Chapter 22

MAEVE

"If you're finished stroking your massive ego, I'd like to get the meeting underway." I retorted, rolling my eyes dramatically.

He gave me a playful wink and placed a delicate kiss on my forehead.

"Very well then Little Alpha. Do you know how to mindlink the Beta of this pack?" Maddox asked.

I wasn't actually sure if I could mindlink anyone within the pack. You're only able to mindlink once you have your Wolf, and due to obvious circumstances, I'd been a little pre occupied with the various unfortunate events that had happened between then and now.

My mother had always told me that mindlinking came pretty naturally once your Wolf was present. So I was willing to give it a try.

"Tell him I've requested a meeting with the council." Maddox interrupted my trail of thought.

"Why you?" I questioned. "Why can't I just tell him I want the meeting?"

"Because only Alpha's can request meetings with the council, currently you're not an Alpha, Little Fox. So unless you want to unveil your intentions of the meeting prior to it taking place, I suggest you tell him it's me that wants to meet with them." He suggested.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, focusing all of my energy into reaching out to Beta Alex. I was astounded by what happened next.

Visible small blue tendrils began to appear in my mind, each of them leading to different members of the pack. It reminded me of an extremely complex electrical system, all of the wires holding their own current and frequency.

My brows furrowed as I concentrated on finding the correct link I was looking for. Face after face, of different members of the Sabre pack passed through my mind. Until eventually, I saw Alex!

I tentatively reached out to the tendril connecting to him.

'Alex...' I mindlinked hesitantly.

'Maeve... is that you?' I heard him reply.

I silently praised myself for managing to get through to him. I did it! On my first try I actually did it!

'Maeve... are you there?' Alex asked when I didn't respond.

'Alex! I did it, I managed to mindlink for the first time!' I eagerly responded.

'Oh Maeve, congratulations. I'm so glad you're ok, We've all been so worried about you since your return. At first we though you were dead, but then I heard the news of you coming back with Alpha Bain. It brings me so much joy to know you're alive and well.' He gushed.

'Thank you Alex, it's so good to hear your voice.' I replied genuinely. Alex had been like an uncle to me growing up. Being my fathers Beta meant he spent a lot of time at the estate and around the family.

'Alex, the reason I was reaching out to you is because Maddox wants a meeting with the council.' I informed him.'

'Who is Maddox?' He queried back.

I keep forgetting that I'm the only one who refers to him by his first name.

'Alpha Bain, Alpha Bain would like a meeting with the council.' I corrected.

'Very well then Maeve, tell him I will round them all together as we speak.' Alex responded. After that I assume he cut off the link as I felt it go lose within my mind. The tug of communication had been broken.

I opened my eyes to be met with a quizzed expression from Maddox. I realised I'd been grinning like a Cheshire Cat from ear to ear, over my excitement of managing to mindlink.

"Should I be jealous of a man that manages to put such a smile on that beautiful face of yours?" He teased.

"Maddox don't be silly." I assured. "Alex is like family to me. Besides, I wasn't smiling because of him. I was smiling at the fact I am able to mindlink."

"Very well then." He gave me a curt nod as he spoke. "I assume the council meeting has been requested. In which case would you like that go through a plan of action prior to leaving?"

"To be honest Maddox, I'm more of a wing it kinda girl." I responded with a shrug.

He chuckled and shook his head in a mocking disbelief.

"You're something else Little Fox, you really are." He continued his laughter.

"So what happens now?" I questioned. "Do we go to the council chambers?"

"We wait until the Beta mindlink's you back, to inform us the council have arrived. Then we leave." Maddox informed me.

I nodded in acknowledgement and sat myself down on one of the stools positioned around the island. I know I didn't want to discuss the meeting at hand, but it didn't mean I wasn't nervous about it. What I was asking for was something that had never been done before.

I knew Freyja was right, it was time for change. Time for women shifters to be seen as equal to men. But that didn't make it any less daunting, to think I was going to have to convince a room full of men that their sex should share some of their beloved power with us.

I sat for a little longer mindlessly staring at the white marble counter top. Maddox had not said a word, I assumed he figured I'd be a bag of nerves and just need a little quite time. The calm before the storm.

I was cut off from my mindless daydream by the sound of a phone ringing. Shortly followed by Maddox's voice. I listened in to the one side of the conversation I was privy to.

"Luca, how are things."...

"Have any of them managed to get close"...

"Keep one alive for questioning, kill any others that may get too near our borders."...

"I have some things to deal with here, but I'll return with Maeve as soon as I can"...

"Make sure no one, and I mean no one. Gives any information to anyone about our whereabouts."...

"Keep me updated."

He hung up the phone and pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose.

"What's going on Maddox?" I enquired.

"Nothing Maeve, everything is fine and under control." He responded.

That annoyed me, it annoyed the hell out of me. Why was he trying to keep things from me? We were meant to be a team.

"I didn't ask how things were Maddox, I asked what is going on." I pressed curtly.

He let out a deep sigh and put his phone into his trouser pocket.

"The Shadow Pack, Alpha Carson's Pack. Have been sending scouts to the White Claw borders. We think they're looking for you Maeve, or at least trying to get information about you and you whereabouts." He admitted. "We have the situation under control. None of them have managed to get passed our border patrols."

"Oh. Thanks for letting me know." Was all I replied meekly.

I wished I hadn't asked. The thought of the Shadow pack stalking my movements terrified me. It turns out my nightmare was a forewarning as apposed to a meaningless nightmare. Alpha Carson was really trying to get to me, he hadn't given up like I foolishly hoped he would.

"Maddox, what do we do about Alpha Carson?" I finally asked.

"I'm going to kill him Maeve. You don't need to do anything. I know you want us to be equals and share our burdens. But please, leave this one to me." He implored.

I just gave a small smile and polite nod in response. As cowardly as it was, the thought of having to deal with anything relating to Alpha Carson scared the living daylights out of me.

After hearing about the way he treated those other women, knowing what he did to my parents. It was clear that Alpha Carson was a sick and twisted individual, I shuddered thinking of all the awful things he has done in the short time I had been acquainted with him.

Who knew what other horrors would unfold in the process of bringing down that disturbed man.

I remembered Maddox telling me what that evil man had threatened to do. To mark me, defile me, and force me to give him powerful heirs. Bile rose in my throat and a shudder ran down my spine.

I remembered how naive I had been. How I had kissed the Alpha who's very name now makes my skin crawl. How I had so stupidly fallen for his empty words and lies.

If it ever came to it, I would take my own life before allowing him to touch me again.

I looked back into Maddox's loving eyes. His light grey stare was enough to bring me to my knees. I'd never admit it to him as I wouldn't want to give him the smug satisfaction. But he really was a beautiful person, physically and mentally. His presence soothed my soul.

He was lost in his own thoughts. But gave me a reassuring smile and wink when he noticed me looking at him.

'Maeve, please let Alpha Bain know that the council are ready for him.' Alex's voice rang through my mind.

'I will Alex, thanks.' I answered.

I stood up from my stool and brushed out any creases that may have gathered in my black trousers. I took a deep breath and reminded myself why I was doing this. It's not just for me, it's for women shifters everywhere.

"They're ready for us." I informed Maddox. He took my hand in his as we began to walk out of the kitchen together.

This was it. The fight for change was here, and we were leading the way.