Chapter 158: Six Months Later Part 2

"Of course. What do you want to know?" I questioned him directly.

"We were told how tense it felt at the celebration. How people avoided talking to you and even being in the same room as you, is this correct?" inquired Elder Terrance.

"Yes, unfortunately, that is correct. The atmosphere was very tense the entire evening. I stayed for an hour, but I left shortly thereafter because I couldn't take it any longer," I explained.

"Understandable. Now, when people talked to you, were they pleasant or did it sound forced?" questioned Elder Graham.

"It was half and half. I could tell that some were very genuine in their happiness to have me there. Others, they were just being polite and couldn't stand to have me there. I just smiled and politely talked to them and didn't make a fuss," I truthfully answered him.

"Did anyone say anything negative to you or do anything to you that could be construed as disrespectful behavior?" inquired Elder Terrance.

"Not really. I think that's why people were avoiding being in the same room as I was. They didn't want to risk doing or saying anything to get into trouble. It just seemed like a third of the pack members felt compelled to act properly. I mean-they had to do so to appear to play ball with others in order to not rock the boat so to speak. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" I explained to the Elders.

"I think so. They acted according to what they thought they were supposed to act in order to escape punishment. Is that correct Sandra?" inquired Elder Terrance.

"Yes. They did what they thought wouldn't get them in trouble. They didn't act naturally. I guess that was what really upset me the most about the celebration. They didn't have fun because they weren't themselves because they acted differently," I lamented with a deep sigh.

"I totally get it, Sandra. How are Greyson and Owen doing in school? Are any of the adults saying or doing anything to them?" asked Elder Graham.

"No one is saying or doing anything negative towards them. In fact, they love going to school. They are growing up to be strong just like their daddies," I exclaimed with a proud expression on my face.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that they are thriving in school and no one is doing anything negative to them. I think we need to head over to the pack house so we can speak to Alpha James concerning the status of the pack," Elder Graham announced as he stood up.

"Are you staying the night tonight? Or at least staying for dinner?" I inquired of Elders Graham and Terrance.

"No, we won't be staying the night tonight. Maybe next time but we won't turn down a dinner invitation. We would love to join your family for dinner tonight. Say around 6 PM?" replied Elder Graham.

"That would be perfect. Anything in particular you have in mind for dinner or require?" I asked for clarification purposes.

"No, surprise us. You always have the most delicious meals for us. We will see you again for dinner. Thank you, Luna Sandra," Elder Graham declared as he stood up to leave.

"Until then, Goodbye Elder Graham and Elder Terrance," I announced as they left my office. They were escorted down and out of the house by Ms. Michaels.

I notified James, Davidson, and their parents that we would have company for dinner tonight. Dinner will be at 6 PM at our house. I would have Ms. Hammonds create us a great dinner tonight.

The day flew by after they left. Before I knew it, everyone was arriving for dinner. Luckily, when the house was being built, they accounted for us to have large dinner parties here. Soon we were all sitting around the dinner table eating and having a wonderful conversation that wasn't about pack politics.

After dinner, Ms. Phelps and Ms. Michaels took the children upstairs so the rest of us could have a conversation in the living room.

Elder Graham began, "I talked to several pack members besides the Alpha and Beta to get their take on how they thought the pack was growing as a whole. They told me how they felt about the pack and saw how they thought the pack was growing. After our conversation with Alpha James and Beta Rafferty today, the Rock Canyon Pack will remain on probation for at least another year."

"I agreed with Elder Graham. Rock Canyon is not ready to come off of probation yet. They still need to grow as a pack. Alpha James, this is no reflection on you as an Alpha or you Sebastian as their former Alpha. You did the very best you could trying to mold them the way they should have been. They just didn't heed your warnings or punishments," Elder Terrance explained to all of us.

"Thank you for saying that Elders Graham and Terrance. Still, it doesn't make me feel any better. I still feel like I let Sandra down as her Alpha. No matter what I tried, the pack didn't heed my warnings or guidelines," mused Sebastian.

"You know as well as I do that you cannot force everyone to do what you want all the time. You will always have those who will do what they want. The pack needs to learn that they need to follow their Alpha or there will be consequences. It's that simple," Elder Graham declared simply.

"Thank you Elder Graham for everything. You have been a tremendous supporter of all of us. Just saying thank you really doesn't seem adequate enough," I professed as I held my mates' hands.

"I agree with Sandy. I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't helped to reunite us as a mated truple. We can't begin to thank you," Davidson complimented Elder Graham.

"No thanks are necessary. We simply corrected a mistake that should never have happened in the first place. The suffering that the three of you endured during those eight and a half months, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. I'm just glad that we were able to get everyone back on the right path once again," Elder Graham exclaimed as he stood up.

Everyone was in agreement that we were all happy to be reunited and back where we belonged-with each other. We bade Elders Graham and Terrance a goodbye since they had to return to the Council to report their findings.

The grandparents went to say goodnight to their grandchildren. As we ascended the stairs, we heard giggling coming from the children's room. That's something I can never get enough of, hearing my children laugh. I think that is one of the sweetest sounds I could ever hear.