The Council of Alphas (12)
"I used despicable methods to embarrass you?", Damon asked. "It was your daughter that embarrassed you, Alpha Richard. And you agreed to that tribute. In what way did I force you?"
"Don't play innocent!", Alpha Richard exclaimed. "If it was just you, things would end up differently. But you used the support of several other Alphas to get your way!"
"Isn't that what you are trying to do here?", Talia interjected and leaned closer until her chest touched the table. "Do you want this Council to force Alpha Damon to issue a statement about how he bullied you and he is sorry? Do you want to cancel that tribute? Isn't that just using the Council to settle your private grudges?"
Maddox spoke next, "We all know how grudges are settled. You have a choice between a negotiating table or an Alpha challenge. Of course, you can also declare war, but a small incident at a party is usually not enough to justify casualties a war will bring."