The Bluewood and Ironhill Betas begrudgingly acquiesce that the best thing for both the packs is to hold a shared meeting.

It will be the first time in hundreds of years that the Bluewood and Ironhill packs will simultaneously be meeting, and everyone is understandably a little nervous about the prospect of it. Plans for where to hold the meeting- Bluewood, as it has the largest venue, and security measures- Ironhill demanded their own warriors be used, as well as Bluewood soldiers, keep Dylan and Orion separated and busy. They all decide that the only way the packs will really take to this idea of peace is if the Alphas lead by example.

But that's not exactly going well.

In their joint planning sessions, Dylan is cold and aloof and can hardly look at Orion, keeping a permanent space of at least two metres between them at all times. It's starting to get on Orion's nerves, and people are noticing.

The Betas had tried to talk Dylan round. Sam had pleaded, begged his best friend to fight through the pain, to make some sort of effort. Kieran had chosen a different approach, berating Dylan as much as he dared as he essentially told the Bluewood Alpha to get a grip.

Surprisingly, Dylan had borne this very well, nodding sagely, promising to make more of an effort.

But it didn't matter in the end. He wasn't playing dice, and it's now too late.

The evening of the meeting is upon them, and Orion shifts uneasily from foot to foot backstage.

They are using the concert hall that is situated on the outskirts of Bluewood territory. They rent it out occasionally to increase pack revenue and it holds five thousand people. He can feel the vibration of the masses of people waiting in the audience in his chest, the buzz of their voices filling every inch of space around him until he feels like he can't breathe.

The importance of this meeting has been shoved down his throat by every adviser and elder Orion has spoken to for the last two weeks, and it isn't lost on him.

The peace treaty is only as good as the people who agree to uphold it. It is imperative for the packs to understand that a new era of reconcile is upon them. There will be no tolerance for old prejudice.

And he has to lead by example.

Their Beta's have been doing a wonderful job of this, and Orion watches them with faint irritation as Sam signs something to Kieran, a grin on his face.

It looks like something along the lines of 'good luck'.

He sighs, looking away. He fears that Dylan is right about them. He shakes his head minutely, smiling to himself despite everything. That kid had always been perceptive as hell, and it's nice to know that some things never change.

He looks around, his irritation spiking once more. Speaking of the elusive Alpha, where the fuck is he? The meeting is meant to start any moment. He bites his lip, his nerves playing havoc with his heart.

He glances back at their Betas, watching Kieran tug Sam close, his eyes closing as he rests his head against the side of Sam's face. Sam's posture is hesitant, his arms faltering before gently wrapping one of them around Kieran's torso.

Orion looks away again, a painful longing settling in his stomach. He had thought about it, and even if they are mates, he's not going to stand in their way. He doesn't think he could. He's happy for Kieran, but God, how he envies him too.

"Ready?"

Orion turns suddenly, startled by the voice close at hand.

Dylan's blue eyes are vibrant, even in the dim light of the stage wings and Orion feels his nerves settle at once.

"Yeah." Orion breathes.

Dylan watches him for a moment, indecision dancing in his features before he nods.

Their Betas make their way on stage and Kieran settles the audience, demanding their attention. Orion bites his lip, determined to make one last plea.

"Dyl..." He begins, reaching out but Dylan flinches away.

"Don't." He says sharply.

Orion exhales tensely, his shoulders tight.

"Please, Dylan, I get it. You can't stand me, but you have to pretend. They're never going to buy into a peace agreement if they think their Alphas hate each other." Orion hisses, waving a hand out to the stage.

Dylan peers at Orion, his eyes calculating.

"I know." Dylan says cooly, which only succeeds in driving Orion crazy.

"So fucking show it!" Orion says, his tone venomous.

He watches Dylan's jaw clench, his eyes retreating as they glide away from Orion's to face the stage. His entire body is stiff and poised, so far away and distant and Orion groans softly, pinching the bridge of his nose as regret seeps through him.

He knows he's being unreasonable. He knows he's the worst excuse for a mate that's ever lived and that what he's asking of Dylan is monumental. He has no idea how Dylan is bearing it so well, considering that Orion feels like a fucking mess twenty-four seven. His deepest, primal desires battle against his conscience in a never ending fight that leaves him permanently exhausted.

Despite how tired he is, he still feels like a dick for losing his temper.

Rejecting the bond they have whilst simultaneously asking Dylan to do him favours leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, but what other choice does he have? He wishes Dylan knew how badly he wants things to be different. Perhaps...if he could explain to him?...

Sam walks into the wings, gesturing to the two Alpha's. His expression settles into concern when he spots them.

Dylan signs something to him and Sam glances at Orion, nodding. He walks over to him, his hands reaching out and fixing Orion's hair. He hadn't even noticed he'd been running his hands through it. He glances at Dylan, knowing that he has told his Beta to do what he can't bring himself to do.

"Thank you." He murmurs, directing it at Dylan.

Kieran appears then and glances at the two Alpha's expectantly.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" He asks, ushering them onto the stage.

Dylan walks out first, his stride faultless as he confidently makes his way across the floor. Orion sighs, muttering a prayer under his breath as he decides to hell with it. He has to try.

He follows his mate onto the stage, rolling his shoulders back and plastering what he hopes is an easy going smile on his face. He stands behind a second podium, glancing to where Dylan occupies the other. He looks completely at ease, and Orion takes a second to appreciate it. He watches as Dylan takes a deep breath, composing himself.

Then he comes alive.

"Hello everyone. I know for a lot of you, this will be your first time on Bluewood territory, so I'd like to take a moment to welcome you. My name is Dylan West, Alpha of Bluewood." Dylan says into the microphone, a charming smile on his face as his eyes search the crowd.

His voice is light and animated, a wonderful blend of friendly and professional, and sounds perfectly level.

Orion tries to swallow his shock.

"I'm joined this evening by Alpha Orion Vice of Ironhill." He continues, gesturing to Orion with a friendly smile and a soft, open arm.

Orion stares at him for a moment, completely thrown.

Dylan raises a brow, almost imperceptibly and Orion feels it like a kick to the shin. He plasters on a smile, lifting a hand to wave to the audience.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us." He says into his own microphone, his voice booming across the space.

God that's nerve wracking, he thinks to himself. How does Dylan do it?

"Now, as you may know, a week ago Alpha Orion and myself agreed and signed upon a peace treaty."

Dylan pauses, glancing at the audience meaningfully. He gives them a moment to digest his words, playing them like an instrument, feeling for their response. Orion watches him, completely captivated.

The cards that hold their speech are nothing more than a prop in Dylan's hands, his eyes instead focusing on his audience.

"That day marked an historic moment for the Ironhill and Bluewood packs. By signing that treaty we ceased a feud that had, until then, ran the course of over a hundred years." He says slowly, smiling as the crowd cheers.

"The terms of the treaty are fair, and for the first time in a century allows for the visitation of the neighbouring pack." He says, watching the crowd hush suddenly.

"This means that friendships, relationships and partnerships can be forged. Warriors can train and spar together, we can rely and depend upon each other in times of hardship and celebrate with each other in times of prosperity." Dylan explains.

The crowd remains silent and Orion wonders if Dylan has always been so eloquent. Dylan glances at Orion, gesturing for him to speak. He glances at his own notecards quickly.

"All of the terms of the treaty have been distributed via email and can also be found in your local pack house. If you have any questions or concerns, we urge you to come forwards and address them with us, or your Beta's. This is a new era of peace between the great packs of Bluewood and Ironhill. Old prejudice has no place in our plans for tomorrow." Orion says, his tone a little more firm towards the end.

Orion expects to face a lot of kick back from the older generation in Ironhill, and he grimly anticipates it with a sense of bleak foreboding.

"A series of events and projects are coming up to help us get to know our neighbours a little more, and we encourage everyone to get involved as much as possible." Dylan says, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

The crowd suddenly surges, a babble of noise bouncing through the room. The projects that the Alpha's have planned vary from the mundane creation of a new vegetable garden to craft fairs, a new mural and even a concert. The packs have responded well to them, and evidently, there is some excitement about starting something new.

"Silence, please." Dylan says quietly, the crowd hushing immediately.

His grasp on them is compelling, and Orion marvels again at how his mate was born to lead.

"Orion and I have worked towards the reconciliation of our packs for a long time." He says, glancing at Orion. His eyes sparkle with the charming irony of that statement, an inside joke just between the two of them.

It feels so good to have something other than animosity filling the space between them and Orion smiles wryly. They've worked toward this for longer than their packs could possibly imagine. He can't quite believe that they've done it.

"The feud between our packs has caused nothing but hurt, tension and isolation for our people. That stops now." Orion adds, grinning at the general cheer that rings through the audience. But there is also a tense, underlying murmur, and this worries him.

"This treaty means a lot to the both of us, and we are so excited for what the future holds. We hope that you will support us in this next chapter of peace between our packs." Dylan says.

He leans back, his palms pressing against the podium.

"To our friends and neighbours, Ironhill!" Dylan booms, and a raucous cheer echoes through the room.

"To our friends and neighbours, Bluewood." Orion says, gesturing to his mate. He grins when an equally loud chorus emanates from the crowd.

"Thank you so much for joining us this evening. We encourage everyone to read the terms of the treaty to familiarise yourself with them. We will each be holding regular pack meetings to encourage conversation and to answer any questions or concerns you may have." Dylan says.

"Thank you for your time and your patience. Good evening." Orion adds.

He looks over to Dylan and finds him stepping down from his podium. He takes a deep breath as he crosses the stage, every step bringing him closer to Orion until he stops, just a foot away from him. He has a sharp, determined look in his eye.

He extends a hand towards Orion, an easy smile on his lips. Orion's eyes fall to the faint dimple in his cheek, his head swimming. The smile that he never thought he'd see again, let alone be on the receiving end of, makes his heart soar as his hand curls around his mates.

Electricity sparks as their skin connects for the first time in nearly a decade and it fills every inch of them with an energy that is undeniable. Orion's shoulders lift, his heart light as every cell in him lights up like the night sky on bonfire night. His mate's hand in his own fits like a puzzle piece. He never wants to let go. Dylan's skin is rough and warm, his grip reassuringly firm. Dylan shakes Orion's hand twice before pulling away.

It takes a second for Orion to let go and Dylan's smile falters for a moment.

Their hands part, falling to their sides and Dylan quickly turns, waving once again to the crowd.

Orion can't help himself, he needs to feel that spark again. His hand creeps onto Dylan's shoulder as he waves to the audience too. He can feel his mate tense beneath his touch, but Dylan's easy going demeanour never falters.

They walk off stage together.

Dylan waits until he is sure he is completely out of view before violently shrugging Orion's hand from his body. His hands shake as his body cringes away, revulsion seeping through every inch of him.

He has loved Orion since he was a child, but right now, his touch repulses him, reminding him of everything that is just out of reach. Everything that he will never have, and all that he wants.

"That was amazing!" Kieran shouts, thudding his Alpha on the back.

Sam however is quiet, his eyes scanning his own Alpha with a deep concern.

"I won't lie, I didn't think you had it in you." Kieran says, glancing at Dylan as Orion rolls his eyes.

"Dyl was just being a drama queen." Orion says, shrugging an arm around his mate's shoulders.

Dylans entire frame stiffens, his body turning around like lightning as he knocks Orion's arm from his body.

"Don't." He says, with so much hate that Orion takes a step back.

"I'll play along. I'll smile and shake your hand and do whatever the hell you want me to do in front of them." He hisses, gesturing to the stage. His expression is thunderous as his cold eyes bore into Orion's.

But Dylan's not angry, not really. He's hurt. So fucking hurt, by all of it. The constant, daily humiliation of his soulmates rejection, the endless ache and yearning and the awful, happy memories that keep flooding his brain when he closes his eyes at night.

Anger is easier though, and so much less humiliating.

"But when we're alone, you don't touch me. You have no right." He continues, his voice venomous.

Orion's eyes flash with contempt, his shoulders squaring as he steps closer.

"I have no right?" He questions lowly and Dylan smiles bitterly, nodding.

"You gave up that right." Dylan utters.

He turns, storming through the door before the tears in his eyes can fall.

Sam follows, desperate to stage manage his best friend's rage as much as possible, lest he ruin all their hard work.

Kieran's hands push through his hair, exhaling shakily at the scene he's just witnessed.

And Orion watches the doorway, his chest aching more and more with every step his mate takes.

_

A/N

Happy New Year lovely readers- I sincerely hope 2023 is everything you hope for and more.

-F