Today, I decided to take a break from training and dedicate my time entirely to studying the books that Alex had so kindly—or rather, overwhelmingly—provided me with.
I needed a breather from the relentless pace. Sometimes, it’s just so nice to sink into a comfy armchair with a steaming cup of something fragrant and lose myself in a good read. Of course, I’d much prefer an engaging novel over this werewolf lore, but I don’t exactly have a choice.
I’ve been learning everything I can about werewolves, but my main goal right now is to gather as much information as possible about the current Council of Elders. Any useful facts, even the smallest details—anything that might come in handy.
The first step in my plan is to study the enemy. Maybe this way, I can uncover some of their weaknesses and figure out how to use them to my advantage.
I started with the basics, the general knowledge that every werewolf seems to have.
The Council of Elders is the supreme governing body in werewolf society. Their decisions are final and cannot be challenged—only absolute obedience to their will is accepted. The Council’s residence is in Florence, Italy. They spend most of their time there and rarely venture elsewhere.
The Council consists of six of the strongest werewolves in the world, and they’re all male.
It’s clear that she-wolves aren’t taken seriously in the werewolf world and are often denied equal rights. Though I’ve noticed, unlike me, most of them don’t seem bothered by it.
Now I understand why Maximilian reacted the way he did when I temporarily took over the pack.
So, six werewolves—one from each continent: Africa, North America, South America, and Australia. Eurasia has two representatives: one from Europe and one from Asia. Naturally, there’s no representative from Antarctica since werewolves don’t live there. Like humans, they prefer more comfortable living conditions. So, in total, there are six of them.
I hadn’t really thought about it before, but werewolves live all over the world. In my mind, they’ve always been tied to dense coniferous forests and cold climates. I’m curious to see what an African or Australian werewolf looks like.
Does their wolf form differ in appearance? Though maybe that’s just a stereotype I’ve picked up from the werewolf movies I used to watch. As Alex has pointed out more than once, everything I thought I knew about werewolves before was pure fiction.
I’m getting sidetracked. I need to focus on gathering information.
So, moving on. Major decisions are made collectively by the Elders, while minor ones are handled individually by each Elder within their respective territories.
Elders are elected for a term of twenty years, and during their tenure, their position cannot be contested. The day of reelection is set on the summer solstice, the shortest night of the year. Interestingly, it’s also the day when the connection to one’s wolf is at its weakest.
I’m not entirely sure why this day was chosen, since werewolf life is so intertwined with the moon and its power, yet here it’s the opposite. But I don’t think figuring this out will be of much use to me, so I let it go.
After their term ends, an Elder can be reelected if there are no challengers or if no one steps up to contest their position. There have even been cases where an Elder ruled for sixty years.
Werewolves, it turns out, are long-lived thanks to their inner beast. Their bodies remain youthful, strong, and healthy much longer than humans, who can’t boast the same vitality in old age. Add to that the experience and wisdom gained over such a long life, and it becomes clear that the older a werewolf, the more powerful they become.
But strength alone isn’t enough to become an Elder. You need the support of the majority of the werewolves in your territory to even be considered a candidate for the title.
Challenges, however, are rare. In the history I’ve read, there were only a few such instances. More often, the reigning Elder would personally select and groom a worthy successor to pass the title to.
It wasn’t uncommon for the title to be inherited by the sons of Elders, though changes in dynasty weren’t rare either. After all, a descendant didn’t always inherit their parent’s strength, or sometimes only daughters were born, who couldn’t inherit the title. Even if a daughter possessed her father’s strength, she-wolves are not allowed to rule.
The current Elders are:
· Mobutu Gizenga—Elder of Africa, born in the Republic of Congo;
· Jacob Farmer—Elder of North America, born near Calgary, Canada;
· Gabriel Estiano—Elder of South America, born in Manaus, Brazil;
· William Baker—Elder of Australia, from somewhere near Alpine National Park (the exact location of his pack isn’t specified);
· Lo Yunxi—Elder of Asia, from Chongqing, China;
· and finally, Maximilian Holly—Elder of Europe, born in Bavaria, Germany.
That’s why, after the hunter attack, it was Holly who came to us—we’re in his territory, under his jurisdiction.
I uncovered an interesting fact about him. He’s been in this position for quite a while. Maximilian is serving his second consecutive term.
Couldn’t they find a worthy replacement? More likely, he simply doesn’t want to relinquish the post.
During our last encounter, I could feel how much he reveled in his power. I’m hoping he’ll be replaced soon. His term is almost up—just a few years left. I’ve developed a particular dislike for him, to put it mildly.
But this is just general information, and it won’t help me much on its own.
All the Elders are influential figures, not only among werewolves but also in the human world. They’re well-known businessmen and politicians. I’ve also looked up what’s available about them online.
I don’t even know how to approach them. As I gathered information, I started to realize the scale of the problem.
I might have been too hasty in planning revenge. I’m beginning to see how insignificant I am compared to them. But no obstacle will stop me. It’s just going to be harder than I initially thought.
One thing gave me some reassurance: they adhere to their laws and won’t eliminate me without cause.
To recruit me into their ranks, Maximilian devised a cunning plan. He came here, hoping I’d attack him, giving him a reason to act and threaten Alex and the pack with death. With his resources, he could easily crush me like a bug, but he didn’t. So, for now, I’m relatively safe.
I need to use this time wisely. I’m certain they’ll come up with something again. So, I need strong backing. Right now, I’m practically a nobody. An alliance with neighboring packs might improve my situation slightly, but it’s not enough. They can easily sacrifice the lives of dozens of werewolves without a second thought.
I do have one idea, though—to visit my mother’s relatives, as I had planned earlier.
It would be great to gain their support. They’re influential aristocrats, and their word carries weight. They might provide useful information about the Elders. Plus, I’d like to learn more about myself. I am their descendant, after all.
One detail about this plan nagged at me, though. Why didn’t my mother turn to them for protection and instead hid on her own, without their support? And will they even want to help me?
I managed to find out that they live in Sweden, not Norway, as I had initially thought.
Now I need to discuss this with Alex. For some reason, I have a feeling he won’t be thrilled about it.
I grimaced at the thought of the upcoming conversation, but there’s no avoiding it.
I got up from the chair and stretched sweetly.
After sitting for so long, my muscles felt stiff. I needed to loosen up and, at the same time, think over how to approach the talk with Alex. If I present my arguments well, I might be able to convince him.
Though with Alex, that rarely works. He always manages to see through to the heart of a conversation, assess the situation impartially, and easily spot my little tricks. I should probably practice my negotiation skills.
How about a run through the forest? I think better out there.
My wolf stirred inside me, and I could feel she liked the idea.
My mood lifted at the thought. I headed downstairs.
I noticed Alex at home—he had just returned. He was closing the front door behind him. I hadn’t expected to see him at this hour.
“Hey, what are you doing here so early?” I asked, surprised.
Alex smiled, walked over to me, and pulled me into his arms.
“Not happy to see me?” he asked, narrowing his eyes playfully.
“Don’t be silly,” I smiled back.
I bit my lip seductively and traced a finger along his cheek. I noticed his pupils dilate and his breathing quicken.
I liked the reaction my actions provoked. Maybe I could fluster him and steer the conversation in the direction I wanted.
“I’m always glad for your company,” I said breathily. “I’m just surprised. You’ve been so busy lately.”
“Sorry, I haven’t been giving you much attention lately. I promise to make it up to you.”
Alex kissed me tenderly, pressing me against his warm body. Every cell in me reached for him. All my thoughts instantly vanished, and my legs turned to jelly. He flustered me with a simple kiss. I caught my breath, trying to regain composure, while he continued speaking calmly.
I react too strongly to him—he outplayed me at my own game.
“I want to finalize the Alliance as soon as possible. We’ve already signed agreements with the Redwood and Blackridge packs, and now we’re negotiating with two more. It’s tough to reach a consensus. You know how hot-tempered and stubborn werewolves can be. But today is the full moon, so I had to put things on hold. I need to prepare.”
“Right, it’s tonight. I didn’t even realize at first why I felt such a strong urge to run as a wolf. The last full moon wasn’t exactly a success. I need to let her roam freely this time.”
“Just don’t go near the eastern outskirts by the river,” Alex warned sternly. “I’ll be conducting the turning ritual there. Young wolves are unpredictable.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself,” I scoffed at his caution.
“Right now, I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about the young wolf. If he attacks you, can you neutralize him without him harming himself or you?”
“Uh, I don’t know…” I hadn’t considered the situation from that angle.
It’s unpleasant to admit, but Alex is right. I remember my first turning—I wanted to tear him apart, and he just toyed with me, easily dodging my jaws and claws without hurting me. And I can’t use my Alpha influence either—it only works when I’m really angry.
“You’re right,” I sighed, though I hated admitting it. “What about Fierce? Are you conducting the ceremony for both of them?”
“I’ll have to do it for both at the same time. Though…” He looked at me thoughtfully. “You might be able to help with Fierce.”
“How so? You just told me to stay away from the ceremony site.”
“You have an interesting effect on Fierce. It might help him,” Alex said, completely confusing me.
I continued to stare at him in bewilderment.
“What do you mean, I have an effect on him? I don’t get it.”
Fierce and I don’t exactly get along. He thinks I’m willful and ill-mannered. He constantly criticizes my behavior, saying I’m a bad influence on Alex and that I undermine his authority in the pack. Naturally, I don’t hold back either—I tell him exactly what I think of the Beta and his opinions. In short, every time we meet, we exchange sharp words until Alex gets fed up with it.
“You drive him up the wall. Normally, it’s hard to rattle a Beta, but you manage to do it every time you cross paths.”
“I’m not quite following your logic. How is that supposed to help Fierce?” I couldn’t grasp where Alex was going with this.
“Think back to your very first turning. What triggered your wolf to awaken?” Alex asked with a sly squint.
“Let me think…” I started to recall. “You took me to the countryside house. We had an emotional conversation, and in the end, you forbade me from finishing my studies. That was the last straw. I couldn’t hold back the rage boiling inside me anymore. And that’s when I turned into a wolf for the first time.” I frowned, raising an eyebrow questioningly. “So, you’re saying I need to irritate the Beta so much that he loses it, and that rage will trigger his turning? That’s your plan?!”
“It’s a backup option, a last resort. I’m not entirely sure about this decision myself.”
“You just said young wolves are unpredictable and that I might hurt them. And now what? You want me to show up there and put the young wolf at risk? Fierce will be fine, whatever, but I’d hate to endanger the other werewolf.”
“Calm down. It’s just a backup plan, but we should try every possible method. A pack member’s life is at stake. If Fierce doesn’t reclaim his wolf, I don’t know how he’ll go on. For him, this might be the last full moon…” Alex trailed off, pausing for a moment before adding quietly, “If he doesn’t awaken it now, he probably never will.”
I understood that too. His beast has already been sealed away for far too long. The longer he remains in this state, the slimmer the chances of success.
“Though it could be dangerous for you as well,” Alex continued. I looked at him, waiting for an explanation. He’d just said I might harm others. “If Fierce manages to turn with your help, he might lash out at you in his anger. We can’t predict how his wolf will behave after awakening. And he’s an experienced fighter. He earned his wolf name—Fierce—for a reason.”
Alex is right. I shouldn’t underestimate Fierce. I frowned, thinking it over. But I won’t back down just because there’s a chance I might get hurt. I’ll do everything in my power to help.
“But let’s not worry ahead of time,” Alex said, trying to reassure me. “We don’t know for sure how the turning will go, what will happen with Fierce, or how he’ll react if you provoke him. Besides, I’ll be there, along with the young wolf’s parents.”
“I understand why you want to try every option,” I nodded at his words. “Alright. I’ll postpone my wolf’s run for later. But Fierce will owe me for ruining a second full moon in a row. He’d better be ready—I won’t let him off easy. Plus, it’ll be a chance to test my skills. Maybe it’s Fierce we should be worried about now.”
Alex kissed me, smiling at my words.
“Save your fire for tonight.”
I smiled back at him.
Obviously, I postponed the conversation about visiting my mother’s relatives. We’ll deal with the full moon first, and then I’ll bring it up with Alex. For now, I need to figure out the best way to rile up the Beta. And all for his own good, of course. I won’t admit that getting under his skin will also bring me a bit of satisfaction.
“Though, you know, I think I agreed to your request a bit too quickly,” I said with a sly squint.
Alex looked at me, surprised. Then he caught on to my game. He pinned me against the wall, one hand braced above my head, the other lifting my chin. I was completely at his mercy.
“I’m the Alpha. I don’t ask—I command and demand complete obedience, little one,” he whispered into my ear. “Otherwise, I’ll have to punish you, rebellious she-wolf…”
Goosebumps raced across my skin, my breath grew heavy, and my legs started to buckle. Thankfully, I had the wall to lean on, or I wouldn’t have stayed upright. I swallowed nervously.
“You know, sometimes you act like a real tyrant,” I said, my voice trembling. Alex brushed his nose along my cheek. “And I’m not going to put up with it… Oh,” I couldn’t hold back a moan as he gently kissed the mark on my shoulder.
“Then I’ll have to do something about that,” he breathed hotly against my skin.
He suddenly scooped me up and carried me to the couch.
“Don’t you need to prepare for the full moon?” I protested weakly, though I desperately wanted him.
“First, I need to quell a rebellion in my pack. I can’t let a challenge go unanswered,” he said, kissing my mark again. I tilted my head back, giving him more access. “Then I’ll get to the preparations…”