Chapter 71
Lucas POV
The meeting hall of the Royal Hunter Pack buzzed with tension as representatives from various packs filed in. The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor.
I stood near the entrance of the meeting hall, my eyes scanning the faces of some of the young women in Kai’s pack bringing refreshments into the hall. She has stopped reading my messages or rather, it stopped getting delivered for over a week now.
Despite all my efforts to reach out to her with other numbers, it still wasn’t connecting making me realize that she might have changed her number. Today we were meeting in Kai’s pack… all the werewolf packs in the region to tackle the growing vampire and rogue issue.
A few days ago, Moon Star pack was attacked, but for reinforcements from Kai’s pack, No one would have survived. But all of that wasn’t my problem… I was looking for a way to meet with Lily without seeming obvious.
Since the meeting was about to start, I had no other choice but to leave the entrance of the hall and go inside the hall. I took my position with the other Alphas, my eyes meeting briefly with Alpha Kai who was practically glaring at me. Since our feud the last time I was here, this was the first time we’re seeing each other.
He turned his gaze away from me, clearing his throat the get the attention of the other Alpha’s present before he strode to the front of the hall.
“Thank you all for coming in today,” he began. “I know the meeting was impromptu and I’m sure most of us had lots of pressing issues to deal with but the recent surge of rogue activities and vampire invasion in our region demands immediate attention and a unified response p>
I barely registered a word of what he was saying, my thoughts had strayed to Lily again. There were lots of warriors stationed outside the meeting hall knowing who Kai was, he always never allowed anyone except on special request to explore his pack.
All the meetings take place at designated areas, always at the outskirts of the pack and he never allows anyone to go beyond there. How do I reach out to Lily?
“The attack on Moon Star Pack had over a hundred injured and nearly twice that amount dead. Alpha Joe couldn’t make it, since he has to tend to his people and we’ve increased his security detail. But we need a permanent situation. There’s not much I can do. I have limited warriors and I would want to protect my pack. So, we need to come up with a solution that favours the entire region p>
My mind drifted again to the night I had met her in her room. At least she hadn’t looked at me with hate. She had been flustered but didn’t ask me to leave. So, there was still hope p>
“We’ll need to establish joint patrols,” Kai continued, pointing to a map projected on the wall. Mixed teams of Warriors, skilled in different fighting skills covering these highlighted areas p>
Alpha Rowan of Grey Star Pack suddenly raised his hand. “Have we considered other options like enlisting the help of a vampire catcher? Then the Joint patrols would be only to tackle the rogue wolves. I’ve thought about it and I see trying to defeat those blood-sucking monsters as a total waste of time p>
“Don’t tell me you want us to put our fate in the hands of Witches, Rowan?” Kai scoffed. “The last time that happened, it nearly cost us our life and sanity. Besides Werewolves, are the best vampire hunters p>
“But we have an increasing number of rogue wolves on the prowl too. Just coming here for this meeting, my warriors fought off a good number. We’ll be too busy fighting Rogues p>
I seized the opportunity to speak. “I agree with Alpha Rowan. Our security cams picked up about 20 small-sized rogue clusters only last week and they seem to be increasing by the day. We were able to trace it and discover that the security at the Northern forest had been breached, allowing rogues from other regions to come in here. There are too many. Let the witches take care of the Vampires and p>
The meeting hall opened and two women walked in, pushing a food cart that held several platters. I tensed, trailing off when Lily’s scent filtered into my nostrils. There she was, walking in with a food cart. She wore a fitted black blazer over a deep purple blouse. Her dark hair swept into an elegant updo that exposed the graceful line of her neck.
She looked more beautiful than I had ever seen her. She looked up at that moment and our eyes met briefly before she quickly looked away, pushing the food cart to the small catering area at one corner of the hall.
“Lucas?” Kai’s voice pierced into my mind snapping me out of my reverie. He had s smirk on his lips as our eyes met again. “You were saying something p>
I nodded, turning my gaze from Lily. “About using witches to tackle the vampire situation and werewolves to tackle the rogues p>
Throughout the two-hour meeting, I tried to concentrate on what Kai was saying but I couldn’t. I kept sneaking gazes at Lily. Even when she went around to share refreshments, she had purposely skipped my table, allowing the other woman to serve me. By the time we were done with the meeting, my heart was aching with longing.
I moved immediately to where she stood at the refreshment table but before I could reach her, she turned and walked briskly in the direction of the ladies’ room, practically running away. She was avoiding me.
“She’s avoiding you rather obviously isn’t she?” a woman – the one that had entered the hall with Lily a few minutes ago remarked with a quiet smile. “Must have been some falling out p>
I grabbed a water bottle, crushing it slightly in my grip. “It’s complicated p>
“Isn’t it always with ex-mates?” the woman shook her head, giving me a sly smile. “Though I must say, you’re not as bad-looking as I thought you’d be. You’re not arrogant and… well, you seem like a nice person p>
That was when I turned and gazed at the woman stalking me. She was dressed in simple but elegant clothes she wasn’t an Omega.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name and how do you know about me p>
“I’m Celeste,” she said quietly. “Alpha Kai’s sister p>
“Figures!” I muttered with a scoff. “And I know I’ve been painted as a villain in the story right p>
“I couldn’t care less,” Celeste said. “Just stay away from her. She doesn’t want to talk to you. Be courteous and stay away p>
A while later, I made one final attempt. I refused to leave with the other Alphas, instead, I positioned myself near the exit of the meeting hall, knowing she would have to pass by eventually.
When she approached, she was alone, thankfully. So I stepped forward.
“Lily, could I talk to you for a minute p>
Her steps faltered but she didn’t stop, as her eyes darted back to the hall and then back at me. “I’m sorry, Lucas but I can’t. I’m busy p>
I grabbed her arm. “Please… just 60 seconds. That’s how long I need. I need to talk to you p>
That uneasy look again before she took a step back, shaking off my arms from her body.
“I’m sorry but I can’t. I have to go… now,” she murmured, taking one final glance into the hall before she skipped off.
I followed the movement of her eyes back into the meeting hall and there… standing with a cold expression… cold enough to freeze anyone was Kai.