Page 1 of Her Bully Alpha (Honeycomb Valley Alphas #1)

I stepped into the meeting room, taking in the space. It was a simple room with six chairs and a huge maple wood table. The windows allowed light to bask over the room, giving it a warm feel. The walls were a cream color, and the carpet was run down but not worth replacing since we were the only people that ever used the room.

I sighed heavily as I sat down in one of the wooden chairs. Henrik raised an eyebrow at me, already seated on my left. He held a smirk on his face as his brown eyes tracked over me. Henrik ran a hand over his stubbled chin and chuckled. "You sound irritable today."

I glared at him, not amused. I slept like shit the last couple of nights because of the damn letter I received from the Council. I had enough on my plate as it was, so I didn't want to have to think about finding my mate. Not that I had a choice in the matter anymore. It seemed the Council was growing impatient and tired of us all waiting to find respectable mates.

"I'm tired, and I have a mountain of paperwork waiting for me back at my office. Can we all agree to make this quick?"

"Are you saying we aren't worth the trouble?" Aaron asked as he and Maddox both stepped into the room. Aaron smirked as he sat down, giving me a cocky look. He had pulled his longer black hair back into a messy bun, yet it somehow looked perfectly done.

"I don't think that's what he's saying," Maddox said, running his hand through his hair as he shook his head. "Let's not poke the bear, shall we, Aaron?"

I grumbled, leaning back in my chair. I ignored Aaron's antics, looking towards the door. "Are the others coming?"

"So grumpy," Henrik snorted. "And we're friends, why?"

I threw another glare at him. "I can end that if you would like."

Henrik chuckled as entertainment sparkled in his eyes. "You'd miss me. Besides, I don't see any of these guys putting up with your moods like I do."

"We're here," Francis yelled loudly as he and Jones both stepped into the room, shutting the door behind them. "Sorry, Jonesy here had to make a pit stop before we came." Francis threw his thumb back at Jones, who rolled his eyes.

"You didn't have to wait for me," Jones said softly as he took his seat. Out of all of us, he was the most composed and cool-headed of the group. Francis threw himself into his chair, and it creaked loudly under his weight.

"Alright, since we're all here, let's get this meeting going. Who wants to go first?" I announced, eager to get this over with. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy coming here and chatting with the guys. As we were all Alphas of our own packs in Honeycomb Valley, it was essential that we got along and kept up with each other.

We were all wary of each other when we first started attending these meetings. Tensions were high, and we didn't want to announce anything to the group. We all wanted to appear that we had control over our packs even if we didn't. It had taken us a few years to get here and understand each other the way that we did. We respected each other, even if we were all very different.

My relationship with Henrik started before I took on this role. I had known Henrik since we were little. We grew up together and were raised to think about the pack and what was best. Somehow, Henrik had a gentleness, a calmer presence that I could never understand. I think the softness of his brown, almost gold eyes calmed people. People opened up to him in ways I didn't know were possible.

Maddox was the popular one. He had the dashing looks and the presence that people trusted. He was one of the easiest to talk to and the most trustworthy. He sat across from me, looking perfectly put together. He had dark black hair and bright blue eyes that caught anyone's attention. Women swooned over him, and for good reason.

Aaron was the free-spirited one. When we first met him, I questioned how he was going to run a pack when he could hardly take anything seriously, but he surprised us all. He enjoyed a joke, but when it came to serious discussion, he was the quickest to make decisions. Behind that laugh, there was a sharp mind.

Francis, or Frank for short, was short-tempered and loud. He grew up with a stern father and strict rules. He was protective and didn't allow anything to slip through his fingers. At times, it drove us a little nuts. We knew that to be a good leader, you need to be soft at times, but who was I to say much? We were pretty sure his anger came from being in the role longer than us.

I was strict myself, and everyone always described me as grumpy. I just hated being interrupted or having things thrown at me. It screwed up my entire schedule. I was not a morning person, and every time we had these meetings, they all expected me to drag my ass out of bed at the crack of dawn. Somehow, I was always the first person here.

And then there was Jones. I glanced at him. He was the youngest of us and still a mystery. He was quiet and reserved. We didn't know much about him, and the times we had all gone out to get to know each other, we left with more questions about him than answers.

Jones waved his hand up. "Did everyone receive the letter from the Council?"

I looked around the room as everyone nodded their heads. I wondered if any of them got a letter announcing they were mated.

"Does anyone else find it a little odd?" Frank asked, crossing his arms. "Can’t we decide when we want to mate and settle down? I feel like a child being told to marry someone I don't even know."

Henrik shrugged. "It's not up to us anymore, with this virus taking hold of so many. I understand their urgency with everything."

The virus. We knew so little about it still after having it racing through all of our packs like the change of seasons. We couldn't figure out how it was created or why it was suddenly here, but it affected us all.

Our numbers were down, and a lot of female wolves were becoming infertile. They had different scientists working on it and a shifter black OB unit trying to figure it out, but no one has come up with any answers. And the Council was growing worried. It seemed that stepping in was the only way for them to get a hold of this situation. Or at least that was what they were saying.

"So, did everyone's letter announce that our fuck whoever you want, free for all days are over?" Aaron asked, tapping his fingers on the table. "Or just me? Was I the only playboy, according to them?"

"You mean how the Council is going to be finding each of us a mate from math rather than letting us find them ourselves?" Frank asked, his voice sharp suddenly. I could tell he clearly wasn't pleased about the arrangement, and I'm sure he would let the Council know his feelings as well.

Aaron ignored his roughness, nodding his head. "Yes, that is correct."

Henrik glanced at me. I had told him that mine stated they found mine, but we weren't going to tell the guys just yet. Just because they stated they found mine didn't mean that was a hundred percent true. Anything could happen.

"Is anyone else insulted that it's with humans?" Maddox asked.

Henrik glared at him, baring his teeth. I could tell he was instantly offended. "Watch it," he growled with a warning.

While we were all aware that humans were the lowest on the totem pole when it came to strength, speed, and intelligence, Henrik had a human sister and didn't accept shit-talking. Maybe that was why people trusted him so much. He cared about the humans more than anyone else.

Aaron put a hand up. "I apologize, but as Alphas, we are supposed to be breeding to make the next strongest leader. Humans are not designed to bear and care for those kinds of children. I'm not saying I haven't been with a human, but in retrospect, Henrik, we all know humans are weaker. How is it possible we are all to mate with humans and make the pack stronger? It doesn't make sense."

Henrik didn't speak, but I could see he was irritated.

I didn't want to say that I understood Aaron's concern. What was the Council thinking when they sent these letters? I first thought it was a cruel joke until I recognized the stamp at the bottom.

I came from a long line of Alphas that were mated with strong and powerful women. The idea of being mated with a human made me sick. A child made from a relationship like that would never rule. They would never have the same strength as a child born from two shifters.

I curled my hands into fists, suddenly irritated. I would meet my so-called mate in a few days. And I couldn't reject her. Going against the Council was just asking for trouble. I would have to accept and welcome her, but that would be even harder. While I was respectful of humans, I didn't love the idea of being mated by one.

"Oy, you still there?" Frank snapped his fingers, and I snapped my mind back to what we were talking about.

"Sorry," I said, straightening myself.

"While none of us might love the decisions about this, we all know we are on thin ice. If we want our packs to continue thriving, we need to bite the bullet." Henrik glanced at me. "Agreed?"

I thought of our conversation when I showed him the letter. He asked if I was excited. I wasn't, but I couldn't complain to him. He would feel insulted.

I thought of his sister and how fragile she was when we were younger. Henrik loved his sister more than I thought a person could, but I knew it was because she wasn't treated right. She was bullied and picked on a lot for being human.

And I hadn't helped with that. While I would never insult her, I never welcomed her and sometimes regretted it. She was a sweet girl that didn't decide her fate.

"Agreed," I said, nodding my head. "We need to do what is best for the packs."

"I'm just saying, do you really think there is a human out there that can handle any of us?" Frank asked, leaning back in his chair. "For example, Jay is grumpy all the damn time. I can't imagine living with it. I don't see any woman wanting to put up with it."

I laughed. "Says the loudmouth. I don't see a woman putting up with you. You would probably scare her because you always talk so loudly."

Frank snorted. "I've dated plenty of women to know I'm not a problem. Can you say the same?"

I didn't really date. I'd had flings here and there, but nothing serious. I never wanted anything to interfere with my job. And the idea of mating had always been the last thing I wanted to think about. I was still young and had time. I wanted to focus on the pack and being the best Alpha, I could be first before I thought of starting a family.

Henrik laughed next to me. "He isn't wrong. You could open up a little and maybe pull the stick you have crammed up your ass out."

I turned to Henrik, "Oh really? Should we talk about your sexual history? I'm pretty sure it's short. Possibly shorter than mine."

Aaron laughed, and Henrik looked at him. "I don't know what you're laughing about. You're in the triple digits, and no self-respecting woman is going to love learning that."

Aaron shrugged, seeming unbothered by the comment. "It just says I've had practice, so when I find my mate, she will be pleased in every way she wants."

I cringed, shaking my head.

Jones smirked. "You keep telling yourself that."

I smirked, always finding Jones had perfect add-ins. You often forgot he was there at times.

"We're getting off-topic," Aaron said, rolling his eyes. "Should we maybe start discussing whatever changes we all had this month?"

While they all started, my mind wandered about my letter and who I would be mating with. I wondered what she was like. Was she going to be able to handle everything? Would she stand under the pressure or fumble?

I needed someone strong, someone who could take what was thrown at her. She needed to understand how important my role was and just how important her own would be.

My mind traveled to Henrik's sister and I wondered what she was doing now. I hadn't seen her since she was eighteen. Henrik said she moved out of their house as quickly as she could and didn't look back.

I remembered how she admitted her feelings for me, and I had been stunned. And then I laughed. It was cruel, but we could never be anything. She was a small human that couldn't defend herself. I knew she would only live life regretting a life with me. She would never amount to someone powerful, someone who could handle the pain of being a ruler.

I shook my head and tried to focus. She wasn't my problem, and I shouldn't have thought about her anyway. I had more important things on my plate, more pressing issues than the past.

The meeting ended an hour later, and Henrik and I headed outside. We decided to stay back a little longer. Henrik looked at the letter he received, and I could see his mind was churning.

"Who do you think it is?" he asked, looking up at me. "Who do you think you got mated with?"

"No idea," I said, shoving my hands into my pocket. "But I'll find out pretty soon."

Henrik laughed, folding his letter and shoving it back into his pocket. "I'm surprised you aren't rushing to get back home. I thought you had a mountain of paperwork."

I did, but I didn't know when I would see him again. Since we both took on our roles, we only saw each other on rare occasions.

"I do."

Henrik sighed as he leaned against the building, crossing his arms. He looked over the bare parking lot and grunted. "Crazy to think this is where we are now."

I glanced at him and nodded. When we were younger, we had looked forward to being Alphas. We hadn't realized how much work it was until we got into the positions.

"Well, I have to get home." Henrik patted my shoulder. "Chat with you later."

I watched Henrik walk away, and I glanced over at my truck. I knew I should get home and get started with my paperwork. Maybe it would get my mind off of everything.

I could only hope.