"Well, Wolfie, looks like the General is really in town," I teased as I ran my fingers through Hayley's hair.
Hayley was stretched across the couch with her head resting on my lap. She immediately groaned.
"It was awful. Those idiot wolves wouldn't even respect my decision. Then they started accusing me of being a hybrid."
"I know, I know," I sighed.
Unfortunately, I made the mistake of stopping the head scratches.
Hayley instantly froze.
Slowly, she turned her head and looked up at me.
"Don't."
Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist and placed my hand right back on her head.
I stared at her.
She stared back.
Spoiled wolf.
From across the room, Caroline appeared looking far too pleased with herself. Her skin practically glowed and she wore the kind of smile that usually meant trouble.
She glanced at Hayley, then casually lifted the wolf's legs and sat down.
"Hey!" Hayley complained.
"Don't complain."
Caroline smacked her on the backside with vampire strength.
Hayley immediately curled up and looked personally betrayed by the universe.
"There was no reason for that!"
"There was."
"No, there wasn't!"
"There absolutely was."
Completely ignoring her complaints, Caroline settled against me and placed Hayley's legs across her lap.
"You seem happy," I observed.
Caroline stretched dramatically.
"Immortal blood is amazing."
She threw both arms into the air.
"Seriously. Ten out of ten experience."
A moment later, another figure stumbled into the room.
Amara.
She looked exhausted.
There were still healing bite marks on her face, and her skin was noticeably paler than usual.
The moment she spotted a free space, she collapsed into it and wrapped her arms around me.
"I regret everything."
Her voice was full of fake suffering.
"That vampire bit me everywhere."
Caroline gasped.
"I did not."
"You absolutely did."
"I was hungry."
"You were enthusiastic."
"I prefer my version."
Amara groaned dramatically.
"Aaaaah. Give me attention. I am a victim."
The complaining continued until I started running my fingers through her hair too.
Instant silence.
Caroline pointed at her.
"See? She's just as bad."
"Says the woman glowing from happiness because she drank immortal blood."
"Fair point."
And just like that, I found myself trapped.
One spoiled vampire.
One dramatic immortal.
One grumpy wolf.
All demanding attention.
Wonderful.
I sighed toward the ceiling.
"What happened with the General?"
Hayley immediately frowned.
"I don't like him."
Caroline laughed.
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
Caroline grinned.
"You only dislike him because he called you out."
Hayley pointed accusingly.
"He said I was out of control."
"You were planning a massacre."
"I was considering options."
"That's the same thing."
"It is not."
"It absolutely is."
Amara buried her face in my shoulder to hide her laughter.
I wasn't much better.
Hayley looked offended.
"You're all terrible."
"We're listening to the eyewitness."
"Traitors."
Caroline leaned back comfortably.
"The interesting part wasn't the argument."
"It wasn't?" I asked.
"Nope."
She pointed toward Hayley.
"The interesting part was realizing her Alpha presence was affecting the wolves."
Hayley groaned.
"I still hate that."
"You didn't notice?"
"Not at all."
She crossed her arms.
"Apparently every wolf in the room was reacting to me."
"Reacting how?" Amara asked.
"Submission."
The room grew slightly quieter.
"Instinctive submission?" I asked.
Hayley nodded.
"The General said it's natural. Most normal wolves are affected by Alphas whether they realize it or not."
"And the ones who aren't?" I asked.
"The dangerous ones."
That got my attention.
Hayley nodded.
"He said wolves with enough willpower to resist Alpha influence are usually the ones you should watch closely."
Caroline smirked.
"Because they're making a choice instead of following instincts."
That actually made sense.
Hayley sighed.
"I still don't trust wolves."
"Nobody's surprised."
"But..."
She hesitated.
"I understand them a little better now."
Caroline smiled.
"Progress."
"Tiny progress."
"Still progress."
Before Hayley could continue, Caroline raised a finger.
"My favorite part was when I challenged him."
Hayley immediately rolled her eyes.
"I knew this was coming."
Amara sat up.
"You challenged the General?"
"Of course I did."
"What happened?"
Caroline grinned.
"He refused."
I blinked.
"He what?"
"He refused."
Now I was interested.
"Why?"
Caroline looked extremely pleased with herself.
"He said he couldn't beat me."
Amara blinked.
Hayley opened one eye.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Unexpected."
"That's what I thought."
Caroline pointed dramatically.
"But then he ruined the compliment."
"How?"
"He said he'd probably manage to land one or two bites before losing."
Hayley immediately laughed.
"That part was hilarious."
"It was not."
"It absolutely was."
Caroline ignored her.
"Then he said those bites would make the fight a waste of two lives."
The room fell silent.
Then Amara started laughing.
Then I started laughing.
Even Hayley joined in.
Caroline looked betrayed.
"I hate all of you."
"No, you don't," Hayley replied instantly.
"Maybe not."
Eventually Hayley became thoughtful again.
"The weirdest part wasn't any of that."
"The monsters?" Caroline asked.
Hayley nodded.
The mood shifted.
"The General explained something."
I paid attention immediately.
"Once an Alpha creates a monster..."
"The monster's traits become permanently engraved into the Alpha," Caroline finished.
I frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning keeping them alive is pointless."
Hayley nodded.
"The adaptation already happened."
Amara blinked.
"Then why do Alphas keep them around?"
"Tradition."
"Ignorance."
"Bullheaded stupidity."
We all looked at Amara.
She shrugged.
"What? It's true."
Honestly?
She had a point.
"The General's advice was simple," Hayley continued.
"What was it?"
"Kill them immediately."
"Direct."
"Very."
"He treated them like tools," Caroline added.
"Not part of the Alpha."
Hayley closed her eyes.
For the first time all evening, she looked genuinely relaxed.
"Less monsters."
"Less risk," I added.
"Less problems," Caroline said.
"Less meetings with idiot wolves," Hayley finished.
That got another round of laughter.
A few minutes later she settled deeper into my lap.
"Feeling better?" I asked.
"Mhm."
"Spoiled."
"Obviously."
At least she admitted it.
And for a little while, nobody talked about monsters, Generals, Alphas, or wolves.
They just enjoyed the rare peace.