Eric's POV
Contrary to what we thought it would be, the meeting was a huge success with all the forty-two members of the patrol pledging their allegiance to Thor. The whole team, even Ella who doesn't like Victoria couldn't deny the fact that the success was partly because of Victoria's efforts.
If she had not convinced her colleagues to come to the meeting and see for themselves that Thor was not the monster that he was painted to be, they would probably not have come and that would have made Thor furious. So furious he wouldn't hesitate to kill some or kick all of them out of the pack. What kind of leader would he be known for then if that was the case? A tyrant maybe?
I'm worried though. I'm worried about so many things as a matter of fact. Thor has never trusted anyone outside his family or his team members but I can see he's impressed by his new concubine. He's beginning to let his guard down for her. I mean what if she's one of Evelyn's minions and doing all this to gain Thor's trust? What if he allowed her into our midst and she betrayed him to Evelyn?
Even if it happens that I'm wrong about her and she has nothing to do with Evelyn. What about Ash? How would she feel when she becomes free and learns Thor already got himself a concubine in addition to his fake mate?
I've seen her rage and I fear for Victoria's life. I've also witnessed Thor's deadly anger and I fear the two of them might end up killing each other since he doesn't remember her anymore. Fuck! What was Moon goddess thinking when he mated those two together?
As I half listen to Thor rearranging the patrol members into new groups and zones, the other half of my mind is on Ash. I remember the message Ella gave me after she answered my call...
'The person that called said your girl has caused a lot of problems for them at her hostel.'
I know she couldn't give me the full details of the message because Thor was with us then and we weren't able to talk about it while we were together in the woods hunting for Cyrus's Gammas. Now that the tension is a bit down, I need to speak with her so she will inform me about what happened with Ash at the prison yard before I go see her. I have to know if she's okay. How she's holding up and maybe inform her about Martha's missing corpse.
"Eric, I already informed you, that you will be at the first gate with Victoria and her team..." Thor's voice brings me out of my thoughts and I look up to find his eyes looking at me strangely
"Okay, General," I replied to him.
'What were you thinking about?' He had a frown on his face as he asked through our mind link
I just shrug my shoulders in reply. What was I supposed to tell him? That I was thinking about the mate he didn't remember anymore?
He looks away from me to continue with what he was discussing when he realizes I have nothing else to say.
"This new arrangement is until after the fence is repaired, by then we would have gotten new executives and superiors for each group, and that's that...
Victoria, you guys can return to your duty post. My Beta will meet up with you later." He says and they chorused the usual "Yes, Alpha..." reply before dispatching to their duty post.
After they've left, he turns to the Gammas who will be guiding the third gate...
"Guys meet Henrik. He will be at your duty post with you later. You all can leave now."
"Yes, Alpha." They also say and leaves
"Patrol teams, y'all listen up. These are Ivar, Bear, and Timothy..." He said as he pointed to all the men he mentioned. Ivar you will join patrol teams in the north. Bear, you will patrol with the south while Timothy will patrol with the west... Now that you know your duties, y'all can leave, your temporary superiors will be with you later..."
"Yes, Malik. You want to say something?" Thor asks Malik who has his hands raised
"Yes, Alpha. I was just wondering about the Border. I noticed you didn't assign any of us to the place. I get the place is dangerous for anyone to patrol right now but we just can't leave it wide open for rogues or any scoundrel to have free entry to the pack. We still need to guide the place."
"Good observations, Malik. You're right that the border needs to be patrolled but I already took care of that. I employed the services of some soldiers of fortune. They are there right now and as soon as I'm done here, myself and some of my men will be going there to join them to patrol."
Malik's face breaks into a big smile. I can see he's impressed by Thor and right then, I know we found a loyalist.
"Thank you, Alpha," Malik says with a deep bow before making his way with the others toward the door.
I walked to the bleachers to sit down after they'd all left.
"I need a good stiff drink," I mumbled to myself particular
"What's up with you?" Thor asks as he comes to sit beside me
"Me? What are you talking about? I'm great! Do I look to you like something is off with me" I jokingly ask but he sees through my joke like always
"Well, I never said something was off with you but now that you mentioned it, you can tell me the reason for your absentmindedness during the meeting."
I exhale
"I know we're super busy right now but I need to go see someone, it's urgent. And I was absent-minded because I was searching my mind for a good excuse to give my boss so he would allow me to leave without making a fuss" I reply with the closest excuse to the truth and he chuckles
"It's dangerous out there you know. You should take some of the men that we just brought from the estate along with you if you insist on leaving."
"Yeah, sure." I agreed, even though I knew within me that I would be going alone. If I argue with him about it, he might insist on going with me himself.
"Aren't you going to ask me where I'm going?" I ask
"What's the point of asking what I know you won't tell me..." He says and stands up. "Be careful out there and take one or two men along with you. Okay?"
"Yeah, I will..."