Page 69 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!
“You think that a kitchen duty, which let’s be honest is what any good Luna would do. They’d step up and help anywhere in the pack when needed.” Alpha Ulrick snarls. “Let’s not waste any time here. What is the next question anyone has?”
I watch the color drain from Benedict's face and look over where Travis is sitting. His face is set like stone, and I can see he is struggling to remain calm. This has all come to roost with his idiocy at claiming a mate who the Goddess did not choose for him. I, however, am more than pleased with the outcome of myfuture. The Goddess gave me the best second chance mate she could find for me.
Alpha Owain stands, “Why would you allow your Alpha heir to reject his Goddess-given Luna, when she was away learning her duties? To have a useless she-wolf, which is what she is by all accounts, try to be a luna? Please make me understand?”
I refuse to acknowledge Benedict with his title of Alpha because to me he is not fit. Not after what he was compliant with. I remain quiet as this is too personal an issue for me to become involved with.
“Alpha heir Travis fell in love with Joliee while Adira was training. I and my mate tried to speak to them both about the fact that they were not mates, and that Travis had a true mate. They would not listen to reason, and when Joliee said she was pregnant with a future Alpha of the pack. I had to do what I did. But I do agree it could have been handled better and well before Adira came back to the pack.” Benedict replies but everyone in the room can see how embarrassed he is.
“When that became apparent, why did you not contact Adira and tell her what was happening instead of leaving her to walk into a mating ceremony. Do you realize how that could have affected her?” Alpha Charles of the Grayington Pack asks.
“It all happened quickly, and to be truthful I wanted my son's happiness and never gave Adira a third thought. I was going to contact her and bring her home early, but I got so involved with everything that she just slipped my mind.” Benedict looks over at me with an apologetic face, but it makes no difference to me at this point. “I am sorry Alpha Adira. I wish I had considered your feelings more and dealt with the situation better.”
My fists are clenched and I’m holding Blue back because she’d love to burst out and shred Benedict and Travis for what they did to us. I, however, hold our form, and show the other alphas here that we are worthy of being here amongst them.
When the conversation flows to how the situation of trust, and how the pack foresee their future, I stand gaining the attention of the others. “Can I ask that I be removed from this meeting? With my history with the Blackbird Pack, I think it would be wise I leave and allow all of you to determine what is required.”
James, as the Head of the Alpha Council asks for a vote for me to leave the meeting. Once all hands are raised apart from Benedict and Travis of course, I step out of the meeting and walk to the room where refreshments are served.
Two hours I sit in the garden next to the refreshments room and listen to the birds singing, and relax my mind. I talk with Blue, and we bring forth memories of good and bad times. We know how fortunate we are to be in the position of Alpha, and when all this is settled I am thinking of standing down as Alpha and becoming a Luna, as I was taught to be.
Leaning my back against the large tree I settled under, I watch Thorn stroll over to me and take a seat beside me. “You okay, Alpha Adira?”
“Yes, just waiting. It’s taking a long time for them to decide what is to happen. It is making me nervous.”
“Come on, let’s go for a walk. There is a small stream over this way, and we can have a stroll while we wait.” Thorn holds his elbow out for me to link my arm, and I give him a smile as we set off to the stream.
Twenty minutes later I am mind linked by Barrik to return to the meeting area. “Come on, Thorn, we need to get back now. Barrik wants me at the meeting room, or outside of it?”
Barrik is waiting, and as I arrive he quickly wraps an arm around me and kisses me. “You need to be inside the meeting room to be informed of the verdict.”
Walking inside, I don’t see Benedict or Travis, and take a seat Barrik leads me to. Taking the seat, I look at James, who is standing at the front of the room, with all Alphas quietly sitting in place.
James looks my way and gives me a small smile. “Alpha Adira, the council have discussed the positions of Alpha Benedict, and Alpha heir Travis of the Blackbird Pack. We had to consider all the complaints that were brought to our attention by Beta Paul and Gamma Ray confirmed all were legitimate complaints.”
I give a slight nod I understand as James pauses in his statement, but wait quietly for him to say more.
“The Alpha Council voted on the positions of the pack members of the said pack. We hereby stripped Alpha Benedict of his position due to negligence and abuse of power. We also stripped Alpha heir Travis of his position due to the negligence of his Goddess given Luna and introducing a chosen mate. The chosen mate not being of the standard a Luna should be, and by that we mean no training for the position, or in her case ability to fulfill her role.”
To say I am shocked would be an understatement. I never would have expected them to do what they have. It’s not something that happens or has happened in generations.
James adds more to his speech. “We also learned during our investigation that Alpha Benedict knew about the forthcomingattack on the Strongbow Pack, and it was his conscience alone that he took you back to his pack. Keeping the secret, he held closely, knowing it would be his downfall if found out. Knowing what was going to happen and doing nothing still makes you an accomplice, whether you agree with that or not. As alphas, we feel it was the best choice of action to remove Benedict, as he will be known from this point forward, and to promote Beta Paul to Alpha Paul, and Gamma Ray to Beta Ray.”
I stand and look at each of the Alpha’s in the room, making sure I give a slight eye contact as I move to the next. When I am looking at James, I speak. “I would like to thank the Alpha Council for investigating all the issues within the Blackbird Pack, and the destruction of the Strongbow Pack. I would like this to be the end of it, and we speak of it no more.” Each Alpha gave me a nod of agreement, and I retake my seat.
“Okay, let me ask if we can vote on packs becoming open to other species, as Alpha Adira’s Pack. I’m not debating it, and I am not really asking because I will do it anyway, but I would like to get everyone here to say aye, which makes it legal.” Alpha Tyronne of the Western Wind Pack states and gives a fierce look at the alphas he presumes will disagree.
Each Alpha raises a hand and James states it will be entered into the ledger and become a law. We are quickly released from the meeting, and although I am still in shock, I can’t help but feel relieved it is over, and the Blackbird Pack can thrive.
Chapter 36
*Barrik*
The last month has been so busy that everyone seems to dash past me shouting “Hello, Alpha,” “Bye, Alpha,” or something else. I’ve only seen Adira at a late meal and getting into bed. I’ve noticed Adira is tired and has lost a little of her sparkle. Well, that is what I call her exuberant personality.
We are officially recognized by the Alpha Council at this point and no longer a rogue pack. But none of the pack mind that now we have a council that listens and is not overblown with power.
While Adira has been organizing alongside Leo and Rom the packhouse and the territory boundary between ourselves and the Dark Water Pack, I have had my head down and creating alliances.
