Lead Negotiator
I sat in front of Alpha Korbius’ desk with Annie by my side and Elena and Beanie standing behind us. Alpha Korbius sat behind the desk, studying me. As soon as Elena introduced me as the lead of this negotiation, he was intent on finding a reason for me not to be in charge. Osprey had prepared me for the hostility. Even though Alpha Korbius had been the one to seek our help dealing with the sleuth’s wolf problem, we knew that my young age was going to be a problem. Older Alphas saw it as more of a threat than if an older Alpha came to assist. That wasn’t my problem. I just wanted to finish this and get home.
For as much shit as I talked to Osprey about wanting Annie to come, I didn’t like her being out of the protective circle our sleuth offered. And so here I was wanting this old fool to hurry up and make his decision on whether or not he was going to accept me as the only help he was going to receive from my fathers and brother. Finally, he sighed, and I opened my link with Priscila as we had been told to do. Osprey said that in conflict resolution talks, that was one of the most important things because it gave the negotiators all the information that they needed to come to a swift, peaceful fix for both sides.
“The wolves’ Alpha trespassed on our territory 6 months ago. Ever since then, the wolves have been trespassing. I have repeatedly told them to stop. The last pair of wolves that we caught on sleuth land were beaten before being dragged back to their land as a warning. Most of the other ones, we just interrogated and then sent them home, but we are sick of the trespassing,” Alpha Korbius said. “We want to know what the wolves are looking for.”
I started to tap my fingers on my leg in agitation. We were here because of nonviolent trespassing? This was a waste of not only my time but my betas’ and family’s time as well.
“And what makes you think they are looking for something?” I asked.
“Because they only breach the south border. They never intruded on any other part of our land. We have scoured that land multiple times and have found nothing,” he answered.
“Please give me a moment to confer with Priscila, who is, as you are aware, with the wolves, so that we may come to an agreement,” I told him.
‘Priscila, have the wolves given you any information yet?’ I asked through our link.
‘Not yet. I am still waiting for the Alpha and Luna to finish linking with each other. They are not sure if they trust us because we are bears, and they are worried that we will take the bears’ side in this issue,’ she responded.
‘Tell them about the wolf negotiation that Osprey set up with Jarrod. If that doesn’t show them that we are fair bears, then I don’t know what will.’
I smiled at Alpha Korbius before asking more questions about the particular piece of land the wolves kept intruding on. The answers to my questions didn’t really matter, as they offered nothing about what was going on. I just needed to kill time for Priscila to get the wolves’ trust enough to go forward with the negotiations. It wasn’t long before the wolves’ side of the issue started to flow through the link.
‘We have no choice but to trespass on the sleuth land. When I was forced to intrude on their land by the rogues, I had to bury my pack’s only hope for our future there. My wolves are searching for it, but they cannot seem to find it,’ the Alpha told Priscila.
‘What exactly was it that you buried?’ Priscila asked.
‘It is an amulet granted to us by the keeper of the vines,’ the Alpha answered.
‘And what is in the amulet?’
‘A fertilized egg from my Luna and me.’
‘A fertilized egg? Why would you have to fertilize an egg and not have a pup the normal way?’ Priscila questioned.
‘Because my Luna’s womb is too scarred from the abuse she suffered as a rogue.’
‘Why are the rogues after Luna Sarah?’ Priscila asked curiously.
‘Because she came from a strong Alpha line that was destroyed when her pack was eliminated during an attack. She hid among the rogues for years before she shifted for the first time. After she shifted, she was forced to breed with strong rogues, and every time she got pregnant, she gave herself an abortion. When we found each other and she became my Luna, it still took two years for her to trust me enough to be open to having a pup. We tried for several years, but it never happened for us, so we went to the doctor. Dr. Reyes told us that due to the scarring, there was no chance of an egg implanting in her womb.’
My heart ached for the heartbreak in his voice. I may not have gone through what he was going through, but I knew that I would be just as devastated if I lost the only chance my Alpha Sow and I had of having an offspring.
‘Ask the Alpha why they won’t tell the Alpha Boar what they are looking for,’ I told her.
‘Why haven’t you told the Alpha Boar what you are looking for?’ Priscila repeated my question to the Alpha.
‘Because of the Alpha line she comes from. If he were to get it into his head that he wanted to control our pack, he could do so with our egg. We cannot allow our future Alpha pup to be put in that position. We have to find the amulet ourselves. It’s the only way,’ the Alpha said.
I met the Alpha Boar’s eyes. “With your permission, Alpha Korbius, may I see the land that the wolves keep trespassing on? Also, I need to request that the wolves’ Alpha and Luna meet us there.”
He frowned at me. “Why?”
“If you want the trespassing to stop, this is how we do it. You are more than welcome to be present,” I told him in a voice that I knew would brook no argument.
He sighed before getting up. “Done. Let’s go. I want us to go back to existing peacefully.”
As we walked to the territory, I told Priscila to bring the Alpha and Luna there before linking Annie, who had one of the strongest bonds to the vines, to ask for help in finding the amulet. Maybe it was a blessing after all to have Annie with us. The vines never denied her anything. We stopped in the middle of a large clearing to wait for the Alpha and Luna to arrive. About half an hour later, Priscila, Mona, Adam, and a young couple walked into the clearing. The couple slowed at the border of the clearing, eyeing the Alpha Boar and Alpha Sow at my side. When they finally stopped beside us, I put my hands on Annie’s shoulders, smiling widely at everybody.
“This is our little sister, Annie. She has a special bond with the vines. If anyone can find what you seek, it is her. She has agreed to ask the vines on your behalf,” I told the wolves’ Alpha and Luna before turning to look at the Alpha Boar. “The only stipulation is that you do not interfere with the process. Do you agree?”
“Yes, my Alpha Sow and I agree.” He met the Alpha wolf’s eyes. “We just want to go back to living in harmony with your pack.”
“We want that, too.”
“Good. Annie, are you ready?” I asked softly.
She looked up at me fearfully before opening our link. ‘What if I fail? What if the vines don’t listen to me this time? What if I cause our sleuth issues? What if-”
I put my forehead against hers as I looked deep into her eyes. ‘Listen to me, Annie Banannie; whatever happens, happens. I will not allow you to be put in danger. I swear to you that even if the vines deny you, we will not leave until we find an answer. Trust me, little sister. I have got your back.’
She took a deep breath before nodding and stepping back. She walked into the trees and came back in her bear form. She took a deep breath before lowering her snout to the ground. I looked around at everyone before moving back to give her the space she would need to complete her task. Everyone followed my lead, taking steps back until they were standing at the edge of the clearing with me. Priscila took my hand as she pressed against my side.
‘Is she going to be able to do this? Are you sure we can trust her? She’s so young,’ she linked me anxiously.
I squeezed her hand. ‘Yes, Scila. She may be young, but she is one of us. And just like Osprey always has our backs, we will have hers.’
She took a deep breath as vines came from every direction to fill the clearing, along with the sound of my sister’s growls. I squeezed Priscila’s hand again.
‘She’s got this.’