FLUFFY'S THREE TESTS

At the first cadence, I made a joke about going in order of how curious everyone was about you. Then I just went in a freewheeling kind of random lucky direction order. It wasn't hard. I pretty much knew everyone back then. I didn't feel like I could get away with something like that now.

For one thing, the people in the room were different now. For another, I was different now too. (Okay, so it's only been a month, but I had a growth spurt, alright? Not a physical one (unfortunately). I really envy the guys for that - I mean, Ben was obviously taller than I was now. Goddess was very unfair. But how should the older and wiser me do this?

The default introductions would go by hierarchy but I didn't want to go that way. "That way" would put me on the spot right from the start - should I introduce Dad or Alpha James first? And if we introduced everyone by packs, would the Lorent Pack or Night Leaf get to go first? (I'm sure Wolfgang would be pleased to lecture me on this topic, but let's just not open that can of worms!)

I didn't know everyone's names this time either. But I felt like letting them introduce themselves individually would easily waste the first hour (because adults can be unbelievably long-winded when they felt the need to impress their listeners with their self-worth - that's like half a meeting because I fully intended to end in two hours.

I could ask the Alpha at each table to introduce their wolves, but who would introduce the "Army Table"? Dad (the Night Leaf Alpha), Me (the Alpha of the Underground), Titanium (the Captain of the Night Leaf & Morning Light warriors), or Stephan (the Captain of the Underground)?

Why did everything have to be so complex?

To avoid committing faux pas and offending anyone even a little (or a lot), most formal large group introductions would be strictly by hierarchy and carefully announced in the most boring and official way.

Which would do the opposite of breaking the ice. And I was sure Ben would find it a waste of time and a "pain in the arse" (and he would be right too). I could see why my betas decided to skip the whole damn thing. I told you, my betas were perfect.

"Let's just go clockwise around the room." Once again, I was determined to break down a bit of the formality - not too much to threaten the old wolves who needed to be shown respect, just a little bit, "Each table may volunteer a representative to quickly make the introductions. We'll start at my table so we can end with the new Lorent leadership and continue with item 2 from there."

Some of the wolves were nodding. Yeah, that sounded safe. No hierarchy plays. No political favors. It also spread out the onus and stress of making correct introductions equally across the tables and avoided one table offending another table. They chose their own representatives, they had only themselves or their own representative to blame. (Poor representative.)

I felt quite pleased with myself. Good job, me!

Now all I needed was to find someone to intro my table. WHY MUST IT BE SO COMPLICATED? But it's okay, I've got this. I just needed to think a bit.

It couldn't be me, or else by default, all the other Alphas would have to do the introductions too. And they might not like that. Alphas were more accustomed to being introduced because they were so dang important. In fact, some Alphas were so big, their introductions began with, "I'm sure Alpha X needs no introduction..." but he would be introduced anyway.

Even if my dad and Alpha James didn't mind giving it a go, the army table didn't have an official alpha - wouldn't this push their table down to the bottom as the table without an alpha?

Who should I get? Not Ben. He'd probably start off offending everyone with his attitude.

I'm sure Wolfgang would make very elegant and etiquettely correct introductions, but he was the new face who needed introducing too. I guess the honor would go to my good beta. Yeah. Except that Harvey would be calm and understated. I wanted fun and friendly to start this meeting on the right note though... Was I overthinking this? Yes. It seemed the older and wiser me was prone to overthinking.

Fluffy raised his hand, "May I, Princess?"

I hesitated. I had just put real thought into setting everything up. I had put so much thought, I was actually overthinking it - just a little. Was I really going to hand over my delicately overthought out introduction session to Fluffy?

Wth.

"Knock yourself out."

Which in hindsight, was kinda reckless on my part. I overthought, and then I didn't think at all. I don't know why I did that.

{Because it's fun.} Boo said. Which should've been a clear and large red flag. Boo and Fluffy's wolf were like two peas in a pod. Like seriously. And it wasn't just because they were both Alpha Wolves. I was beginning it think it was true. My wolf enjoyed tormenting those she loved - just a little.

Fluffy's eyes bent into crescents when his real smile replaced his usual smiling mask. He stood up and made a polite bow. And just as I thought he was going to actually make an effort to introduce everyone at my table properly, his wolf surfaced - with obvious alpha dominance.

And everybody froze. It was like they forgot to breathe for a full second or two.

I looked up at Fluffy and then around the room. WTH Fluffy! Why did you have to go and do that for? I wanted to break the ice, not upset everyone! I mean, if I wanted a room full of upset wolves, I could've gotten Ben to introduce us!

But then I stopped for a moment, why were they upset? Fluffy hadn't even said a word, but no one was smiling anymore (except for Ki... but his was the gentle one that he liked to use to mask his unease.)

{Cut it out dog.} Ben growled over the mindlink.

{Trust me, Scary Beta. I have a plan.} Fluffy replied.

I was afraid of that.

"Good afternoon, my name is Alaric." Fluffy spoke now, "I serve in Princess' Special Team and as her scribe-in-training. It will be my honor to introduce the wolves seated at my Alpha Princess' table."

Okay... so far, Fluffy was being completely proper, but I could still feel that Fluffy was being frowned at with much apprehension and even hostility.

"Starting from my extreme right is Morning Light's Young Beta, Harvey. He runs the FAO administration and legal departments." Fluffy continued as if not noticing the other wolves' reaction toward his presence. Harvey nodded a bow from where he sat.

"Next to him Night Leaf's Young Beta, Ben. He runs the FAO operations and IT departments and is the future Head Beta of Moon Bell." Ben smirked and nodded a cocky bow from next to me.

This didn't seem to go down too well with some of the Lorent wolves. Ironically enough, it wasn't Ben's arrogance, but Fluffy. Short of growling, they crossed their arms and leaned back. Bell crossed his arms and leaned forwards with a smirk - just to remind me that no matter how cocky Ben got, there would never be a more arrogant wolf than my luna.

{Mate! ~ ❤️}

No, Boo! That wasn't a compliment!

"Our FAO has a third beta, the Glorious Lorent's charming Beta Ki." Fluffy continued, "But he'll have to wait his turn to be introduced with the rest of his table."

Ki raised his hand and nodded an elegant bow in acknowledgment.

Some of the Lorent wolves nodded politely back, and the atmosphere eased, just a little. By now, I was starting to feel a little protective of Fluffy. It was becoming obvious to me that there were wolves in the room who just didn't like him. I know, haters gonna hate, but if they hurt any of my wolves... grrr...

My hair reached up, Fluffy leaned away a bit to give my hair space to flare, his smile never fading, "Our Alpha Princess, and the future young alpha of Night Leaf."

He said gesturing towards me (and my hair).

The tension in the room increased, but that was because I had accidentally leaked alpha dominance too. I mean, what was wrong with those Lorent wolves? Yes. By now, I've totally identified the hostile eyes. Grrr.... But identifying them didn't simplify anything for me. It would be a lot easier if the wolves who disapproved of Fluffy were wolves I didn't like, but the problem was, I did like and admire some of them! Like Lady Amber. I don't think Lady Amber approved of Fluffy AT ALL. She made me feel like I was a pet cat that just brought home a dead bird for her - She definitely looked like Fluffy as if he were something distasteful like that.

But because if was Lady Amber, I ended up making excuses for it. Fluffy was complicated - but if only Lady Amber had seen Fluffy pour tea. Surely she would see what a well-mannered wolf Fluffy was really! Why did I want Lady Amber's approval so much?

I mean I didn't care for the way Gamma Micheal and that old Lorent Treasurer... what's his name? (Anthony's Mum's Grandpa. The one conducting the secret meeting and planning to "sacrifice" me to my monster of a Luna.) Anyway, they didn't like Fluffy either, but I was okay about just booting them out anyway.

Actually, none of the Lorents looked like they really approved of Fluffy. Even Luna Edith looked wary.

It troubled me more than I'd like to admit.

"Our Alpha Princess is also the alpha of the Night Leaf FAO, which has been spearheading the consolidation of resources and key leaders for our future Moon Bell Pack as our merger progresses. Thus far, she has established the Underground Army, built the Princess Town, and secured key alliances around the continent."

Beta Gerald tutted and shook his head, thoroughly impressed. It was funny because I felt sure he must have read countless reports regarding all this by now, but he acted like he was impressed all over again. This was probably just the way Fluffy said it though. In general, the wolves in the room could be divided into three groups - those who were filled with pride, those who were impressed, and those who were skeptical.

I've known for a while now, that Fluffy enjoyed messing with other's emotions, but he was really conducting a symphony here. And this was when I realized what Fluffy was doing - he was testing the wolves here, dividing the sheep from the goats. As expected, the tests were all overly complicated, but I had to say he really was a genius.

See, the first test was to expose those who would accept my choice of representative despite their misgivings, and those who disapproved of him (or rather, disapproved of my choice even though I was the Alpha.) He had shown his slave bands, fight dog tats, and alpha dominance on purpose. By doing so he played on some pretty deep value sets. Fluffy had always just been Fluffy to me, so I didn't realize why the other wolves were so hostile toward his presence. But now I realized they were either thinking: How could a lowly slave stand and speak on behalf of the Alpha Princess? How could a dirty fight dog be allowed to play a key leadership role? And how could another young alpha of unknown origins be allowed free reign here? The third one was a very real threat because Jude's betrayal was still very fresh in everyone's mind. A pack can only have one alpha.

The second test was to expose those who had run with me (those who were filled with pride at our accomplishments), those who were open to start running or keep running with me (those who were impressed), and those who were not convinced that I should be leading their run (those who were skeptical.)

I felt quite sure there was going to be a third test, because in Lycan tales, tests always came in threes. It was like baseball. Three strikes and you're out.

"Our Alpha Princess will be presiding over the cadence, as always." Fluffy promised.

And then Fluffy lifted an arm to indicate to Wolfgang. As he did so, his bangles jangled and his slave bands showed from under them, "The gentleman next to me is not an unknown figure. Delta Hotstuff here is also known as Sir Wolfgang, one of the four Pillars of the Snow Moon Kingdom and the last graduated disciple of the Great Teacher. Sir Wolfgang also lectures at Black Forest University, and is one of Alpha Gunter's closest aides and advisers. He is on loan to us for the next four years and will be running in the Alpha Princess' Special Team and will serve as her adviser and tutor."

Wolfgang flipped his hair and nodded a bow, "A pleasure."

If the wolves weren't impressed by my alleged accomplishments earlier, they were certainly impressed by Wolfgang's presence/resume.

Fluffy took another polite bow, "That concludes the introduction for my table."

And then Fluffy sat down, crossing his leg so that his ankle was on his knee, and his leg overlapped Wolfgang's lap. Wolfgang turned his head sharply towards the blond smiling wolf at the trespass. Fluffy's smile widened and he draped his arm around the other blond man's shoulders. Leaning closer into Wolfgang's face, he lowered his voice to ask, "Have I misspoken, Hotstuff?"