Chapter 10
1087 Words
The Meeting
My grandfather’s gaze never wavered as he waited for me to speak. The problem was, I still didn't know what to say that wouldn’t get me into trouble. Ori had advised that a quiet yet strong approach was best, so I couldn’t risk listing everything I hated about the pack's ways. I needed to be clinical and precise.
"The pack has a hierarchy," I began, keeping my tone steady. "You are at the top, the Alpha. Next comes the Beta, followed by the Gamma. Then there is the Delta group, which includes the Warrior Leader, Warrior Trainer, and all the Warriors. The Pi group handles intellectual jobs like the Pack Doctor, teachers, and lawyers. The Upsilon group covers vocational jobs—carers, gardeners, electricians. Finally, the Omega group is responsible for serving jobs."
I paused, gauging his reaction. He remained stoic, so I pressed on. "The women follow the same hierarchy. The Alpha female is called the Luna. Did I get that right?"
"Yes, Greta. Continue," he said with a somber nod.
"The men train every day for eight hours," I continued. "Working hours are the same for everyone, except for the Omegas. They work at least ten hours, sometimes more. Some jobs, like medical staff, require being on call at all times."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think we expect longer hours from the Omegas?"
I had no idea, other than to make their already difficult lives even more unfair. But I couldn't say that. Think, Greta, think.
"I'm not entirely sure, Grandfather," I admitted, trying to sound honest yet neutral.
"Take an educated guess," he instructed, his tone all business.
I needed to pass this test. "Maybe it's because there are fewer Omegas, so the workload is heavier for them?"
He sighed. "Not entirely wrong. We can't expect higher-ranked wolves to do menial tasks, but those jobs still need to be done for pack life to function."
I bit my tongue to keep from pointing out how unfair it was. Omegas worked more but earned less than half of what Upsilons did. My jaw clenched so hard I tasted blood.
"But the main reason," Grandfather continued, "is that Omegas are weak and unworthy. They must prove their value to the pack, and wasting extra resources on them is unjustifiable."
His disdain stung. I knew he disapproved of my actions, feeding the Omegas whenever I could, but he seemed to let it slide for now. I bit down harder, holding back the anger that roared in my chest.
"I understand your views," I finally said, keeping my voice even. But I don’t agree with them, I thought silently.
He studied me, then nodded. "Good."
"But may I continue?" I needed to be sure I wouldn’t face repercussions for helping the Omegas, especially when dealing with Grandmother's wrath.
Grandfather frowned. "You are not getting enough food yourself, Greta. As a future Luna, you need to take care of your health."
I swallowed hard. "I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you, but I can't sit and eat while others go hungry. I just can't."
His frown deepened. "You are stubborn. Not a good trait for a woman," he said, a hint of old-world misogyny dripping from his words. My teeth ground together, but I kept my face blank.
"Dad was an Omega," I murmured.
A flash of guilt crossed his face, but it vanished quickly. "Yes, he was," he replied bitterly. "Not good enough for your mother." He paused, and his expression softened, just for a moment. "But he was still your father."
The tension in the room shifted, and he scratched his chin. "I suppose that's why you care for the Omegas. Who knew you could teach me something?" His gaze was contemplative. "Fine, you may continue without consequence."
Relief flooded through me. I fought to keep my composure, though Silver, my wolf, was yipping with joy inside me. "Thank you, Grandfather," I said solemnly. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
"Moving on," he said, "what else have you learned?"
The rest of the meeting unfolded similarly. I kept my tone calm and factual, and gradually the oppressive air in the room lightened.
Finally, Grandfather asked, "Do you have any questions for me?"
I hesitated. Was this a trap? "Yes, if you don’t mind," I said cautiously. "Could I have my music back? It was confiscated, but it can't be used for communication. It's just an old player, only for music."
Grandfather stood and walked over to a cabinet. He unlocked a drawer, revealing my old life: my phone, laptop, wallet, even my passport. My heart thumped painfully in my chest. My freedom, stolen and locked away.
He picked up the music player and returned to the desk. "What is this?" he asked, clearly unfamiliar with the device.
I sighed, my anger bubbling under the surface. "It’s the music player," I said, pointing.
I showed him how it worked, proving it had no communication abilities. "Very well," he conceded, "but don't disturb anyone with it."
"Thank you. Could I have the charger too?" I ventured.
He retrieved it from the drawer and handed it over. "Any more questions?"
I took a deep breath. "I've heard about an upcoming challenge. What is it?"
He nodded, seemingly pleased. "The Challenge is a serious competition held every five years. Unlike the annual games, this one is intense. It determines the national pack rankings." He gestured to a certificate on the wall. "We’re currently fifth in the country."
"Wow," I said, genuinely impressed.
"The Challenge includes fights between Alphas, warrior battles, and strategic war games. It spans a whole month, and we’ve been chosen to host it this time."
"But doesn’t that leave packs vulnerable to attacks?" I asked, curious.
He smiled condescendingly. "Participation isn’t optional. Warriors must attend, and absentees are dealt with harshly. The last time a pack was attacked during the Challenge was over two hundred years ago. The attackers were wiped out, their men killed, and their women turned into Omegas."
A chill ran down my spine. "When does it start?" I asked. "And how involved will we women be?"
"In four weeks," he replied. "You'll be responsible for preparing the house for the visiting Alphas and Betas. Their mates will stay here too, but the other women remain in their home packs. The Omegas will have extra duties, of course."
I nodded, already planning how to make the best of the coming chaos. This was going to be interesting.
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