Chapter 1
XAVIER
"Forgive me for disturbing your rest Alpha, but unfortunately, this matter can't wait." Xavier stop reading the document he's reviewing and lift his head to look at his beta, Ruxs, who suddenly came in and went straight for the remote control turning on the big plasma TV in his office.
'If you look behind me you will see the utter chaos and distraction. It has been a nightmare. Shifters and witches fighting in the middle of the street. Civilians are afraid to walk through and some business establishments are closing earlier....'
Xavier rubbed his temple, he's starting to have a headache while he listens to the anchorman dramatized the whole event. He can also see three teenage wolves behind him growling at the two young men who are hissing at them with glowing eyes. No wonder civilians were afraid.
Fights between werewolves and witches are no joke, even if they are still young. With raw power alone no ordinary human can stop them.
With a sigh, Xavier asked. "When was this?"
"Last night. The wolves are still in the holding cell in the city."
"Send a few pack leaders to get them please." Xavier kept the brewing anger within him. It's a very rancid odor no wolf would like to smell, especially if it's coming from a very powerful Alpha. But when Ruxs didn't reply back, Xavier looked up.
Ruxs, his beta is almost as tall as him. Like him he also looks intimidating without meaning to, but right now he's like a small puppy fidgeting in his shoes. And that's a very disturbing sight. Like really, a full grown bald man, with goatee, standing at 6'7 fidgeting in front of you. Anyone will feel disturb. Like seeing a very manly man behaving like a shy maiden... That's something Xavier really don't want to see very first thing in the morning. It's very uncomfortable.
"Spit it out, Ruxs."
"The governor is requesting to see you personally. He won't release the shifters to anyone other than you, Alpha. I tried to explain, that you're extremely busy, especially now, but he's being difficult."
I growled. "That's crazy! I can't go to the City right now. I have a lot to do. There's still the registration system that the state wants me to finish this week."
"It seems that we don't have a choice. The governor is threatening us, that he will call the National police."
Xavier's head shoot up in surprise. "The National Police, really?! Ruxs?!"
Xavier look at his beta, and he even took his scent. He's not lying to him but he's still not telling the whole truth.
"Ruxs."
Its Ruxs turn to sigh. Knowing he's busted, he open the brown envelope he was holding all this time and give the papers to Xavier. "This is the detailed reports of the incidents of attacks involving wolves and witches that happened this past year."
The anger that he was holding in suddenly flared. His beta was suddenly on his knees, struggling to breath. His power were different from ordinary Alpha's. Just releasing an inch of his power can lead to him empowering a lot of ordinary wolves that's why he's very careful with his power.
Xavier took a calming breath.
"It all happened in a year. Why I didn't know about this?"
With shaking legs, Ruxs slowly get up and answered. "I didn't knew it either. Another pack leader had been monitoring the city but today—"
Impatiently, Xavier cut Ruxs off. "Forget it. I will arrange a meeting right now." Xavier can communicate telepathically to all shifters even if they are far away from him.
"We need to get this resolved soon. If it gets reported to the National Police that I lost control over the shifters, then they will take them away and locked them in cages for years."
"And this will start another war, Alpha."
There's no way they can afford to face another war. It had been a hundred years since the last war. And whether its between shifters, witches, vampires and humans if they fought, the casualties would be too great on all sides to call it victory.
"But you need to meet now, Alpha? It seems the other are outside of the pack land. It will take them a couple of days before they could come."
"That won't be a problem. They are all coming as we speak."
Ruxs just look at him with doubt in his eyes. Xavier just shake his head. Let him see for him to believe.
"Is everything okay Alpha?" Xavier smiled when Alexandra, his sister came in from the open door. Ruxs jaw dropped seeing her. He's probably going crazy thinking how his sister is already here. She also went out of town. And it will take an hour or two for her to arrive. Its really confusing how she can arrive like she's been here all along.
Alexandra sat down her eyes full of worry. And it didn't take before all the pack leaders, and his three betas arrived taking their position on the round table. His elite enforcers also comes in, taking up their respective positions around the room for further security.
"I know you're all confused. You all wanted an explanation but I'm afraid we will have to cut this one short." Xavier ran his hand over his jet black hair. "I've just got a word that there was a damaging disturbance in the City. While it wasn't catastrophic, the Governor still insisted that I have to come personally."
"Jeffrey, the City's public safety is under your jurisdiction doesn't it? Why it has come to this?" There's an edge on Xavier's voice. He's still angry but he's already in control of his emotions not like before. "Speak up."
Jeffrey slowly stood up. The stench of fear rolling from him were enough to fill the whole room. Xavier reigned in his anger back. It would be a problem if Jeffrey faint on him. He still needs to hear what he has to say.
As the leader of all the shifters in United States, Xavier needed a few members of his pack to know administrative work, aside from the regular wolf warriors. He had to have capable wolves to help him keep track of and control over a hundred thousand shifters.
Xavier is one of the youngest Alpha King in history. When both of his parents were killed by human hunters ten years ago, Xavier had no choice but to take the official title as the descendant of the Original Wolves.
"Alpha King," Jeffrey nervously started. "I've been there and I already disciplined a number of wolves myself. But the city has a large number of Supernaturals. I tried—"
"Why do you have to get involved personally?" Alexandra, his sister suddenly cuts in. Without glancing at Jeffrey, her eyes full of worry were on Xavier. "You don't have to handle infractions. Humans wouldn't ask their president to handle their few rowdy criminals, would they?"
Xavier stands up. Crossing his arms over his chest, and walked around the table, while lightly touching each one them, giving them comfort.
"True. But the Governor knows I'm working hard to keep the government from demanding national shifters regulations or controlling our population. We can't let them provide prison for our people. But I can't keep fighting for our rights, when our shifters keep on breaking the laws of their land without thinking of the consequences."
"You've done your best to negotiate and compromise, Alpha King." His sister's words are full of compassion and sincerity.
Xavier understand that the others probably have their own concerns, he just wished that his shifters would understand that everything he did, he did it for them. It's not easy battling those crooked officials of the Government. They felt that they ruled the world. But Xavier knew their rights. He did everything what is within the law that he could think of to stop the Government from convicting them.
The world had known the Supernaturals for ten years now. Things have started rather roughly, fortunately there are not a lot of protests from humans and law enforcement was content that there's no spike of crime levels due to prejudices. Hunting their kind are stopped. The Supernaturals were used to staying hidden and keeping to themselves. But like all things, changes happen.
Shifters got brave especially the teenagers. They started venturing outside, going out into cities and clubs. Flexing their muscles, showing off their abilities. For the most part, as long as the shifters weren't aggressive and didn't scared the humans by suddenly shifting in public, then humans can relaxed and they could get along.
Truthfully he envy his father. Life was good back then, and his father's job was not that difficult. Packs thrived and were happy. His father would show up to functions, ceremonial celebrations and would go to different packs for support. There wasn't the constant problems that Xavier has to deal with all the time. But as time passes, other Supernaturals started showing up, especially the witches. The natural rivalry between shifters and witches ignited the spark of violence that until now Xavier has a hard time controlling.
There had been times that innocents bystanders get caught in crossfire, businesses suffering or being targeted when they refused to serve Supernatural costumers. Once the hate and bigotry started, history always indicates that an up rising usually follows. Xavier couldn't allow that.
The shifters that were the cause of this all needs to be dealt with swiftly, so the others won't behave the same way.
"We're going to the City and have sit downs with their officials. Let's see if we can cool their tempers. We don't want the National Police involved, which is completely unnecessary."
"Alpha King." Jeffrey suddenly spoke up. But the look on his face clearly tells that he doesn't want to speak. "The shifters that were arrested.... two of them tried to resist arrest."
"What??!!" Xavier is flabbergasted. This couldn't be good. He looked at the pictures of the shifters spread out on the gleaming table in front of his seat. They all look young. And very afraid.
"Yes. And an officer was in critical condition. Thankfully no one died."
"This wasn't in the report I got." Ruxs growled, who is sitting beside Xavier.
"I'm sorry but the report just came in. The state has charged all of them with assault, malicious wounding and three other charges against the officer of the law."
Xavier's heart felt heavy. He's sad for the cop and disappointed with his wolves.
"Alpha, I don't think they are going to release the wolves to you. This is the first time that a law enforcement agency has officially charged one of our kind. Our kind were not in their system. How are they processing them?" Ruxs asked.
Xavier's youngest beta, Stell finally gave his imput. "This is new territory for us, we needed to be wary. We have to go there to get our answers. We're learning nothing sitting here asking questions we don't have answers."
"I'll need to have a conference call with the Council as well. I'd like to get their advice with this." Xavier exclaimed, while looking around at his small pack.
"They hardly agree with anything you say, Xavier. Their ways are too archaic. If we keep it up, the humans will have control over us in no time. And then, everyone will put the blame on you." Ruxs said sternly. Even if its dangerous to talk about the council that way, Ruxs is too worked up to care anymore.
"I'm not going to let them take us over. I'll file motions to release the shifters in my custody. I'm responsible for them."
"Hope that works. But still, brother, you need to set a hard example now. You are one of the most compassionate and understanding Alpha King ever to lead, but sometimes you need to exert your power, brother."
Alexandra is right. All the demanding work he and his pack had done to protect the wolves of this country. He will not let a few disobedient ones condemn their entire population...
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