The Council by Cooper (Jara & Mason)
Chapter 13
Mason
It’s been a long day and since none of us intended to be here another night, there are no planned activities. We decide to go out to dinner again. After speaking to our small group, they all want to do something on their own, spending time with their mates. Works for me.
Jara and I find a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant where we can sit and talk.
Once we order food, Jara jumps right in. “What do you think of Alpha Gunnar?”
“I think he’s got an ulterior motive. I just haven’t been able to figure out what it is yet.”
“Do you think he’s planning to overtake his minions’ packs eventually? And what’s with r*aping the she-wolves? Do we know if he’s close to going feral?”
“The thought occurred to me about the others’ packs. If he sets it up the right way, he could absorb them and make it look like an act of friendship when in reality, it was an act of aggression. A well thought out act of aggression.”
“And the she-wolves?”
“I think he’s desperate. He was in both yours and Hana’s claimings this year. He didn’t catch either of you, although, I think he was one of the ones that had Hana surrounded when she leaped into Seth’s arms.”
“So, if he can’t claim them properly, he will take them by force. It’s too much like Typhon. When we pass the rest of the petition rules, I’ll want to go to his pack, his and Alpha Emanual.”
“So, Emanual got under your skin today?” I tease her. He put himself on my radar as well.
“Not under my skin, but he’s a problem with his archaic ways of thinking that are not conducive to the continuation of our species or the health of the she-wolves in his pack.”
“On that, you and I can agree.” I reach over and take her hand, pulling it to my mouth and kissing her knuckles as I watch her. “Can we also agree that there is no way in hell that I’m letting you walk onto those pack lands without me?”
She blushes softly as I kiss her hand, her eyes meeting mine as I speak.
“Why Alpha, are you worried about me?”
“It’s not you that I’m worried about. I know you are one hell of a strong woman who can take care of herself. But I don’t trust Gunnar or his group at all, and I certainly won’t trust them with my most prized possession.”
“Your car?” My mate says, batting her eyes and giving me an innocent look that I don’t buy for a second.
“Not my car.” I say, my eyes holding hers in a relentless gaze.
“Your money?” She says, again with an innocent face that isn’t close to being real. “Do I need to remind you, my precious mate, what my most prized possession is? And how much I absolutely adore her?”
“Hmmmm.” She takes her free hand, the one that I’m not still kissing one knuckle at a time and taps her finger on her lips. “I think maybe I do need a reminder.” At that moment, our food comes to the table. “We’ll take that to go.” I say before they can even put it in front of us.
The waiter looks from me to Jara and back. “Uh, yes sir.”
When he returns a couple minutes later, I throw several hundred- dollar bills on the table, grab the to-go bag with one hand and as soon as Jara is standing, I scoop her over my shoulder. “Option two it is tonight.” I say, not caring who sees me walking my mate out of the restaurant like this.
The next morning, we return to the conference room, ready to continue. After we are all seated, Elder Jason comes to the front of the room.
“Today we will continue to review the petition submitted by the Lunas. The next item in the petition states, ‘Once a year, during the Alpha meeting, Lunas will meet to discuss the next year’s events, including claimings and concerns with she- wolves brought before the Luna Council’.”
“Now you want your own damn meeting? Are you kidding me?” Gunnar says, this time shooting up to his feet. Oh yeah, today is going to be a lot of fun.
“Why shouldn’t we? The needs of the she-wolves are obviously not represented in this meeting. We should have our own and then on the last day, we can all meet together and discuss changes we would like to see.” Annabel says, standing as well. I notice that while Antonio is letting her make her stand, he’s also staying close in case he needs to jump in against Gunnar or anyone else.
“I agree, why shouldn’t the Lunas have their own meetings. We all heard yesterday that they have their own issues, issues that we may not truly understand. So, let them oversee the she-wolves, report back at this meeting issues or concerns that they have, and we can all discuss them as we are doing now.” Alpha Saul says.
“I think the Lunas should know their place. They aren’t the leaders of the pack, they shouldn’t be trying to take on the role of the Alphas.” Alpha Emanuel says.
“I agree.” Hana says, ready to shut him down. “We have no intention of running your packs. But you don’t seem to be taking care of your she-wolves. Too many are dying and if we are going to continue our species, we need to do a better job of looking after all of the ones that remain. Since you are so busy running your packs, you shouldn’t have any problem letting us, as Lunas, take over the arduous task of looking after the she-wolves.” She says sarcastically.
Hana gives Alpha Emanuel a smile that says she knows she’s got him. He curls his lip in return.
“Let’s vote.” Elder Jason says. Surprisingly, this vote is closer. There are more Alphas than I realized who feel threatened by our Lunas. But in the end, it’s a nine to five vote.
“This item will be placed into law. The next item on the petition states, ‘Lunas will have the ability to visit any pack to see and speak with she-wolves. They will have full access and cannot be denied entry to the pack”.”
“See, they are trying to infiltrate our packs!” Gunnar is on his feet again.
“You know Alpha Gunnar, for someone who doesn’t think much of women, you sure are concerned about having a Luna in your pack. One might think you have something to hide.” I say, watching him closely.
He turns on me. “We all know it won’t just be the Lunas. None of you are going to let them into one of our packs without being with them. So, now I have to let a Luna AND her Alpha onto my pack lands.” Gunnar says.
“What is the purpose of this item?” Alpha Jonas asks.
“In the case of my sister, she was denied access to our family. She was only able to call on rare occasions and no matter how many times we called, she was ‘unavailable.’ When we did speak to her, we knew something was wrong, but we were denied entrance to Alpha Typhon’s pack lands. My sister might be alive today if something like this were in place. So, the purpose, Alpha Jonas, is to ensure that there is no mistreatment of the she-wolves in a pack. And if there is any indication that such mistreatment is occurring, a Luna from any pack can go to visit the she-wolf and ensure that there is no mistreatment going on.” Jara tells him.
I can tell from the looks of the Alphas that they didn’t realize that Mila was denied access to her family. It was extreme, but not unheard of. I could see Gunnar doing the same. And possibly Emanual as well.
“Let’s vote.” Elder Jason says.
This time, the vote is ten to four in favor. Jara’s story of Mila seems to have swayed some of the Alphas.
“This item will be place into law. The next item on the list states, ‘Any Alpha or pack that blocks this access and ability to participate in these events will have their pack dismantled, whether by the Alpha and Luna Councils or by war’.”
As soon as the words leave Elder Jason’s mouth, the room erupts into angry shouts.