Chapter 17 ~Echoes of war~
(Fiona's POV)
The bell rang.
It's my first council meeting as Luna. I wore the best dress I had.
A long red satin dress matching my hair, my face was powdered and rouged, my lipstick a bright red. I dressed to pass a message across.
My mind drifted to the altercations with Xander’s mom, to the statements she thought I hadn’t heard—but I clearly had. The criticisms I'd faced as Luna. Today, it was me proving myself or forever being walked all over.
Today was the day I'd meet fire with fire.
“Are you ready, Luna?”
I turned to Yara and gave a small smile.
We were approaching the entrance doors. “Yeah… I think so.”
Yara opened the doors, and we both walked in, with her tagging along.
The first eyes that met mine were Xander’s; his looked tired, almost distressed. I could imagine all he was going through.
I gave him a warm smile, which he returned.
My eyes scanned over the other people in the room; Beta Calvin, Elder Julius and Cyrus, Loki and some others whom I couldn't remember or simply didn't know.
“Welcome Luna.” They greeted me. I responded and sat across from Xander. Yara sat beside me.
Elder Cyrus spoke up immediately. “The girl can't be here. She has to leave.”
I glared at him. “She's going nowhere.”
The nerve of this man to ask Yara to leave this meeting.
Elder Julius supported his brother’s claims. “This is a meeting for high members of the council.”
“She stays!” I exclaimed, and everyone went silent. “Yara is my beta.”
My hands were fidgeting with nerves and I hid them under the table, my face belied my anxiety.
Loki snickered under his breath. “Maybe next time I'll bring Vivienne.”
Xander glared at him.
One of the council members stood up to proceed to the meeting. “This is our new Luna's first official council meeting, and as a tradition, the members of the council will table their requirements to you.”
I smiled curtly. “Very well. Proceed.”
Elder Julius stood up first. “I'll begin.. as traditions for years have it Luna, in the next three full moons, we expect an heir for the Alpha.”
The other members grunted their approval.
I literally had to hold myself back from erupting into a fit of laughter. Were these people seriously joking?
“I'm a high school student for crying out loud, and you want me to get pregnant? How?”
Elder Cyrus stood up. “Which brings us to the second point. You have to leave that human school. We can't have our Luna in such a dangerous environment. Who knows? There might even be rogues there.”
Isn't this funny? What of Xander?
As if reading my mind, he turned to Xander. “Even the Alpha, it's long overdue for him to leave the human school and focus on the pack and running the business.”
“I second that.” Elder Julius said.
Xander spoke for the first time since the meeting began. “So I'll leave my hockey career and studies to run the pack. Are you listening to yourself?”
Calvin exchanged a quick look with Xander before he spoke up. “The Alpha has just one year to finish high school. Perhaps the responsibilities could wait till then.”
“Well… I suppose. And besides, the Alpha is not doing a bad job. He can see to his protection.” Elder Julius reluctantly agreed.
“But what of the Luna!” Elder Cyrus jumped up. “Who will watch her then?”
I eyed him with scrutiny. What was wrong with this individual?
“I have that handled. My beta will move to my school.”
“Who, Yara?” Loki laughed loudly. “Great! You're safe then.”
Xander spoke. “She's my mate. I'll look after her at school.”
Elder Cyrus muttered, but to the hearing of everyone. “This is what happens when you bring younglings to rule a pack.”
Xander's face morphed into something dark. “What did you just say?”
Elder Cyrus, as if just realizing he'd spoken to the hearing of all, smiled apologetically. “Nothing, Alpha Xander.”
But Xander was not having it. “Please, excuse us, Elder Cyrus.”
Immediately, I sucked in a deep breath, anticipating what would happen next.
The only sound to be heard was the chiming of the antique clock.
Elder Cyrus looked like he couldn't believe his ears. For a minute, I thought he'd protest or something, but he didn't.
Quickly recovering himself, he smiled the smile of someone who'd just been humiliated. “Of course, Alpha.”
Before he left, I caught a bitter look pass across his face.
“So where did we stop, Apollo?” Xander said, not missing a beat.
“There're some training Luna will need to go through.”
“Like?” I asked. Everyone turned to me.
Apollo, one of the council members, faced me. “Well, basic things like pack history, advising the alpha and leading in his absence… just general pack welfare.”
I nodded in understanding.
“How about your wolf control and powers?” Elder Julius asked.
I swallowed. The very question I've been avoiding. “I have light healing abilities.”
I expertly avoided questions that had to do with my wolf.
“Yes,” Yara added. “But she will need more training on this.”
Apollo nodded, noting it down.
Something came to my mind, at Ashridge pack, I underwent some training in combat… but, no one has mentioned that.
“What about physical combat?” I blurted out.
Everyone looked at me like I'd grown two horns overnight.
“Luna… it's not done. None that I've heard, only the gamma, warriors and maybe omegas but not-”
“I insist. It'll be nice to have some basic combat skills.” Who knew if I'd need it for my quest to save my mother?
Apollo glanced at Xander in question.
“I'll train her.” Loki said.
I shifted uncomfortably. I noticed that he'd been staring at me all day. I disliked the man, for some reason.
I mindlinked Xander. No
Not that I was gonna allow it anyway, but… gotcha.
“I'll find someone else to do that Loki, I'm sure as gamma, you have more important things to do.” Xander said to his brother.
Loki eyed him, a small smile playing on his lips. He looked from me to Xander before he finally spoke. “Of course, Alpha.”
“So, is that all..for Fiona?” Xander asked.
Apollo looked at the others before answering. “Yes.”
Xander mindlinked me. You can go in and rest. It's been a long day.
What about you?
We still have some things to go over. I'll be up shortly.
I stood up and nudged Yara.
“I'll take my leave now.”
We walked out of the door.
Outside, I stood by the door, listening. Through the thick doors, I could faintly make out some words.
The words replayed in my mind, my brain working overtime to add them up.
“... tighten security… enforce more warriors… attack on Silvereign.”
A shock wave went through my core.
Was Silvereign in danger?