Primal Bonds 2 (Tales of Beastkin)

20. The Montgomery Clan

20

The Montgomery Clan

T he Montgomery skyscraper pierced the New York skyline, its sleek glass exterior reflecting the late afternoon sun. On the top floor, in a state-of-the-art conference room, Kieran Montgomery, the eldest of the Montgomery brothers and alpha wolfkin leader of the clan, stood before a wall-sized screen, his commanding presence filling the space even through the video feed.

“Gentlemen, I believe we’ve covered all the pertinent points,” Kieran said, his deep voice resonating with authority. “Unless there are any further questions, I suggest we conclude this meeting.”

The faces on the screen murmured their agreement, clearly impressed by the Montgomery alpha’s presentation. As the call ended, Kieran turned to his brothers, Cian and Eamon, who had been providing silent support throughout the meeting.

Cian, the second eldest and the clan’s diplomat, a fellow alpha wolfkin, smiled. “Well done, Kieran. I think we’ve successfully secured their support for the new initiative.”

Eamon, third in line and head of clan security, also an alpha wolfkin, nodded, his usually stern expression softening slightly. “The security implications are sound. This alliance will significantly strengthen our position in the city.”

Kieran allowed himself a small smile, running a hand through his dark hair. “Indeed. Now, we need to—”

His words were cut short as the door burst open, revealing Matthias, the fourth Montgomery brother and the clan’s strategist, another alpha wolfkin. “Brothers, I apologize for the interruption, but we’ve just received critical information.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately, all traces of satisfaction from the successful meeting vanishing. Kieran straightened, his eyes sharpening. “Speak, Matthias.”

As Matthias opened his mouth to deliver his news, none of them noticed two figures slipping into the room behind him. Jasper Montgomery, the sixth brother and first adopted member of the clan, a beta shadow pantherkin, led the way, followed closely by Silas, the youngest adopted Montgomery, a beta snow leopardkin. They moved with practiced stealth, carrying a bucket between them. The contents sloshed ominously, a glittery, viscous substance of their own devising.

Oblivious to the mischief brewing behind him, Matthias delivered his bombshell. “The BCOS has raided one of the Sullivan Clan’s safe houses. It’s chaos out there.”

The brothers exchanged alarmed glances. Kieran’s expression remained impassive, but there was a new tension in his shoulders. “Continue.”

“Our sources indicate that the raid was led by Captain Garrett Knox, but it went horribly wrong. The Sullivan Clan fought back fiercely, decimating the BCOS forces.”

“This is unprecedented,” Cian said, his brow furrowed. “The BCOS has never dared to directly attack a major clan before. What could have prompted this?”

Eamon’s eyes narrowed. “It’s possible they’ve gotten wind of Adam’s activities against The Institute. This could be retaliation.”

Kieran nodded grimly. “We need to strengthen our own defenses immediately. If the BCOS is bold enough to attack the Sullivans, we could be next. Eamon, I want you to double our security patrols and reinforce all our safe houses.”

“Already on it,” Eamon replied, pulling out his phone to send out orders.

“There’s more,” Matthias continued. “Adam Sullivan is calling a meeting with the nine sub-clans under his control. It’s clear he’s preparing for something big.”

“The summit,” Cian said, realization dawning on his face. “He’s consolidating his power before the summit.”

Kieran’s eyes gleamed with a predatory light. “This changes everything. We need to gather more intelligence on Adam’s plans. Matthias, I want you to focus on uncovering everything you can about Adam’s activities during his absence and his plans for the Summit.”

As the alpha brothers discussed the potential ramifications, Jasper and Silas were busy at work. They had managed to balance their bucket on top of a tall filing cabinet near Kieran’s position, rigging it with a thin string that ran across the room to the door. Their plan was for the bucket to tip when someone opened the door, pulling the string.

Kieran, oblivious to the impending disaster, moved to examine a document on the table near the filing cabinet. “We need to be prepared for anything at the Summit. With Adam making bold moves against The Institute and the BCOS, the balance of power could shift dramatically.”

The door suddenly swung open. Tadhg, the fifth Montgomery brother and the clan’s tech expert, burst in, his eyes wide with excitement. “Hey, I just heard about the BCOS raid! Did you guys know that—”

The door’s movement pulled the string taut. Time seemed to slow as the bucket tipped, its contents raining down in a glittery deluge. Kieran, who had been reaching for the document, looked up at the commotion. For a split second, his eyes widened in shock before the sticky, sparkling mess engulfed him.

Chaos erupted. Kieran stood there, dripping and glistening, his expression a mix of disbelief and growing anger. Cian was torn between laughter and concern, his hand covering his mouth to hide his twitching lips. Eamon lunged for Jasper and Silas, who had burst into uncontrollable giggles.

“You little brats!” Eamon growled, but the troublemakers were already on the move.

Jasper and Silas made a break for the door, but in their haste, they slipped on the spilled mixture. They went sliding across the polished floor, crashing into a rack of expensive electronic equipment. Tablets and monitors came crashing down, adding to the calamity.

The room fell silent, save for the gentle ‘plop’ of glitter falling from Kieran’s now-sparkly hair. His blue eyes, usually so controlled, now blazed with a dangerous fire.

“Silas,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Come here. Now.”

Silas, still giggling despite the trouble he was in, attempted to stand. He slipped again, his feet sliding out from under him. Jasper reached out to steady his younger brother, but only succeeded in pulling them both down into the glittery mess.

Kieran, his patience finally snapped, strode across the room. He grabbed Silas by the arm, pulling him up and over to the conference table. In one smooth motion, he sat down and pulled his youngest brother over his lap.

“Kieran, wait!” Silas yelped, his laughter turning to alarm. “It was just a joke!”

“A joke?” Kieran’s voice was stern as he raised his hand. “We were discussing serious clan matters. This behavior is completely unacceptable, especially with the BCOS threat and the Summit approaching.”

The first swat landed, and Silas yelped. “Ow! Kieran, come on!”

“You will learn to respect clan business,” Kieran said, punctuating each word with a firm smack to Silas’ backside. “Your actions have consequences, little brother.”

As the spanking continued, Jasper watched with wide eyes. Guilt washed over him, and he stepped forward. “Kieran, wait. It… it was my idea. I should be punished too.”

Kieran paused, looking up at Jasper. His expression softened slightly at the young beta’s admission. “I appreciate your honesty, Jasper. Your punishment will be to clean up this entire mess. Alone.”

Jasper nodded, relief and dread warring on his face. “Yes, Kieran.”

Kieran returned his attention to Silas, who was squirming over his lap. “As for you, little troublemaker, we’re not done here.”

As Kieran resumed Silas’ punishment, the other brothers exchanged glances. Cian, ever the peacemaker, stepped forward. “Kieran, perhaps we should return to the matter at hand? The BCOS raid and Adam’s meeting with his sub-clans are pressing concerns.”

Kieran nodded, not pausing in his ministrations. His hand came down with a sharp crack against Silas’ backside, eliciting a yelp from the young beastkin. “You’re right,” he said, his voice steady despite the exertion. “We need a plan.”

Smack! Another swat landed, and Silas let out a groan, his silver hair falling over his face as he squirmed on Kieran’s lap. The alpha’s grip tightened, holding his younger brother firmly in place.

“Matthias,” Kieran continued, punctuating his words with well-aimed swats, “I want you to dig deeper into Adam’s activities during his absence and his plans for the Summit.”

Smack! Smack! Two more strikes echoed through the room, followed by Silas’ muffled whimpers. The young beastkin’s face was flushed red with embarrassment, his legs kicking futilely as he tried to escape the punishment.

“Tadhg,” Kieran said, his voice unwavering, “focus on uncovering everything you can about the BCOS raid. We need to know every detail.”

Another resounding smack! Silas yelped, his voice cracking. “Kieran, please! I’m sorry!”

Ignoring his brother’s pleas, Kieran pressed on. “Eamon, increase security around our territory and start planning for the Summit. We don’t know how Adam’s actions might affect the balance of power.”

Smack! Smack! Smack! Three more swats in quick succession. Silas’ struggles intensified, but Kieran’s iron grip held him firmly in place. The young beastkin’s silver hair was now a disheveled mess, sticking to his tear-streaked face.

The brothers nodded, trying to maintain their serious expressions despite the absurdity of receiving orders from their glitter-covered alpha while he spanked their youngest brother. The sound of each swat seemed to emphasize the gravity of the situation they were discussing.

“Cian,” Kieran continued, his hand rising and falling in a steady rhythm, “reach out to our allies. We need to gauge how this news is being received by the other clans, especially the Valentinos.”

Smack! Silas let out a particularly loud yelp, his body jerking with the impact. His face was now a deep shade of red, a mix of pain and embarrassment evident in his expression.

“With the longstanding tension between Luka and Adam,” Kieran added, his voice calm despite the ongoing punishment, “this Summit could turn into a powder keg.”

“Of course,” Cian replied, his diplomatic mask firmly in place despite the twitching at the corners of his mouth. “I’ll arrange meetings immediately. Do you think Luka will use the Summit to force Adam into that alpha duel he’s been pushing for?”

Kieran’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “It’s a possibility we need to prepare for. If Luka challenges Adam at the Summit, especially after this BCOS incident, it could throw the entire beastkin community into chaos.”

Kieran finally stopped spanking Silas. The youngest Montgomery lay draped over his lap, sniffling.

“Have you learned your lesson, Silas?” Kieran asked, his voice stern but not unkind.

Silas nodded, his hair falling into his eyes. “Yes, Kieran. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

Kieran helped Silas to his feet, then stood himself, glitter cascading from his clothes. “See that it doesn’t. Now, go help Jazz clean up this mess.”

As Silas shuffled over to Jasper, wincing slightly, Kieran turned back to his other brothers. “This situation with Adam Sullivan and the BCOS could have far-reaching consequences, especially at the Summit. We need to be prepared for anything.”

Cian nodded. “If Adam has indeed been working against The Institute and now the BCOS is retaliating, it could shift the entire power dynamic of the city. We need to position ourselves carefully, especially if Luka tries to use this to his advantage.”

“Agreed,” Eamon said, his eyes scanning the room as if already planning increased security measures. “But we also need to consider the possibility that this is a misdirection. Adam Sullivan has always been cunning. This could be part of a larger strategy, perhaps even involving the Summit itself.”

Matthias, who had been furiously taking notes on his tablet, looked up. “What about Adam’s sudden reappearance? It’s unprecedented for him to vanish for so long and then make such a bold move. Could this be a weakness we can exploit at the Summit?”

Kieran’s eyes narrowed, a calculating look crossing his face. “Perhaps. But we need more information before we can make any moves. Tadhg, I want you to focus on uncovering everything you can about Adam’s activities during his absence and the BCOS raid. Leave no stone unturned.”

Tadhg, who had been unusually quiet, possibly due to his role in the glitter incident, nodded eagerly. “On it. I’ll hack every database in the city if I have to.”

“Just be discreet,” Kieran warned. “We don’t want to alert Adam or the other clans to our interest, especially not before the Summit.”

As the brothers continued their strategic discussion, Jasper and Silas were on their hands and knees, attempting to clean up the glittery mess. Silas winced as he shifted position, his backside still stinging from Kieran’s punishment.

“I’m sorry, Si,” Jasper whispered, his eyes filled with guilt. “I didn’t think it would go this wrong.”

Silas managed a small smile. “It’s okay, Jazz. It was pretty funny seeing Kieran covered in glitter. Even if my ass is paying the price.”

Jazz chuckled softly, then grew serious. “Hey, Si… what do you think about all this Adam Sullivan stuff? And the BCOS raid? Sounds like things are going to get pretty intense.”

Silas frowned, an unusual expression on his typically mischievous face. “I don’t know. It’s weird. We’ve always heard stories about Adam Sullivan. And with the BCOS attacking and Luka Valentino gunning for that duel…”

“Yeah,” Jasper agreed. “Do you think it’ll come up at the Summit? Maybe we should ask Lan?”

“But he’s supposed to be our enemy, we can’t ask him,” Silas said.

“Yeah, I know, but Lan’s under the Sullivan, so he’ll know everything there is to know, right?” Jasper said.

“I suppose so,” Silas said. “But remember last year? We had a three-way fight with Lan and Nico. Remember how much trouble we got into?”

Before Jasper could respond, Kieran’s voice cut through their whispered conversation. “Less talking, more cleaning, you two. And Silas, when you’re done, I want to see you after.”

Silas swallowed hard, nodding. “Yes, Kieran.”

The older brothers spent the next few hours strategizing, planning their defense against potential Institute attacks and discussing how to navigate the upcoming Summit in light of these new developments. As the meeting wound down, Kieran dismissed his brothers. Silas, who had been trying to slip out unnoticed, froze at hearing Kieran’s voice. “Silas? Where do you think you’re going?”

Silas turned back, his expression a mixture of guilt and apprehension. Once they were alone, Kieran’s stern expression softened slightly. He moved closer to Silas, his voice low and concerned. “How are you feeling? Is your backside alright from earlier?”

Silas blushed deeply, managing a small nod. “Y-yes, I’m alright,” he mumbled, then added with a hint of indignation, “But you always pick on me for punishment. You hit too hard, you know. You need to mind your strength more as an alpha. Not everyone can handle an alpha spank.”

Kieran chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’m not picking on you, Silas. But I promise to be more gentle next time when I punish you.”

Silas glared at him, his lavender eyes flashing. “Better yet, just don’t punish me at all! I’m supposed to be your favorite. You don’t punish your favorite little brother.”

This drew another chuckle from Kieran before his expression turned serious again. “Being my favorite doesn’t exempt you from consequences, pet. But speaking of taking care of you, have you been getting enough life force from Cian or Eamon?”

Silas shook his head, his eyes downcast. “I… I didn’t want to bother anyone. Everyone’s been so busy.”

Kieran sighed, his expression a mix of worry and frustration. “Silas, you know how important this is. We can’t have you…” He trailed off, unable to voice the fear that gripped his heart at the thought of Silas collapsing again. His eyes, usually so stern and controlled, now shimmered with genuine concern.

“I know,” Silas said softly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I just… I didn’t want to be a bother. You’re all so busy, and I…” He bit his lip, unsure how to express the tumult of emotions swirling inside him.

Kieran’s expression softened further at Silas’ words. He reached out, gently tilting Silas’ chin up. “You’re never a bother, Silas. Never. Your well-being is our top priority. Promise me you’ll tell us when you need more life force, no matter how busy we seem. Okay?”

Silas nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the blush spreading across his cheeks. “I promise,” he whispered, his eyes meeting Kieran’s intense gaze.

“Come here,” Kieran said softly.

Silas hesitated, then stepped closer. Kieran wrapped him in a hug, then pulled back slightly, letting their faces hover close to each other. Their eyes met, and Kieran felt his breath catch in his throat. Silas’ eyes were a mesmerizing lavender, flecked with silver that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. His delicate features, framed by that ethereal silver hair, gave him an otherworldly beauty that never failed to captivate Kieran.

A soft glow emanated from Kieran as he prepared to share his life essence. The air between them seemed to crackle with energy. Silas’ unique scent washed over him—a heady mixture of snow and wildflowers that was utterly intoxicating. He struggled to maintain his composure, his alpha instincts roaring to life, urging him to claim, to possess.

Kieran’s lips hovered mere millimeters from Silas’, close enough to feel the boy’s warm breath. The transfer of life essence began, a soft golden light flowing from Kieran to Silas. Silas let out a small, contented sigh, his body relaxing as the energy flowed into him.

Kieran’s hands tightened on Silas’ waist, his control slipping. He remembered the day they had found Silas in that small clan in Alaska, in the snowy Alps mountains. How close they had come to losing him before they understood his unique nature. Since then, Kieran, Cian, and Eamon had taken turns providing Silas with the life force he needed, careful not to give too much as they were still young alphas themselves.

As the transfer completed, Kieran forced himself to step back, his breathing uneven. Silas’ eyes slowly opened, a deep blush coloring his cheeks.

“Alright,” Kieran said, his voice rougher than usual. “You can go now. But remember your promise. We can’t have you collapsing again.”

Silas nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “I will,” he said softly, before turning to leave the room.

Alone, Kieran ran his fingers through his hair, taking in a deep, shuddering breath. The struggle to maintain his composure, to resist the pull of his alpha instincts toward Silas, was evident in the tension of his shoulders and the way his hands clenched at his sides. The mystery of Silas’ unique nature, and the constant worry it brought, weighed heavily on his mind as he turned to face the challenges that lay ahead for his clan.