A YOUNG ALPHA'S SWAGGER

Ben plucked out the surface pro from its charging dock and handed it to me. I used my fingerprint to unlock it and opened up my list of reports. I was in such a hurry, I did it standing wherever I was.

"What's this?" Wolfgang asked from over my shoulder when I opened my list of reports.

"Reports." I answered. Most of them unread. Opps.

My betas had been working hard today and I... Let's just say I was occupied with urm... school. Yeah. That was going to be my excuse.

But Wolfgang didn't ask about the number of unopened documents. He didn't move away though and I scrolled down looking for the agenda, whilst being acutely aware of having someone breathing down my neck - well not literally.

Unlike Fluffy and EJ, Wolfgang did at least observe old-fashioned social etiquette, like personal space.

"How do you find anything in this?" Wolfgang asked from beside me.

By my lucky sense of direction, I just scrolled and tapped at whichever document felt right... It usually worked. I scrolled a bit more and found the unopened document labeled, "Agenda 2nd Ca...." I tapped on it.

Bingo! Works every time.

"You're not prepared for your meeting." Wolfgang deduced.

What was it that gave me away? Haha (but of course I was keeping all sarcastic comments to myself here.)

"What are you doing?" Wolfgang asked sharply.

I looked up, but Wolfgang wasn't talking to me. He was glaring at my betas, "Why haven't you prepared her for the meeting yet?"

Hey, hey, hey. I stopped reading the expected attendance list at the top of the agenda. I mean, it was one thing to pick on me about whatever, but my betas were hardworking guys.

"They sent me everything." I tried to explain on their behalf, "I just haven't gotten round to reading it all."

"Show me what they've sent." Wolfgang instructed firmly.

I really should be preparing for the meeting, but I touched the back button to show Wolfgang the rest of the unopened reports under and above it.

"How is she supposed to read all this?" Wolfgang demanded, he took the screen out of my hands and scrolled down, "What makes you think your alpha has all the time in the world to sift through your thousand and one reports?"

I thought I was the Princess?

(And we were past eight thousand reports now, not a thousand and one.)

"Did anyone make notes?" Wolfgang asked.

Of course my good beta did, "It's here, sir."

Harvey scrolled down a little to where he had posted his notes to show Wolfgang. See! My betas were not to blame. They did their homework.

Wolfgang returned the screen to me and consulted his watch, "You have five more minutes, Princess."

There was no way I could read Harvey's notes in 5 minutes! I scrolled down desperately, but I couldn't register the words, "I can't..."

I mean, I was on page 2 out of 14. I didn't remember a single thing from page 1. I didn't even know who was coming. I saw some names just now... But I didn't recognize all of them. Lorent wolves maybe?

"What are you waiting for?" Wolfgang sounded exasperated. His brows knitted, crumpling more above his left eye than his right, "Don't just stand there. Help her!"

Eh.... I winced at that. I was the alpha (or at least I was going to be the alpha), but I felt like I was failing pretty badly right now.

"It is the Beta's job to brief the alpha before every meeting. For an important meeting as today's, this should've been done as early as last week so that changes might be made to the agenda as needed."

No, no... no changes would be needed. My betas were perfect. I was the one who wasn't catching up.

"Your alpha has at most two hours a day for reviewing your reports and other internal documents. Night Leaf isn't a minor pack. Only send the executive summaries unless she requests more information - even so, you should extract only the relevant details required for her decision." Wolfgang seemed to feel differently about whose fault this was though. He took the screen out from my hands a second time and threw it towards my betas. Ben caught it.

"I want a total redo by tomorrow morning. Remove all the superfluous items and focus on executive summaries, budgets, and accounts." Wolfgang instructed. He checked his watch.

"One of you give her the key points in three minutes." Wolfgang instructed, "The rest of you prepare to support her over the mindlink during the meeting. Princess, please open your mindlink. It's time to go."

And then, just like that, Wolfgang placed his hand on the small of my back and pushed me off.

{I'll brief Sam. You two prep notes.} Ben decided.

Suddenly, I was Sam again. But Wolfgang who was hovering on the mindlink didn't comment.

Today, each pack was introducing their core representatives. We'll be discussing our future working relationship and clarifying any concerns over the working model for the merger.

{The rest is gonna be a lot of nitty-gritty stuff about every kind of pain in the arse.} This was a very typical Ben's briefing, short and not always helpful. And then Ben added, {You don't have to mind them. Beta Gerald says to just collect it as important concerns and address it at a later date according to its urgency.}

{Your elder gave wise counsel.} Wolfgang approved, {As the facilitator, you must not allow the meeting to sidetrack, Princess. We will all be relying on your to keep the discussion focused.}

Hahahaha... Of all people, they were going to rely on me for focus!

{May I just add that Alpha Lorent would also be presenting Luna Bell's handover plans and the new leadership team that is stepping up with your Luna.} Ki chimed in.

{I don't know who's who.} I remembered the names I couldn't put the faces on.

{Then begin with introductions.} Wolfgang advised, {Which is why you should've discussed the agenda with your alpha BEFORE you sent it.}

{Understood.} Harvey agreed, {Apologies, Alpha. We will improve on this.}

Wait... I felt bad. I was the one who couldn't keep up...but my betas were getting all the blame and extra homework too.

But Harvey's response pleased Wolfgang, he asked, {Which of you can complete this line: The Alpha is the head...}

Urm... That was kind of open-ended...and out of the blue too. Could we like deal with the SUPER DUPER URGENT AND IMPORTANT ISSUE of me having to step into the cadence unprepared before discussing lycan quotes?

{And the Beta his right hand?} Harvey ventured first.

Right! Of course my good beta would know!

{Anyone else?} Wolfgang asked.

Wrong? Hmm...

{The omega is the tail.} Ben deadpanned.

Wolfgang chuffed over the mindlinks, {Is that all?}

{Who he bows to, the whole pack prostrates to?} Ki offered, not sounding confident at all.

{Prostrates before. Not to.} Wolfgang corrected.

So were the answers all correct, or all wrong?

And then he told us, {There are over three hundred standard quotations about the Alpha being the head. The one I'm thinking of is one of them.}

Wth! How would we know which one you were thinking about?

But alright, no harm in giving it a go. I decided to use my recent favorite, {An Alpha is the head, you do not use your head to pick up rubbish or pull weeds.}

There was a pause.

{Sometimes I cannot tell when you are pulling my leg, Princess.} Wolfgang confessed.

{Gamma Harry says so.} I informed Wolfgang most earnestly. (Please do not give me more homework. Omo please please don't make us list out all 300 quotes! I'll rather chop off my head and give it to you.)

{I asked for a STANDARD quote.} Wolfgang said as if that made any difference to me.

He sighed, and then decided to give us the answer, {The alpha is the head. Cut off the head, and even the fiercest wolves become like sheep and scatter.}

I think I should get points because I was thinking about chopping off my head and serving it on a silver platter over more homework. Yes, that counted! Don't argue with me!

{Have any of you ever chased sheep?} Wolfgang asked next.

I shook my head. I don't think that was a thing here in the Green Packlands. We didn't have sheep. We had a small local goat farm somewhere, I think.

{You should try it someday.} Wolfgang said.

Could it be that Wolfgang was actually suggesting something fun?

We just made the long way around to the packhouse. Apparently, the Alpha or Princess or whatever I was, shouldn't cut across the lawn. We had to walk on the pavement like adults.

Dave opened the door for us.

"Good afternoon, Princess, betas." Dave greeted cheerily, "Hi, Hotstuff."

"Hi Dave." I smiled my wide smile, "What's up?"

I'll admit it, Dave calling Wolfgang Hotstuff just made my day just a little better.

"Lots of VIPs upstairs." Dave told me, "The kitchen burst a pipe, and Kev was in an accident."

"Which Kev?" We must have at least 20 variations of Kevs in our pack. Kevy, Kevin, Kevan... And I think one of the Kevs was a Keval. We also had too many Kelvins/Calvins.

"The old one." Dave told me, "But don't worry, Princess. Delta Simon had seen him. Just a sprain. Would be good as new in a day or two."

I nodded. I still hadn't placed who was the "old" Kev.

"I hope he gets well soon." I responded politely.

Dave nodded, "I'll be sure to tell Kev."

"Thanks." I smiled again and let Ben push, I mean lead me away.

It was quiet the rest of the way up. I glanced at Wolfgang who looked deep in thought. Did he not like being called Hotstuff? Or was he worried about Old Kev?

"What are you thinking about, Hotstuff?" I grinned.

All three of my betas froze like I said a rude word, but Wolfgang only blinked and then he shook his head, "Apologies. I was in thought, Princess."

Yes... I knew you were in thought, that's why I said... Nevermind.

"I called you Hotstuff." I pointed out, just because it was funny to stress out my betas like that.

"In private, Princess, you may call me whatever you wish." Hotstuff said. And then because Wolfgang really liked to school people, he had to add, "Like clothing, how you address others reflect on who you are and should be selected to be appropriate for the occasion."

And then Wolfgang got quiet and thoughtful again. I decided to leave him to it.

The moment the lift door opened, Wolfgang was back to the constant instructions.

{Lift your chin. Although not yet the Alpha, you will one day be.} Wolfgang instructed over the mindlink.

{Betas link in when you accompany your alpha.} Wolfgang continued, {Your Alpha is the head. Stay connected to your head.}

Which I was sure was as much a standard alpha head quote as Gamma Harry's.

But my mindlinks flared with my betas aligning their links to mine. Just like linking up before a run... Nice!

If I walked into the conference room with a swagger, it was because I had these guys behind me.