"This has gone on long enough! She will be our demise if we allow this to continue!" Ophelia announced, standing on the coffee table in the middle of the living room. The others in the pack sat around her. The feelings in the circle were mixed. Some were uncomfortable that Ophelia was filibustering and Matteo was nowhere to be seen. Xander was sitting too comfortably in Matteo's usual armchair.
"I demand satisfaction! I demand blood!" Ophelia crowed. "Who's with me?"
Xander smirked, his arms crossed as he lounged in the armchair, his feet on the coffee table in front of him. He seemed perfectly content to let Ophelia run off at the mouth.
"Whose blood are you demanding, Ophelia?" Matteo's calm voice cut through the chaotic murmurings of the pack.
Xander's smirk flickered. He took his feet off the table and sat up.
"What's going on, Ophelia? Did I miss the memo for a pack meeting, because I don't remember calling one?"
Ophelia quieted, looking slightly sheepish at being caught standing on the coffee table. She stepped off without a word, taking her seat on the arm of Xander's chair. Matteo walked into the group, looking each one full in the face. Gabriella and Gisela looked away.
"Is there a problem here?"
"I think the problem here is Ophelia. She's been doing nothing but perpetuating rumors against Sylvie!" Bianca told Matteo as she glared at Ophelia.
"Quiet, traitor!" Ophelia snapped from the safety of Xander's side. "You're not much better than Sylvie, fraternizing with that scum, Willem, from Gabriel's."
Bianca fell silent but her eyes smoldered, her pretty face no longer sweet.
"If we should demand any blood as punishment, it should be Ophelia's for slander!" Ilan spoke up, looking imploring at Matteo. "We all know how jealous she is of Sylvie, why encourage her juvenile behavior?"
But Matteo shook his head. "We are a family. There will be no spilling of blood."
"If we are what you say, a family, then we should do what is in the best interest of the family. And that means protecting the clan from humans," Xander growled, standing up.
"I agree," Matteo said diplomatically, facing the other male. "What do you propose we do?"
"Sylvie needs to be stopped. How many more chances are we willing to take before it's too late?"
"So you're proposing we kill her?"
"If that's what it comes down to, then yes," Xander said, his eyes cold. "She doesn't learn because you let her get away with everything!"
"It sounds like you've been speaking too much with Ophelia."
"Despite her incessant ramblings, she down have a point," Xander said wryly. Ophelia scowled at him behind his back.
"And how does the rest of the pack feel?" Matteo asked as the group became even quiet, some shifting uncomfortably.
Ophelia opened her mouth to speak but Matteo held up a hand to silence her. "I know your position on the matter," he said sternly. "Let others in the pack speak for once."
The female closed her mouth, lips pressed together in a thin line. Rebuked by both of the dominant males in the pack, she could do nothing to retaliate other than sulk silently. There was a smattering of concealed laughter from some in the group at having witnessed Ophelia being put in her place.
"Why don't we discuss this with Sylvie?" Irina spoke up from her place in the corner. "It's not fair that this is gong on without Sylvie here to defend herself."
"Where is Sylvie?" Matteo asked, glancing around. Everyone looked blankly among themselves, looking around for the elusive female in question. Matteo caught the eye of Bianca and Ursula, both of whom shrugged. Even her friends didn't know where she was.
"We know," Gabriella and Gisela announced in unison. All eyes were suddenly on them and they seemed to relish the morbid spotlight.
"She's gone to meet a boy," Gabriella purred, an malicious tint in her voice..
"A human boy," Gisela added salaciously.
Xander turned, her face victorious. "See? She still goes. What do you intend to do about it?"
"I will speak with her when she returns."
"As if that has ever made a difference," Ophelia spat.
"There is no need for violence," Matteo said calmly.
"Well, I think there is," Xander stepped closer to Matteo. "I think it's time for a little change in protocol. You're just too weak for the leadership role. It requires someone who can command respect from everyone. You let one wayward female control you. That's no leader!"
"You don't want to do this, Xander."
"Oh, I do. I challenge you, Matteo, for the position of leader of the pack."
Matteo was silent for a moment. The air in the room filled with thick tension. It almost seemed as if he would not answer. He knew as well as anyone that this challenge was a long time coming. Xander had been stewing on it, only now had he found his outlet. The only question remiaing was when it would take place. Finally…
"I accept."
At Matteo's words, the pack broke out in riotous noise, making it impossible to distinguish what anyone was saying amidst the howling. Only Irina, from her place in the corner, was silent. As cheers and jeers were exchanged on both sides, she watched her son turn and walk out of the room, otherwise unnoticed. She closed her eyes and hung her head.
Vivian thought she head a knock on the front door. It was so faint that she almost didn't hear it. She glanced up at Gabriel to see if he had heard anything. Apparently he had. He withdrew his arm from around her shoulders and walked to the door.
The moon was hidden by the overcast clouds that night so only the faint silhouette of a figure was visible. Vivian peered over the back of the couch, trying to decipher any distinguishing features. Gabriel spoke quietly to the figure and a moment later, it entered, standing just far enough inside from him to shut the door. The dim lighting of the room revealed the mystery guest to be Irina.
She seemed distracted. She wouldn't sit, as if she didn't intend to stay long. She relayed to Gabriel the events that happened only hours before: how Xander challenged Matteo to a fight for pack leader. Vivian felt sick as she recalled the free-for-all that resulted in Gabriel becoming the leader of her own pack.
"I understand the laws that dictate the procedures for this type of battle. Believe me, I am old enough to have seen many of them and fully understand its consequences. Do not think that I am asking you to interfere on Matteo's behalf," she said to Gabriel. "I don't agree with the situation but Matteo has accepted the challenge and his word is binding. However, others may not be as honorable as my son."
Vivian's heart clenched at the sight of the forlorn female before her. She heard the underlying meaning in her words and felt her helplessness.
"As his mother I am, naturally, worried about my son. But, Xander has, in the past, proven to be…" she paused, as if searching for a delicate way to word the indictment. "…less than upstanding. I fear that this will not be a fair fight."
Gabriel looked resolute. "What do you want me to do?"
Irina smiled at him sadly but there was sincere gratitude in her eyes.
"Be there."
Gabriel nodded. "I promise that I'll do whatever I can to ensure a fair fight."
"Thank you," Irina whispered.
Green Mountain National Forest was bathed in an eerie silvery glow. The green foliage of the trees shone in the moonlight, making the shadows darker and deeper. The woods were quiet, despite the warmth of the night, the stillness stifling. A large clearing was devoid of movement…until the shadows stepped into life.
From all sides of the clearing, figures stepped out into the moonlight. Some were snarling, smirks sitting a little too comfortable on their faces; other's faces were grim, as if fearfully expecting the worst.
Xander sauntered into the center of the circle and most of the pack went wild. He raised his arms, reveling in the cheers like a victorious gladiator. With a flourish, he tore off his shirt, and the females in the crowd were whipped into frenzy, their voices climbing an octave higher than the rest of the pack.
"Where is Matteo?" Xander asked, pretending to look around for his opponent.
"I'm here, Xander," Matteo stepped into the circle. "I'd say keep your shirt on, but I see I'm already too late for that," he said dryly, indicating Xander's bare chest as he began to unbutton his own shirt.
Gabriel, followed closely by Vivian, moved carefully among a clump of Matteo's supporters.
"You shouldn't have come with me. You shouldn't be here," Gabriel said quietly without looking at her.
"Well, I think so," she retorted, coming up alongside him. "You didn't honestly think that you were coming here alone tonight, did you?"
He glanced at her with a wry glint in his eye but said nothing as he stopped by Ilan. The other male turned slightly and acknowledged him, smiling grimly.
"Intruders!" Cato yelled from across the clearing. He pointed directly at Gabriel.
"What do you want?" Darius sneered. "This is a private matter that doesn't involve you."
"I'm here for the same reason that you are, to make sure the right male is named pack leader," Gabriel answered calmly.
"You're gonna fight?" Ilan asked, sounding a little surprised.
Gabriel shook his head. "Just making sure that it's only Matteo and Xander who are the ones fighting."
Ilan looked unconvinced but said nothing. Vivian knew that the other male didn't say anything because that was exactly the same reason why he was there as well.
Both Matteo and Xander stood in the center of the clearing, facing each other, ready to fight. Face to face, it was painfully obvious that Xander was significantly larger and more muscular than Matteo. Vivian knew that size was an advantage that Xander would have over his opponent. She tried to counter the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach with the hope that Matteo would have anticipated this potential liability and wouldn't be foolish enough to come unprepared.