Chapter 163: The Day After--Meeting with the Council Part 1

Waking up to soft kisses being placed on my cheeks, lips, shoulders, neck, and earlobe was the best way to wake up. I love waking up like this. I slowly opened my eyes to behold my handsome mates adoringly looking at me in between kisses.

"Good morning my love. How did you sleep last night?" Davidson softly inquired while he softly ran his hand down my arm.

"Good morning my handsome mates. I slept decently. When I slept, I slept well. How did you sleep last night?" I replied while I winced as I moved closer to James.

"Good morning baby. Are you okay? Are you in pain?" James inquired as he looked me over. "Does your head hurt?"

"Yes, I have a headache this morning. I need to have some breakfast so I can take some medicine. I don't want this to go into a full-blown migraine," I explained as I tried to get out of bed.

"Stay still. We'll help you get ready this morning. The Council and everyone else will be here at 10 o'clock this morning to discuss the Rock Canyon Pack. We already have Ms. Hammonds downstairs making breakfast for everyone. Then she is going to make refreshments for everyone," explained James as he held me close to him.

"Why don't I take you into the bathroom so you can start getting ready? Then, we can help you change your clothes," advised Davidson.

"I appreciate the help but let me just do it. I have to go and get the kids dressed and prepared for the day as well," I sighed as I got up from the bed.

"No, you go get yourself ready and we will get the kids ready for the day. You can't do everything by yourself. We are here to help you. Now, go get ready. We love you," gushed James as he kissed me on the lips.

"You get yourself ready and meet us downstairs. This way, you can take your medication so your headache will not get any worse than it is. I love you, Sandy," declared Davidson.

"Love you too, Sugar Bear and Honey Bear," I declared after they both kissed me.

I went about my morning routine like always. I was having a hard time finding a comfortable outfit to wear that would be appropriate to wear with the Council coming by. I finally found something to wear. I was on my way downstairs when I met Michael on the stairs.

"Hey Sandy, how's your head this morning? Can I help you with anything?" he inquired as he helped me walk down the stairs.

"How'd you know I had a headache this morning?" I replied back to him.

"I'm your brother. I know you and besides I felt it through our link. You need to eat something soon so you can take your medicine. We don't want your headache to get worse," mused Michael.

"I know. Hey, what do you think is going to happen today?" I asked him when we finally reached the living room, which got everyone's attention.

"I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. Elder Graham isn't too happy with Rock Canyon right now," contended Michael as we walked into the kitchen for breakfast.

"That's an understatement. He's royally pissed at them. I don't blame him. Some pack members refuse to understand that you had nothing to do with any of the deaths or the destruction that was brought on due to the mate contracts from your Grandpa," snapped Davidson.

"Yeah but to disband or rather divide the pack among other packs isn't fair to James. He deserves to be an Alpha. It's his birthright just as much as it is yours, Davidson. He didn't do anything to deserve this either," was my argument to everyone in the room.

Everyone agreed with me but what could we do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. We just had to wait until the Council showed up to find out what was decided. No wonder I had a headache this morning.

After breakfast, we all adjourned to the living room. I'm glad that our living room was large enough to entertain large groups of people because it was going to be needed this morning. The Council along with Alpha Scott and Luna Yvette arrived at our house for the meeting shortly before 10 o'clock. My headache wasn't easing but getting worse by the minute.

While the meeting was in progress, Annabelle, Ariel, Kacey, and Amelia said they would take care of the children for us so that we could concentrate on the meeting. Thank you, sisters-in-law. They are a wonder for sure. Also, all of our children were super excited to be playing with their cousins so it was a win-win for them.

"Good morning everyone," greeted Elder Graham as he entered the living room.

We all bowed to the Council as they entered and greeted, "Good morning," in unison.

"Why don't we all have a seat so we can have a chat, hmm?" suggested Elder Terrance as everyone made their way into the living room area.

"We have coffee, tea, water, and some snacks for everyone on the buffet table if you would like something," announced Davidson.

"Thank you but I think it best if we go ahead and get started. If anyone wants something to eat or drink, they can get it. Sound all right to everyone?" inquired Elder Graham.

"Yes, Elder Graham," we chorused in unison.

"Luna Sandra, how are you feeling today? You look a little pale and troubled," observed Elder Terrance.

"I woke up this morning with a headache that is not getting better even after eating and taking my medication," I explained.

"Is this the first headache you've had since the birth of your last set of twins?" asked Elder Graham.

"No, but it is the first one that has reached this magnitude. One that is bordering on a migraine," I explained to everyone present.

"I see. I'm sorry if the recent events have caused this 'headache' Luna Sandra. I was very perplexed yesterday at the events that unfolded when I mentioned disbanding Rock Canyon and dividing the pack among those close by," advised Elder Graham.

"I knew that if we had given out any punishment to the pack at that time, it would have been reactionary. It would not have been the appropriate punishment. Also, we have to consider Alpha James. He is innocent in all of this as well. He has a birthright to be Alpha of this pack and we cannot simply take that away because of a few pack members cannot act accordingly," concluded Elder Terrance.

"What's the solution? What do we do? On one hand, we have a third of a pack who cannot get it through their thick skulls and the only one to blame for all the death and destruction was Orson Peppermill, not Sandra. Then, the rejections of both Alphas Davidson and James were former Elder Jeremiah, not Sandra. Sandra is the victim in all of this not, the perpetrator," observed Elder Frampton.

"Why do we have to keep going over this every six months? I don't know. I am open to suggestions on how we can clean up this pack to get rid of the ones who are distrustful and disrespectful to its leadership. Any ideas?" inquired Elder Graham.

"We talked about it last night, all three of us. We can keep it the way it is. Sandy just being the Luna of Red River and never being the Luna of Rock Canyon. She doesn't want me or our children to lose out on our birthright. She was adamant about that," explained James to everyone present.

"You would do that? Just be Luna of Red River? Why?" asked Michael to me with an incredulous look on his face.

"Michael, I don't want James to have to sacrifice his birthright because of what Grandpa did. It wouldn't be right. Look at what's already happened. Then, if James lost the pack, what about Owen? It's a domino effect I don't even want to talk about. I can make the sacrifice. I can still contribute to Rock Canyon through Luna Margarite or through Beta Faith when we meet. I just won't be their Luna," I softly explained to him and everyone else. I remained nestled between my mates on the couch.

"Yeah, but it's why you turned down being the Alpha of Saltwater Pack. You wanted to be the Luna of Red River and Rock Canyon, remember? You said you were in Luna training for five years and you didn't want to give it up. That's what you wanted!" declared Patrick as he sat in a chair directly across from me.

"Pat, it's still what I want. I can't force a pack to accept me. I won't do that," I contended as a thought came to me. "A thought just came to me. Can we ask the pack who wants me as their Luna and who doesn't want me? In other words, those who want me to stand to the left, and those who don't, stand to the right?" I revealed to everyone in the room.

Everyone just looked at me like I said the stupidest thing.

"It was just a thought," I defended myself.

"No, it would be the easiest way to figure this out. It's so simple and yet, we would know exactly who did and did not support you," admitted Elder Graham. "Why didn't we think of this?"

"Are you around small children all the time? It's something children do all the time," I explained to the Elders.

"What does everyone think about that? Should we have them do that but under a command to follow how they truly feel and not how they think we want them to feel?" inquired Elder Frampton to everyone in the room.

"Do you think that would work? I mean it sounds so simple but could we actually do it?" inquired James to the Elders.

"That's what I was asking. Do you want to do it at the Pack Meeting at Noon?" inquired Elder Frampton to James.

"Yes, we can do that. I want to know who does and does not support Sandra. This would definitely tell us once and for all who wants Sandy as their Luna," replied James.