DEFINITELY OVERTHINKING

The mind of a Lorent was truly a marvelous puzzle which I doubt I'd ever understand.

Delta Oran raised his hand, "Pardon, but on second thoughts, I do think it would be better to swap the Holden boy out for Roan."

The moment Delta Oran spoke these words, he looked like he regretted it, but it was too late for third thoughts, the cog work had started and all the wolves in the room fell into silent deliberation. I imagined that this was the kind of action that had taken place when judges announced things like, "After much deliberation…"

The first one who spoke was Coach Em, "Yeah?"

He sounded almost hopeful, and then he shook his head quickly, "But I'm not going to second that. Someone else will have to."

"Would you be kind enough to share your reasons for this, Delta Oran?" Ki asked, his smiling mask on.

"Ah... My reasons?" Delta Oran took pause, "Yes, certainly."

But he didn't sound all that certain.

"I think the question that came to mind was what is the purpose of the nomination?" Delta Oran explained... With a question. I'm going to chalk this down to being Lorent too.

"What.... ah, how should I put this?" Delta Oran said, "What result do we hope to achieve at the end of the day?"

"From the time the nominees are announced, I doubt any of them would sit back passively and await the results."

This point seemed to trigger another round of deliberation. Coach Em frowned, "Is this about Delta Holden?"

"Indeed, the odds will fall on Howl's favor." Ki nodded, "But what exactly are you suggesting Delta Oran?"

Delta Oran smiled.

His smile was so much like Ki's, I smiled back quite by reflex.

Which was bad because no one else was smiling, so it resulted in everyone immediately noticing.

"What are you thinking, Princess?" Bell asked, his deep voice somewhat velvety and dulcet. I flared immediately.

Its not like I could tell Bell I was thinking Delta Oran had a nice smile… OMG. That sounded like I was crushing on Ki's uncle! I would just die if Bell thought that - metaphorically anyway. The one who would literally die would be Delta O... I mean Bell had been quite immediately Death God a couple of times now. I don't think he had a safety trigger when it came to this kind of thing.

Now I had to think of something at least passably intelligent to say!

"What do you mean?" I stalled.

"I was just curious as to what or WHOM to I owe the pleasure of my princess' smile to..." Bell smiled his beautiful smile now.

He was really too handsome. It was like watching a painting come to life so his beauty was also a little terrifying in its unnaturalness. Was this the Tyger side of him? There was no black fumes to tell. My eyes gravitated to the white sling where his cursed arm resided.

It was quite by instinct, almost by accident, but I saw his nails turn ink black. Like the sky turning from day to night.

My first reaction was to lie, "I was just thinking that the delta made a good point."

Everyone was like, "Oh."

But Bell was an Alpha wolf, so he knew I was lying, "Oh?"

Dope! I'm soooo…. stupid.

"Not that he actually made a point I could understand," I tried to salvage it, "but I guess it was a good point…"

I also turned out to be a really, really, bad liar. And now everyone just looked confused.

In my defense, I very rarely lied so it was an unpracticed skill. Honestly, I don't know why I even did it. Wouldn't it have been better if I had just said, "I was just noticing that Delta Oran's smile looks a lot like Ki's smile."

Then if no one laughed, I'd just make a joke like, "The Oran family should trademark that smile."

Wow, that was a lame joke. BUT it would be better than THIS.

THIS being the little lie I dug that was fast growing into a pit that I might as well bury myself in.

"Urm… like I mean I understand what he was trying to say." I said.

{Lie} Boo said. Shut up Boo.

Remind me never to do this lying thing again.

Bell smirked, I don't think he was going to let this go, "Oh really, Princess? Please enlighten us."

Bell was so mean.

Humph.

"Don't look down on me!" I flared at Bell.

"I'd never dream of it." Bell demurred. Grrr… I'd show him!

I didn't hold back, I cast, "Flame of insight."

I don't know how I knew that spell, it was, like most things I start, a spur of the moment kind of thing, but unlike lying, I was well practiced at winging new things like that.

I pointed at Coach Em first, "You."

Coach Em's thoughts were like unraveled yarn strewn about everywhere. I used my lucky sense of direction and picked the string of thought closest to me.

"You think this is a good opportunity for your son, but you're afraid your son rejects it because your son is always rejecting you. You don't understand what he's thinking at all, he doesn't treat you like his father, and you're quite sure he's going to just throw it back in your face and embarrass you in front of your superiors. You say you've given up on him and act like you don't care, but it hurts every time he treats you like a stranger."

Oh. Coach Em looked really shocked. Like I slapped him in the face. I was really shocked too. I had never thought of Coach Em as a father. I mean, he wasn't exactly the fatherly type.

I wanted to tell him that it's going to be okay. But I had no parental advice to give him. Like, since Roan was my age, it's probably too late to start playing ball with his son now, huh?

I pointed at Delta Oran next. He winced like I had shot him - even though I hadn't even said anything.

"You." Maybe I should be careful what I blurted out, "You've never liked Delta Holden but he's a necessary evil. You're okay with his son, but if Howard gets nominated, you're sure Delta Holden will go all out to push for his son's election. Since the other nominees are the late Beta Lorent's useless spoilt son, and the gamma girl from the next door barbarian pack, the win would be as good as Howards. When Howard is executive gamma, Delta Holden is sure to be even more insufferable as corresponding to his rise in power."

I paused here. Maybe I should stop. Delta Oran nodded a wry bow. But then I just had to add, "You also suspect that Dom would prefer it if it were the gamma girl who got selected."

"I had never seen Delta Em lift a finger on behalf of his son." Delta Oran tried to justify his choice, "The competition would be fairer if it were Roan."

"Not really." Dom was thinking about it now, "Surely Delta Williams would push for his grandson's win. He is the treasurer, it wouldn't be difficult to buy votes with budget leeway and favors…"

Everyone looked somewhat shocked at Dom's words.

"Be careful, Dom. Slander has serious consequences here." Ki smiled.

"Well, I mean, since the princess is throwing everything out there…" Dom shrugged, "I thought I might as well say it myself before she…"

I pointed at Dom.

"Oh no." Dom said. But he took a deep breath as if resigned to whatever fate would toss in his face.

"You would prefer Lola to be selected, but that's because she's beautiful and you think it'll be nice if you can also date her while you work with her." The moment I said those words, I covered my mouth and gasped.

"You can't, Dom." I told him, "Lola is my friend!"

Dom raised both hands in the air but he was smiling.

"I'm serious!" I flared, "If you make her cry…"

"You'll kill me?" Dom asked.

"No. I won't have to." I answered, because my gift of insight was still on, "There will be so many guys hunting you down, you'd have to go rogue."

"Don't worry, goddess. Lola is unlikely to win if Howl or Roan is in the running." Ki tried to reassure me.

Dom sighed, "I feel like the really beautiful ones are always just out of my grasp."

I felt that was for the better.

"Why not both?" Bell smirked then.

What?

"Both Howl and Roan?" Delta Oran asked. He looked down at his minutes, "So we will submit four nominees?"

I shook my head.

"No, princess?" Bell asked, and then he smiled his beautiful smile at me, "But as you can see, I'm shorthanded. I don't suppose you have some wisdom to share with your soul mate?"

Oh, so NOW we're soulmates? But ahahahaha. He called us soul mates ~ <3

I pointed at him, "Why would you need my advice? Aren't you confident in your own plan? Set up the nominee list, pit Delta Williams against Delta Holden, and then publicly take out the incriminating evidence of their underhanded activities in this elections so that Lola will win by their disqualification. Of course, you're going to do this in a way that would most humiliate your own cousin Anthony. Isn't that a good plan? Why are you asking me?"

"I just want to know if you can come up with something better, Princess." Bell smirked, completely ignoring the surprise drawn on the other men's faces now that they had heard what Bell was scheming all along behind that beautiful face.

They had been playing to his tune without even knowing it.

"I don't know about better," I shrugged in false modesty, "but I know my way is simpler."

"Let's hear your insight then." Bell settled back.

"For starters, let the beta be beta. The gamma be gamma." I said. It was really Pack Leadership 101. None of that convoluted executive positions.

"Not Anthony." Bell's mouth immediately flattened, "Charles is out too. He wants no part in politics."

"Doesn't Anthony have a sister? Does she have a beta wolf?" I asked.

"But she's a…" Dom started, and then stopped himself, "Well I suppose if you could be the Alpha Princess. Lavigne could be a Beta Princess?"

"Would Lola be the Gamma Princess then?" Delta Oran was quick to catch on.

"Wait, so Rebel's beta would be the most beautiful girl from the Lorent Pack, and his gamma would be the most beautiful girl from the Morning Light Pack?" Dom asked.

"Shouldn't you be more concerned about losing your own position, Young Gamma?" Coach Em asked pointedly.

"Oh." Said Dom. He looked at Bell.

But Bell was looking at me,"Is it really wise to surround me with beauties?"

Maybe it was the gift of insight or it could be purely Boo, but I didn't even hesitate. Leaning closer to him, I reached over the adjusted the lapel of his jacket, "Will there be a problem, hm?"

Bell had frozen at my touch, he swallowed and answered a quiet, "No."

Boo smiled at her win,"Then it's fine."

"Don't worry!" Dom volunteered immediately, "AS HIS GAMMA, I'll accompany him at all times! You can be sure he won't get a single moment alone with them."

Dom was a very different personality when beauties were involved.