Chapter 290: A Meeting In Secret
After a brief walk and several less-than-helpful pointers from fellow werewolves, I eventually realized that Kyle was with Milo and Darach. They were apparently having a meeting in Darach’s own office.
If this was indeed the truth, part of me couldn’t help but feel left out. I had also played my part to resolve the crisis, why had they not bothered to call me in?
Was this punishment for my earlier behavior?
It didn’t escape my notice that the werewolf who informed me about their whereabouts also had a vaguely pitying look on her face. I could only swallow my hurt, smile, and thank her for her help, before making my way to the office. My footsteps were harsh as I strode imperiously along the familiar corridor to Darach’s office, my knuckles rapping against that thick oak door.
That was all the warning they got before I opened the door.
It was unlocked, and as the oak door swung open, my heart sank as I caught sight of three startled faces staring back at me, with varying levels of guilt on each face.
The news was true. They were indeed meeting without me.
Kyle’s face was the most guilty as he refused to meet my eyes for longer than a second. I scowled. The three of them seemed awfully chummy with each other after the attack. I guessed this was as good a bonding experience as anyone could get.
I didn’t have improved hearing, but I didn’t need it to know that they were conversing in a flurry of hurried whispers in Darach’s own office, and they only stopped because I unceremoniously interrupted them.
I cleared my throat. "Am I interrupting anything?" I asked, with deliberate sweetness, knowing full well I was. Kyle shrunk in his seat.
"Of course not," Darach said easily, with zero shame, but I noticed how his ears had reddened. "You came just in time, we were talking about you."
"You don’t say," I replied as I walked towards them to pull out a chair. "Now, what’s so secret about this meeting that I’m not invited?"
"First things first, how are you?" Darach asked cautiously. His eyes roamed all over my body, examining me for injuries as I did the same to him. Darach’s signature glasses were just the slightest bit askew, and there were smudges of what must have been dirt that were hastily wiped away from the lenses, but other than that, he seemed unhurt.
From what I could see, his clothes weren’t ripped to shreds, and his weapon was still sheathed by his side.
"I heard what happened from Milo and Kyle, but I would like to hear it from your own mouth. Did you get yourself checked out at the infirmary?"
"As you can see, I’m alive and well. Nothing more strenuous than a strained muscle," I reported. "Atlas and Elder Otto are also fine, but Atlas remains unconscious."
Darach frowned.
"And I have more news. Apparently, Flora told the guards about Atlas, but they refused to move a finger because they thought she was lying since she wasn’t high up on the pack hierarchy. I know I disobeyed your orders by moving to save him, but if I did not, there’s a high chance Atlas would have died," I said with grim finality. "If you’re going to punish me for it, I’ll accept it, but I would make the exact same decision."
Darach clenched his fists.
"While you did disobey my orders, the fault lies more with the missing patrol. The men responsible will be dealt with by tonight. I’ll have them demoted immediately. These scum shame the name of werewolves everywhere..."
"Your sister also paid the infirmary a visit," I added, and all three men were startled, Milo most of all.
"Dahlia actually chose to appear?"
"Yes, and all dressed up to the nines to gloat at me," I said. "I suspect she might have something to do with the striking werewolves. There’s no way a group of ordinary werewolves would directly choose to desert their duty and deliberately endanger their pack, if not for someone whispering in their ear."
I had said those things to put Dahlia in her place, but the best rumors always held a kernel of truth. I bet my left hand if Dahlia wasn’t in charge of things, her father definitely would be.
"I see, thank you for telling me, Harper," Darach said. "And I’m not going to yell at you, from what Milo told me, he had done a spectacular job of doing so already."
Milo shot Darach with a faintly betrayed look. "Darach! You need to speak to her about this!"
"And I would, but now we have a lot of other problems to worry about."
I nodded, but then Darach’s next few words stunned me beyond belief.
"Namely Damon Valentine."
"Damon?" I exclaimed. "What has he got to do with things?"
"Normally nothing, but now he has inserted himself in this conversation." Darach’s face twitched as though he wanted to say worse. "Kyle here has been very dutiful in updating him about Thunderstrike’s happenings, so much so that Damon had messaged me, claiming that he will be here in a few days to take you back."
"Do you think he’s serious about it?" Darach asked.
"That fucker..." The curse escaped my mouth, and Milo raised an eyebrow.
"I just argued with him over this," I growled. "If he dares to visit, I’ll never speak to him again. More importantly..."
I turned to Kyle, who was still silent.
"Kyle, seriously? Couldn’t you just wait one day? Or at least until the end of today before telling Damon what happened? I successfully managed to win an argument against Dahlia and turn the tide against Darach, but if Damon comes here, all our progress will be for naught!"
"Of that, we are in complete agreement," Darach muttered bitterly.
"Don’t worry, if he comes, I’ll throw him out," I promised Darach.
"Harper, you can’t do that to the Alpha―" Kyle protested, but I shot him a heated glare and he quailed.
"If Damon dares to come here, he’ll know what I can or cannot do!"
