Amnesia - The Matlock Pack: Book One
Epilogue

Wednesday 6 January

It was just before midnight when I sat down and turned my personal computer on.

While I waited for it to finish booting up, I looked over all the paperwork still sitting on my desk and groaned. The constant paperwork this pack saw every day was astonishing.

Once the computer had finished doing what it needed to do, I created a new email from my encrypted account and started typing.

~~~

New Message

To: Alpha James Boyle

Subject: Encrypt: Intent to Open Negotiations

Good morning, Alpha James. I hope this missive finds you well and in good spirits.

It has recently come to my attention that there have been skirmishes in the area between the Kinglake and Matlock pack lands, commonly referred to as the Borderlands.

These clashes have been ongoing since the Kinglake Pack was unceremoniously exiled from the Matlock Pack many years ago, but have increased in regularity over recent months.

At the time of the unfortunate expulsion of the Kinglake Pack, I was too young for my voice to be heard to stop such a regrettable turn of events. However, I am now in a position where I can right the wrongs of yesteryear by proposing the merger of both packs; unifying what should never have been ripped apart in the first place and eliminating the injuries and deaths that both packs have endured over the years by fighting each other.

There are many in the Matlock Pack that feel the same as I do and have long since harboured hopes that the Matlock Pack’s current leadership team would see sense and open discussions with you and your leadership team about reuniting the two packs.

Alas, it appears they are incapable of seeing reason, so I am approaching you directly.

I have the support of enough Matlock Pack members to ensure a change of leadership, but we need your assistance in ensuring a smooth transition from one leader to another.

We would be honoured if you would consider taking on the Alpha role once the Matlock and Kinglake Packs have become whole once again.

We understand that you currently have your own leadership team, however we feel it would be prudent to have your Beta be assigned from the Matlock Pack’s leadership team to provide reassurance to Matlock Pack members that their interests are still being heard.

I respectfully offer my name in consideration of this role as I am presently high enough in the existing Matlock Pack leadership team that it would minimise any disruptions a change of leadership would undoubtedly encounter.

If this sounds like something you would like to explore, I would be willing to meet with you to expand on further negotiation requirements.

Please respond to this encrypted email directly with the date and time you would like to meet, as well as a suggestion of a neutral location.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

~~~

I re-read the email several times while the mouse hovered over the send button. I knew that once it was dispatched, there was no going back. The die would be cast.

My jaw clenched as anxiety filled me, but I knew it had to be done. With every fibre of my being, I knew.

I swallowed heavily and hit send, then leaned back in my seat and interlocked my fingers behind my head. All I could do now was wait.

I heard the front door open and shut, then tracked the footsteps plodding tiredly through the apartment until they came to a rest at my office door.

“You’re home late.” I smiled at my mate, with my hands still behind my head, the very image of being cool, calm, and collected.

“There was an incident at the Borderlands again.”

“Another one?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Second one this week.”

I sighed and brought my hands over my head and rubbed my eyes with my thumbs. This had to stop. “I’m sorry you have to deal with that.”

“It’s what I do.”

“Doesn’t stop me from wishing you didn’t have to do it, though.”

A sad smile. “I know. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

I sat forward in my seat and rested my elbows on the desk.

“You about done here?” Kelly asked, leaning against the doorframe. “Or are you staying up?”

“Give me a minute? I’m just shutting the computer down now.” I smiled at my husband, hoping that when this was all over, he understood I was doing all of it for him.

~*To Be Continued in Betrayed — The Matlock Pack: Book Two*~

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