Chapter 45
The Council of Elders
Jason:
After the defeat of Clyde’s pack, I bided my time by spending it with Clarissa and the new pack she had formed and also by visiting my grandma to make sure she was alright and healthy. Since our encounter where we almost kissed, Clarissa and I had become closer to each other. We also traded our past stories, so we now enjoyed our companies without trying to make further advancements on both our paths. Although my heart still ached for her and I wanted so much to kiss her that I struggled to keep my eyes from wandering to her lips whenever we talked, her daughter Cisca had also become so fond of me that we now all had dinner together (including Nolle, who was an absolute angel). We spent most of our time together talking, hanging out, hunting, and playing games with the new pack. The bonds of this new pack were tighter than any other. Even Mirian and Elliot had repented from their treacherous ways and walked with us in solidarity. We were one big family. Clarissa was generally seen as the mother of the pack and was given the respect that she deserved. Clarissa had also grown very close to the only human member of our pack, Amber Hart.
It was a day before the full moon when my beta, Justin, called for my presence. I was having dinner with Clarissa, Cisca, Nolle, and Amber Hart. When the call came through,
“Your presence is needed at the pack, sir.” He announced in the most serious of tones he could muster.
“What is it about, Justin? Give me a hint.”
“It’s a very crucial message from the Council of Elders.” He informed me.
“Thank you, Justin; I’ll be there as soon as possible.” I said that the time had finally come for us to move forward from the outcomes of the war.
“Um, Sorry everybody, I’ll be taking my leave earlier than usual tonight,” I announced to the people at the table with me, picking up my napkin to wipe my mouth. I regretted having to abandon such exquisite food. Nolle had been promoted to chef at the restaurant she worked in, and she blessed our palates with mind-blowing recipes.
“Is anything the matter, Jason? I hope there’s no problem. Is it about grandma?” asked Clarissa; she bothered a lot and got easily riled up.
“No, it’s not about grandma. There’s an emergency back at my pack, and I’m sure it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
“Alright, be safe then,” She said and continued with her meal. Nolle, Amber, and I echoed our goodnights while Cisca suspended her meal to give me a hug and a peck.
“Goodbye Uncle! Make sure to be here on time for dinner tomorrow!” She chirped and skipped back to her dining chair.
Having taken my proper leave of them, I walked into the cold night towards my car. I drove it to my house and hiked over to my pack.
As I made my way to the pack, my mind was filled with a mix of curiosity and concern. Justin’s words about a crucial message from the Council of Elders piqued my interest. What could be so important that they needed to summon me? I hoped it was a positive development, a recognition of our victory over Clyde’s pack and the new bonds we had forged.
Upon reaching the pack, Justin handed me a sealed letter. The weight of it in my hands heightened my anticipation. Breaking the seal, I unfolded the parchment and read its contents. It was a summons to the next Council of Elders meeting, scheduled for a day after the full moon. To my surprise, the letter revealed that Clarissa had also been summoned. The news stirred a mix of emotions within me. I couldn’t help but wonder what the Council’s intentions were in summoning both of us together.
Clarissa:
While Jason was away, my heart filled with worry and unease. The abruptness of his departure and the mention of an emergency left me anxious.
As I waited for Jason’s return, my thoughts raced. The longer he took to return, the greater the possibility that he was in danger. Had there been an attack on his pack? Had Clyde returned for reprisal? My thoughts kept bouncing from one horrible occurrence to the next.
When Jason finally arrived, I was preparing a meal for Grandma Carter, and I could see the weight of the situation in his eyes. I couldn’t contain my worry any longer, and as soon as he walked through the door, I bombarded him with questions. “Jason, what happened? Is everything okay at the pack?”
Jason took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “Clarissa, we’ve both been summoned to the next Council of Elders meeting. The letter didn’t provide much detail, but it’s scheduled for a day after the full moon.”
Fear gripped my heart as I grasped the implications. “Summoning both of us? It must be something significant, Jason. Offending the Elders is a serious crime, and the consequences… can be dire.”
Jason nodded, his expression serious. “I know, Clarissa. But we can’t afford to panic.”
Jason:
I had thought that it was simply a case of establishing new living conditions and taking their own share of the spoils of battle, which was the purpose of my being summoned, but now that I had been summoned together with Clarissa, I did not know what to make of it at all. I traced all we had done since we met, and I could not find anything that had gone against the rules and regulations. Or maybe it was a task that they had to assign to both of us. There was no predicting the motifs of the elders; we could only bid our time until the day of the meeting.
On the day of the full moon, Clarissa’s newly founded pack performed the rituals together with my pack. It was memorable; even Amber howled until her weak voice became hoarse and we had to put her to bed with some sleeping pills in warm chocolate—sshe had refused to stay behind alone while we performed the rituals. Amber was such a stubborn human. My pack members were not exactly comfortable with Amber around, but they remained calm because I trusted her, and they in turn trusted me not to lead them into trouble.