My seat at the conference table was securely between Silas and Logan. Adam was posted up out at the front door waiting for our guests to arrive and Aaron was with Emily and Matthew. Amelia was conscious but mostly still just sleeping and eating. Alisa had been kind enough to look after her while Silas and I attended this meeting. My stomach was in knots knowing in just moments I would be in a room full of Alpha's but as Silas had repeatedly assured me the ones that had been invited here, to our home just before the real meeting, were all allies.

I glanced between the two Alpha's already seated. Logan was his usual brooding self. He sat with his arms crossed and his feet up on the table as if he didn't have a care in the world. As if going into the major meeting without his wolf wouldn't phase him in the least. Both Aaron and Logan had been too close during the spell I'd used on the council. They'd both lost their wolves and the only way they'd get them back would be at the next full moon. The full moon was a week after the meeting where all the packs would gather to choose either an acting king or a new council. As Aaron had bluntly stated it would likely end up being a blood bath.

It wasn't that Alpha's were ignorant or even unintelligent. They'd held meetings of this standard before with little blood shed but the problem here was that the stakes were so high. The packs were almost divided equally with five packs knowingly supporting Devlin and four solid allies backing Silas no matter what. There were seven other Alpha's set to attend that had not yet voiced exactly where their allegiance was. Apparently two of which, Alpha Calder and Alpha Winthrop, were meant to meet with us today. Whisper Pines and Blood Storm were not obvious allies but according to Silas they were great leaders and often worked together with our other Allies in the past.

A knock on the office door had me jumping to my feet and immediately swaying from the sudden movement. Silas followed with much more control and poise. He casually dropped an arm around my waist to help steady me. I squeezed his hand in both thanks and reassurance.

He'd been watching me constantly since Aaron and I had completed Amelia's binding. It required more strength than I should have given considering my previous spell and following surgery. Still I was able to be on my feet for short periods of time and there was no way that I would miss this meeting.

Adam opened the door and stepped back to allow the others in first. The first of the Alpha's to enter was Jason Sanders. He was in charge of Samuel's pack, Ocean View. The alliance between him and Silas had strengthened significantly when we'd found and saved his beta's son and our own Amelia. I gave him a warm smile, careful this time to meet and hold his gaze which was something I had been unable to do during our last meeting. Sanders returned my smile with an all out grin showing he hadn't missed my confident eye contact.

Just behind Sanders was Alexander Thane. I grimaced and he shot me daggers but his lips were tilted up in an enduring smirk that said he wasn't too furious about my commanding him to leave only a few days prior. Thane sat down on Silas's right, just across from Logan, and he carefully skipped the seat that was being saved in case Aaron was able to join.

I eyed the empty seat and couldn't stop my mind from wondering toward Aaron and Emily. She was in the early stages of labor but it had seemed like more than that when I'd stepped out of the medical wing to be here. Matthew and Aaron were both on high alert for any complications but I still couldn't help but worry for her.

My eyes flickered up and over to the door again. This time two more alpha's had entered the room. One was easily taller than Silas with wide shoulders and a large but still lean build that was surprising. He had warm hazel eyes, black hair I'd almost consider shaggy, and bags under both eyes. There was a sadness to him that was intense and almost consuming. My hand tightened on Silas.

"Rylan this Actaeon Calder, Chieftain or Alpha of the Whisper Pines Clan." Silas explained quietly.

Actaeon gave a sad dip of his head that was too deep to be a nod but also not quite a bow. I was grateful that he didn't want to shake hands or anything like that but the familiarity of his sadness nagged at me.

'Is he unwell?' I asked. He'd clearly had a recent loss of something or someone important.

"My mate is inquiring if you are well?" Silas translated for me and I was thankful for his paraphrasing. I didn't want to come off as rude. I was genuinely concerned.

Actaeon sighed and shook his head.

"My mate and unborn cub are missing." He confided. "If it is her way of seeking time from..." He raised his hands as if to gesture to himself and the room. "Then I can and will respect that but with everything happening I fear there may be more to it. Which is why I want this cunt, Devlin, destroyed as soon as possible."

His pregnant mate was missing and he was here? I suppose on the logical side of things that made the most sense. He couldn't very well go out and search every corner of the globe for them. Here at least he could reach out to other Alpha's and help to ensure Devlin's ways came to an end. Now that I understood his sadness I wanted to help.

'Maybe I could do a tracking spell, or a dream spell? Something to make sure she's ok.' I signed to Silas. 'I know it didn't work with Amelia because they had her cloaked in magic but if his mate has gone off on her own and there is nothing amiss it should work and if not, then we know.'

Silas scowled down at me and shook his head.

"She wants to help you find your mate, however I am inclined to disagree given that my own mate needs to learn when it's time to step back and recover before saving others." Silas explained.

The edge of Calder's mouth twitched and he inclined his head again, this time at Silas.

"I am all too familiar with that, Brogan. And high luna, it is very sweet of you to offer but I can scent your magic. Your mate is right. You need to take it easy and recover before it becomes too much." Calder said.

"Recover from what?" Thane asked sitting up straight in his chair. Logan seemed to be sitting straighter and eye balling me angrily as well.

I ignored them both and turned my attention to the last Alpha. Her striking red hair and glowing caramel eyes were only a small testament to her beauty. Everything about her screamed full and feminine. Full body, full lips, full and almost wild hair. She had a predatorial smirk and three thin white scars across her cheek. She oozed confidence and I couldn't help but enjoy her presence immediately.

"So this is our queen?" She purred. Her eyes ran over my face and frame with the same level of curiosity I'd just bestowed upon her.

"What happened to 'My streak will never kneel before your King'?" Logan goaded with a snarky attempt at a female voice.

Her smirk turned out right feral as she glanced over at Logan.

"Hush pup, women are speaking." She taunted back and took a step closer toward Silas and I.

Logan growled softly and Silas covered his mouth to stifle his snicker.

"My love this is Alpha Kelsie Winthrop of the Blood Storm Streak." Silas introduced. "Kelsie, as you know this is Rylan. Be nice."

Kelsie's smirk immediately flickered out and she glared at Silas.

'She doesn't seem very nice and I think I like it.' I signed and received another quiet laugh from Silas.

"Rylan says you don't seem very nice and she likes it." Silas translated.

Kelsie's smirk flickered back to life and she turned back to me.

"My streak may not be as large as a pack but I assure you a weretiger has the strength to match at least three of your common wolves. And we're honored to become your ally if you'll have us." She said.

~We would be honored as well. Thank you.~ I said.

Silas scowled down at me and I shrugged. I knew I wasn't supposed to risk any more energy but this seemed like the kind of situation that I needed to address personally and not through my handsome voice puppet.

"I also wish to offer my condolences. Experiencing a loss like ours does not define our worth as mates." She added much quieter than her previous words and gave her nose a small tap to show how she'd guessed. It was casual enough that I didn't think the others in the room understood. They certainly could smell anything like she could, except maybe Alpha Calder. The only one to react though was Silas. He immediately dropped a kiss against my temple.

I gave Kelsie a small, sad, smile and a nod in acknowledgement this time instead of speaking or signing. There wasn't really anything to say. Her words cut deep but it also pointed out that I wasn't the only one that had gone through something like this.

We all took our seats and I found myself surprisingly comfortable with the room full of these Alpha's. I just hoped there were more out there like them.