The meeting is being held in the rec hall today, which is slightly less formal than the other locations, but alotless than the study behind the church. I would have liked for Lexa to meet the council in a more casual setting, but I had to bargain hard enough with Loretta to get this concession. There was no hope of doing any better.
Loretta would have had a town ceremony, with Lexa standing up on a podium for the entire pack to stare at and judge. I can’t imagine anything worse.
When we pull up in the parking lot, Lexa jumps out confidently, but I can see the color draining from her cheeks.
I wish I could hold her hand or put an arm around her. I’d do anything to give her comfort and strength.
Even though it’s hard, I resist the urge to touch her. I know that the urge is more about comforting myself than her, and it’s important to put her needs first.
Lexa pauses at the big swing doors, and I step in front of her to shove them open. The council is gathered around a huge table in the center of the room, and the way everyone looks up at once is almost comical.
Even from across the room, I see Loretta’s eyes narrow. Her lips curve in a cruel smile, and I have to wonder what evil torture she’s planning.
I’m still thinking about calling her out to the alpha’s challenge. Grandfather killed a lot of wolves that way—enemy or not, he didn’t really care, just so long as it spread his reign of terror.
“Hey!” Cass yells, bouncing up and down. Her high, excited voice shatters the silence and breaks the tension. She runs towards us, and I see Lexa flinch a little.
Cass either pays no attention or doesn’t even notice. She barrels straight up to us and wraps her arms around Lexa, giving her a squeeze.
“So great to see you!” she cries. “It’s about time Kit took a mate, and I was so happy to hear that it was you, Lexa.”
“Really?” Lexa asks, looking stiff in Cass’s arms.
“Misha works with me at the charity center, and Kate is good friends with my sister. When you first left, they were really worried about you.”
Lexa’s eyes fill with tears, and her lip trembles. “Are they alright?” she asks. “I never got to say goodbye.”
“They’re doing great,” Cass says, hugging Lexa again. “And they can’t wait to see you.”
Cass holds on to Lexa for a little longer, giving her time to get herself back under control. I feel like a complete idiot that I didn’t look into Lexa’s friends from school and try to get her in contact with them.
“When you’re done assaulting her, can we get on with this, please?” Mabel asks, rapping the table with her knuckles.
“You think everything is an assault,” Cass replies flippantly as she takes Lexa’s hand to lead her towards the table. “No matter how soft and gentle I am, you continue to spread the complete lie that I am a violent brute.”
“Excuse me?” Mabel replies, indignant. “Should I show everyone the bite marks?”
Cass wiggles her eyebrows. “Bold choice, but I won’t stop you.”
Xavier bursts out laughing, and Mabel narrows her eyes, shooting mental daggers at Cass. I move over to the side of the table and pull out a chair, gesturing for Lexa to sit. She moves gratefully out of the line of fire and takes a seat out of the action.
“If you’re done,” Loretta says in a scathing tone, “can we return to business?”
“I don’t know,” Cass mutters, sounding completely mystified. “Can we?”
Loretta’s face goes red, and she looks like she’s about to explode. After my grandparents died, I was required to appoint three new council members, and I chose Cass, Xavier, and Mabel because they were very active in the community. All threevolunteer regularly for charity and help to even the class divide in Cyan Lock.
And they are all my age with innovative ideas for the future. All of them can help me take the pack in a new direction.
Loretta looked like she was going to rip my face off when I made the announcement, but speaking against me at that time would definitely have resulted in the alpha’s challenge. As much as she disagrees with me, it’s obvious she wants to avoid that.
Even if she considers me to be a misbehaving pup, she knows what I’ve done. What grandfather forced me to do. He made me into a killing machine, and no one knows it better than his right-hand lady.
“The ball,” Loretta says, clearing her throat. “We are here to discuss this year’s event. We should keep with tradition and have it here at the hall. The usual caterers. I’ll take care of the invitations. The dress code will be—”
“Wait, wait,” Mabel cuts in, waving her hand. “Word about town is that most people are sick of the formal ball. To truly include the whole pack, I’d like to propose a carnival. We can have rides and junk food. Games for the kids, face painting, balloons—”
“Excuse me?” Loretta cuts her off. “Are you really suggesting we turn our formal dinner into a literal circus?”
