Chapter Seventeen

Isaac's P.O.V

I watch my Beta walk in late. Its been a frequent occurrence since we arrived here. At face value it may seem like something normal, but not for him. He is always punctual with everything he does.

The scent of someone else is all over him. For it to be so strong tells me it must be someone of high rank here. I press my thumb against my lips and continue to eye him. He sits down across from me joining Kenzie, Tristan, Archer, Michael and the rest.

"So glad that you can finally join us Pierce." I hiss making him turn his head in my direction. "Forgive me. I had other. . .matters to address." He concedes choosing his words carefully. I nod my head and look around the table at my fellow pack members.

As Pierce once said, they are looking towards me for strength and leadership. If I show them weakness now I will be forever lost to them.

"Because of Pierce's absence at the Feast I was not able to present our conditions for peace. When another opportunity presents itself, I will make it well known we will not back down. Our pack is under new leadership. A lot of our older members have died, but that does not make us weak." They all nod their heads in agreement. "Today will be a simple gathering. I had called for the ear of the King and I will make this known to him."

I look at everyone's face lingering on Pierce's before moving on. "We have five more days left here. Let's spend it collecting information on both their weaknesses and their strengths. I don't care what methods you use to get this information just get it. Although, there is one such thing I would like to address before I say that. As my father and my father's father and father's father's father once said, there will be no fraternization with these lowly wolves. There will be no mating, no friendship, nothing of the sorts. They are our enemy."

Tristan's face is the first one I take notice of then Kenzie's. I take into account the faces of the other pack members as well. They begin mumbling and muttering under their breath. I know most of them had already developed some attachment to these wolves, but it must end today. "Failure to do so will be punishable by how I see fit." I look to Pierce and see no emotions playing on his face.

Maybe I am overreacting. . .my Beta wouldn't go so far as to like one of these wolves. Not seriously anyway. It's Pierce. He hasn't liked anyone since me.

"Understood." They say it all at different intervals causing my eyes to narrow. It lacked actual sincerity and had a lot more reluctance embedded in their voices than anything else. "They're Northern WOLVES! What is there to be so upset about?!" I yell causing everyone to lower their heads to the ground aside from Pierce.

"Our pack mates back home would be ashamed with the behavior you're displaying right now. Sure they were kind to us. Sure they made fun guests and fuck partners and all the other shit you had with them. However, did you forget about all the weres we had lost years and years ago to them? Have you forgotten the fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters we had all lost because of them?! A couple slabs of cheese and bread is not going to strip me of the bloody past we share together." I utter causing Pierce to nod.

"You heard him. No fraternization." His voice is even and holds no room for compromise. "We will reconvene at the gathering. You are all dismissed." They nod their heads before scooting their chairs back and head out the door.

As soon as Pierce and I are left to ourselves I could not hold it in anymore. "I get that they are beautiful wolves. I can't deny that. Even the Alpha is gorgeous to look upon, however they forget themselves and it makes me so furious."

". . .Denying friendship is a bit drastic. We spent a week and half here already. Do not expect them to treat them harshly now."

I sigh angrily at this. He has always been the voice of reason, as much as I don't want to acknowledge that. "I suppose you're right, but I don't want them to become soft towards them. It'll only make what we have to do harder if the need ever arises." I mumble before finding his blue eyes again.

He gives me a small smile before I scoff and sink further into the cushioned chair. "Come here for a second." He obeys me without hesitation and stands a few feet away from me. "You understand why I must impose those rules again don't you?" His eyes falls away from mine causing mine to narrow.

"Mix-breeding is forbidden."

His lips part at this but no words come out of his mouth. "Gabriel. . .had upset Tristan beyond repair. He cannot even function as an Enforcer properly any longer. However, I believe someone here has helped him. . .move on. If you take that away from him, I don't know what he would become, Isaac."

I have realized Tristan's strange behavior for a while now, along with Gabriel who seems to want nothing to do with us any longer. I thought at first it was because he had been away for a long time. It's been months and he still hasn't changed. It's as if he resents us.

". . .Making an exception will show favoritism and weakness Pierce." He closes his eyes at this causing me to tug him a little closer to me by pulling on his arm. "Don't be upset with me."

"He's our childhood friend Isaac. I can't see him suffer like that any longer." Concern and worry is the only thing present in his eyes and I swear that makes him all the more attractive. I tuck in my lips and nod my head. "Very well then. Just don't tell anyone else about this. Not even Kenzie."

"Of course."

He truly does smell of another were. It's practically as strong as his own scent if not a little stronger. I look at my Beta until an idea pops into my head. "Now that, that is all out of the way. . .I feel in need of some respite."

"Amber is-"

"I don't want her."

". . .Then Lisa." I shake my head and continue to eye him. I'll know for certain depending on how he reacts to this. Never once had he ever turned me down.

I see the wide look in his eyes and a smile covers my face. It's been too long since we have done anything. We were merely teens when we first did anything together. We were so inexperienced, didn't know how to do anything properly. Now it seems like forever ago.

I get up from the chair I am sitting in and close in the little distance separating us with my lips. Soon enough his mouth opens allowing me full access. His tongue slightly brushes up against my own before I entangle it with mine. At first, I felt reluctance but after a couple seconds I notice him give into me.

As soon as we break for air I move down to his neck and soon his lower regions.

He stumbles away from me until his back is up against a wall. "Wait. Wait. Wait. Isaac. . .you said we couldn't do this anymore." I notice his shortness of breath and wavering expression which makes me smirk . I continue to keep the distance he set between us.

Of course, he still wants me. It was ridiculous of me to think he'd want anyone else.

"I know. I just missed the taste of your lips is all." I run my thumb along the bottom of my lip while showing him a small smile. A Beta and an Alpha cannot have a relationship outside of the hierarchy. If I were to, lets say, fall in love with this attractive man there will be a missing Beta with no one to fill his place quick enough. It would cause chaos. Because of this, our sexual relations with one another had to end.

I do miss it.

He touches his lips before tucking them inside of his mouth. "I should go." His head lowers before leaving out the door causing me to sigh. We can still play around. . .I'm sure. . .the feelings I have for him isn't love. It's more over. . .lust and affection. I bite down on my lip in pure anticipation.

I'm willing to bet it's the same for him as well. I drag my thumb across my bottom lip and smirk.

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Christophe's P.O.V

"Anastasia he's hiding something! No. . .not something. . .someone. How can you tell me he isn't acting suspicious?!"

She purses her lips after throwing her long, black blades of hair over her shoulder. It showed nothing but indifference. "I had my people watch him for three days now Christophe. He does what he always been doing aside from visiting his soon-to-be mate, Cecilia. There is nothing strange about that."

"What is strange is your apathy!"

Her eyes roll to the farthest corner of her manly face before sighing out annoyingly. Her help is so useless. Why did I even bother to ask? I give her one last look and continue to focus on the paper in front of me. He must be doing something. Even his moods have changed.

"I will be attending the gathering called forth by those Eastern mongrels. Wait for me here." I get up and walk out the door. Useless. Useless. Useless. Goddess, why is she so useless?

I ignore the slight bows of acknowledgment as I walk through the palace to caught up in my own mind to pay any respect to them. If I cannot find out by distance, why not gain an inside look on his activities and see for myself.

As soon as I enter the room I see all the glances and glares from the Easterners directed at me causing me to question my motivation to go through with this. I shake my head and continue to walk through. "Dear Cousin, forgive me that I'm late."

Cassius doesn't even acknowledge me and continues talking to Grimm in a very hushed voice even for a were. This is the reason why I want you to suffer. You think of me as nothing. As something lesser than you and I swear I will prove you wrong.

Once I sit down in my seat a couple away from Cassius I see two very big weres come in leaking nothing but power and authority. One look at the silver-haired one causes chills to go up my spine. The Eastern weres are definitely not ones to be trifled with. I give a very shy look at the other one and notice he's the same one from before.

The one I had ordered to be whipped. A cold sweat begins to come over me as I watch them both sit down on the other end of the head table. I-I had a Beta whipped? Goddess, protect me.

As if the Gods are smiling down upon me he pays me no mind. I notice the black-haired ones attention on Cassius wondering if he is plotting his demise but I saw no ill-feelings within that gaze. His eyes fall back to the table and soon onto his Alpha, the silver-haired one with pitch black eyes.

My eyes pull back to my cousin who is just tapping away at the table ignoring Stevens and what he is saying to him. Soon I realize his eyes focusing on the Eastern Alpha and lingering on his Beta before turning his attention to Stevens finally.

"Glad you could make it. I see you're not as punctual as I once perceived you to be." I hear the Eastern Alpha say with a domineering voice that could silence birds, crickets even.

"Right." Cassius says just as stoically trying to keep himself from glaring at the man. The tension is beginning to rise already and the discussion hasn't even began. "Assumptions of others are quite unhealthy to make, as you should know." He ends with a smirk before leaning back into his velvet cushioned chair.

"You asked me to come here for a reason, so continue on." He waves his hand which incites the anger of their Alpha almost instantaneously. However, with much surprise, he simmers down and even goes on the clear his throat. I notice the look his Beta is giving him and the look he is giving in return before his eyes fall back on Cassius causing my eyes to narrow.

Just. . .what is going on here?

"As you know our past Alpha had passed away unexpectantly a couple months ago.. ."

"Sad to hear that." If Cassius could sound anymore sarcastic and rude it would be impossible. That man was his father. He of all people should know what a loss it is to lose your father. He ignores him and continues on. "Our Beta had also perished that day as well."

Cassius' lips purse at this before that same dull expression covers his face again. His gaze draws away from the Alpha and onto the Beta. He snaps his eyes back to the Alpha as his voice raises then lowers with a simple squeeze from his Beta.

Hmm. . .

"When we do find out who had done this we will kill them. There will be no exceptions."

He lets out a tireless sigh. "Well, we had no part of it despite what you may think. You should ask Alpha Camuilla about that." Cassius says pretentiously causing the tension in the air to soar. Before their Alpha can even stand up the Beta pushes him down making him instinctively furious.

"You're quite more lively when you're sober. My, you're just so full of surprises." The Beta gives Cassius a look causing his eyes to lower. "Maybe some refreshments are in order." He says changing what he actually wanted to say.

Just what is going on here?

As a rule of hospitality, the King has to go prepare the food for the guests and the guests may elect one person from their group to help it along. It also to make sure no one puts poison in the other's food. Why would Cassius go on and suggest a thing?

He gets up and looks at Grimm then Stevens before leaving out into another room. The Alpha tries to get up but the Beta pushes him back down as he rises. "Let me do this. Collect yourself by time arrive back." He gives him a pat on the back before leaving out the same door as Cassius.

Interesting. Interesting indeed.

I look at the doors they both left out of then back at the Eastern Alpha who looks like he can melt the polar icecaps down south with his rage. Cassius knew what he was doing when he said those things. He wanted to make him overwrought with anger, which is something he wouldn't normally do unless he was provoked.

As much as I don't want to side with the Easterners, their Alpha hadn't done anything to deserve that. Apparently my dear cousin thought otherwise. I turn my attention to Stevens and Grimm who just keep giving each the same knowing look causing my eyes to fall.

I need to get into that room.

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Cassius' P.O.V

"What the hell was that?" I yell at him never feeling this amount of jealously or anger in all my life up until now. "WHY do you smell like that? You smell like him. You were letting him touch you." All of this comes flying out my mouth without any forethought.

His eyes fall away from mine making my heart drop to the bottom of my stomach. "Provoking his anger is an idiotic thing to do Cassius. He already wants to declare war. You're not helping the-"

"I can care less about that! I'm more concerned with you!" I grab handfuls of his shirt in my hands pulling him closer to me until only a little space sits between us.

"You shouldn't be. Isaac is. . ."

"You call him Isaac? You call your Alpha Isaac?" I ask trying not to explode on him right now. My temper has been better than ever these past few weeks and now it's beginning to disintegrate because of this and everything that has been happening.

"We're childhood friends."

"Childhood friends? Pierce, I am not dumb as much to your discredit. I obviously know when someone wants something that belongs to me." I seethe causing his eyes to narrow. Has he been sleeping with him all this time? Had they had a prior relationship before us? Does he still hold feelings for that man? I bite down on my lip madly trying not to let those questions eat me alive.

"You should be happy with the explanations I've provided for you. In reality, I owe you absolutely nothing." He takes my hands off of his shirt and moves a couple paces away from me. "Simply put, I don't belong to you. I thought we made that clear to one another."

"Whether you like it or not, you belong to me." I growl angrily at his growing indifference. I touch the skin of his arm and feel the sparks shoot through me like lightening. "This only proves it." His eyes glare into mine as I glare back into his. His disrespect can only go so far. "You owe me everything."

"Right. Of course. I do, but you don't." He snatches his arm back. "I came here to speak to you about choosing your words a little more wisely than you just did. I did not come here to talk about that."

"But we are talking about that."

He throws his hands up in the air before sighing. "And tell me, King Cassius, what is there to discuss?"

"My explanation for everything. You're misunderstanding me completely." He shrugs his shoulders before his green eyes stare into my amber ones.

"And what will that explanation do? How will it change anything right now?" I look at him one more time before closing in the space between us. "I want to tell you not to keep you here, but before I let this go. . ."

"And that's wise?"

"It's not. Yet I. . .believe you deserve to know the truth before you leave." I watch his eyes widen with surprise before his head falls a bit down.

"I know you're angry with me. It's expected but are you truly going to throw everything that we had away because of this?"

"What we had shouldn't have happened."

"But it did."

A silence falls over the both of us as he begins to process everything I just said to him. I watch him begin to break down right in front of my eyes. "I just want you to understand what happened between us was real. My feelings for you are sincere. I care immensely for you. . .Pierce."

Before he can say anything something falls off the nearby table causing me to look from him to the area of question. Without another word he starts to stalk towards it like a predator, slow and concise. His quiet footsteps and soft breathes shows that even in his human form, he is much like his wolf. Majestic.

Soon as he walks towards the door he pulls someone by the scuff of their neck and throws them in front of us causing my eyes to narrow in contempt. I let out a weighted sigh before locking eyes with Pierce who just shakes his head.

I walk closer until I have the intruder's chin in my hand. "Just how much did you hear? Depending on your answer, you will live or die how I see fit."

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[A/N] Things are beginning to heat up! I threw in an additional P.O.V, which will play such an important role in upcoming chapters. Politics overlapped with romance is truly a spelling for disaster. Also, who do you think overheard Cassius' and Pierce's intimate conversation? Leave some comments/critiques/feedback down below!