The Alpha's Companion

Chapter 41 - Negotiation

After Scar left, Lacey spent the rest of the afternoon working with the Pack Warriors on strategy, coordinating them, teaching them to work together. Just before the sun started fading from the sky, Julien came out and stood to the side, watching the warriors practice. After a while, he said, "Lacey, may I have a word?"

Lacey looked up and nodded. "Yes, of course." Then she turned to the pack. "Okay. That's enough for today. Let's call it a day, but we'll start again first thing in the morning."

"Yes, Alpha Queen." Some headed toward the forest to hunt, while others headed toward the castle. However, there was a camaraderie that wasn't there before.

"Good practice," Raye said to Lacey, and then nodded. "See you tomorrow." Then he nodded toward Julien. "Alpha."

Julien nodded, giving him a slight smile as he passed.

When they were alone, Lacey phased and dressed in her workout clothes. Then she zipped up her bag and headed over to Julien. Lacey leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. When she tried to deepen the kiss, he pulled away. She sighed. "So, are you here as my husband or as my Alpha?"

He sighed. "Walk with me."

Lacey left her bag laying on the bench nearby and motioned with her head toward the forest. "Julien, what's wrong?"

"I need to speak with you." He started walking toward the woods for privacy.

"Julien, I thought about what you said, and you can't put on the Alpha hat with me one minute, and then the husband hat the next." She shook her head. "It's giving me whiplash."

He nodded. "Then how about I'm your husband all the time... as well as your Alpha." He walked into the woods and then turned to face her. "Lacey, I'm giving your position as Warrior Trainer to Raye."

"What?" Lacey's voice rose nearly three octaves. "I'm the best fighter you have!"

He raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You really just yelled at the Alpha?"

"You're forgetting something." Lacey shook her head, looking into his eyes.

He smiled, clearly amused. "And what's that?"

"I'm the Alpha Queen," Lacey said, walking with her hands behind her back. "Traditionally, the Alpha Queen is second in command to the Alpha and helps to make decisions for the pack." She paced. "Strategically, Raye is a good fighter...." Then she stopped and stared into Julien’s eyes. "But I’m better. Also, I know more strategies than Raye, so I vote that I stay in command as Alpha Trainer."

Julien walked closer, lifting a strand of her hair as he looked into her eyes. "But you said it yourself. The Alpha still makes the final decision." He folded his arms across his chest. "So, convince me."

Lacey thought quickly, knowing this was her one chance to keep her position as Warrior Trainer. "Do you have Border Guards?"

A crease formed between his eyes as he listened. "Keep talking."

"Having teams of border guards will help us to better defend the perimeter," Lacey began. "There can be four teams that rotate, patrolling the border twenty-four hours a day. This way, the pack will have constant protection."

"And how do you suggest we do this?" Julien began walking again and she stayed by his side.

Lacey told him her detailed plan of rotating teams and logistics, and Julien listened attentively through it all.

"Done." Julien said. “I’ll put Raye in charge of it.”

Lacey raised an eyebrow. "So, I can keep my position as Warrior Trainer?"

"I prefer you as the Alpha Queen in an advisory position," Julien replied, a smile lifting his lips. "This is the best advice I’ve received in a long while."

Lacey nodded. "Then as Alpha Queen, I'd like a seat on the Advisory Council."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea." Julien started walking again and Lacey stayed by his side. "The elders may see you as a threat."

Lacey raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, they may think that, since you're relatively new to the pack and now my wife and mate, that you may have other...." Julien paused, choosing his words carefully. "Shall we say, personal interests in running the pack?" Julien shrugged.

Lacey chuckled. "Not to bring it up, but I’ve paid my dues."

Julien nodded, thinking.

"Besides, as Alpha, I thought you didn't care what other people thought." Lacey knew that appealing to his ego would either work or backfire, but she wasn't giving up her position as Warrior Trainer without a fight.

He tilted his head to the side, thinking. "True."

"Okay, I have an idea that will strengthen the pack to the point where we will be unbeatable." Lacey knew this was her last-ditch effort and she was pulling out all the stops. “In return, I want a seat on the Advisory Council.”

"I'm listening."

"Why don't I train the young wolves, and you train the Pack Warriors... including me?" Lacey asked.

"I like the idea, but I still don't like the idea of you fighting, should the need arise," Julien said.

"Okay, then," Lacey thought she'd try another approach. "Shouldn't the mother of your children be well trained to protect them?"

Julien's head snapped up. "Children?"

Lacey nodded. "Yes. Eventually, we will have children. And, in my care, I will need to protect them with my life, should the need arise. Therefore, I should be the best in the pack, second only to the Alpha." Lacey knew she had him there. What she was saying was logical and strategic.

"I still want you out of the fight."

"I may not have a choice."

Julien sighed, running his fingers through his hair as he walked toward a tree and then turned around. "Okay, then how about this. Should the need arise, you will stay in the castle to protect its inhabitants."

"But—"

"Lacey, that would be a win-win," Julien said, rubbing her arms. "Last time, Wildclaws came into the garden from inside the castle, as well as over the wall." He sighed. "I hate to say it, but if you had a team inside the castle, it would have helped to stop them."

Lacey nodded. "Actually, I have to admit that it would be good. But why don't—"

"Why don't you and your young warriors defend the inside of the castle?" Julien replied. "This way, the young warriors will be kept out of the real fight and you will oversee them."

Lacey frowned. "And I'll be kept out of the 'real fight', too,” she said, her voice flat.

Julien sighed. "That's not how I meant it." He stepped closer to her. "You're right that we need teams and we all need posts. And frankly, I can't pull one of my best warriors off the wall to keep you safe anymore."

Lacey took a step closer to him as her eyes flared. "You won't need to. Julien Should the need arise, I will stand and fight with the pack." Then she let the red haze with black edges overtake her vision and the shimmers travel down her spine and throughout her limbs until she leapt and exploded into her wolf.. Her white paws landed on the soft, black earth and she dug in, needing time to think.