Keeping Traditions Alive

"What happened to Jackson?" groaned Levi, and Sasha looked over at the human. Well, he guessed that he wasn't exactly human anymore. He probably wasn't a ribbon girl, but he was still very much more than an average human.

"He didn't pick in time, so we picked for him," said Mathew from where he was leaning against the window frame of a secondary parlor. He had been staring out the window for a few moments now, so Sasha decided to walk over and join him.

Outside on the lawn walked Natalia with Stephanie hovering around her. There were only two Knights trailing behind them. Disgruntled, Sasha got onto the radio, "Since when do we let a Head wander around with only two guards? Did the protocols change since I reviewed them yesterday?"

There was silence over the comms, but Sasha watched in satisfaction when eight more men ran out onto the lawn and set up a perimeter at the edge of the forest. Close enough to protect, but not so close as the bother.

"Don't bother," said Mathew as he watched the Knights spread out. "I already have my pack in the woods."

"You have a pack?" asked Sasha, surprised, completely forgetting about the other three men in the room. "I thought you were a Beta?"

"I am, technically," replied Mathew with a shrug before turning around and going to sit in one of the wing-back chairs. "But I am too strong to be considered just a Beta and too weak to be considered an Alpha. So, I answer to Alpha Lucas for the next little while, but I also control my own pack."

"That has to be hard," said Sasha softly. He couldn't picture being trapped between those two roles. Too strong for one but too weak for another.

"Not really," said Mathew turning to look at the other man. "My mate's an Alpha, so it works out perfectly. Almost like destiny, if you believe in that."

"Sorry to interrupt what I am sure is a fascinating conversation of which I have no understanding of. We are trying to figure out Jackson's whereabouts," said Greyson, coming to a sitting position on the couch he was laying on. Sasha merely raised an eyebrow, not impressed with his question.

"Jackson is no longer your concern. Your Head made a decision when you all passed out, and that is the end of it," said Mathew with a shrug as he crossed his legs in front of him. Greyson might look older than the wolf, but the latter had many more years on the once human.

"Natalia is the be-all, end-all of everything in your life. And you should be grateful that you were chosen by a nice Head," said Dementyev as he got up off the floor and went to sit in one of the chairs, but not before pulling one of the long tassels that hung down from the ceiling.

"When you ask a question like that, it is looked upon as proof that you don't trust your Head. It is seen as more than a little bit of an insult. I mean, just look at the wolf. His eyes are turning yellow, his mouth seems too big for his teeth, and if he was covered in fur, it would be standing up. You just insulted his chosen Alpha, and now he wants your throat," continued Dementyev, completely unconcerned. In fact, Greyson couldn't think of a time that he had ever seen him so relaxed.

"Understood," he nodded. He was new to this world, but since he would be living in it now, he needed to learn everything he could and fast.

"But to answer your question," said Mathew staring at the Skinwalker. "One of my pack took Jackson to Alpha Lucas. If he survives the transformation, he should be able to go back to work within a few months. He should be happy. The upgrades that he is getting will definitely help with his job in the military."

"If he lives that long," smirked Sasha looking at Mathew.

"If he lives that long," agreed Mathew, slowly blinking his eyes and turning away from the Skinwalker. The other man was not more dominant than he was, so there shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, the issue will be if he is equal to him.

"You want to fight, wolf?" asked Dementyev as he studied his nails. "Is that your problem?"

"There is no problem yet," said Mathew with a smirk on his face.

"Not yet, but I promise you, there will be. And if we are trying to get Natalia interested in tradition, then we need to make nice first," replied Dementyev.

"Wait? What?" asked Sasha looking between the two men. "No, not going to happen," he continued as he shook his head. "Natalia is the Lady of Knights."

"No, she really isn't," smirked Dementyev. "In fact, have you ever seen a Head give up their position and go over to another House? You and Van Helsing might want her to be the Lady of your House, but she is very much her own Head."

"Your point?" asked Sasha, tilting his chin up.

"My point is, the General and I are in her House. Much more convenient if you ask me," said the Skinwalker with a shrug.

"Wait!? The General?" exclaimed Sasha as his head snapped to the general in question. "You are getting in on our traditions too?"

Greyson looked at how calm Dementyev was and decided to copy him until he could find out exactly what he was missing.

"And what particular tradition is that?" he asked as he sat back on the couch and crossed his legs like almost every other man in the room. It gave the feeling of a Chief of Staff meeting. The undercurrents were enough to drag him under if he wasn't careful.

"Multiple mates," said Mathew studying the man. He might look to be the oldest with the sprinkling of grey hair at his temple, but he was probably the second youngest man here. What an interesting juxtaposition.

"Multiple mates?" repeated Greyson confused.

"Multiple mates, multiple husbands, it's really the same thing," said Sasha as he took the last seat in the room. "It has been a Gypsy tradition dating back to the earliest time. Before there were even monsters."