Under The Alpha's Protection

Chapter 12: The Lie

Florence and Jones revealed their children's names: Niamh, Esther, and Rheean Ire.

Arlo had declared that all three babies were born healthy. Approximately five seconds later, Florence burst into tears as she apologized profusely for hurting Arlo during her pain-induced craze. Arlo had been, unsurprisingly, very blasé about the gash Florence had inflicted on him which Blue had stitched up, assuring Florence there were no hard feelings between them.

While Carmine and Roderick stayed to help their sister and her mate with the triplets (the bed in the isolation room now clean for Florence to comfortably rest on), Blue had been called to meet the Council—along with Laia and Arlo.

Lucian led the way. Blue's stomach twisted with nerves, but the feeling was somewhat dulled as they began to walk through the more populous area of the Northern Territory.

The houses here were different from the houses in towns. The towns in Neutral Territory strived for a modern feel; with smooth, painted exteriors of buildings, apartment or commercial complexes reaching three-stories high, highways that had road maintenance frequently. Essentially, towns were crowded; with living quarters and other establishments built closely to one another to maximize the urbanized area.

Here, all the homes were made of hewn logs, most of them with only one floor. The vast amounts of terrain that the Northern Pack owned meant that its families could each have their own houses without having to share a wall with others.

The Run Afoot Terraces on the Northern Hill still took Blue's breath away, especially now that she got a closer view of every giant step carved onto the slope of the hill.

They walked through dirt paths with the Head Alpha in front, and though their pace was brisk, the werewolves who'd spot Lucian would incline their head just a tad in his direction, like a show of respect. Blue's ashamed to admit that she hadn't expected Lucian to nod back at them in acknowledgment.

The Pack members they had walked by were too caught up in looking at Lucian, Laia, and Arlo that nobody really noticed Blue walking in between the three of them.

They stopped outside a structure that looked just like every other house they'd passed, except slightly bigger.

Lucian Steele turned around.

Probably now, more than the other times Blue had seen him, the Head Alpha seemed utterly in command—and he hadn't even said a word yet.

He made eye-contact with all three of them before speaking barely above a whisper, "Blue was attacked by drunken men who were looking for trouble. Are we clear?"

Blue felt her brows dip. "Is that what you said to them?" She matched Lucian's volume.

Lucian nodded once, then faced Laia, "You came just in time. You did not hurt the humans, you only threatened them by smashing bottles. It scared them away. You brought Blue Emmetson here as a returned favor, because she helped you out at the community clinic before. Got that?"

Seemed like this little web of lies had been concocted by the Steele siblings without Blue's prior knowledge. Laia nodded, sighing lightly, "I got it, Lucian. We went over this yesterday."

To Arlo, Lucian said, "You kept Blue's presence a secret for nearly a week because you had no idea that Laia nor I had not told the Council of her presence. You, doc, are completely innocent in this whole ordeal."

Arlo hummed. "I wouldn't have minded watching the old geezers become like tea kettles with boiling water, all huffy and puffy with anger."

Laia laughed, but Blue was still processing the fact that they had lied about what really happened. "Why not just tell the Council the truth?" Blue asked, still keeping her voice down.

Lucian regarded Blue with a look that said really? "I know you want nothing to do with Pack politics, but it'll be helpful for you to know that as Head Alpha, I never lie to my Council unless I find it absolutely necessary." He gave her a quick once-over. Blue had changed out of the ruined clothes, into another jeans and tank top combo (still from Laia). "I know what will happen during that meeting. It will be a good thing for you."

Those were English words, but Lucian might as well have been speaking another language. Blue did not understand. "What will be good for me?"

Lucian was not willing to elaborate, already turning his back to face the entrance. "Believe me, you do not want to ruin this with the truth."

The truth about Blue's parents and how her father was connected to the Southern Pack—the truth that had caused Lucian to treat Blue like she was already an enemy from the beginning.

-----

Seven Council members. Three women; Rose Rumi, Marielle Levanter, Althea Sheinstone; and four men; Elvis Dunn, Lynx Dashiell, Garrison Byrne, Dominic Rising.

Lucian had introduced each one before he told the Council members seated at the round table, "This is Blue Emmetson. I'm sure you're all aware that earlier today, despite having just healed from her own injuries, she had helped deliver Florence Ire's three children."

And so, the questions began. There was enough room on the table for additional seats. Blue had been flanked by Laia and Arlo, while Lucian had remained standing like a bodyguard to the side, more keen on watching how the meeting played out instead of interjecting. Or maybe he’d been asked not to intervene.

The Council questioned Laia about Blue's arrival, how Blue had been injured, why she had to take Blue here instead of a hospital. Then, they berated Arlo for keeping Blue's treatment in the isolation room a secret. Both had answered exactly what Lucian had told them to say, even adding just enough of their own details to really sell it.

Blue's hands balled into fists underneath the table as soon as the Council members began asking her questions, about her background in medicine and other personal information. Blue hadn't needed to lie about those. But when they asked if she knew her attackers, she had to play into the made-up story: No, she did not know her attackers. She had been on her way to meet Laia at a nearby diner when she walked past that alley where those drunken men were. She had not expected them to grab her and start hurting her.

Bits of truth with the lies. It's what made these things convincing.

While saying all this, Blue had been careful not to look at Laia or Arlo, too afraid that a single look might give their whole jig away.

While there were certainly mixed emotions on the Pack Council's faces, it seemed like their story was believable enough.

"Now that we have cleared all that up..." A man with graying hair and a full beard with a prominent scar over his cheek cleared his throat. "We would like to thank you, Ms. Blue Emmetson, for helping the Ire family." Elvis Dunn, Blue remembered. That was the man's name. "And..." He looked around the table. "While the rest of the Council and I have not spoken about it properly, I'm sure they would all agree that, for aiding in the safe birth of three new pups into our Pack, it would only be right that you be offered an Official Welcome into the Northern Pack."

It was hard to process what was being said to Blue.

"I'm..." Her mouth opened and closed dumbly. "You mean... become part... of the Northern Pack?"

The woman next to Elvis Dunn—Marielle Levanter—nodded with a small smile. "There have been a handful of humans who've been offered this privilege of becoming part of the Northern Pack, being promised our Pack's full support and protection."

"I'm sure Head Alpha Lucian had already considered this," Rose Rumi's slightly raspy voice drawled out, her eyebrow raising at Lucian's direction. "Since he was a witness to the scene I've already heard so much about."

Blue turned to where she'd seen the Head Alpha standing last.

Lucian's eyes were already on her, showcasing zero shock at what the Council members had suggested.

He had expected this.

This was the good thing he was talking about.

Lucian had known that his Council members, upon hearing what Blue did, would offer to make her part of their Pack.

"If Ms. Emmetson accepts," Lucian finally spoke after being silent for majority of the meeting. "The Official Welcome can take place as early as tomorrow."

Next to Blue, Laia and Arlo looked surprised. Although Laia's bafflement was quick to switch into uninhibited glee.

Realizing that everyone was still waiting for Blue's answer, it suddenly became harder for Blue to make complete sentences.

"Um." She swallowed the lump of nervousness threatening to make it sway up her throat. "Can I... Am I allowed to think about this first?" Blue winced at her own tone. "I'm sorry, I feel very honored, but it's also just... really sudden?"

It became apparent that the Council had expected Blue to accept on the spot. Because, almost comically, their expression all went from anticipatory to taken-aback.

The few seconds of silence after that were the most awkward one Blue had ever experienced.

"Of course you may think about it, Ms. Emmetson," The man who broke the silence at least sounded genuine when he told her that. Dominic Rising. "This is merely a way for us to show our gratitude. You're not obligated to answer right away, and just in case you’re too embarrassed to ask, you're not required to move into our Territory once you're part of the Northern Pack."

Blue had left that meeting feeling even more unsettled than when she first went in.

Before she could start completely spiraling though, gentle hands settled on her shoulders, spinning her around until she was looking at Arlo. Out of reflex, Blue's eyes went down to the bandage covering his stitches.

"I don't regret helping you," Arlo said. Behind him, Lucian and Laia watched. "Even if you hadn't stepped up and helped with Florence's triplets, I believe the Northern Pack should open its arms to those in need." The physcian not-so-subtly gave a pointed stare behind him—at Lucian—before he returned his coffee-colored eyes at Blue. "I'll be checking on Florence. But I want you to know, whether or not you're officially part of our Pack, your kindness will never be forgotten."

The sincerity nearly made Blue cry right then and there. She swallowed again, hating that she was getting emotional in such an unfamiliar place.

It was probably part of why she felt so emotional.

"Thank you," The words came out in a whisper. Arlo squeezed at her shoulders then turned around. The physician inclined his head at the Steele siblings as a way of goodbye.

As soon as Arlo walked away, his place was taken up by Laia. "Why didn't you accept the offer then and there?" She asked under her breath, mindful that they weren't so far from where the Council room was. "Blue, let me make it clear: Pack policy states that anyone born into the Pack or officially Welcomed in is automatically protected by that Pack's members. Meaning, if someone messes with one of us, they mess with all of us. Do you understand?" Laia leaned closer. "This could be your chance to make sure Head Alpha Niall can't touch you anymore!"

Again, Blue felt her hands clench into fists at her sides. "Laia, your Council doesn't know that the Southern Pack was the reason I was beaten up in the first place."

Laia groaned. "So what? They don't have to know."

Blue was shaking her head instantly. "No, no. You see, that's exactly the issue."

"What is?" Laia frowned.

Blue licked her lips. "Laia, if I accept this offer, that means you will be protecting me from the Southern Pack." Pack politics. Blue may not want to be involved, but that didn't mean she was completely clueless about it. Plus, she learned a lot from her recent talks with Laia. "I was happy to help Florence, and I do appreciate that your Council was kind enough to be willing to Welcome me, but... Wouldn't I just be adding fuel to the fire? Isn't this what me bringing more trouble to your Pack looks like?"

Given Laia's stunned silence, Blue knew she hit it right on the nail.

Convinced that she'd already had the last word, Blue was about to continue speaking when Lucian piped up, "We don't have to tell them."

Both Blue and Laia whipped their heads to the side, staring wide-eyed at Lucian.

"What?" Blue hadn't realized the question came from her.

Lucian walked closer to them. Not for the first time, Blue felt so short between the two alphas. "We don't have to tell anyone about your father's connection to the Southern Pack," Lucian said, whispering again. "If the Southern Pack tries to come for you again, there'd be plenty of reasons the Council would believe as to why you were targeted. Head Alpha Niall is reckless and arrogant, he would rather eat dirt than waste his breath explaining why he's going after someone."

Blue huffed through her mouth in disbelief. She glared at the Head Alpha, catching herself before she could actually start raising her voice, "The first night you spoke to me, you were convinced that me being here was going to lead the Southern Pack directly to your Territory, and–"

"Things happened," Lucian cut Blue off, his forehead wrinkled like he was getting frustrated. "Like I said, you proved my initial impression of you wrong. This offer is a good thing for you, and you'd be foolish not to take it."

I'm not usually wrong... but today, I'm glad I was wrong about you. Lucian had told Blue these words just hours ago.

But unlike the openness with which he had expressed such words, now, the pinch in his facial features made him appear impatient.

Blue's eyes kept shifting from Lucian to Laia, more unsure than she'd ever been about anything before.

On the one hand, it would make her feel safer to have the Northern Pack—who were known as the warrior Pack—considering her as part of their Pack and protecting her from werewolves like Niall Ryder.

On the other hand, if Blue became the reason true chaos actually happened in the Northern Pack...

Lucian exhaled harshly, fed up with the silence. "I've already vouched for you in there. Your skills have proven useful to the Pack, and the Council would be damned to turn away someone who knows the difference between handling human and werewolf patients."

Despite her situation, Blue snorted. "Oh, yeah. I feel real welcomed."

Her tone did not amuse the Head Alpha. "If you do not want to accept this offer to become part of our Pack based on a sense of self-preservation alone, then accept the offer so you can continue working in the community clinic with the knowledge that an entire Pack is bound to protect you. Your quality of work under Doctor Oswin's mentorship will inevitably deplete when every day you feel like you're in danger of being killed."

It was Blue's turn to be rendered into a stunned silence.

Well, Blue thought to herself, He got me there.