Page 67 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
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. Iwould 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 ata 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.
Chapter 35
*Adira*
The pack exchange is in full swing. We have helped James’ pack members take their belongings to the now new Dark Water Pack territory, and that was after we had given time for them to have the packhouse made ready.
