The growl is deafening. The Russian alpha is ready to bounce at me with all his might, his body shaking, his eyes shining yellow. He's baring his canines. His entire face is contorted in an ugly sneer that the scar amplifies.

So, what if I'm the one that made him this ugly ? Doesn't mean he didn't deserve it. Now he's ugly inside and out.

Every pair of eyes is watching him silently. I don't know what he hopes to achieve with thirty alphas and betas surrounding us. They are quiet but I didn't miss the way their bodies adopted defensive postures, how their aura changed to let everyone know the strength they hold.

"Someone better remove that piece of garbage from here before I do." He growls in a thick accent.

"How isn't he first on your list ?" Jared grumbles beside me.

"No need to be jealous, you're still on top of my list." I joke.

I smile at him and walk to the Mafia man.

"Don't worry, I'm leaving. I wouldn't want the smell to hinder you."

"Actually." Someone clears his throat behind me. "I would like you to stay."

"So do I." Another one adds.

I turn around surprised to see more than half the alphas nodding in agreement.

"Excuse me ?" Nate asks from the doorway frowning.

"She has always been a good advisor." Lincoln explains.

"If the matter at hand is as critical as you say it is, I want to hear what she has to say about it too." Talia cuts in.

Nate is at a loss for words and I'm no better.

'That's... yeah... didn't see that coming.'

You and me both.

Nate looks at Jared unsure.

"I... I don't know" He looks at me for answers, I shrug in response. "I mean, she's not an alpha"

"For the love of the Moon, she's a damn rogue." Isanov roars.

'He's got a point.'

And it's not like it concerns me.

'But...'

But I know things they don't. No need to remind me.

"I want her here." Lincoln says as he turns to the group. "All in favor ?" He demands and eighty percent of the wolves lift a hand.

I am speechless. He smiles brightly at me.

"That's settled. Now lets get down to business, I have a pack to run." George concludes making everyone sit in the chairs around the immense table in the middle of the room. Each beta standing behind their alpha. I step aside to let a glaring Isanov and Nikolai his beta get to the chair before joining Jared uncomfortably.

"I don't even know what to say anymore." He sighs.

"It's not my fault everyone loves me." I smirk.

"Alright." Nate starts in a deep voice, demanding the entire room's attention. "I would like to thank all of you for coming here in such short notice. As many of you know several packs have been attacked in the last few months, including mine. What seemed to be random attacks turn out to be a really well orchestrated plan."

"How can you be so sure ?" George asks.

Nate takes pictures out and I recognize the tattoos on the wrists of the two first prisoners.

"A few days ago we were able to capture two of their members. However they were killed by a traitor during a second attack before we could gain any valuable information."

"Then how do you know there are no more traitors in your ranks ?" Alpha Roman from Salt Lake City interrupts.

Nate's patience is wearing thin, he definitely doesn't like to be challenged.

'He'd definitely win though.'

Obviously.

'Actually, I think I want to see that. Make them fight.'

I want to face palm myself.

That's not the time for that.

"I trust my people, but I interrogated every one of them and I am sure there are no other traitors."

That seems to satisfy them.

"We caught another one of the rogues after the second attack and have been interrogating him since then. He made it clear someone is leading them. As you also are aware we have access to the Library which allowed us to find more information about this logo." He points at the pictures scattered on the table.

"I've never seen these marks before." Alonzo frowns.

"We found it in the books in the Library." Nate informs them. "It's the symbol of the 'Colonel of the Sun'. However he lived during the era of the first wolves so our guess is that this group has a new leader."

"Don't ring a bell." George interrupts once again.

I look at Ellie behind him and see her lips twitch as she stares back at me.

George 2 - Alonzo 1

"The prisoner said they want to take revenge on the packs and apparently they have gathered a lot of people." Nate explains.

"So ? What does it have to do with us ?" Isanov demands sternly.

I can see Nate's jaw tense.

"As I said they are targeting all the packs. I called this summit to form an alliance between our clans. We need to team up to fight against them."

"And I suppose you would be the one in charge." Isanov challenges lifting a brow, challenging Nate.

Here we go.

This is why an alliance is impossible. They will never acknowledge orders from anyone.

'That's why they lost. Everytime.'

Exactly.

"I thought we would decide that together." He answers calmly.

"My pack was never attacked. I don't think we are concerned by all this." Isanov continues unperturbed.

I see a few others nodding around the table. Of course they dont want to help. Every man for itself, or every stupid pack for itself in this case.

'I think now would be a good time to talk.'

Wait.

"It doesn't mean you're not next." Nate argues.

"Is that a threat !" The Russian shouts, hitting the table with his fist.

"No ! Of course not." Nate exclaims exasperated. "I'm just saying that we are all concerned by this problem and we should prepare ourselves to prevent anymore attacks in all of our packs."

"Excuse me alpha." Talia cuts their banter. "I would like to say something." She waits for Nate to nod before addressing the room again. "As you all know the pack of the South of California has the gift of the past, and we, the pack of Washington, have the gift of the future. I took the liberty of bringing our current oracle. I would like for you to listen to what she has to say. Willow, dear." She waves at a young woman next to her beta Trent.

Willow comes forward her head held high. She has long curly blond hair and clear gray eyes. I'd say she's around 22 years old and still I can feel how powerful she is.

'She's bad news.' My wolf warns.

As Talia said, she sees the future, not the past. As long as I don't decide to fight, especially in my wolf form she won't be able to predict the course of time.

'Still you should be careful with her. As they say, oracles can see your downfall from a simple touch.'

No shaking hands, got it.

"I have foreseen the future of our clans and it is somber. The threat heading our way is a plague which will bring us down if we don't change our ways." She announces in a soprano voice.

"As you all heard, the menace is real." Talia concludes.

"I don't believe you. I refuse. My pack won't join and listen to a pup." Isanov spats.

Damn, I should have bet on him. I should have known he wouldn't keep quiet. Well then.

I clear my throat and text a quick message to Leila. Isanov glares at me as he sees me step ahead but I look down on him and he keeps his lips tightly shut, even though I know he wants to do the opposite. I decide to talk directly to him.

"Isanov." I begin but am rudely interrupted by his growl.

"Show some respect rogue or I will end you."

'BOUAHAHAHAH as if he could !' My wolf breathes out in a fit of laughter.

I smirk and roll my eyes at his tantrum.

"Alpha Isanov," I start again. "Do you, by any chance remember anything about a debt your great great grand father owed to a certain Hope Michaels ?"

At the mention of the name there is a small commotion and some people start to gasp or whisper.

"No." He answers pretending not to but I can clearly see he knows exactly what I'm talking about.

There is a bed of sweat forming on his forehead and his eyes are dilated. His hands are clenched on the table. I can hear his beating heart from where I stand, he is anxious and definitely lying. I don't know why people keep on lying when we are lie detectors. If it's not indication enough the blood I can see rushing in his veins shows how stressed out he is.

"Are you sure ?" I insist.

"I said I don't !" He growls.

Suddenly the doors open and all the attention is concentrated on the newcomer. Leila trots to me unfazed and hands me a pile of documents. I take the one with the name of Isanov's pack on it and slowly slide it towards him. The alpha stops breathing.

"Do you recognize this document ?" I inquire. "Your pack should have a duplicate."

"Yes I do. So what ?" He grumbles.

I take the document back and hold it up so that everyone can see it.

"As we can see this document is a contract between Alexei Netchaïev and Hope Michaels, whose signatures are visible at the bottom saying that Alpha Alexei has a debt to pay for the help Hope provided to him."

"This is none of your business." He starts in a low menacing voice.

"Oh, Kittykat." I coo.

'Hope !'

Right ! Sorry ! Not the time.

I can't help the smirk on my face.

"The contract states that whoever is in possession of the said document is rightfully entitled to its terms and can ask for the compensation to be returned at any given time and under any given form."

Damn, I would make such a great lawyer.

"Nonsense !" The Russian shouts out of his seat making the chair fall back on the floor.

"As the owner of this contract I am entitled to ask you to pay your debt by forming an alliance with the other packs here today. I would also like to remind you that any breach on your part would have dire consequences, we should not forget of the ways of the past, this contract was made in blood and your pack may be in even greater danger if you don't follow it."

Isanov is silent, probably thinking about a hundred ways to kill me. I turn to the others and show them the pile.

"I have here all the contracts she made with the packs during her life. I'm collecting your debts." I smile sweetly.

There is no sound in the room, I can hear the flies in there and if some don't start closing their mouths they might swallow some.

"On the question of a potential alliance, all in favor ?" I ask.

All hands rise together in agreement and Lincoln smiles amused at me, on his side Talia seems relieved by the positive outcome. Nothing worst than a stubborn alpha. I turn back to Nate smiling.

"You were saying." I wave at the waiting crowd.

He doesn't move observing me with doubt. He's searching for something in my eyes but I don't think he finds it. Finally he snaps out of his reverie and turns to the men and women gathered in the room, nodding at them.

"Thank you. We'll have a short break before negotiating the terms of the alliance."

They all spring to their feet and start forming smaller groups, some of them leaving the room.

"As scary as ever." Leila jokes a smile stretching in her face.

"I know ! I had a blast."

"Did you see Isanov's face ? So fun !"

"He was ready to fight." I agree.

"I think he remembers last time too well to try anything."

"Hum, Hope ? Who's that ?" Jared inquires frowning.

"Sorry. Jared this is my friend Leila. Leila, this is beta Jared."

"Nice to meet you." He shakes her hand. "But how did you get here ?"

"Oh, I asked her to come. I needed these documents."

"No I mean, how did you get in here."

"I walked." Leila smirks.

"Again, that's not an answer." Jared rolls his eyes

"I asked Jordan to bring her here." I admit.

"You what ?" He asks exasperated.

"Well yes, who did you want me to ask to ?"

"Alright, alright kids, enough." Leila laughs.

"You need to live, Ma'am."

"Excuse me ?" Leila cries out. "How old do you think I am !"

"Jared, she's my guest." I frown.

"I don't care, she didn't go through the check out points, never was allowed to enter our territory."

"Alright, we'll do that once this meeting is over."

"You know, you should be thanking me right now, without me, everyone would be gone."

"Look here sweetie, I have other bigger problems right now than playing house with you."

"Sweetie ? Sweetie ?" She grinds her teeth. "Babe, a child like you wouldn't know what to do.

Jared just looks at her, wide eyed and his jaw ajar.

'This. Is. Hilarious.'

I see the wheels turning in his head as he searches for an answer.

"Honey, you wouldn't last five seconds."

What the hell is going on here !

'Can you feel the tension ?'

Should we leave them alone ?

Leila's eyes flicker a deep electrical blue and Jared stares.

"What... what are you ?"

"If you hadn't been so rude I might have told you. But now I don't want to anymore." She pouts.

He sniffs the air around us and frowns.

"You're not a werewolf."

"Nope."

"Then"

"Good luck figuring it out." She challenges him before skipping happily to go see Ellie.

That was fun.

'Lets do that again.'

Jared stares after her retreating back before looking intently at me for explanations but I ignore him.

I feel the tension shift before Nate's hand grabs my arm and the tingles start. It's becoming more and more difficult to ignore them. I fight against the shiver begging to spread along my spine and close my lips tightly to not sigh in pleasure.

"I need to talk to you, in private." He declares, pulling me out of the room.

We walk in silence to his study. He is still holding my arm and I'm screaming inside.

'He's mad. What did you do ?'

I don't know ! I mean, I helped him didn't I ?

'Yes ! He would be screwed without your help.'

Because I'm awesome.

'The best.'

I know ! And I'm so smart.

'Have you had enough now ? Can we focus back on what matters ?' My wolf sighs and I frown.

You're a buzzkill.

Nate closes the door behind us forcefully.

"Explain." He orders.

"You start with a tree. You cut it, mix it with water, then I don't really know what happens but BOUM you have paper, now you use ink and you write down the terms you want. Finally you have both sides sign and TADA ! You have a contract."

"Hope." He grits his teeth in a warning growl.

"You want to know how to make ink." I nod. "Well first"

"I don't need to know that." He rolls his eyes.

"It's interesting though." I shrug.

He starts rubbing his hands over his face exasperatedly. He takes a big breath and look straight at me.

'This man is hot.'

"Hope Michaels."

"Yes, that's me."

"And yet that's also the person who signed all these contracts."

"Correct. I am a descendant of hers." He observes me suspiciously.

"You know all these alpha and when I'm having problems convincing them you suddenly pull out contracts from nowhere implying that they are indebted to you."

"I guess I'm lucky."

"Why didn't you tell me about it ?"

"I tried. Earlier ? Remember ? I came to say goodbye and I told you I had documents to show you. You're the one that wouldn't let me speak."

"You should have insisted." He rolls his eyes again.

"Hey, cranky wolfy, stop blaming me." I interject irritated and his jaw clenches.

"Alpha ?" Jared asks through the door. "We're ready to continue."

Nate doesn't move from his spot, assessing me.

"Anymore new I should know about ?" Wolfy inquires and I clamp my lips close.

'Hottie. If you have to give him a nickname it's Hottie. Or Dreamy. Or Mouth watering piece of meat. Or Handsome. Or...'

Shush.

"So ?" He demands impatiently.

"There may be something"

He closes his eyes without responding, breathing quickly.

"Is it in any case relevant to our current situation ?"

"I'm not sure yet. It depends on what you decide as a group."

"Am I going to regret this ?" He prompts seriously.

I hold his gaze, never wavering.

"No matter what happens, I'm on your team." I whisper gently.

His eyes shine a bright yellow.

"Why ?" He murmurs back.

"I dont know." I lie. "I think you are doing the right thing."

'Why won't you tell him you're his mate ?'

Because I'm not.

'That's insane. I can feel it in my bones.'

But he doesn't. And why are you talking so much today ?

'I want to go for a run.'

I'd say I'd try to sneak out tonight but we're not the most discrete wolf out there.

'Come on.' My wolf whimpers. 'They won't see a thing if they close their eyes. Or we could give them sun glasses.'

Of course. Do you have hundreds of them ?

"Thanks." He mumbles bringing me back to reality.

I don't really know what to do. Well yes, I know exactly what I want to do with Nate, most of it implies a lot less of clothes but hearing as Jared is right outside we might not have enough time.

"Hum, sure." I shrug.

'Awkward.' My wolf smirks.

"What is it then that I should know ?" He asks slowly.

"It's not only the wolves."

"Pardon ?"

"The entire supernatural world is being attacked."