It is very rare, in political meetings to feel hushed silence in a room full of ten diplomatic people. But this miracle and rare thing happened in the community hall of Stalwart warrior pack where the top most important people of the two packs were sitting silently and were looking at each other.

This went for few minutes in which Cayden was looking towards Valerie longingly and she was doing her level best to avoid making any sort of eye contact. To avoid any unnecessary squabbling with Cayden, Valerie made Alexei sit far from her. Rest of the people were looking towards each other and passing awkward smiles waiting for their alphas to say anything.

"Are we going to sit here all day and look towards each other? With due respect alpha Valerie you may be free for this for the whole day but I have places to be." Alexei who was getting irritated and was losing patience by waiting for anyone to speak said.

Dmitri tried to persuade him to keep calm and quite to which he grunted and rolled his eyes in irritation.

Valerie sighed and took a deep breath before speaking. "You are right. I can't let our problems to dictate everything."

"Thank you." Alexei replied rather ostentatiously which was not appreciated by Cayden. His beast wanted to tear apart the blood sucking vermin who kissed his mate but due to diplomacy and his deteriorating relation with Valerie caused him to remain quite.

"Before we start" Valerie said. "Alpha Cayden I would like to know about the person sitting beside you."

When Cayden heard his name being rolled out of his mate's tongue a sudden shiver of happiness was felt by him. He had heard his name after a long torturous week. He knew how he had spent his days without any contact with her. His heart was bleeding for her but he knew he couldn't do anything.

He took his sweet time before replying as he was busy constantly gawking at Valerie. Ryder slightly nudged him to respond. He cleared his throat before speaking. "This is Griffin Scott my new warrior head."

Valerie nodded in acknowledgement and welcomed him in her pack before she continued.

"As all of you are well aware of the problems that we are facing with hunters. They are destroying packs of our werewolf community. Presently they are targeting the weak packs in Canada and Alaska and some other parts of United States. Stronger packs are trying to help them but they are unable to stop them every time. Dmitri was in Russia and the news he brought was not good. I think he is the best person to explain further."

Dmitri nodded and started speaking. "Our council is worried about these hunters as they are targeting newly formed Vampires. They are brain washing these new saplings. This information is not new for us or to you. We all knew about this beforehand. But what disturbs the council now is that hunters are convincing these saplings that once they wipe out the werewolf species they will help them to rule on the human world, which is completely a hoax. They are using such hoax promises to allure them in the trap. Two things newly formed Vampires can't control is their lust and their desire for human blood and these hunters are providing them both. Vampire venom slows werewolf speed and strength but do not kill them. They are extracting their venom to slow werewolves down and then they use silver or wolfsbane to kill them. They are playing dirty and attacking weres emotionally. They are separating mates and killing them. They kill the males and then either rape the females or give them some sort of potion that tortures them."

A concerned look was shared by the people present in the hall and Dmitri continued.

"Situation here in United States is not that bad. But due to hunter's infiltration in Canadian politics the situation in Canada has worsened. I discussed this thing with the vampire council there in Russia and asked them to help us to infiltrate the politics here as many powerful vampires hold the key to American business and political world. They have promised me to help. Valerie is choosing her capable persons who can do the job and I suggest the same to you as well alpha Cayden."

Cayden nodded. "Previously, Dmitri you said that council has taken the situation under control and new vampires are monitored with a hawk's eye." He questioned.

"I did but the situation has worsened. Council is trying to get everything under control that is why it took me so long to come back. They are breaking the chain that has been formed between hunters and new saplings. They have even arrested some of the old vampires who were helping the hunters. Council was short of hands and was demanding Alexei  back in Russia but he was needed here more. I could not trust anyone else with Valerie's security."

"He surely did protect Valerie." Cayden said sarcastically.

"We are not gathered here for that." Dmitri reprimanded.

Before the things got heated up Valerie took the charge and started speaking. "Charles here has come up with antidotes for wolfsbane that our pack was using for trial bases. It has given us tremendous results and we extend our invitation for your pack to use it too. If it turned out be good we can distribute it in the neighboring packs."

Cayden nodded and agreed so Valerie continued. "Charles told me that he has come up with something for silver too that neither I nor my warriors has tested."

"Yep that is right. I was thinking of using chelators for silver poisoning in werewolves. These molecules will bind with silver and will stop silver from spreading in the blood." Charles added excitedly.

Valerie rolled her eyes at her brother's nerdiness and his desire to blurt out everything. "We understand English Charles."

Charles looked around sheepishly and muttered something before speaking out loud. "Right. So I am talking about a process called chelation. Chelators are molecules that bind with metal ions and stops it spread in the blood. I used them on werewolf blood samples in the lab and the results I got were tremendous. But the lab results are different from real world results. So I asked for some volunteers and Valerie and some others have accepted to help me in that."

"Valerie won't do it." Cayden replied and everyone looked towards him.

"Excuse me." Valerie spoke exasperated. "Why won't I do it?"

"Because we don't know what this process can do to werewolf body. And I won't allow my mate to do it."

"Allow your mate!" Valerie asked shocked. "What do you mean? Last I checked you don't speak for me. My warriors are volunteering and so as a good leader I should too. Was I not your mate when Scarlett was found guilty?"

Cayden completely ignored the last part that she asked and said "But what if hunters came to know about it and decided to attack this pack on the same time."

Valerie laughed sarcastically. "For start my beta and my warrior head will not take part in this experiment and they will be present for any dire situation. Kevin is there to take any drastic decisions as a commanding alpha and secondly, how will hunters know about this experiment because the person who use to give such information to the hunters is under your custody without any grave punishment." She said the last part rather tauntingly.

Ryder did not like the tone she used but he knew he can't say anything as his own alpha is at fault.

"You can not talk to my alpha in a political meeting like that alpha Valerie. To top that, you are his mate." Griffin said suddenly.

"Stand down pup." Valerie warned. "This is my pack. Don't teach me the protocols of political meetings. Your alpha started it making the whole point personal. His mate or not I am an alpha and you should remember that. I am way above your hierarchy."

Griffin muttered an apology before continuing. "But, alpha Valerie, what about your safety?"

"My brother has taken care of all the necessary things. No need to worry. If this turned out good we will let your pack know."

"Can I talk to you in private?" Cayden asked.

Valerie did not want to insult Cayden in front of all the delegates so she replied. "You can later."

Cayden smiled like a cheshire cat. He knew she won't be able to deny his request in front of everyone.

"Is your oracle seering for you?" Valerie asked that question out of the blue.

Cayden looked confused towards her and replied. "I have not asked April to seer for me for quite a time. Why are you asking this?"

Valerie sighed. "Flora is unable to foresee the future. She is not able to get any sign or any clue. She said it looks like some curtain has fallen between her and the moon goddess. I thought maybe your oracle has seen anything."

"I will see what I can do." Cayden replied.

"What have you decided to do with Scarlett?" Jason, Valerie's beta asked.

"Excuse me." Cayden growled. He did not like the tone that Jason used.

Jason bowed as a sign of respect to him. "I am sorry to talk like that but that girl betrayed our pack. Our alpha and our pack is helping you at every point and at every situation but we are not getting the same response back. She has just lost her title nothing else."

Cayden felt torn. He was the ruthless alpha who ruled with iron fist and for the first time he was portrayed weak in front of his pack and other packs as well.

Enjoy Reading.

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I know the story is feeling stagnant but if I increased the pace of the story it will looked rushed. So slow pace is necessary for story building. 

Let me know what you are all thinking and suggestions are always welcome.