They all arrived home the next night to find the council had arrived ahead of them, but it was late, and they were all asleep in their rooms, had been put up in suites on the ground floor by Charlie, to wait for the arrival of the Alpha for a meeting they wanted to have.
But they had taken their time in coming home. Aston saw that there was no need to rush. They arrived just on midnight and were all tired themselves, from the long drive. While they’d been away from the pack, nothing eventful had happened. Everything was reported to have stayed the same as any other day inside the pack. No threats were detected and no new arrivals either that needed attention.
There were two council members waiting after breakfast to talk with the Alpha, seems that they had taken into consideration that the Luna had been killed and the packs wishes not to hold mating balls, and a full review of the pack's current situation had been done.
Seems they too, felt some responsibility for what had occurred to the packs Luna, considering how long she had been a Luna and the sudden and unexplained attack on her. Which Aston must have reported to them. It was possible he blamed them, didn’t look at all impressed to have them inside the pack, she noted.
It was announced to the pack by one of the council members, the one that was always here, always came was likely their pack's representative she guessed. He was a retired Alpha, as were most on the council, Alpha Tyler. Announced that due to what the pack had been and taking into full consideration of the pack members wishes, as any Alpha should, that he did understand them.
That the council had thought long and hard about what should be done with them, that the conclusion of the meeting it had been decided that instead of the pack holding, Mating balls every three months. That only unmated Alpha’s and their units at this point would come to the pack on a full moon, if they so choose to.
That the council would be providing a list of attending unmated Alpha’s and their units, prior to the full moon, and that any here who was paired up with one of them. The council fully expected them to give their Mate, Alpha or Ranked member of his Alpha Unit a fair chance. Not to reject one instantly.
Mala found Alpha Tyler’s eyes right on her, as he finished stating that, and she got the very distinct impression, he knew she would just refuse a Mate. Was making a point to her about it. She got a very bad feeling about it, in fact.
Heard one of the pack members ask what exactly a fair chance meant? Was informed bluntly, that there would be no rejecting of any mate within 5 days of scenting them out. That they would be expected to attend dates to get to know their Mate. That just because they had one bad experience with their first Mate, that did not mean, that a second chance Mate would treat them the same way.
Heard one she-wolf yell out “Are you going to guarantee that for us?” knew it was Rhonda right away. That poor woman had got beaten by her previous Mate before he even rejected her, nearly died that day and all because he didn’t like that she was lowly ranked in their pack and had been mated to her.
He had been highly ranked, didn’t want her, thought it was some cruel joke, had beat her and rejected her, then left her for dead out in rogue territory, used his rank to order her never to come back to the pack. The poor woman was just twenty-three. Like so many here, didn’t want another Mate, due to the first one being horrid.
“There are no guarantees in this world. But the council understands your reasons for being here and we will be doing our best to select packs with good reputations. And any that are seen as undesirable, or in some ways cruel to their lower ranked members, won’t be selected to come here. Unless they have proven to have redeemed themselves.” Was the answer she got.
Mala nearly snarled at that answer herself. Aston’s eyes were on her, and she just knew that Hudson and the Glimmering Moon Pack was going to be on that list. He’d said he didn’t think it was over. That Hudson himself had asked where the pack was, to come and talk to her.
She knew the Glimmering Moon Pack was only a five hour drive from the arena where the warrior challenge was held. He’d have gotten home long before they had, could well have left directly after that conversation and been home in his pack before she’d even gone to sleep that night with Ben.
Plenty of time for him to contact the wolfen council where she was concerned, to try and force Aston’s hand, gaining permission to come here to see her.
Now Hudson’s Beta Jet, knew she had a wolf, as did Dain and all his pack members that had been at the Arena. Jet could well have taken that to their previous Alpha, he’d been pissed off not knowing she had a wolf. Could have been so pissed off he took it to the old Alpha.
Hell Dain could have gone back to the pack and told his parents about her having a wolf, though she doubted he would, seeing as she’d beaten him. But it was possible, and they could well have stirred the pot themselves. Probably thought she was still a Lucas and needed to be brought back to the pack. They were proud of their bloodline and would want it restored. Her brought back into the Lucas fold, so to speak.
But her gut instincts were telling her the council was here for her. He’d looked right at her and then so had her own Alpha. Those three men had been in a meeting for at least an hour, before the pack had been convened for this bloody meeting. Looked to the other council member and found his eyes on her as well, looked back at her own Alpha and saw him sigh as he looked at her.
Walked right away from that meeting the second it was over, stalked away in fact. Found Rhonda right next to her. “They can’t make us, can they, Mala?” she could hear the tinge of fear in her voice.
She’d only been here a year now, had not been a warrior of any kind in her old pack, was now training like all the others. Wanted to be able to defend herself and fight. She was omega ranked and trained hard, likely never wanted to be helpless ever again.
“No-one can, but…” Mala sighed herself, “I imagine spending that much time around a Goddess Gifted Mate is designed to make it, so you want them, to help grow the bond between the two of you…I don’t know though, was rejected like you, within minutes of the moon setting.”
“But, we’ll still be able to say no, right?”
“I guess so.” Mala nodded, though she did not know how long it took for a bond to be fully realised and unable for one to be able to deny it, to be honest.
“I’m not…I don’t…I…”
“It’s alright Rhonda, take a breath. We are 500 strong, and if you say no, I’m certain Aston will back you up. If not, you can issue a challenge to your Mate, I presume.”
“I can’t fight an Alpha or one of his units. I nearly died the last time.”
“Ask for a proxy.” Mala smiled at her “You’re an omega, it should be granted. I can step in for you, against any ranked member, as a proxy, you just have to request it be me. I am highly ranked myself now.”
“Alright.” She nodded, but Mala could still see how anxious she was, it was in most of them, they had been rejected before. Wondered if Alpha’s and their Units would have the same rules as they did. If they didn’t like the Mate, they were given, if they too, had to give it five days and attend dates before issuing any rejection.
“Go on home and rest. It’s not likely going to be this month. I don’t imagine, they’ll need time to organise it, and really Rhonda how many unmated Alpha’s and their Units are out there. Can’t be all that many, most if they haven’t found their Goddess Gifted Mate, would take a Chosen to keep their pack strong and give it a Luna, right?”
“I don’t know.”
Mala chuckled softly “Me neither, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. We’ll be fine.”
Though she, like Rhonda, wasn’t at all happy about it. Though her rejection stood, so even if Hudson turned up, they were done and dusted. It was not like the Goddess would pair them up again, that would just be bloody cruel, and she would issue a rejection on the spot regardless of what the bloody council wanted. They could argue that all they liked, she would simply challenge them for the right to do so. If she won, her rejection would stand, and he would have to accept it.
She was not letting that man have what he wanted, he didn’t deserve her, certainly did not deserve Suki. She would not care if he got down on his knees and begged for forgiveness. The answer would still be no, she would go and find Ben damn quick.
Walked into the pack house dining room to have dinner, to find Alpha Aston and his unit all there. That was a little odd, they usually ate later than this time, casually in the main foyer at about eight.
She could already hear the talk about the up-coming full moon, and barely held in a string of curse words, only held them back because she could see that the two council members were still here, they had not gone home, it seemed, and they were sitting at the table with Aston and his unit.
Wondered what she’d ever done to piss the moon goddess off, it was her doing that Suki came late, her doing to be paired with an asshole and her doing to grant their rejection of each other. She’d done nothing wrong, had taken all the verbal abuse, being shunned, by not just the pack but her own family.
She had done as she was told, even though she’d been shunned, had stayed put inside that pack. Even when she wanted out, stayed until she was told she was old enough to leave it. She had taken every damned thing that had been thrown at her, including what Hudson had done to her those last two nights, and used it to make herself stronger. Why punish her again?
Might just have to go and get herself a chosen Mate to get out of the crap storm she foresaw coming her way. Wondered if Alpha Aston would let her do that. She had no idea. He was the Alpha and a fair and good one, surely he could see it from her point of view. Though not being in a steady relationship might hamper that, he’d want to make sure that she and her chosen mate were solid first.
She was asked to come and sit at the table to eat with them, couldn’t very well decline her Alpha’s request, not without being rude, when he’d asked her so politely. Just nodded and sat down after getting a plate of food.
“You don’t remember me, do you Mala?” council member, Alpha Patrick commented as she sat down.
“No,” she answered honestly.
“Pity, you look so like your mother.” He smiled right at her “I am from the Glimmering Moon Pack myself.”
‘Yay.’ She thought to herself “And?” she stated in a board tone, didn’t care who he thought she looked like or where he was from.
“Mala, respect.” Alpha Aston reminded her.
“It’s alright, Aston, young Mala’s life was not easy, from my understanding, of her last two years inside the pack. Though I was not there to see it myself. Was already on the Wolfen council, had been for ten years by then.”
Mala stared at him uncaringly, “And you’re here because?” she asked bluntly.
Saw him smiling at her now, “Because you, my dear, should be the current Luna in my home pack.”
“No, I should not.” she stated flatly.
“Mala, if you’d gotten your wolf at sixteen, like everyone else, you would be and you know this.”
She didn’t say anything at all about that. Because he was likely right, she had enjoyed growing up inside that pack until she had not gotten her wolf on time. Then she had gotten a real good look at the pack’s true colours, in those last two years. Learned quickly how cruel they were and had wanted out of it.
“I’m glad that I didn’t get my wolf at sixteen. Showed me just how cruel that pack is, even to its own members. Opened my eyes a lot.”
“It is unfortunate that happened to you, Mala. But my grandson is for lack of better wording. A product of his upbringing. His mother came from a pack that did not and would not tolerate the wolf-less. We were not like that in my day. It was quite a shock that she started banishing wolves once she took over as the Luna, and then drummed new rules into the new generations."
“Not my problem, I’m not a part of that pack anymore.”
“Hmm, stubborn you are…you could change all that, if you were to come home and take your rightful place as Hudson’s Luna.”
“No thank you.” She stated emotionlessly, but then looked right at him “Now, if you want me to lead a war and go to battle against that pack. I’d be glad to stand up front and take it on. Destroy it for you.”
“Mala, please, I’m just asking you to consider it.”
“No,” she stated flatly, “I’m not interested. If the council ever wants to bring it down and destroy it, I’m in. Other than that, no thank you.”
There was complete silence at the table now, no one willingly wanted to go to war or offered themselves up to be on the front line for it either and she’d just done both. She excused herself the moment her meal was finished, to go to her room. She’d had enough. No one stopped her, not even Alpha Patrick. Though she could feel his eyes upon her as she walked away.
So, it seemed that stupid shitty pack, had ties to the Wolfen council. No wonder Aston had told her he didn’t think it was over, he would already know this, likely knew where each of the council members came from even. Had likely already seen this coming, perhaps Hudson had told him as much. That’s why he said he didn’t believe it was over.
Well, it was over for her. Not even Suki got upset when looking at him. Her own wolf didn’t care about him anymore than she did, they were no longer the same person they had once been.
Found Alpha Patrick at her door an hour later and frowned right at him.
“Mala, can we please talk about this?”
“No.” she stated flatly.
“I understand your life was not easy.”
“Do you, really? I don’t think you do! Why don’t you go and ask your grandson, exactly what he did to me? A week before the moon set, then ask him to tell you what he planned to do to me, for the rest of that week. Before, he was going to reject me, and banish me himself. He told me exactly what he was going to do to me, and was going to enjoy every second of it.”
Saw the man frown right at her “Mala?”
“It was more than cruel. You’ll likely have to Alpha Order it out of him.” She told him and believed it. Clearly he’d sent his grandfather here on his behalf, but had not told him of just how cruel he had been to her. Likely this man standing before her had not seen the state of her either before that final fight.
She saw him blink now, then his frown deepened, she did not blink, didn’t turn away. She just stood there staring at him. “If you think that I can be swayed, it’s not going to happen.”
“I’ll speak with him. I must not have all the information.”
“I’m certain you don’t. If he doesn’t tell you, his Beta Jet will know, as will everyone at that warrior challenge I had to attend, ask them what they saw while there.”
Watched him stare at her long and hard, then just turn and walked away from her. She just knew that Hudson had coughed up she’d been his Mate, that she wasn’t wolf-less anymore. He had probably played it off as he’d not known about that, but not mentioned what he had done, or was planning on doing to her either. No, he’d likely made it out, that it was just a simple rejection, he couldn’t even tell the truth of what he’d done it seemed.
Wondered if the council would just dismiss his actions as well. Like his stupid Beta had done, nothing mattered but what Alpha’s wanted. It didn’t matter who he hurt, only what he wanted and that seemed to be her. Well, she’d let some random wolf bite her and bite them back, before going back to that man.