CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Pack Politics
Lycan Headquarters
Raze wasn't surprised that his fellow pack members had backed up his story. It was obvious that none of them were happy about the new breed being brought in. And it had only made matters worse when Lucian had brought in the two women. It wasn't just the fact that they were females it was who they were: a death dealer and an agent for the Council, both mortal enemies to the lycans.
When they had been looking for Michael, Raze had known what the end result was to be, and he had no problem accepting Michael as a member of their pack. But, he had a hard time welcoming Selene and Alexandra into the pack. He didn't trust either of them, and he wanted them gone.
So he and the other lycans were waiting for Lucian to return. They were sure he was going to confront them about the lies they had told. Raze had no doubt in his mind, the woman would cry and use feminine wiles to get Lucian on her side. If it came down to it, he and the others would refute her story. This would tell them where Lucian stood.
Michael and Selene stood alone on the other side of the room; waiting for Lucian as well.
"You know, this could get ugly", Michael said to Selene, speaking barely above a whisper. He had been watching the lycans, and it seemed they were anticipating a fight.
Selene had been keeping an eye on the shapeshifters as well. But she was waiting to see if they would become a direct threat to hers and Michaels' safety.
"The longer Lucian is with Alex, the bigger the chance of the lycans not getting what they want", she said acknowledging his comment.
"Do you think Lucian will be angry with Raze for lying?" he asked her.
"I don't think it will come down to that", she answered.
"What do you mean?" Michael asked turning to look at her. She was watching the lycans closely. She didn't appear nervous, just cautious.
"Lucian has successfully lead the lycans for over 600 hundred years. You can't be as strong a leader as he is, without realizing you have to give on some things. He is intelligent and a good leader, but this is a test of sorts for him", she began explaining. "Yes, the pack is happy he's alive and they're grateful he's back. But, they don't want us here. They see Alexandra, you and I as a threat to their respective places in the pack. They are waiting to see what Lucian will do about the fight and how he's going to handle any punishment that is to be handed down", she said finishing her little speech without ever taking her eyes off the lycans.
"Alex is to be punished for this?" Michael asked incredulously.
"Probably", Selene answered honestly.
"And will Raze?" he wondered out loud.
"Probably not", she replied.
"Why the hell not", Michael shot back at her.
Selene sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be easy for Michael. His sense of human justice was offended. He had never lived a life where you had to literally fight for survival. She knew what Lucian would have to do. Even if he believed Alex was innocent, he couldn't justify putting his place amongst the lycans in jeopardy. If he called Raze and the other lycans liars, he would be cutting his own throat. And right now, none of them could risk that big a rift in the pack. They would have to stand together if it came down to a fight with the vampires. And Selene knew that was what was going to happen.
"Michael, like it or not, Lucian will have to punish Alexandra. I'm sure the lycans have a very strict set of codes that must be obeyed at any cost. The vampires do, and the lycans were members of the vampire's household at one point in time. If they didn't have these codes, then anarchy would rule; and, they would have been exterminated by the vampires long ago", she told him patiently.
Disgusted, Michael ran his hand through his hair impatiently. "How is Alex supposed to know these rules? I don't. And she didn't do anything but talk to Raze. He struck her first, she only retaliated in self-defense", he railed.
"I'm not disagreeing with you Michael", Selene assured him. "But, I have a feeling our Alexandra will understand the pack politics at work here, even if you don't. If she says the lycans are lying, how can she prove it? We can testify on her behalf, but like I said earlier, it is our word against theirs. They win by sheer numbers alone. All her story would do is divide Lucian's loyalties. And then, the lycans will believe they have justification for not fighting with us with the vampires attack.
"That's not fair", Michael said slumping down in a chair, defeated.
"No, it's not", Selene agreed.
She had been keeping an eye on the lycans, and they suddenly perked up. They closed ranks behind Raze ready to support him however he may need it.
Alex came storming into the chamber, Lucian close behind her. And by the looks on their faces, things didn't go well.
Selene watched the lycans tense up, ready to take on the outsider. But they needn't have bothered. It wasn't necessary, just as she had thought.
Alex looked Raze directly in the eye and said, "So, where does this punishment thing take place?"
Raze couldn't believe what he was hearing. The woman hadn't denied his claims. She was actually willing to take whatever punishment was called for. Lucian must not have told her what the penalty would be. Relishing the look of dread upon her face, he decided he would gladly fill her in.
"You will receive ten lashes, in front of the entire pack", he said, waiting for her to cry out in despair. .
Instead of Alex it was Michael that gasped loudly. "You're kidding, right? Lucian, tell me he's joking?" Michael asked the man with whom he had shared his past memories. He knew the vampires had beaten Lucian, before they killed Sonja. Michael couldn't imagine him letting someone else be subjected to that kind of torture.
"Don't worry my newest brother", Raze informed him with a smile. "She will be whipped in her animal form. The pain will not be as bad and she will heal within 24 hours."
"Lucian", Michael said, asking for confirmation.
"It is out of my hands, Michael", the lycan leader said. "Alexandra has confirmed Raze's story and has willingly agreed to the punishment; hoping to gain peace among the pack"; he said looking pointedly at Raze.
Selene had been watching Alexandra, and noticed the woman didn't even flinch when her punishment had been announced. She had been aware all along. Selene was impressed with the American's poise and strength. This was not a woman to be underestimated.
Raze on the other hand was disappointed by Alexandra's lack of response. Her face was battered from his earlier attack, but no tears were apparent. And, it didn't look as if she had pleaded with Lucian for a lesser sentence. Fine, she wanted to play tough, he would exact revenge for the humiliation he had been made to suffer at her expense.
"Follow me", he called to Alex, and then he turned on his heel and stalked out of the chamber.
Before anyone could stop her, Alex was close on his heels. Lucian hurried to catch up with them with Michael and Selene at his side. The remaining lycans filtered out of the room, knowing there was no reason to hurry. Raze would wait till they were all there. Then, he would drag out the sentence, enjoying the American woman's pain and suffering.
Walking down the hallway, Michael tried talking some sense into Lucian. "She didn't do anything to provoke Raze's attack. For your information, he attacked her and she acted in self defense", he told Lucian.
"I am aware of what took place, Michael", Lucian ground out, trying to keep on eye on Alexandra.
"Then why are you allowing this mockery take place?" he asked in surprise. He had been sure that Lucian wasn't aware of Alex's innocence in matter.
"Have you not explained pack politics to him", Lucian asked Selene, both surprised and angry at Michael's persistence.
"I did", Selene informed Lucian. "But an American sense of justice is strongly instilled in him. He thinks this is unfair, and therefore shouldn't be allowed."
"He's right", Lucian muttered. "This is unjust even among the lycans. But Raze and the others have left me no room for allowing Alexandra leniency. And Alexandra herself refuses to refute Raze's version of what happened", he explained to them.
"As leader, you should just tell the lycans that Alex is innocent and that no punishment is necessary", Michael threw at Lucian.
"If it were that simple Michael, believe I would do it. But, it isn't", Lucian stated. "The vampires are at our door, ready to eradicate the lycans. And as soon as they learn of us crossbreeds, they will attempt the same with us. Not to mention, we have the Council in our backyard, so to speak. That is the international group Alexandra works for. She was leading a team looking for you Michael, when she found me and I bit her. The Council doesn't know why we wanted you, but they came here to find out. They are not a group to be trifled with either. They kill both lycans and vampires without blinking an eye. Now, without the support of the lycans, I fear none of us will survive our current situation. So, if you have any logical suggestions as to how to end this argument, without alienating the lycans, let me know. Because if you do, I am more than ready to listen", Lucian finished as they entered what could only be called an arena of sorts.