discussed." Gonzalez stated mater of factually.
• Now that drew my attention; I haven't been receiving good arms trades with other packs either as of late. I had assumed it was because of my position of Alpha heir, but it would seem that is not the case.
• "Are you lacking in weapons, or do you have a surplus that you want to dispense to other packs?" Questioned Jackel.
• Gonzalez leaned forward on the table, clasping his hands together. "A lack of weapons. And it has also come to my attention that Alpha Belam has been stocking up weapons, and more so than the allowed amount."
• Even in werewolf society there were bans on how many weapons a pack could own and which types. Mainly to stop all out wars and mass murders of the human population.
• "It has also been seen that Alpha Belam has procured some illegal weapons. RPGs, AR-15s, AK-47s and the like." I stated, tapping my forefinger against the table.
• Four pairs of eyes looked in my direction. "And just how would you know this, Ruslana-Slava?" Belam asked.
• I held my hand out to Vladislav, who handed me a stack of stapled papers. "Well, James," I said, using Belam's first name as a form of disrespect, "from your weapons catalog of course." I tossed the papers onto the table, Alpha Samuel reached out quickly to grab them first.
• He let out a low whistle. "Belam, Belam, Belam. There are quite a few illegal weapons on this list, as Alpha Ruslana-Slava states. And definitely more weapons than the legal amount."
• A bead of sweat ran down Belam's face as he glanced around the table. Alphas never did like unfair odds.
• "How did you even get such a weapons catalog anyways? And who’s to say you didn't just made this list up to incriminate me?" Alpha Belam questioned, grasping at straws to try and shift the blame of his deeds.
• Unable to help myself, my emotions revealed themselves in a smile. "Obviously, I received it from one of my recon teams that slaughtered a group of your men in a private airstrip based out of Ohio. Did you honestly believe that I wouldn't notice you invading my lands? And the proof, well," I tossed a small closed pouch into the center of the table. "Take a look for yourself."
• My grin widened ever so slightly when the stench of death seeped from the pouch as Belam opened it. He poured the contents onto the table; five sets of canines from his wolves. The smell of the pack that the owners of the teeth belonged to blatantly there. Rage dripped onto his features, one of the most disrespectful things one can do to a dead wolf is deprive them of their canines. Without them the wolves wouldn't be able to part take in the never ending hunts that is our afterlives.
• "You whore!" Belam shouted, standing up to lunge at me.
• Alpha Samuel grabbed Belam by his collar, slamming him back in his seat roughly. "Belam! This kind of behavior will not be tolerated. And Alpha Ruslana-Slava, taking their canines? Really?"
• I shrugged looking up at him, the only offence is if I took them for sport and kept them. "I was returning them, Alpha Samuel. They were killed this morning, it isn't like I kept them for a prolonged amount of time. From Belam's reaction I doubt he's even found the bodies yet. I'm just helping a neighbor, you see?"
• Unable to help himself, Alpha Samuel laughed loudly. Wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, showing his age. Belam looked up at him in disbelief.
• Samuel noticed Belam's reaction and looked down. "Oh, do pardon me. It's just, Alpha Ruslana-Slava is completely right. She didn't do anything wrong at all, in fact she's even in the clear since your wolves were on her land when she removed their canines. All you've done is fucked yourself over, Belam."
• Belam muttered something to himself, a scowl etched into his features. Another man chuckled across the table, Alpha Gonzalez.
• "I see you handle yourself well, Alpha Ruslana-Slava." Gonzalez said, nodding in my direction. "So I'll ask you, what do you think of my arms dealing shortage?"
• I turned my grin in his direction, pleased someone brought the conversation to me. "Alpha Gonzalez, it's safe to assume that the lack of arms dealing is a shared problem across the board. Unless you're Alpha Belam, of course."
• Nods and hushed 'yes' echoed throughout the room, the other Alpha's concurring with my assumption. Belam shrank in his seat as his left eye began twitching nervously, something that I saw all Alpha's take notice of.
• "I have rather good relations with the Fylakas gang and the Russian Mafia in general. Meaning, I am the Alpha to come to for arms deals. Which would, of course, need to be discussed in a one on one meeting if any pack wishes to open up a deal with the Konstantin pack. Yet, this also means that my contacts would never fall through... Say, if someone would try to bribe them to stop trading with me. Russians don't operate that way, and definitely not to one of their own. Fylakas is the same way, and besides, I'm family. Aaron wouldn't betray me either way." I stated, intertwining my fingers while leaning back into my chair.
• "Hmm," Gonzalez hummed to himself, "I'll have to take you up on that offer, Alpha Ruslana-Slava." He stated, leaning forward to clasp my forearm in a handshake.
• My smile only widened even more as Samuel did the same. "I'll have to agree with Alpha Gonzalez's decision, Alpha Ruslana-Slava. A meeting at another date, yes?"
• I smiled wolfishly at the two. "But of course, gentlemen."
• In the corner of my eye I saw Belam gnashing his teeth together in annoyance. I quickly turned my smile on Belam, eager to try and bait him.
• "Something on your mind, Belam? Cat got your tongue?" I chuckled lightly.
• He glared at me yet made no further remarks.
• Looks like it'll be a little harder to bait him than I expected.
• The meeting carried on almost pleasantly for the next twenty minutes or so. Not a single harsh word towards me or my pack was spoken aloud, although, from the dirty glares I received every once in a while there were certainly harsh thoughts. But I was growing impatient, it was already a miracle that I waited this long to start a fight.
• "Gentlemen, do you mind?" I asked, interrupting Alpha Samuel and Alpha Gonzalez's debate on the philosophy of wolf warfare.
• They blinked, surprised, and motioned for me to carry on. "Alpha Belam I challenge you to a duel for territory, following the code of conduct of war, due to the fact that you dared to invade my pack and kill my wolves."
• Vladislav, who had been silent up until now, grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him. "Ruslana! Patience is a virtue, sister!" My sixteen year old brother, wiser than his years, stated.
• I blinked at him simply. "And patience is not a virtue I have. Don't worry, sit back and let me get my daily exercise out of the way... Oh, and brother?"
• "Yes?"
• "Make the call." I said, smiling viciously at him.
• He sighed, shaking his head as he exited the room.
• "Now, Belam. Up you go, let's get this show on the road, yes? Swords or claws?" I asked, standing up and stretching, pushing my short brown hair behind my ears.
• Belam growled at me in anger as Samuel laughed excitedly awaiting my show. Alpha Samuel seemed to rather enjoy my sharp tongue, harsh words and no bullshit attitude. Perhaps, in the future, he would make a rather useful ally.
• Belam lunged for me the moment he got within a reaching distance, claws outstretched. I dodged him easily by sidestepping towards my left, leaving him in a heap on the ground. Jumping back to his feet he grabbed his silver sword out from a scabbard hanging from his waist, I followed suit. In a thundering clash our swords slammed into each other with a bang.
• My blood boiled with adrenaline, the excitement of the fight getting to me. Belam slammed the butt of his sword into my face, a crack resounding in the room as my nose broke. Blood spewed down into my mouth.
• "Shit," I paused, coughing, "you fucking broke my nose!" I exclaimed, spitting blood onto the floor.
• I swung my sword in an arch hard, aiming for Belam's throat but missing by an inch. Growling in annoyance I shifted my canines, snapping my jaws at him. Despite the fact that I loved a good fight I was growing tired of seeing Belam's smug smile as he fought. Thinking that he was winning.
• He lunged forward with his sword, aiming to pierce my stomach. It would be a rather easy move to dodge, but as it was, I was getting tired playing this game. I let him pierce me, the sound of burning flesh piercing the otherwise silent room, allowing the blade to sink far into my abdomen up until the hilt tapped against my flesh.
• With my left hand I grabbed onto the blade, once he bang to remove it, the silver burning my hand as the edge cut open my hand. I held it in place in my abdomen, not allowing Belam to retract his blade further for the killing blow. Using my right hand I swung my blade hard at his neck, decapitating him in one fell swoop.
• Blood squirted on me like a geyser, soaking my clothes at the same time as a searing pain raced across my shoulders. Like fire was burning through my very veins.
• Perhaps a side effect of the silver...? I thought to myself in confusion.
• Ignoring the pain I pulled the sword out from my abdomen, the flesh tearing and burning even more. Blood poured from the open wound as I took a seat, breaking my nose again with my hands to re-align it so it would heal properly. Wiping some blood from my mouth I looked up at Samuel.
• "Got any scotch?"
• Samuel, looking flabbergasted at the turn of events took a moment to respond. "Well, yes, of course. I'll also get someone to bring you a towel as well."
• As Samuel exited the meeting room Vladislav entered, not looking confused in the slightest when he smelt blood. He glanced around the room seeing the decapitated Belam and my damaged state.
• Coming up behind me he tilted my head up, taking a good look at my healing nose. "You had plenty of fun, didn't you, sister? Sometimes it feels like I'm the older one here."
• I swatted his hand away with a light laugh. "Can't you tell by how I look? I had plenty of fun, although, I had to cut it short due to the audience. You wouldn't happen to have any cleaning alcohol and bandages, would you?"
• He laughed, kneeling down so he could see my wound properly, pulling things out of his pockets. "When I'm in your company? Always. This may sting a little."
• Vladislav took a cloth dampened with cleaning alcohol and wiped it across the open wound, cleaning the silver tainted black blood that seeped from the wound. The cleaning alcohol burned worse than the silver did.
• Once my wound was patched up Samuel had returned, with a glass filled to the brim with scotch and a damp towel. Taking the scotch I knocked it back in two gulps and slammed it down on the table. Using the towel I cleaned off the blood on my face and other areas until it was heavily soiled with black and red blood stains.
• The older men around me, in their late forties, stared at me blankly obviously surprised that I drank the scotch so easily.
• "What?" I asked, looking at them. "My parents love alcohol. Besides, they're Russian; back in Russia people drink it like water. My brothers and I have a tolerance for it."
• From behind me, Vladislav snorted. "Alexei and I have a tolerance, you have an addiction."
• I laughed, playfully punching him on the shoulder. "Well, I'll assume that this means the meeting is over, yes? I did best Belam in a legal duel after all."
• "Ah, yes, you are quite right. This concludes the meeting, feel free to leave at your leisure." Samuel said, motioning towards the door.
• Vladislav and I walked out, peering off to our right so we could talk for a moment.
• "How did the call go? You were gone an awfully long time."
• Vladislav leaned against the wall, blocking my view of anyone coming or going. "No problems, in fact, Alexei and Uncle Owens had the troops ready and near the border before I even called. So, I just waited a little while before they called me back with a status report. We barely lost any wolves, and only a few wounded. The whole territory is under our control and the remaining Alpha family are already rounded up and awaiting you in our territory."
• I grinned up at my younger brother, extremely pleased with the outcome. "I just love when things work out the way I want them to!"
• "Is he bothering you?" A deep voice asked from behind me, a voice that for some reason compelled me to look at the one speaking.
• I could only imagine how it looked; a tall shady looking guy leaning over a seemingly short and young woman. Despite the fact that my brother, Vladislav, was now shaking with compressed laughter I still thought the gesture from the stranger was somewhat sweet. Punching my younger brother in the stomach with the force to make him cough, I turned to look at the stranger.
• This man towered over me in every bit of the sense. He seemed to be nearly six foot eight, already towering over my giant of a brother. His eyes were gray, like storm clouds, and he has dirty blonde hair that is styled in a side sweep with the sides shaved. He had thick yet styled eyebrows and long eyelashes. Muscles flexed as he moved, crossing his arms looking down at me.
• It was as if time slowed just so that I could look at every aspect of him. A sharp jab of my brothers’ elbow brought me back to the land of the living.
• "He usually does bother me... But only because he's my little brother. Thank you for the concern though." I said, smiling at him politely.
• "Little?" He asked, looking between my brother and I with an amused smile. "Are you guys’ children of an Alpha here for a meeting or something?"
• Annoyance flooded through me, my smile dropping from my lips, despite the fact that he wouldn't be able to recognize me as an Alpha at first glance. Vladislav put one hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down, as he shook hands with the stranger.
• "Vladislav Konstantin, Beta, at your service."
• The stranger blinked for a moment and then looked down at me once more, seemingly doing a double take as he finally took a good look at me. Mainly he stared at my bloody and ripped clothing with worry and confusion, but he also looked at me with surprise. It was the first time in a long time that someone didn't look at me with disgust when learning that I was the female Alpha.
• "My apologies, Alpha Ruslana-Slava. I didn't realize... More importantly, are you alright? Your clothes...?" He trailed off, reaching down to touch my bandaged wound without a thought.
• Smacking his hand away, ignoring the tingling sensation he gave me, I took a defiant stance by placing my hands on my hips. "I am quite fine, stranger. No need to worry yourself. I am an Alpha, and as such, I am a busy woman. If you wish to gossip about the Alpha Congress go speak to your Alpha. I have things to do." With that I turned on my heel, walking around my brother, and making my way out of Alpha Samuel's home.
• Without getting the name of the stranger.