Jacob

I sigh, my hand coming up to squeeze the bridge of my nose. I've been in this meeting for hours as the never-ending cycle of talking strategy starts over and over again, every time someone disagrees with certain suggestions.

I look to my left and watch Kimon, his arms folded across his chest as he listens to what one warrior proposes. He rolls his eyes at the warrior's words, and I try not to snicker in agreement.

"Do you really think this is the logical solution?" the warrior asks.

He has a hint of fear in his eyes, whether it's because he is speaking up to me or for what this plan means. I am not sure, but his words anger me as the irritation of still discussing plans and being stuck in the same loop with a bunch of easily distracted warriors gets to me.

I slam my hands on the desk as I stand up, my chair sliding out, screeching against the tile and causing all the warriors to stare at me.

Derek even stopped glancing at his phone.

"What did you just ask?" I say, a growl following. The poor general pales at the anger on my face, his mouth opening and closing as he stumbles over his words, trying to find an answer as I glare at him.

"You really want me to forget about this? Forget about how the Knoon family name has been hurt. The audacity that a rogue had to kill someone as high ranked as my father?" I continue, my eyes staring at each of the generals.

I turn my back to the table, staring out of the window as I do. I take a deep, calming breath, hoping to ease the anger I am currently feeling.

"You are here to help create a faultless revenge plan. Instead, you are all trying to tell me revenge is not the best option?" I say, sensing the nerves amongst my greatest warriors.

"If I wanted advice, I would have sought out one of the elders.

I'm asking for my warriors, my top ones at that, to give me a plan that will avenge our pack." I turn to face them now.

"We aren't asking you to forget about it, Alpha," the same warrior tentatively says as before.

"We were just questioning if this is the most important task for us to be focusing all our energy and resources on at the moment," another one of the elder warriors says.

Showcasing a united front against my wish to restore my family honor.

"What would you rather do with your valuable time?" I ask, raising my eyebrow in question. Knowing exactly what they would prefer to be doing, I voice my opinion.

"Let me guess, sit around and act busy while we let our duties pile up as we focus on giving the younger members more work," I ask as I cross my arms over my chest and stare at them, challenging them to deny it.

I watch them hang their heads in shame, clearly realizing I will not change my mind.

I look towards the rest of my warriors sitting around their table. Both men and women now have their focus on me as they become more invested in this meeting.

I watch as their heads bow with the person next to them, going over a plan, and I know by the end of this meeting I should have a faultless one.

"If I may, Alpha?" Kimon asks.

I nod, letting him know I am listening.

"The scouts noticed a pattern. Every second night, the rogue pack goes on a hunt, leaving an Omega at the camp as a lookout. The best way of action would be to advance towards their camp while they are hunting. An Omega can't overpower us, and we should have the element of surprise when they return," Kimon suggests.

I consider his plan, when one of the other warriors makes a suggestion.

"What if we send a small party ahead, prepared to enter the camp after the pack has left? We kill the Omega and wait for the pack to return, ensuring that we have enough warriors to surround them?" he suggests.

Pride fills me as my pack can eventually provide me with a logical plan for our attack against the rogues. I give a pointed look towards the two older warriors, seeing how they still bow their heads in shame at not helping to find a solution.

"I want all the preparations done. We will strike in three days," I say, knowing the rogues are going on a hunt tomorrow and we need some more time to plan.

The warriors nod and get up to leave, making their way back to the bonfire outside.

Kimon and Derek stay behind, most likely expecting a debrief about the meeting we just had.

"Those two are really annoying me." I say to them. Kimon lets out a snort at my words.

"You're telling me dude; imagine how I feel when I try to get them to do something," Kimon says, his shoulders relaxing now that is just the three of us.

I roll my eyes at the thought of having to deal with them on a daily and I give Kimon a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

I look off at Derek. His silence is unusual and I stop myself from letting a groan out as I try to control the irritation I feel as soon as my eyes land on him to see him busy on his phone.

"Derek, dude, what is so important that you are attached to your phone?" I ask, raising my eyebrow in question.

"Was Medeia sending you nudes?" Kimon jokes, the idea sending shivers down my spine, but I still laugh.

"Fuck you," Derek replies. "If you must know, I'm checking to see if Medeia is there already. I'm planning on asking her tonight."

I stand up upon hearing Derek's confession. I smack Derek on the back, congratulating him and hoping he isn't nervous about tonight.

"Fuck, she's there already," Derek says after glancing at his phone. A grin on his face as beads of sweat form on his forehead.

"Don't fuck it up then," Kimon says, causing Derek to grimace as we laugh, making our way towards the bonfire.

Derek goes straight to Medeia, his arms wrapping around her as he gives her a gentle kiss hello. The image of them together causes my body to hurt. Derek and Medeia's behavior around each other reminds me of Gisele and me.

I make my way towards my pack, but I stop when I hear a gasp.

Glancing over, I see Derek on one knee, and Medeia has her hands covering her mouth. "Medeia, you make me the happiest wolf alive, and I can't do anything without you by my side, you are my rock and the reason I can do what I do, I love you Medeia, so love, will you marry me?" Derek asks, his hands shaking as he holds the ring.

The ring glistens in the fire's light, drawing everyone's attention to it. The silence is deafening as the entire pack holds their breath, waiting for an answer and hoping it is positive.

"Oh, Derek! Of course! I love you," she says, squealing as Derek slips the ring on her finger.

As Derek stands up, her arms wrap around him, and their lips meet in a passionate kiss. His hands hold on to her, keeping her close.

That's all it takes for the pack to go wild. The usual bonfire has now turned into a means of celebration, and a smile ripples across my lips. I'm happy for Derek and Medeia.

But as the celebration continues, I watch how Derek and Medeia make their way around the pack, getting congratulations from everyone as Medeia holds out her hand, showing the ring to everyone that asks. I can't help but think of Gisele, how we had discussed our plans for the future and what it meant for the two of us.

"Jacob," Derek says, "Are you okay?"

Derek's question causes me to focus on him and Medeia. I smile at their elated faces. Their euphoria is contagious as it helps to lift my spirits, even if it is slight.

"I'm fine. Are you okay? I saw you shaking over there," I reply, a grin on my face as I recall the nervous way the rink shook from Derek's nerves.

"No, I wasn't," Derek replies, trying to act tough in front of Medeia.

I laugh, "Sure, congrats, you two," I say, watching as they stare lovingly into each other's eyes.

The smile on my face falters. They move on after that. Enjoying the celebrations with the pack.

As I try to join the celebrations, my broken heart calls for me to ignore the party, and I eventually listen. I walk away from the party; the noise becomes a distant hum as I slowly make my way home.

I glance down at the phone in my hand, and stare at one of the last pictures I have of Gisele. I wonder what it would have felt like to celebrate our engagement and marriage. "I miss you, angel," I say to the stars, hoping she hears me.

The ring in my back pocket weighs me down, reminding me of how that was the plan for us. How we were going to become one. The idea of me proposing flashes in my head and with it, how pale her face was when I found her.

As soon as I get inside, I grab the bottle of whiskey on my desk, swigging it back as I sit down. I stare out the window watching the celebrations, wishing it could have been Gisele and me, wishing the pain away as I focus on drowning my sorrows.