James sat in his office, Bradley next to him, his laptop open. They were waiting for a few of the other Council members to log in. One informed them that they would be a little late, as another pressing issue arose and he was dealing with it. The camera was on, but the mic was off. James clasped his hands under his chin, his elbows resting on the table. Bradley sighed, his foot bouncing as he waited. A ping caught his attention, a message from his aunt. She asked how Trishanna was doing, about the baby. A warm smile curled his lips as he turned and began replying, sending her one of the many pictures they had taken. His aunt gushed, her words warm and maternal. She offered advice on postnatal care, how mates should take care of the mother and reassure her, not to get too obsessed with he baby making her feel like she no longer mattered. Bradley smiled, thanking her, his fingers poised to respond, when James tapped him on the shoulder. All the Council members were present, time to get to business. Bradley slipped the phone in his pocket, marvelling at the way his aunt, Councilwoman Seers, looked so impartial and professional when just a few seconds ago, she was a doting grandmother. He bit back a smile, glad that she took him in all those years ago. He knew his son would learn a lot from her, and he couldn't wait for all the family bonding and embarrassing stories she would share.
They discussed the matter of the packs' alliance, and a unanimous vote recognised it as valid. The secretary will send over the relevant documents for both men to sign. James nodded, glad that part went well, thus ensuring that Trishanna and the baby now have double protection, confirmed and approved by the Council, meaning that they can call on them for backup. The head of the Council, Mr. Smith, cleared his throat, his eyes scanning the report he received. He looked straight into the camera at both men, his eyes clear and piercing. "Now, about this matter concerning the attack on your pack. You claim that someone intentionally tried to harm your mate, hindering the bonding ceremony you both were going to make with Ms. Trishanna, yes?" It may have sounded like a question, but it was a statement. "Yes, Sir," Bradley answered. Mr. Smith leaned back, his hand rubbing his short white beard, as he thought. "Could this attack be related to the one you experienced earlier, Alpha Bradley?" Bradley straightened. "I'm not sure. There was no evidence to point ot it, but also none that dismissed the possible connection." Smith nodded, his attention going to James. "What about you, Alpah James. I knew your father, not a pleasant man, always dancing on the edges of the rules, leaning over but never really crossing them. Do you have any idea of what may have caused this attack?"
James sighed, his hands fisting under the table. He knew just how bad his father could be, and he did not enjoy cleaning up after him. James felt like he was still trapped in that old man's shadow, a dark cloud trying to block out the sun of his newfound happiness. He closed his eyes and thought of Trishanna and Chip, picturing them giving him the strength. He looked staight at Smith, "I know just how my father like to bend the rules without breaking them, and the eneimies it made, so-called friends who would quicker stab you in the back than give a thirsty man a sip of water, but I have been slowing removing myself and my pack from them, however, his concequences still linger around us. I can't say for sure that it was not related to him or past feuds, or if any of his acquaintances had any part to play. Our men are investigating".
Smith nodded, his gaze scanning the file Bradley had sent to the Council earlier in preparation for the meeting. "What about the female Candice? Any new information?" James shook his head. "It appeared that she may have been involved, but indirectly. We are holding her and will return to questioning her. We already have her phone sent to Goldmoon's tech division to see if they can find anything. We are hoping that something clicks." Elder Cynthia interjected. "Alphas, your report states that your mate had help from the two siblings and Beta Sam, yet I did not see any information or statements from them." Bradley cleared his throat, his eyes drifting to James. They did not tell anyone about the truth of Trishanna, not sure how to or if sharing that information would jeopardise her safety, not even Bradley's aunt. He cleared his throat. "At the moment, all three have been unconscious for a while. We believe that they were attacked while assisting in the search. The doctor said that they are exhausted, so we are not quite sure what happened with them, but we have a strong feeling that whatever they did helped protect our mate when she fled in the night, feeling that her child was in danger and hid. We are waiting for them to wake, and once they are given clearance, we will take their statements and email them to you."
Smith nodded, and after a few more questions, he ended the meeting, promising that if needed, another one should be scheduled. Before the screen grew blank, Bradley looked at his aunt, his eyes begging for her to understand, her small nod showing that she did. They signed off, and after ensuring that both the mic and the camera were off. The two men sighed. James leaned back in his chair, his mind swirling with all the possibilities of this attack being because of him or his father. Bradley leaned his head in his hands, inhaling deeply to calm his mind. The attack from some months ago still had no new leads, every investigation seeming to end, like smoke. It was too strange, considering who the biggest suspect was. There was a lot of evidence against him to put him away, even by human standards, yet no clear link to him and Bradley's attack.
The two men looked at each other at the same time, their worried faces a reflection of each other, both of them trying to understand why their mate and child were attacked. James cleared his throat, "Bradley, I know when we met, neither of us had any idea that things would turn out like this, but now that it has, there is something that we need to do, and we should do it as soon as possible." Bradley looked at him, curious as to what James meant. He continued, "When Tishanna was attacked, I was worried about her, our pup, our packs and you as well, for your hurt would affect her greatly. I wanted to get real-time information from you, but that was not possible as cell phones would not work in those situations." James cleared his throat. "I think that we need to create our own bond, that way we can communicate with each other instantly, and in a war, for we know a war is coming, we can adapt, thus informing our warriors in real time."
Bradley leaned back, his eyes looking away as he thought of what James had just said. It was true that while he and his men shifted and sought the attacker, he had no idea if their enemy would or could have doubled back. What if James had shifted and taken off, leaving Trishanna a sitting duck? He mulled it over, yet what James said was right: a war was coming, and they needed to be prepared. Bradley stood, his mind set. "You are right. We need to do everything so that Trishanna and Chip will be safe. Follow me." With that, he headed out of James's office, the man following him.
Bradley let him outside, asking him to shift, which he did, and the two of them headed to Goldmoon. James wondered why they were heading there, but could not ask in his wolf's form, another reason for them to have some connection, even when they shift. Soon they made it back, Goldmoon's warrior nodded their welcome as they stayed vigilant on their patrols. Bradley led him upstairs to his office, where once they were both inside, he closed the door with his nose before shifting, James following suit. He wanted to ask why they were there, but Bradley, naked, just walked over to his desk and opened a drawer that had a special lock, requiring a combination. He motioned for James to sit on the couch. Let's just say, James was getting concerned, but walked over slowly, his mind racing on what the hell he wanted to do.
As Bradley rounded the desk, James noticed that he was holding the ceremonial knife, but how? It was left at Bloodmoon. Bradley stared at it, his lips curved in a sad smile, his eyes lost in grief. He looked up. "This knife has been passed down in our pack for many generations. My father showed it to me once, telling me a story of two men who were not related by blood, but became closer than brothers. He said that sometimes the best or the worst circumstances can create a bond, and this knife could be used to cement it in a way that defines logic and reality. I think he was speaking of a time such as what we are dealing with, and let's be real, for us, it is both a bitter and sweet reason why we are here."
James looked down at the knife, ancient letters across the blade. "So, what do we do now?" Bradly sighed and stood. "I think it's just like when we accept new members into the pack, allowing them to link with us, except that this knife has been blessed for a more intimate bond, to the Alpha directly." James nodded, stood, understanding what to do. He stretched out his hand, "Okay, let's get this over with." Bradley walked towards him. When he reached the middle of the room, Bradley took the knife and, holding it, he whispered the ancient prayer, handed down from Alpha to Alpha, activating the letters, causing it to glow. Then he sliced James's hand and then his own, laying the cut palms together. James held on as he felt his body try to reject the connection. He looked up, as his brow began to sweat, a fever racking his body.
Bradley own brow was wet, as he too felt the assult on his nervous system. His voice shook slightly, his voice hoarse, "We are Alphas. Our bodies are usually not meant for this, bonding with only our mate or pack members of lower rank. Our blood is like an infection which explains the feeling of having a fever or being sick." He licked his lips, now dry from the fire within. "We need to focus on our common goal with everything we have in order for our souls to resonate and allow the bond to form." James nodded, his fever-filled mind struggling to hold on to his words, even as his hand yearns to be free. "Trishanna, and Chip." he wishphered. Bradley nodded, "Trishanna and Chip". They both closed their eyes, their minds conjouring the image of their beatuiful mate, all the memories and moments shared. Then both of their minds drifted to their marking of her, the moment when they both claimed her, and as their thoughts came into alignment, the shaking in their bodies ebbed, indicating that it was working. Their mind then drifted to the night Trishanna went into labour, their fear, their desire to protect, their relief of finding her, only to realise that she was in danger and in labour. They thought about how the twins protected her, how watching her in pain tore through them and the comfort they tried so desperately to give. The moment when their son was born, and the feeling of love they felt for both mother and child.
The two men kept the image of Trishanna holding their child in her arms, her gentle smile as she looked upon the future of their packs, the reason for their unity, and the possible solution for the problems of the world. With that image being the focal ponit of every fiber of their mind, heart and soul, their bodies began to hum in alignment, the bond forming, slowing at first, but gaining strenght. James and Bradley tightened their grip, needing this to work, for neither of them was sure that another attempt could. A light began in their palms, growing until it encompassed the enitre room, shining throught the windows, making those who saw it, marvel at waht was going on. Trishanna felt the shift as she was mated to them both, and smiled. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew that she felt herself and her mate bond grow stronger. She looked at little Chip sleeping peacefully in her arms, "You are so lucky to have daddies that would do anything for us." She kissed his brow before settling him in his crib. Walking to the window, she felt the awakening of somethng new, her heart beating steady as she knew that no matter what comes, they will all survive and come out stronger for it.