I focus my attention on Carol as she's looking at the TV screen with a shocked expression on her face. She looks truly devastated by the damage done to the fence. She indeed must be a damn good actress if she's putting up a show.
My dad told us she's one of Evelyn's friends, that they're even in the same women's executive's club but she outrightly denied being friends with Evelyn. I don't want to believe my dad didn't know what he was saying when he told Eric and me they were friends but I'll have to keep my fingers crossed and wait for the truth
Her eyes become wider as she lets out a small gasp when the TV displays the smashed fence charger.
"They broke into the Alpha's workshop to destroy the energizer too?" She exclaims, briefly looking in her daughter's direction
"This is obviously an inside job. Somebody in this pack did that damage, I'm sure." My gaze immediately shifts from Carol to her daughter who just spoke for the first time since the meeting started.
"Uh, oh..." She says as her eyes meet mine. "I forgot I'm not supposed to speak. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She says, looking apologetically at her mother before bringing her gaze back to mine.
"I promise I won't talk again." She says again, making a show of zipping her mouth shut.
"Nobody said you shouldn't speak. "Don't speak out of turn, was what I said." I reminded her
"Oh, okay then..." she says, heaving a sigh of relief.
I understand Eric's few minutes of craziness over her now that I can properly look at her features. She's indeed a beautiful girl. Ash blond hair, light gray eyes, and a very nice figure. She looks delicate, like the kind of beauty you'd see in fairy tale movies. The memory of her fiercely challenging Ella to a duel makes me wonder if her fighting skill is that good or if she was just putting up a show to save face.
I wonder if I make her uncomfortable since she keeps shuffling her feet under my thoughtful gaze
"Ummm... I'm Victoria by the way..." She says, her voice sounding unsure and I nod at her in reply
"So you believe the damages were done by someone from inside this pack? Do you mind telling me who you suspect then?" I ask.
She looks toward her mother like she's asking if it's okay to speak. She starts talking after Carol gives her a curt nod.
"I don't suspect anybody, sir. I– I was just stating the obvious here. I mean they– Lindsey and Elder Zachary weren't interested in patrolling the eastern part of the pack before when the place was still dangerous so what's with the sudden interest after the electric fence was erected?..."
"Was that question meant for me to answer for you?..." I ask with a raised brow when she keeps looking at me like she's expecting me to fill in the gap for her
"Oh, no! Of course not sir. What I'm saying is that I think they took the eastern border away from my mom and her team because they have something they're benefiting from the rogues' attack." Her eyes skips over every face in the room as she talks
"It seems to me like they wanted to keep the border open so the rogues could continue to have free access to the pack. For them to keep the border open they needed to have access to destroy the fence and keep it that way and the only way to achieve that was to take the place away from my mom to avoid suspicion.
Otherwise, how would they be able to destroy the fence when my mom's people are always on patrol? That is why they had to insist on patrolling the border. You guys get what I'm saying now?"
"Yeah, I get you," I replied to her. She got the theory I had in my mind spot on... Or could all her explanations be part of their plan to gain my trust? I ask myself before asking her another question.
"So how old are you and what's your rank in the pack?"
"I'm nineteen years old and I'm a Gamma." She says proudly.
"You're a Gamma?" My eyes couldn't help but widen with surprise. Considering her age and fairy-like appearance, I was expecting to hear her tell me she's something like a tutor or healer but never a Gamma.
Gammas are supreme protectors of a pack and are quite skillful in fighting. No wonder she has the guts to confidently challenge Ella to a duel. I wonder how she managed to be a Gamma Wolf with her delicate features that look like someone would rather put on display than among serious fighters.
Seeing the way she looks, I doubt if she indeed has the skills and wonder if she gets to be a Gamma because of her parents' influence. Unless I see for myself that she's worthy of that position, I will continue to believe that ranks in this pack are not given on merits but based on who you know among the higher-ups. I wonder if my dad knew what his pack had been reduced to.
I check my wristwatch and see the time is almost six. The meeting has been going on for almost an hour. I wonder when the mercenaries will be arriving since we have to start arranging and fixing everyone in their positions to ensure the pack's security.
"Time for action," I say and stand up, and so did everyone else.
I speak with Eric as we walk out of the conference hall...
"Just to be sure about who is now in charge of the border, check the pack's database. I want the details of everyone who was supposed to be patrolling the place. Send it to the pack's council police. I want them arrested and in the dungeon as soon as possible."
"Sure..." He replies and immediately takes out his phone to start making the arrangements.
As we walk, I see Carol and her daughter who were a few feet away by our right side sharing a secret laugh with each other
"My, my, someone's happy...'' I say, indicating in their direction with my head.
Eric looks up from his phone towards the mother and daughter who are still laughing
"Sure they are. Hmm, why do I feel like she's using you, Thor? It seems to me like she's riding on your coattails to fight Evelyn, you know what I mean?" Eric says, frowning in their direction.
I frown in concentration as I consider the possibility of what Eric just told me.