My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate Chapter 96

The room was silent for a few long seconds before chaos erupted. Witnesses shouted from all sides, emotions flung like daggers at my neck and chest. Many were outraged that I dared to disrespect the High Table, hurling insults and blaming my upbringing. Much to my surprise, some voices came to my defense. Though not as loud, they insisted I had a right to stake a claim on my life and abilities. They accused the High Table of becoming too powerful, a thought that made me shiver.

I couldn't help but notice that the Alpha and Luna with the golden hair remained silent, their emotions conveying no animosity towards me. The chaos lasted a total of five seconds before Maverick Billford silenced the room with a wave of his hand.

"Enough, we cannot blame the girl for her outbursts. She was not raised on our values and customs, so she can and will be excused," Maverick told the room. The flimsy compliment made me narrow my eyes. "It is understandable that we might be eager to explore your abilities, Sophia. You are unique, incredibly so. Abilities such as these are gifted to the world for a reason. Think of this as an opportunity to discover that very reason. I very much believe that working with the High Table might provide you the answers you've been looking for, while aiding us in our endeavor to better our species."

Maverick Billford was very good with his words, infecting the crowd with his subtle poison. There were murmurs of agreement and even those insisting I offer aid to smaller packs. I could feel my walls closing in on me, a million greedy hands tearing at my clothing, my hair, and limbs. They all wanted something from me, each and every one. It took me a moment to realize that Maverick Billford wasn't asking; he was insisting.

"I see the concern on your face, Ms. Sophia. I can only imagine what you must feel in this room, from each and every one of us. How truly incredible." Maverick smiled softly, his perfect mask locked in place. "I have no intention of forcing your hand, though it has long been custom between the packs of the United States to exchange bargains and create deals. While I cannot speak for my fellow Alphas, I am very much interested in working with you. Should any of my fellow colleagues wish to work with you, they will provide their terms. Now, if you wish to refuse us, we might speak again on what your future shall look like, and any other concerns we might have."

It was at this moment that I realized how dangerous Maverick Billford was. To the public, he was an incredible figure of honor and prosperity, spouting his dreams about preserving our kind. In reality, he was a power-hungry sociopath with a knack for manipulation and good looks.

To many in the room, what Maverick said was generous. I should be elated that the regal High Table would want my services—that they would want to work with me. It was an incredible honor that I did not want. But to them, it was a crime to simply want to live my life. All while Maverick offered me this incredible chance, my other mate was sitting in some cell. It made me want to scream, to throw everything I had at the five of them.

I could feel my power surge through my body and dug my fingers into the wooden podium that stood before me. Carlos Caddel cocked his head, making his shaggy hair shift. He leaned forward in his seat and squinted his eyes. It was the first sign of interest I had seen in him. Even his emotions were disinterested and bored. Now—now, he was curious. The power that bubbled in me vanished at the surprise, and Carlos’s disinterest quickly returned.

"Let us adjourn for the time being, to think on these negotiations that will be the start of history for our kind." Maverick Billford beamed at the room, "We will resume tomorrow. For those of you who wish to remain in our stands, please await further instruction."

And just like that, my first meeting with the High Table was over. I desperately wished it were my last. This hotel was reserved solely for the High Table and its meetings, which meant we could stay here until a decision had been made. It was blindingly clear that the High Table would soon come to a decision, and that I might not like the outcome.

We met with Williams, Sebastian, and the twins' parents after the meeting. I was becoming edgy without Ethan, and I was sure the others could see me unraveling. Both Williams and Sebastian dispatched their own fighters. I noticed how neither hesitated, even though Sebastian still looked a bit sour. I appreciated the gesture, but nothing would soothe the madness inside of me except for Ethan.

Afterwards, the three of us returned to our rooms. I was feeling a bit claustrophobic with all these guards around, a constant wall between us and everyone else. It only reminded me of the danger here.

A servant was granted entrance to the room to serve us dinner. Kat, Kieran, and I sat around a small table, eating silently.

"That went to shit pretty quickly." Kat rolled her eyes. "So, you either work with them, or they say you're an uncontrollable weapon?"

"At least I get to pick between the five of them." I commented dryly, taking another bite of my burger. It tasted like ash after the meeting, but I needed something in my stomach.

"Does the food usually come with a note?" Kat asked randomly, lifting my plate to pick up a small note card. She flipped it in her hands and stared at the back. Her eyebrows grew closer with every second until a scowl tore across her face. I could already tell from her emotions who the card was from, even though I hadn't a clue what it said.

"What does he want now?" I frowned, plucking the card from her fingers when she turned her head sourly.

The note read:

Room 312, 8:00 PM.

Do not be late; these meetings are hard enough as is.

- B.

"As much as I'm beginning to loathe him, we need to get Ethan back." I sighed sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose when my head began to ache. I gave Kat an apologetic look, "If you want to miss this meeting, I understand. If not, you're welcome to come with us."

"I know, Sophia. You don't have to explain yourself to me." Kat's smile was small but friendly. "I'm not going to hide from the prick. He's not important enough for that."

We stood outside of room 312 nearly two hours later. It had taken ages to divert the guards, but my abilities had come in handy when it came to detecting anyone nearby. Turns out, I could sense emotions up to a certain distance away. With some concentration, I could feel how far and close those emotions were, which helped a lot when trying to identify the oncoming guards.

We slipped inside the room, and my eyes tried to adjust as we stepped into low lighting. Only two small lamps were lit, the light dull and yellow. Zack was leaning against the countertop, his arms crossed over his chest. His suit jacket was folded over the chair in the small dining room.

"You look ruffled," Kat noted a bit indignantly, arching an eyebrow at him.

"This was the first meeting, and it's already going to shit. Are you not also ruffled?" He sneered, pushing off the counter to approach Kat.

"Working with her is only the beginning. Once she steps foot on my father's territory—she is gone. Do you think there will be proof? Maybe you believe one of the other members will help her. If so, you're a fool. You'll waste your own resources trying to get her back and destroy your pack in the process. It is absolutely, fucking hopeless. The ship is sinking, and you can either jump the fuck off, or go down with it."

I paused with bated breath, stepping back from the tension that radiated off the two of them. That kind of hostility—it would come to a head, and soon. Whoever had made them mates, I wondered if they knew how explosive they would be.

"Nothing is hopeless, Billford. There will always be a way. You have to keep fighting to change things." Kat scoffed, "You might be jumping ship, but I plan on staying behind to fix the damn thing."

"Let's not prolong this. I'd like my brother back before the month is up." Kieran's snarl rippled through the room, cutting through their tension and dismantling it. "Fight when this is through."

"It's time to hold up to your end of the bargain." Zack grimaced, the fire in his eyes fizzling out. I felt a flash of worry in his emotions, but he smothered it rather than giving it life. "There are a few white wolves I know of that need safekeeping, and I need them to stay in your pack."

Kieran was just as stunned as I. This wasn't what we expected, not by a long shot.

"You want us to hide some white wolves?" I reiterated a bit slowly. "Why these specific white wolves?"

"They aren't very powerful. If they were, they'd be noticed." Zack commented gruffly. "I owe a friend a favor; this is that favor."

Kieran paused for a long moment and looked my way. "We're going to need more details if we're to transport them to our land."

"You're willing to risk war if we're caught?" Zack asked, his head tilted just a bit. It was a slight show of interest in his sour demeanor.

This time, Kieran's answer was immediate. "This agreement will not change the war that's sure to come."