MASS ALPHA BOMBINGS

21 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, ENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE

"Perhaps Night Leaf might have to hold another conference to explain in further detail." Alpha George suggested.

"Indeed. Please take this opportunity to ask questions pertaining the information released last night on Silver Mountain's partnership program." Beta Roberts reminded the press.

Opps. Wait... I wasn't the one who bombed the conference with the news that stole Silver Mountain's thunder - Alpha Gunter was the one who made the announcement prematurely. Then why did it look like Night Leaf stole the show?

Harvey was tapping tapping on his laptop at the next table. It was enough to pique Bell's curiosity. He looked over casually and mindlink the betas, {What's up?}

Sigh~❤️ even on mindlink, Mate's voice was sexy.

{Do you mind, Sam? Some of us are doing homework.} Ben grumbled.

Eeep! What? I leaked out the thought? Omo. Where do I dig a hole and disappear forever?

Harvey stopped typing for a moment. He had a wry smile on his face, but he was too polite to comment on my slip. Instead, he gallantly shifted the topic away, {I'm sorting the questions in the system, but they are all about Night Leaf's merger and Night Leaf's future plans.}

{Let's KIV those for Luna Bell's investiture.} Ki advised, {We should graciously take a step back now for Silver Mountain to finish their session.}

Alpha James leaned over to say something to Ki. Ki's PR smile remained firmly plastered on but he informed us over the mindlink, {Luna Bell, your dad...}

{I don't want to hear it.} Bell cut him off.

{At least let me relay the message.} Ki replied calmly.

{Relay it to someone who cares.} Bell said.

{I will simply repeat Alpha Lorent's instructions here.} Ki decided with the patience of a saint.

Bell cut off his link to us and turned his face away from Ki's table because he was the kind of stubborn mule only good for cultivating saint-like patience with.

Ki accidentally sighed into the mindlink and then he reported, {Alpha Lorent would like Luna Bell or someone to update him. He is beginning to feel there were a lot of changes made to the merger plans which he was not informed of. Might I also add that the Snow Moon Pack had not been on terribly good terms with the Lorent Pack in the past. I've told him we had a good explanation for this new development.}

{You guys couldn't at least wait before signing another alliance. I'll be alpha in a month - then you can do as you please.} Bell growled into the mindlink. The sound of it made my wolf excited, but I was careful to keep it to myself this time.

{Oh, Luna. I did not realize you were on the mindlink. A thousand apologies that you had to hear it.} Ki was smiling so hard, it shone through the mindlink.

Bell growled back, {Night Leaf's shitty attitude really grows on you.}

Excuse me? I was all ready to defend my betas when Ben chuckled and stopped doing his homework, {That's why I always believed you were made to be our luna.}

{Can we really do as we please when you're alpha?} Ki asked in all innocence.

{Let's get that in writing.} Harvey chipped in.

Eh? {Don't bully my luna!} Of course I had to say something. These three were too much! Even Harvey! To think I had meant to defend them.

My betas laughed into the mindlink.

{As if your luna could be bullied, Sam.} Ben smirked at me.

{Have you finished your homework, Ben?} Harvey asked.

{Yeah, just the references to go.} Ben shrugged.

{Finish it.} Harvey said, {If Principal Charlie ever brings up the topic of your homework to me again, we are selling the lambo.}

Ben went back to typing into his laptop without another word. Hahaha, its not everyday you see Ben being bossed.

I almost forgot we were still at the press conference. I looked around. According to the slides behind us, we were still in the middle of it, but I guess this was us "graciously taking a step back"... just that we were messing around over the mindlink in the background.

The next question went to the Lorents regarding their two rather large and promising joint ventures with Silver Mountain. Even though Alpha George had said our young alphas would field the questions, it was Alpha James who answered.

{He doesn't even know the details yet.} Mate smirked, {But he'd rather take it himself than risk me messing it up.}

Right, Alpha James was unhappy about being kept in the dark last night. I wondered if he would get mad at me for the Snow Moon Surprise Alliance.

{Should I explain the Snow Moon thing to Alpha James?} I worried.

{Leave the old man to Ki.} Bell touched my hair and tucked an errant lock behind my ear, then his tone shifted so I knew he was speaking to the betas, {Delay the Snow Moon Alliance to take effect after my investiture. The only times my old man would work with others is if the Lorent name is on top of the list. None of the strong packs would accept this bulls***... but he can't understand that. The Lorents aren't at the top of the food chain anymore.}

{Our Alpha Princess did successfully talk Alpha Lorent into signing the merger documents and contributing to the Princess Town.} Harvey reminded everyone.

I shrugged, {Not really, I don't even know what convinced him.}

{You saving his son's useless hide probably had something to do with it.} Ki suggested sweetly.

Bell growled and I instinctively reached over and stroked his lower back so that his wolf would calm down, {They're just funning with you.}

{There! I finished.} Ben announced, {It's my science paper, world affairs paper, AND my entry into the interhigh research competition all combined in one.}

{The interhigh research com is for high school students only.} Harvey informed him.

{Which is why Dean will be submitting it on my behalf.} Ben was seriously pleased with himself.

{What are you up to, Ben?} I asked.

{I thought you'd never ask!} Ben was crowing into the mindlink now, {The first prize gets to tour Reid Inc.}

{The investment firm or something?} I asked. I used to wonder why Henry and Bell had so much to discuss about red ink, but after reading so many reports, I've seen the name mentioned enough to know better. Reid Inc had been consistently and very generously donating to the remnant wolves of the Cloud Forest pack. They're also also the largest business donor towards the Princess Town.

{Bingo. They've got the most advanced cyber security system that I've yet to crack.} Ben divulged.

{Reid Inc is Stephan's family business.} Ki warned.

{Duh. Stephan Reid, Reid Inc. It was pretty obvious. Don't worry, dog.} Ben was confident, {I'll be in and out before they know it. I won't break anything.}

{Except the law.} I pointed out. Ben chuckled very pleased that I had noticed.

{Don't end up in jail.} Harvey warned.

{Don't worry, I'm underage.} Ben sounded so proud of it too.

{You're so going to get Dean in trouble.} I realized.

Because that's what always happened. This wasn't the first time the guys in my pack got up to no good. It never ended well before, and they always shared the consequences.

But it felt like it's been a while, and just hanging out with my wolves, with mate by my side. I had to admit, it felt pretty good.

Our chit chat was interrupted when one of the alphas across from us said, "I know I'm not the press, but I also have a burning question to ask. This is for Night Leaf: We know that Black Forest would be a natural ally to Silver Mountain, but I'm sure I don't just speak for myself when I say we are all curious as to why Silver Mountain would choose to ally with you? I mean, apart from your obvious intimate relations."

I took a hasty glance up to Bell, the feelings seeping out from his side of the mating bond had suddenly turned alarming dark. I rubbed his back. There, there, no need to kill anyone...{He's so cute when he's mad.❤️ }

"Beta Ben Kane, Night Leaf." I turned in surprise when I heard Ben's voice identify himself to take the question, "In the past decade, Gate City has grown into a highly developed free-market economy and ranked by the Lycan Economic Summit as the most open in the continent. Gate City is also the second-highest-per-capita GDP in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). We have also benefited from the inward flow of FDI from global investors and institutions due to our highly attractive investment climate and a stable political environment in recent years. Gate City also scores a triple-A credit rating in all independent assessments. It's not something we boast about, and perhaps you did not notice it printed beyond your daily page six news update, but you can Google for the economic news and find all the reasons why it makes business sense to ally with us."

The alpha growled, "What are you implying, beta?"

Ben shrugged, "It's not that complicated. I'm sure your beta will be able to explain it to you."

The alpha slammed the table and stood up.

Yep, I knew it. Ben's attitude was going to do him in one day.

"What insolence!" The alpha fumed, "I demand this beta be disciplined."

"Honourable Alpha Farleigh, I'm sure the Alpha Princess will take care of this offline." Alpha George tried to intervene before the situation escalated.

"Of course, IF I thought the Alpha Princess was actually capable of controlling her wolves." The alpha spat back.

Another one joined in, "EVIDENTLY, she is unable to teach her betas respect. She is only a young girl after all."

Okay, what happened to let the young alphas speak at this youth initiative? Who let these old guys flap that mouths?

Ben growled.

"Leave it Ben." Harvey answered in his usual calm, "One does not pay attention to dogs when they bark."

The first alpha slammed the table. The second one turned a livid shade of red, "I heard that! Your mic was still on!"

"I know." Harvey replied completely unfazed.

There was a roar and all hell broke loose. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that my betas were experts at riling up alphas with all the practice they got at home.

"Since your Alpha Princess can't teach you a lesson, allow me to do it for her!" And the alpha bombed dominance.

Previously, whenever I was the one who bombed. I've always felt I was like a nuclear power or a cloud of awesomeness. But I had to admit, on that particular alpha, it looked like he farted something unpleasant.

But once he went off, the nearest alpha to him farted too, and one by one, the alphas cut their cheese of dominance, in a flare of alpha wolf power because no one liked to look like a pushover.

The situation had officially escalated. The red ants swarmed into the hall, but only to evacuate the other lesser wolves. No one was going to hang around.

Savy had said my alpha bombs were very inconsiderate because it made the wolves around (her) feel like she was like being dunked under water, without the wet, and the pressure would push her wolf down in submission. It sounded really unpleasant.

{Keep my princess safe. Princess, stay behind me.} Bell ordered before it let it rip. Very unfair! And how dare he order me? Did he think I was just a young girl too?

But I liked his assertiveness too ~ ❤️

GAH! Somebody make this crush thing stop!