The Mates of Monsters
Chapter 35

"What are you suggesting?" An Alpha projects from the back. I glance over my shoulder and see the man standing with his hands on the desk-his eyes aimed directly at Nicodra.

"I am suggesting we slow our conformity into human society before we lose our sense of self," Nicodra dramatizes. "Because it is quite obvious that we are not humans. Our ancestors embraced the heritage we are so quickly sacrificing-I think it's best we start doing the same." David speaks, surprising me. "There are many factors that are at risk of being overlooked. Packs are larger, and our people desire modern luxuries that our ancestors were unable to utilize. Structuring pack land as humans structure their towns has proven to be beneficial for everyone. There is no need to spend the majority of our time shifted and hunting, not to mention the risk it imposes on the exposure of our kind."

"I agree. Domestication has done us well. Might I suggest we revisit smaller, less invasive practices? I am defending culture, after all, Alpha Amin. There is a plethora of routines and activities that will bring us closer to our defining fundamentals." David sighs. "If the room agrees, I don't see why not."

"The topic will be prompted again tomorrow morning," Nicodra announces, satisfied. "Before other issues are introduced, I will account for our new participants."

Nicodra rambles on, and I am no longer interested in suffering through the sound of my name leaving his mouth. I turn my body slightly to David and look down at our laps, ignoring my own announcement and instead murmuring, "Are things going to change?" "Nothing significant," he tells me, sounding bothered. "If anything the man will get an annual harvest moon worship."

"Why would he care about that?"

"He doesn't. He wants more," David reveals and smiles when he hears my name. I quickly face the room and do so myself, even throwing in a sweet little wave. He continues once Nicodra moves on. "His ideas got a bit out of hand during his visit. He thought I would agree with him after hearing my spiel about the importance of preserving our history, but the man could care less about culture, heritage-Nicodra simply realized that Alphas had more control in the past."

"He wants more control?"

We share a subtle look of aggravation. "He can try, but he won't get very far. We'll let him talk all he wants in the meantime, but I assure you, nothing will change."

Our whispering ends once Nicodra's leaves the podium and others have their time in the spotlight. My attention strays from their speeches and for a while lands on Nicodra's itch for power, but it isn't long until I find myself waiting impatiently to be alone with David again. My feet flex and my toes curl in my shoes as my eyes wash over his hands. I still feel his fingers dancing along the soft skin of my back, toying with my shirt.

I shift in my seat and clear my throat. "What's after this?" I ask, again leaning into him.

David's attention clicks away from the speaker. He is actually listening as a good leader should. "There will be refreshments and lunch in one of the common rooms. Usually, we casually discuss what was said during the meetings, greet newcomers, say hello to friends." I nod and let him get back to his listening.

Jeremy told me what to expect-lunches, dinners, speeches, discussions, decisions-but I like asking David for specifics. I like needing him and having him know this.

The group slowly transfers from the meeting room to the common room across the grand hallway once the welcome meeting concludes. The common room has tall, slim tables to rest drinks or an elbow on and the brightness of daylight that was somewhat withheld from the previous space. David hands me a delicate glass but does not take one for himself. I try the drink by giving it a small sip and determine that whatever it is, is tolerable enough. I thought maybe these big bad Alphas drank things much harsher and convinced their Lunas they wouldn't like it-a man's drink.

Alphas and Lunas take their turns introducing themselves to me. Every time someone smiles and tells me how pretty or darling I am, how well we suit each other, how they're happy to see Alpha Amin has found his mate, David looks to me with adoration. I take careful sips of my drink and give compliments in return. I examine each leader the best I can in the second or two I have, then act accordingly.

When Alpha and Luna Papadopoulos come around, Luna Papadopoulos takes my hands in her own warm, nurturing ones and says, "It is lovely to meet you, Luna."

"Oh, please, call me Brigette. It's lovely to meet you as well," I say. She continues to hold my hands. "I've heard so much about you and your family."

"Ah, yes. A big family always needs their mother, but I am glad we managed to escape this time. You are so beautiful, like my sister. Doesn't she look like Leda?"

Her Alpha-a greying, bearded man-nods and congratulates us both.

David holds onto me as we float around the room, spreading our time evenly, making sure we speak to everyone. It's not until we've crossed the room from East to West that I recognize the only pairing we haven't greeted is Nicodra and Aurora. Luckily enough, the second we look for them, they suddenly appear; maybe figments of my imagination embodied to test me.

"Alpha Amin," Nicodra says.

"Nicodra," David acknowledges.

"I hope I didn't get you into any trouble last night, Brigette," Aurora kids, briefly touching my arm. She shatters their coldness and fills the space with a careless warmth. "I apologize for stealing your mate, Alpha Amin."

"Oh, there was no trouble," I smile and bring my drink closer to my chest.

"Aurora likes to sneak off," Nicodra comments, neither serious nor jokingly. "She tends to take people with her as well."

Before Aurora can agree or deny his claim, she excuses herself for just a moment as she clings to the side of a woman close by. "She's a free spirit," I say and look away from her.

"Alpha Amin, I must ask your opinion of my proclamation. I think this could be the beginning of something quite beneficial, and so far others seem to as well. I know you shared your suggestions prior, however. I would love to discuss your concerns-perhaps later in the lounge? You are welcome to join as well, Brigette."

The lounge-the boys club. I tighten my grip on David and ask, "Your proclamation-what's the big picture? Where do you see this going? I'm curious, Alpha Nicodra. Do you have any specific ideas regarding how exactly you're going to resurrect our culture?"

He lifts his glass to me and says, "I'm happy to hear your interest. My ideas are truly rooted in our conformity to a way of life that was simply not built on the beings we are. Frankly, Brigette, we are not human. In all honesty, we're monsters—at least to them, at least in our physiology." "Monsters," I repeat, tasting the word on my tongue.

"We are monsters, aren't we?" Nicodra asks deviously. "Yes, we sleep in beds and bathe in showers, eat with forks and knives-cooked foods-but we're beasts. I had heard that a woman of your pack killed her mate. Bizarre, isn't it?"

"Tragic, I think," I answer. "I can't lie, it's been on my mind. Horrible, terrible thing."

David says, "We're choosing to move on from the incident."

"It could only have been a woman. Women are mysteries- both calculated and incalculable."

Aurora comes to her mate's side but his eyes do not leave me. "Come, dear. Alpha Lovegreen wants to hear more about your plans."

Nicodra nods and the two walk off. Aurora winks at me from over her shoulder, sending one of those encrypted, womanly signals Nicodra tries so hard to decode. I loop my arm with David's and let him draw me closer. He stalks him like a proper predator until Nicodra disappears in the crowd. His jaw clenches, and I'm sure he's imagining just how satisfying it would be to have Nicodra's throat under the claw of his wolf.

Slimy, sneaky man. All I want to do is watch his corrupt proclamation-the beginning to our end-turn to ash in his hands. He pats backs and clinks glasses together, convincing Alphas to join him in his regression. I'm sure he dreams of a place where his Alpha blood is equal to liquid sunshine-a place where even humans bow down to him.

I told David before we came that Nicodra wouldn't bother me, yet here I am, undeniably bothered. I suppose I was bending my truth all to get me here in the first place, and now that I am, I want to do something about this. The answer to his downfall is so obvious: he's a bad man, plain and simple. He wears his weakness with pride.

David asks, "Are you alright?"

I take my eyes from Nicodra and say, "I will be once this ends. These stupid shoes Jeremy packed are killing my feet."