Prophesy (The King & Alpha 1)

“Brother. I don’t think they are going to release the wolves to you. This is the first time any law enforcement agency has officially charged one of our kind. Our shifters have never been in their penal systems. How are they even processing them? Will they have official criminal records? They sent us mugshots. What do you think this means?” Alek asked Justice.

Justice’s youngest, but not smallest brother, Taleb, finally gave his input after listening carefully. He was named after a seeker. He was an intellectual with a bachelor’s in philosophy. “This is new territory we have to explore expeditiously. We’ll have to get there and get our answers. We’re learning nothing sitting here asking each other questions.” He looked back at a couple of Justice’s assistants standing a few feet from his chair. “Make the arrangements immediately. See if there are any packs that can house us. Check with Mikel, the Humboldt pack alpha first.”

“Yes, sir.” One of them nodded in answer.

“I’ll need to have a conference call with the council as well. I’d like to get their advice on this.” Justice looked around at his small pack.

“They hardly agree with your suggestions, Justice. Their ways are so archaic. If we keep it up, the humans will have control over us in no time. Everyone will blame you, Justice, even though the council keeps trying to tie your hands,” Alek said sternly. Talking about the council was dangerous. Nosy ears and gossipers would love to have that piece of juiciness to report.

“I’m not going to let them take us over. I’ll file motions to have the shifters released to my custody. I’ll escort them to the shifter restraint facilities personally,” Justice declared.

“They think our jails are a joke, Justice,” Alek said.

“Why, because there are no metal cells, or because the shifter isn’t in a six by eight concrete room? They hate our correctional system because our offenders don’t have to stay in isolation for 20 years to life. That’s torture to a shifter. The humans don’t torture their prisoners, why should we torture ours? A human can stay behind bars for fifty years and not go insane… or so they think,” Farica said gently, but her words were true and influential.

“They want you to keep rogue wolves incarcerated longer, Justice. Six months is a slap on the wrist in the human correctional system,” Taleb said, as he steepled his fingers while in thought. “You’ve already explained in your petition to the Supreme Court that shifters are too tactile to be kept away from companionship for years. It increases the risk of them turning feral. We don’t even want to think about feral wolves coming back into existence. Fact of the matter is, Justice, you’re going to have to set a hard example now. You are one of the most compassionate and understanding Alpha Zeniths ever to lead, but you’ll have to exert your power sometime, brother.”

Justice nodded. His brother was right. All the demanding work he and his pack had done to protect the wolves of this country; he would not let a few disobedient ones condemn their entire population.

“Brother, what if the shifters that are in police custody cause more problems? What if they try to escape and hurt more people?” Farica asked, her baby blue eyes scanning all her brothers for answers.

Justice raised one hand and closed his eyes. No one spoke. He could feel the room around him shrink from his mind while he concentrated on six particular shifters. He was connected to all of them, but hopefully they weren’t trying to block him. He gave his shifters free reign over their thoughts. If they didn’t want Justice in, he wasn’t a tyrant, he didn’t force his way in. Justice finally reached their minds. They were so afraid, all of them. They needed structure, regulation and guidance. They needed an Alpha. Justice reached out to his wolves.

“I’m coming. Behave until I arrive.”

He could feel more than hear their surprised gasps and fearful reactions. Justice released a breath and opened his eyes. “They’ll behave. Alek, please request the Black Mountain Alpha’s presence. I’ll let him know myself that we have to leave due to unforeseen circumstances.”

“This pack has been nothing but hospitable these past two days; perhaps we can have a short run with them before we get on the road. I’m sure the pack would appreciate a run with you. We came to congratulate them, not put a damper on their celebration.” Alek was already walking towards the door. “While your pack is preparing the vehicles for transport you can stretch your wolf.”

“Agreed,” Justice rumbled and stood to see everyone out of the large room. His pack was thirty strong now. Only his most trusted family and confidants could join. It was a hardworking pack and they all had important jobs to do. His three brothers and his sister were his councilors. The rest were pack leaders, enforcers, and support staff. He didn’t always travel with his entire pack, but he concentrated better when he had them close.