Page 38

*Adira*

W orking with Mavis is easy. Our new system saves time and improves efficiency. We are checking files, folders, and even odd pieces of paper that we are coming across while organize the filing cabinet, and cabinets in the office here at the town hall office.

“They were half organized, I’ll give them that,” Mavis says as she piles another folder on our to check list.

“How was your date with Alann?” I’m so curious because I never imagined those two being together.

“Actually, it was nice. We went for a walk along the river, sat with a picnic and talked. It was peaceful, and we learned much about each other. It’s funny how you think you know someone, yet you only touch the surface of who they really are.”

“That’s true.” I think of my time away learning luna duties and even though there were many females you never made a friend. It was always about achieving the best you could be, rather than who you are.

“When do you want the first sit-and-greet to happen?” Mavis asks.

“Sit-and-greet?” Now that’s the first I’ve heard it called that.

Mavis smiles, “Well, it’s a nice way to describe it, and I thought would keep it on a friendly basis, rather than Alpha versus Pack Member.”

“Well, I agree that is not how I want it to be. I want people to come and speak with us, unafraid and open. So, I think your sit-and-greet sounds nice.”

Mavis takes a seat at the computer, and I continue rifling through papers.

A few, I have to tell you, are twenty years old.

Not relevant to anything today. Receipts for work done when the hall was built hardly needed anymore.

The costs are all in the accounts book and registered in the town’s history too.

The pile to be shredded or burned is building, and I sigh because this is going to take all day.

Going back to our conversation, I ask, “So, Mavis, are you going on a second date?”

Mavis looks up from the computer and smiles. “We sure are. This time, we are going for a movie and a meal.”

“Nice…so…did you kiss him?” Spluttering before she answers, I notice the flush on her face. “Oh, you did…tell me…was it good?”

“Shush, now, I’m not a girl who kisses and tells.”

“Well, I can tell you Barrik is a great kisser. He can pucker up and…”

“And what Adira dear?”

Spinning around, I blush fiercely as Barrik, Leo, and Rom are standing in the doorway. I have to say they all are showing signs of withholding laughter at my expense.

“Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.” I try to steer away from my last comment.

Barrik walks over, scoops me into his arms, and I snuggle against his chest, my chin resting on his chest. The scent of him fills my senses as I look up at him coyly.

“So, you think I’m a good kisser?” Barrik chuckles.

“Shh…” I wriggle with embarrassment, but hearing Mavis, Leo and Rom laughing isn’t helping.

“Okay. I wanted you to know Bernice came over to the farmhouse and gave me a special delivery letter that has arrived from the Elder Council. We have a special, all alpha meeting next week.”

“Wow, that didn’t take them long. Let’s hope all goes as it should and the Elder Council doesn’t give the council warriors a command.”

“Don’t worry, Adira. We are ready if they do, and so is every other Alpha. None of us will be caught unaware, and we all are ready to step forward and protect our nearest packs if anything occurs.” Barrik kisses the top of my head and leads me out of the hall. “Leo, stay and help Mavis, please.”

“I was supposed to be helping Mavis,” I splutter.

“Well, Leo is doing it now. Come on, we are going to raid Robbie’s cookie jar.” Barrik has us trotting over to the farmhouse, and I can’t help thinking he is going to need extra training if he keeps eating all these cookies.

*Barrik*

Things with the pack are settling nicely.

The Town Hall office is ready for the sit-and-greet days.

The poster that Mavis has designed is quite cool, she’s kept it along the lines of relaxed and nonconfrontational.

I liked the way she thought about this, and how to put over a calm and welcoming feeling.

Adira keeps teasing Mavis about the dates with Alan, but she also is making friends with Greta.

Greta mated Tarlow Pawfoot, and they have formed a warm friendship.

The three of them get into a little mischief, but it’s good to see Adira come out of her Alpha role now and again to just relax and be herself.

We have spent the last week talking to pack members and finding who would move to the new packhouse once the Dark Water Pack vacates.

Leo, as our Beta, is going to live over there, and maintain order.

Adira and I decided for now to stay here at the farmhouse.

We have so much to still organize and learn about the town pre-pack that it is going to be easier to work from here. For now, at least.

Tomorrow we are attending the Elder Council meeting. I have spoken to Rudik, James and other alphas and we are as ready as we are going to be. I hope and pray to the Goddess that all will go smoothly and no bloodshed will occur. Trouble being we have an inner animal that is not scared of fighting.

‘We can fight. It sorts problems quickly.’

“Rawlin, I know, but we can’t go around killing others just because they don’t agree with us.”

Huffing, Rawlin replies again, ‘When dead, no argument.’

The door opens, and Adira walks into the office, smiling when she sees me. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Why?” I ask, grabbing ahold of her and putting her on my lap, while stuffing my nose into her neck and breathing her in. This creates a soft growl from Rawlin.

“I thought we could spend some time upstairs, you know, cleaning out the closet!” Adira is giving me a look that says she’s up to something, but studying her for a moment more I realize.

“Yes, you are perfectly correct. We need to clean the closet.” I pop her onto her feet, grasp her hand and rush out of the office, up the stairs and into our room, closing and locking it before looking at my darling mate who is already stripping out of her clothes.

“You going to show me how well you kiss, Barrik?” Adira all but purrs, and yeah you guessed, I sure show her, and more of what I’m good at.

Stepping into the large auditorium at the Elder Council Headquarters, I look around and see what must be thirty Alphas along with their Betas taking seats ready for the meeting.

Turning, I give Adira a wink, as I can see how tense she is. It has to be hard because she is only one of two females that lead a pack as Alpha, but she is also the only Alpha born female here.

Leo and Thorn are along with us. Leo will sit on my left, while Adira will be on my right. To Adira’s right will be Thorn. James and his Beta will sit next to Leo as we pre-arranged, keeping us tightly together.

“Good morning,” I hear and turn to see Rudik and his Beta taking a seat next to Thorn.

“Good morning.” We all respond, but we say nothing more as we wait for the meeting to commence.

Adira reaches out and squeezes my hand. I wrap her hand in both of mine and look at her, sending as much love to her as I can. Rawlin is ready to rip anyone apart if that is needed, and I can feel Blue is on alert, too.

Turning when the door behind a staged area opens and the eight Elder Council Members appear. They look so sure of themselves that their downfall will be a blessing. I watch intently as they take their seats, looking like kings of old look over their subjects.

Elias Whitelaw, the head of the council, speaks. “We have had many letters from you all for a meeting regarding one thing or another. It seemed appropriate to call a general meeting where we can assist you all.”

I whisper to Adira, “Tell Thorn to check the doors and pass it on.”

Adira glances at the three exits, and each has four warriors standing before them. A sure sign the council is expecting trouble, and they don’t want anyone leaving until they give permission. Again, more political idiocy. We are Alpha’s and nothing will stop us leaving if that is what we need.

Leaning towards Leo, I tell him the same, and feel the tension building around me. All are realizing something is not quite right with this meeting.

Alpha Owain stands, effectively cutting off what the Elder is saying. “Elder Elias, we are gathered here to discuss removing the positions of Elder Council Members…”

The Elders shout and curse, causing the warriors at the doors to become alert. This is not going to go well, and I think everyone in the room knows it.

The Deputy Head, Alfred Basset stands, “Why would you want the council to be disbanded?”

Alpha Owain, chuckles darkly, “Well, let’s see…

one, you expect far too much from each pack financially.

What are you doing with all the money you get?

You are never audited, and you live like royalty, which you are not.

You are basically public servants, and as that we have decided we don’t need you anymore.

Two, when two packs were under threat and asked for help, what happened?

Nothing, that’s what. Those two packs were decimated.

You know I’m speaking of the Strongbow and the White Arrow Packs. ”

“We cannot change the past. We have to move forward and learn from our mistakes…” Abraham Knight states arrogantly.

Alpha Rollins stands and responds to that comment.

“Learn from mistakes? Really, is that what you have to say about over a thousand shifters being decimated by a pack that had an Alpha who was a maniac, to himself and others. He caused the death of his own son, and I’m very happy to see and associate with Alpha Rudik and his stunning Luna.

I don’t blame them for any of it, but I blame the council.

You could have sent in the warriors and stopped it, saving all those shifters in the process.

For that alone, I vote we dismantle the council from this moment forth. ”

Madeline Montgomery gets everyone’s attention when she stands, followed by Jordan Blacktail who is beside her.

“I was not a council member when these two incidents happened. I have however studied all the information here at the council and found negligence on the part of the council. I fully agree with the Alphas here who would like the Elder Council disbanded. I would be more than happy to stand down because honestly it is hard work trying to educate the council into modern thinking. If the council were to stay it needs overhauled and to be truthful, I am hearing more and more complaints for which I’m disgusted. ”

The whole while Jordan Blacktail is nodding in agreement, and it’s obvious they are not on the same lines as the rest of the council who are sour faced and ready to argue.

Jordan then surprises the entire room. “What is it you would like in place of the Elder Council?”

James stands and speaks loudly but clearly. “We want every Alpha of a pack to take a seat on a democratic committee, so all topics brought before this committee can be discussed and voted upon. No more dictatorship. We want to plan and run our own futures.”

Applause from all Alpha’s bursts forth, and the committee members apart from the two who are Madaline and Jordan, who are clapping their hands with what looks like glee on their faces.

Michael Stormcloud along with the rest of the council shift and attack the nearest alphas. The warriors on the doors shift and also attack. Every alpha in the room is ready to shift, and the ones nearest to the ones fighting jump in and assist.

It is total chaos and we are standing at the ready, but so far none have gotten close to us. Adira is tucked between myself and Thorn who has closed ranks so to speak by making the gaps between us tight. Leo is vibrating ready to fight, and I can hear Kazi yowling to come out.

It takes half an hour or more to restrain the council members that have survived.

Lucas Abernathie, Michael Stormcloud and Alfred Basset are all deceased.

Madeline and Jordan are standing on one side, watching everything as though they are at a theater.

The warriors that were fighting are also restrained, but the alphas in the room are all on high alert and their animals are ready to burst forth.

James, as always is the sensible one, and he walks to the front of the room, jumping on the staged area. “Alphas’ please, calm and take a seat.”

It doesn’t take long for the room to calm, and now some of the Elder Council are dead or restrained apart from the two mentioned who are sitting in the front row between alphas.

“We need to organize a day every month where we all come together and discuss how things are progressing, what we need to do, and how we are going to maintain the council warriors because let us all be honest they may be needed,” James speaks.

Rudik stands. “I agree. If we all have a voice, then it’s ideal to have an opportunity every month to discuss matters. But who are we going to leave here, to sort this mess out?”

Every eye in the room turns to Madeline and Jordan.

They swallow nervously, and we all can see they are going to complain, so I quickly take that chance from them.

“I would like to nominate Madeline Montgomery and Jordan Blacktail as organizers for the new committee. They can clean out the rot that has been left, maintain the warriors and have information at the ready for meetings. If we contact them with anything we want to discuss and it needs information regarding boundaries or such like, they can have it ready.”

“I second that,” Alpha Owain states and it’s quickly followed by a show of hands.

“How about each year we have a general meeting and then if we want to vote out the pair of them we can, or we can add someone new?” I look around and again hands are raised.

“I would like to put forward the first motion.” Adira says as she takes to her feet, looking around at the room.

“I would like packs that want to have contact with others to be able to do that without fear or foul play. That Alpha’s and Luna’s can mix at gatherings, get to know each other.

Become allies and better yet, friends. Something we have not been able to do under this Elder Council. ”

Again, the show of hands is encouraging. It is the start of a new era and hopefully a long peaceful one.