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CHAPTER 39
RAIDEN
The boardroom slowly filled up while Gunnar and I welcomed the guests and showed them to their respective seats. This particular meeting had been scheduled right after I found Lily in the woods, almost a week and a half ago. I only wished I could have dealt with it sooner. It would’ve saved me a lot of trouble concerning the whole Tanya vs Lily incident in the hall.
Gunnar had taken care of all the organising while I was escorting Lily back home. According to him, this was the only time that suited everyone, as my parents had been out of town, and the pack’s Delta, Carter, had warrior trials to conclude. It wasn’t ideal, since I hadn’t had time to seek out Tanya yet, but it would have to make do.
After formally welcoming everyone, the room grew quiet and tense as the wolves settled and waited anxiously to hear why I had called them together. Meetings such as these, where only high-ranking members and elders were invited, were rare and almost always meant trouble. I decided to jump right in, and not beat around the bush any longer.
“Three months ago, I’d agreed with all of you to choose a new Luna for the sake of Shadow Creek’s future. It was decided that I would be entering into an arranged mating with Lady Tanya.”
Some of the elders, as well as my parents, began shifting uncomfortably in their seats, exchanging worried glances.
“However,” the room inhaled, “I would have to respectfully decline this agreement, as I‘d found my true fated mate in the meantime.”
Loud gasps exploded around the table; a few people’s jaws dropped. My mom clutched her heart, looking towards my dad, who in return shrugged and said, “finally.”
Out of all, Gunnar was the only person who didn’t seem fazed by my declaration at all. He gave me a reassuring nod as we waited for everyone to process what I’d just told them. Whispers flared up, people practically bending into each other’s laps to declare either their outrage or excitement.
My mother was the first person to jump up from her seat and clap her hands together in front of her chest. “My dear boy, who is it?” she exclaimed, eyes glistening with excitement.
A smile spread across my face at my mother’s thrilled reaction.
“Settle down, Love, let the boy speak,” my father’s deep voice rumbled from beside her. He already had his hand gripping her arm, trying to pull her back down into her seat. Slowly, she sat back down but kept her eager eyes locked on me.
“It’s Lily Scott, the daughter of Alpha Leonidas, from Hollow Stone.”
“Son of a bitch,” my father exclaimed as he and my mother embraced each other. Leonidas has always been my father’s dearest friend and closest ally.
To my left, my Delta, Carter, stood up, giving me a congratulatory handshake, while cheerful chaos erupted all around us. The joyous atmosphere quickly changed, however, as not everyone was so accepting of my change of heart. One of the elders, Bernard, cleared his throat loudly requesting everyone’s attention.
The room settled, and people turned to him in anticipation. He stood up, slowly, enjoying their undivided attention, “Alpha, if I may?” he started.
Nodding, I gestured for him to continue while I took a seat at the head of the table.
“Don’t you think it’s a little too late to cancel the mating ceremony with Lady Tanya? All the arrangements have already been made, not to mention the humiliation she would have to face.”
Annoyance rammed through me at the audacity of his stupid question, but before I could answer, my father’s voice resonated from the other end of the table, “Bernard. The mating ceremony has not taken place yet, nor has the girl been marked, which deems Raiden fit to still be able to change his mind.”
Nods of agreement and low murmuring ensued around the table, but Bernard persisted, “Alpha, I do understand this. However, the woman, Tanya, has been chosen for a specific purpose, by the elders nonetheless. Going against this decision and accepting a girl none of us has ever met would be considered an unwise decision.”
My blood boiled, and by the look on my father’s face, he shared the same sentiment. I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor and flying back.
“You dare put your elder-pairing above a pairing made by the Moon Goddess herself?”
Bernard stared back at me with hatred in his eyes. The room had gone quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Another elder stood quickly, “no-uh, of course not Alpha. We all know that a mate bond, sealed by the Moon Goddess, is sacred and cannot be tampered with.”
I kept my eyes locked onto Bernard’s as he hissed, “the Moon Goddess hasn’t sealed the bond yet.”
Within less than three seconds, I stood before him, my face mere inches from his. Elongated fangs and clenched fists at the ready. “Is that a threat?”
“Only an observation, Alpha,” Bernard answered.
“Sit down!” My father’s voice bouldered across the table. “Bernard, just because Tanya is your granddaughter, it doesn't give you the right to act disrespectfully towards your Alpha.”
Bernard’s eyes pulsed with fury, his wolf peering through in streaks of yellow. I wouldn’t back down and after a few more moments, he finally lowered his head, baring his neck in submission. I took a trembling step back, distancing myself from him before I ripped his face clean off. He didn’t wait for his dismissal before he stepped aside, retreating from the room without uttering another word.
A nod from my father, and I went back to my seat, more than ready to get this meeting over with. Although the meeting went on without any further disruptions, I couldn’t stop thinking about his disrespect. People like Bernard would go out of his way to make not only my life, but Lily’s too, miserable. He wouldn’t stop until he felt like justice had been done.
Lily. I still couldn’t link her. But this time, however, I hadn’t left her unguarded. Before I left, I’d assigned two guards to stand post outside her door and report any suspicious activity directly to me. They would inform me of any visitors, and follow her around, should she decide to venture outside. One threat had been enough, adding Bernard and possibly Tanya to the list only added to my growing unease. Shit, I needed to get to Tanya and tell her about Lily before she heard it from someone else. I pinched the bridge of my nose between my thumb and index finger.
Are you okay, man? Gunnar linked from beside me.
I dropped my hand away from my face, glancing sideways at him. I didn’t reply, since I was sure he could see on my face. I was very far from ‘okay’. His eyes glazed over, but he didn’t link me. It took enormous effort to focus back on the current matter. One of the elders was going on and on about housing arrangements and something happening with the plumbing. Not more than five minutes later, Mia came in with a mug in her hands, she plopped it down in front of me, gave her mate a wink and left. I wasn’t sure if anyone even noticed her, but as I lifted the steaming beverage to my lips, I sent a quick thank you to both her and Gunnar.
