Ch. 29：Keep your frenemy close

It's been three days since the ritual and two days since Ares healed Adriana, who was now more clingy than ever to her. Even going as far as throwing tantrums to sleep on the same bed with Ares. I let it happen, but not anymore. I can't take the couch again.
“How is it going?” I asked Carlton as I inspected the training. “Well, more than a few have dropped out. Now, it's just these twelve, but expect more to drop”
I sighed. I guess I expected that, but hearing it still dampens the mood. “Increase the training hours so those that want to leave will leave now and we can cater for who's left.”
“We're already doing five hours a day if I increase it for another two or three, they might all break”
“It’s a necessary evil. Do it.” “okay”
“Alpha, Alpha Cain's here. He's at the border right now” Luke informs me through the pack link.
“Who is he with?” I ask him “just him and a guard”
Either he's been too cautious or something's going on. He delayed the meeting all this while only for him to turn up at my pack.
“Bring him to my office” I said, heading there myself. I've had Cole work with me for the new treaty and Josh was right. With each clause he wrote, he hid a loophole for us. If the other party doesn't look close enough, they wouldn't notice it.
Barely a few minutes after I settle in, a knock interrupts the stillness of my office. “Come in”
“Jason. How have you been?” Cain smiled all tooth at me. I reciprocate the gesture, albeit reluctantly. We weren't friends, now I know he definitely wants something.
“Cain. It's been a while” I said as we shook hands. “Please, sit”
“Thank you. I got your message. Sorry it took so long to respond” the insincerity in his apology was laughable.
“It's okay. There's no need for that again. But if I may ask, why are you here?” I feigned my ignorance.
“Well I would love to sign a treaty with you” he said “but there's no need for that anymore. I've already signed with Killian” I countered
“You can never have too many allies, Jason,” he said, leaning forward. “True, but I proposed a treaty with you a week ago. Same day as Killian and he responded the next day.”
“Don't hold it against me. I was unaware of the threat ahead,” he said “but I'm here now as a sign of good fate”
“What are you offering?” He came to me. I'll milk him for all he's got. “He's close to my pack. The scouts I sent out confirmed his location.”
“How many scouts did you send out?” “Four. Only one came back fully, the other had one of his legs cut off, while the other two were killed. They were one of my best guys”
“So you are here, because you know now that you can't face him alone” I said to him “what can you really offer me that I don't already have?”
Even if I had already prepared an agreement with him, I wasn't going to lay it on the table first. “Fair. Here” he passed me his own agreement.
I read through each clause as carefully as ever. He’s desperate. There's no telling what he can do. “It's written here in clause nine, that either of us are free to abandon the other, even in battle if the situation gets too dire”
I looked up at him. My jaw ticked “you plan to use my pack as a sacrificial lamb to save your own skin. Am I a joke to you Alpha Cain?" The tension rose in the air as we both fought for dominance. The air was thick with tension, you can slice it with a butter knife.
We stayed that way for a few seconds before he backed down. “I don't mean to be disrespectful Jason, but I've lost more people than I care to mention. I don't wish to add to the numbers.” he said.
“You speak to me about loss like you haven't heard what happened to me. Nearly half my pack was slaughtered and you're telling me to be okay with you using the rest as sacrificial lamb to save yours?” the anger in my tone is apparent. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it in that way. I'm just looking out for my pack.” he said.
“So am I.” I replied hostilely.
“Why don't you lay your terms on the table and we can discuss. I'm sure we can come to a consensus.” he said after a heartbeat. I brought out what we worked on and laid it in front of him. He read through each one without giving it a second glance. Either he was really desperate or just didn't care.
“If there are no further renewal after a year, any party is allowed to terminate the agreement after the stipulated time” he read the last part out loud. “Are the terms to your liking?” I asked, all signs of hostility leaving my voice. The pleasant easy going Jason was back. He knows now not to push my buttons.
“Yes. If after a year I wish to continue the treaty, I'll let you know” he said and we both signed. Cole was right. He was like those humans who download new apps and click on the agree button without reading the terms and agreement. In this case, I'm glad it worked in my favour.
I escorted him back to the border “I'd like to be in the loop as much as possible” “I'll be sure to keep you posted. If you have any news on him, don't hesitate to send a message” I said
He paused in front of their car “That reminds me. I don't think he's working alone.”
“Why'd you think that?” I asked.
“My guys think there's a second party, but we're unable to confirm visual if it was male or female” he said “that's all I know”
“That's plenty. Thank you.” We shook hands again before he departed.
I headed back to check in on Carlton and Josh. I needed progress. We might have to send them out earlier than planned.
“Where's everyone?” I asked Josh who was leaning on the iron bars observing. “Jason. This is what is left after Carlton increased the hours and the training.” he pointed at the field.
They were just four now out of twelve. The number doesn't bother me much. I squinted my eyes at the blonde hair that swirled in the air. Is that? I turn to Josh “is that Allison?” I asked.
“Yeah. She joined after they all left.”
“Why?” I was genuinely curious and confused.
“Something about burying the hatchet and fighting for her Luna”
She would never call Ares her Luna. She must have an ulterior motive “And you bought it?”
“No, but if she dies out there, that's one less problem on our hands.” He said and started circling the arena “Keep your enemies close and your friends closer right? I don't trust her and neither does Carlton and Ares.”
I wonder what her end game was.