Chapter 17 The Council Meeting
Elena’s POV
Liam held my hand as we walked into the hall.
All eyes were on us, some looked at me with disgust.
My happiness over my first kiss with Liam washed away.
Liam tugged at my hand and we kept moving in the crowd.The room was filled with powerful wolves, I didn’t need to have a wolf to know that.
“Don’t let them scare you,” Liam whispered. “If you show fear they will know.”
I straightened my shoulders and looked up, meeting the eye of everyone in the room.
He brushed the inside of my palm with his thumb, tingles rushing up my spine.
I looked at him.
He looked unfairly handsome.
I looked over his suit, not having a chance earlier because I was so nervous.
The suit was black with a black shirt and no tie. He looked powerful without even trying too hard.
“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
I nodded.
He let go of my hand and settled it at the small of my back. It made me feel safe.
The room shifted as we kept moving.
Conversations dulled.
“Alpha Liam, it’s great to see you again,” a small old man said with a sly smile.
I didn't like him.
“Thank you, Alpha Vincent,” Liam said, looking uninterested.
He looked over me, like I wasn’t even there.“Would you like to join us? I saved a seat.”
“No, I have somewhere else to be, if you would excuse me.” Liam guided us towards the table at the center.
The elders.
My heart dropped.
After the day they visited and branded me as a monster, I told myself I would run if I ever saw them.
I took a deep breath, reminding myself that Liam was by my side.
“Liam,” a voice called from behind us.
I turned to see a beautiful dark haired woman, with curves you could die for heading our way.
She smiled as she got closer, her eyes on Liam.
“I knew that was you, I’d know that back anywhere.”
Wait what?
I glared at Liam.
He held my eyes for a second before he dropped his and cleared his throat.“Elena, this is Celine Jones, she is the Beta of Rose pack,”
“You forgot to add that we were school mates and lovers for some time,” she moved closer.
I didn’t like that.
“Celine, this is Elena Stone,” his hand was still firm at my back.
Celine glanced at me, barely acknowledging me. “Hi,” she said and turned her attention back to Liam.“So, Liam I was wondering-”
“Some other time, Celine.”
That made me smile.
“Okay then,” she smiled as she went her way.
Liam turned, making us head back to the Elders table before I could ask him anything.
They looked at us for some time and finally the man who seemed like the oldest spoke.“Liam, it is good to see you and I see you are doing well, my dear,” he said looking at me with a warm smile, his old eyes creasing.
I remembered he didn’t talk much during their visit the other day, I wondered if he and Liam were close.
I smiled and so did Liam.
The other elders refused to say anything.
“Elders, I would like to make an announcement today, if you would let me?”
“Of course,” the old man said.
“Rowan, you can’t keep giving the boy anything he asks for,” the other man said.
“He just wants to say something to everyone, Harvard,” Elder Rowan said.
Elder Harvard shrugged.
Elder Rowan took a glass and clicked it, drawing everyone’s attention to us.“Liam Blackthorn, Alpha of Blood Moon Pack, has found his mate, who he believed had died during child birth,” Elder Rowan said.
When Liam said he would tell the world that I was his mate, I didn’t think he meant it.
He pulled me closer as more stares and whispers were coming our way.
It seemed like everyone had questions but Elder Rowan had stopped there, refusing to say anything else.
He sat back on his seat, his eyes glazing over and so was Liam’s.
I wondered what they were talking about.
My bladder made itself known after a few minutes.
“I will be right back,” I whispered to Liam.
He frowned but nodded.
I got out of my seat and was about to head to the bathroom, when someone bumped into me, their drink slipping all over my dress. I was so lucky my dress was dark.
I looked up and saw a shocked Celine.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,”
“It’s okay,” I muttered.
Liam looked pissed as he glared at Celine.
“It was just a mistake, it happens all the time,” I said.
“Thank you,” she smiled.
I headed to the bathroom, relieved myself and I tried to get the drink out of my dress, when the door opened.
It was Celine, smiling for a split second. Then she glares at me viciously.
"You know, that stain suits you, once trash, always trash,” she spat. “I don’t even get it, how can you be Liam’s mate, you aren’t even pretty, and let’s not get started about those eyes,” she laughed in my face.
I let out a sigh of annoyance before walking up to her.
I looked at her coolly.“Are you done?”
She looked at me and gave me a wicked grin. “You think you are something just because Elder Rowan said you are Liam’s mate. But you and I both know that Liam is not on your level, you don't even have a wolf, face it, you are just dreaming too far.”
Her words hurt but at the same time, I was pissed.
“You know what I think? I think it’s sad that you are here fighting over someone who isn’t yours, at least I have a mate,” I smirked knowing I struck a nerve.
“Now I suggest you fix your behavior, I doubt your future mate would be like a clingy girl. If you will excuse me, my mate must be waiting for me.”
I walked past her and left the bathroom. I don’t know what got into me but I was sick of everyone walking over me.
First it was Rose and all my pack members, now Celine but I was done with that life.
I was Liam’s mate and future Luna, I had to start acting like it.