Aceso nodded with a smile, “I’m glad to hear that you performed well.” She looked at each one of them in turn, “Because today might not be such an easy or fun day at all.” She let the ominous words hang in the air for a few moments. William almost asked a question but remained silent under the heavy still that had crashed down on them.
Aceso looked them in the eye once more, “We are to report to the Elder’s Tower immediately, I hope you all ate.”
All three of them shook their heads. Katherine spoke, “I thought we would be in the forest with you today so I didn’t eat expecting to hunt our meal.”
Charles replied, “My thoughts were similar to Katherine’s.”
Aceso turned her gaze on William who almost shrugged but controlled his body. He replied evenly, “I didn’t know what was going on today so I didn’t get anything to eat either.”
Aceso heaved a sigh and looked upward at the ceiling, shaking her head. “You all will have to wait further then. I will inform the Elders so you may be given a small amount of time to eat later. But for now,” she turned around and starting walking toward the center of the city, “the Elders are waiting for us.”
The four of them made their way through the city and up the outside of the Elder’s Tower. The ramp could hardly be seen from the ground but the Tower had the same ramp around it’s outside as every other building in the City under the Mountain.
When they entered the upper floor room of the Tower William had no idea what the Elders wanted or why they wanted to see all of them. They walked into the room to find it fairly empty. The four human born Elders were all seated in their chairs, while Derceto and Alexiares were standing in their werewolf forms. William had never seen him in his werewolf form and he was not disappointed. Alexiares was at least seven and a half feet tall, maybe closer to seven foot eight. He was covered with golden brown fur and his golden eyes were incredibly intense. Now that he noticed it, all the Elders looked tense. What in the hell is going on?
Aceso stood out in front of her pack and addressed Huan Li formally, “Elders, I Aceso, alpha of my pack, have brought my pack before you. What is it you ask of us?”
Huan Li lifted his right hand towards the beautiful woman seated next him. Ansuya nodded graciously and rose regally from her seat. She was wearing a sheer, multilayered green dress that moved hypnotically around her toned body. William couldn’t help himself as his eyes were drawn to the movements that she made. Ansuya stood in front of Aceso. She nodded and Aceso turned to move back and stand in line with her pack.
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The incredibly young looking Elder looked at each of them in turn. She was not slow with this, nor did she hurry. William felt like her dark brown eyes stayed on him for a moment or two longer than they rested on any of his pack mates. “We have made a small discovery…” She stopped and lowered her eyes as a smile crossed her lips. She shook her head and raised her eyes to meet them once more. “Nicolas Mancini, the scout of your pack, has been able to do what no scout in a millennia has achieved.” She turned her head to the side as Nicolas walked out from behind a wall.
He looked like shit. He was in his werewolf form, but his fur was patchy looking and frazzled, like he had been in a fight with hair care products and appliances. Only Nicolas had bitten off more than he could chew with an industrial hair dryer getting in a lot of choice hits. The bags under his eyes, had bags under them and it looked as if he could barely keep his eyes open. His gait was unsteady and he was leaning to one side as if he was drunk. William could see the uncontrolled wobble in his legs. They would give out soon and Nicolas would collapse face first if he didn’t at least sit down.
Nicolas stopped a few feet from Ansuya. The Elder gestured with her right arm and Nicolas stepped over to Aceso. “Hey guys, let’s go out! The night is young and we have more bars to hit.” He smiled but it was shattered as a massive yawn cracked his face wide open. He stumbled but gripped at his head as he steadied himself.
Ansuya replied softly and evenly, “Nicolas, tell them what you saw and why it is that they are here.”
Nicolas nodded at the Elder who turned around and glided back to her seat. The movement of her body in even something as trivial as sitting down was enough to hold hia attention.
Nicolas said, “I’ve been here for three days with two hours of sleep, total.” He reached up and scratched at his head between his ears. “When you guys found me and put me to bed, which was really sweet by the way, that was the grand total of my sleep for three days.” He yawned again and glanced back at the Elders who were sitting or standing in place watching him. Nicolas continued, “I found someone who needs our help.” His voice was so sleep slurred, William could hardly understand him. Nicolas started to speak again but stopped himself, his eyes closed and he rocked forward. He would have fallen if Aceso hadn’t caught him before that.
She looked up at the Elders sitting there. “My scout is exhausted and needs to sleep. May we escort him back to his home to rest?” The Elders shared looks among them. Huan Li raised his left hand and nodded. Aceso nodded back, “Thank you, Elders. Please accept my apologies for this interruption.” She then heaved her scout over her shoulder and began to guide him toward the door. William reached out to help and soon they had him in his room, sleeping soundly under the thick furs of his bed. William shook his head and followed his alpha back outside into the city.
Without a word Aceso walked down the ramp to the street and began walking. William yelled after her trying to catch up, “Aceso, wait!” She turned to look at him impatiently. William shrugged his shoulders, “Where are you going?”
Aceso’s ears went flat against her head. William took a half step backwards. “The Elders did not dismiss us, William. We are going back to where we are supposed to be.” She turned and strode off.
William shared looks with Katherine and Charles. The same thought was reflected in their eyes as well. The three of them ran up the street to catch up with their alpha.