Page 42 of Dark Auctioned Mate

“We must strengthen those relations,” Rael nodded. “Preferably go in person.”

“Exactly,” Silas pointed at a map on the wall. “Shadowridge Pack and Moonstone Pack are the most vulnerable to breaking off. They are both in the north country, a day or so away. If we are able to persuade them to believe and maybe join us on this mission…”

“We will keep our network of allies and buy time to identify the true culprits.”

“I will go,” Javi offered. “I will go there tomorrow and speak to their Alphas.”

“Hell no,” Silas grunted, as Rael also said “No” at the same time.

Javi’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

“Because you will start a fight five minutes after you arrive there,” Rael said in a dry and matter-of-fact tone. “These packs are jumpy enough already. They do not need you to act like you’re ready to cut the head of anybody who dares to challenge our integrity.”

“I can behave myself.”

“Can you?” Rael challenged. “Because a day ago, you were prepared to rain hell on half the pack because of a mistake during training. You think that energy will assist us in drawing diplomatic bridges?”

Javi rolled his eyes slightly, but made no objections. He knew Rael was right.

Rael turned to face Silas. “I will go.”

“Take August with you,” Silas nodded towards August. “He can do the financial explanations, should they require technicalities, and it indicates that we are serious about this if we have both of you there.”

August nodded. “When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Rael scratched his jaw. “I will use today to prepare, study the evidence, and compile a presentation that will persuade them.”

“What about me?” Javi demanded. “I am only expected to sit here while you two handle everything?”

“You will assist me in finding the leak,” Silas said sternly. “We need to find out who is feeding information to our enemies. That is as important as maintaining our relationships with our allies.”

Javi gave him a tight nod. “Fine. But if I find out who has been selling us out—”

“You will bring them to me,” Silas leveled him with a stare. “We will do this in the right way, Javi. No vigilante justice or whatever. We cannot afford to give anyone more reasons to turn against us.”

The meeting lasted another hour, where they discussed logistics, analyzed evidence, and came up with plans. When they were done, Rael felt like his brain was going to explode, and his shoulders felt stiff.

This was bigger than he’d thought. It wasn’t just about the trafficking network and what they were doing; it was the fact that they were also busy trying to wipe out anyone who crossed their path. And the Weston Pack was right there.

Rael spent the afternoon in the archives, scraping up material that would be used in their defense. Sales books of a legitimate pack business. Witness accounts of those who were rescued. Reports by allied packs that they had worked with. Communication records showed that they had been investigating the network, as opposed to running it.

It was a dull task, yet it had to be done. They had to prove that the evidence was airtight in the event that they were to persuade skeptical Alphas. By the time the sun began to set, Rael already had a complete dossier. He also had a message dispatched to the pack telling his top men that he would be going on a diplomatic mission tomorrow. Then he went home. He had to pack and prepare psychologically for what would probably be hard conversations with egotistical Alphas, but above all, he thought about how he was going to inform Alanis that he was going away for at least a week. He did not want to think about that. They were only beginning to actually build something. It did not seem right to leave.

But the mission came first. It always had.

He pushed open the door to his house, thinking of necessities to pack, when he stopped dead in his tracks.

Alanis was in the living room, with bags packed. Not a bag or two. But several bags, neatly packed like she was going on a long trip. He also recognized that some of those bags belonged to him.

“What is this?” He asked carefully.

“I’m coming with you.”

Rael immediately connected the dots. “What? How did you even—”

“Sara told me about the mission when you sent word to the pack.” Alanis clenched her fists. “I can help you dispel rumors and possibly collect more intelligence on the network.”

“Alanis, this is diplomatic work. Delicate dealings with paranoid Alphas that are already skeptical.”