CHAPTER 52: WHAT ARE THE ODDS

"Who’s there?" Ellie called out.

A small, shaky voice answered, "I...uh...was told to deliver something."

"Come in," Ellie said.

The door creaked open. A young male-omega stepped inside, barely old enough to shave, with sandy hair sticking up at odd angles. He paused in the doorway, clutching sealed envelope in both hands. His eyes darted between Ares and Ellie, instantly realizing he had walked into something tense. He shifted from foot to foot, clearly wishing he could disappear.

"What do you want?" Ares snapped, his patience frayed.

The young omega flinched at Ares’s tone, nearly dropping the envelope. "A...A letter, Alpha... a letter arrived from the council," he stammered, holding it out with trembling fingers. "I was told to deliver it right away."

Ares’s frown deepened. What are the odds, he thought. His gaze flicked toward Ellie, and he gave him a short, silent nod.

Ellie stepped forward and stretched out his hand, his voice noticeably calmer. "Give it here."

The boy hurried forward and handed the letter over, bowing his head before retreating a few steps.

"You can go now, Cody," Ellie said evenly.

The young omega nodded quickly and scurried out of the office, closing the door softly behind him.

"You really need to take it easy on them, you know," Ellie said, holding out the envelope. "That’s not the right way to talk to your people."

"What’s the letter about?" Ares asked flatly, not moving. "I’m not touching that."

Ellie raised a brow. "It’s a letter, not a time bomb."

"Then open the letter, not a time bomb," Ares shot back.

Ellie blinked. "Was that a joke? Did you just try to be funny?"

Ares smirked faintly and dropped into his chair. "Open the damn letter, Beta."

"Aye aye, Alpha." Ellie tore open the envelope and unfolded the paper inside. His eyes moved quickly over the text, expression shifting with each line. Ares watched him carefully, noting every flicker of reaction.

When Ellie finally finished, he exhaled, long and deliberate.

"What does it say?" Ares asked, his tone steady but curious.

Ellie let out another slow breath, just to irritate him. "You know... you could’ve just read it yourself."

Ares leaned back, brow arching. "Wasn’t it you whining a few minutes ago about me not letting you do your Beta duties?" His lips curved slightly. "So what happened? Got tired already?"

Ellie gave him a deadpan look. "You’re enjoying this right?"

"Maybe," Ares said, smirking. "Now stop stalling. What does the letter say?"

Ellie sighed dramatically, shaking his head before glancing back down at the paper. "Alright," he said, his tone caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement. "According to this, the Convergence Ceremony will be happening right here... in Grimhowl territory."

Ares shot to his feet so fast his chair screeched backward against the floor. His eyes widened, a flicker of outrage and disbelief flashing across his face. "What!" His voice thundered. "The Convergence will be taking place in my territory?"

Ellie didn’t even flinch. "It’s a thing of honor," he said simply, though the corner of his mouth twitched at Ares’s outburst.

"Honor?" Ares barked. "I don’t want any of those smelly, traitorous creatures anywhere near my borders." His hands slammed flat on the desk, eyes flashing. "Vampires, fae, witches, parasites, the lot of them."

Ellie pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long, tired breath. "You can stop right there. This is beyond your control, Ares."

Ares sank back slightly, the tension in his jaw refusing to ease. "Why Grimhowl of all places?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"You’re overreacting," Ellie said dryly. "This ceremony happens once every hundred years. Anyone else would be honored to host it."

"Anyone but me," Ares said under his breath, sinking back into his chair like a man admitting defeat.

Ellie watched him for a moment before quirking a brow. "So... should I continue reading what’s left?"

Ares gave him a weary look. "There’s more?"

"Yep," Ellie said, popping the p in his tone with deliberate mock cheer.

Ares groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Shoot."

"With pleasure," Ellie said, straightening the letter and clearing his throat like a man about to deliver bad news with flair.

"The council says they’ll be sending all the necessary supplies and personnel you’ll need for preparation," he began, his tone matter-of-fact but edged with dry amusement.

"At least they’re sensible enough not to make me pay and handle everything all alone," Ares muttered.

"They also mentioned," Ellie continued, eyes scanning the last few lines, "that the council expects nothing less than the best Convergence Ceremony Grimhowl has ever seen." He folded the letter neatly and looked up. "That’s the end of it."

"The best?" Ares repeated, incredulous. "If they want the best, they can come organize it themselves."

Ellie rolled his eyes, slipping the letter back into its envelope. "Oh, before I forget," he said, tapping the paper against his palm, "they’re giving us three months to prepare and get everything in order."

"Just three months?" Ares asked, his disbelief very obvious.

"It’s more than enough," Ellie replied, almost too casually.

"Easy for you to say," Ares muttered under his breath.

"That’s because it is easy," Ellie countered, arching a brow. "You’re the one making it seem like the sky’s about to fall just because you have to host a glorified supernatural festival."

Ares glared at him, but Ellie only shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching.

Ares leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting to the ceiling as if the plaster above could give him answers. His fingers tapped absently against the armrest, each knock echoing in the heavy silence that followed. He looked deep in thought, his jaw tight, his gaze distant.

"Stop overthinking it," Ellie said finally, breaking the tension. "We can handle this. We’ve faced worse."

"I know," Ares said, his tone quiet but heavy.

Ellie tilted his head, watching him. "Then why are you..."

"Don’t you find it odd?" Ares interrupted, his gaze still fixed upward.