Proposition

Proposition
Cadeon 
Lili is standing right next to Draven when the meeting starts. 
He holds up a letter so everyone can see it. It hasn't been opened yet, and it's all folded up and tied with a ribbon. I've never seen anything like to before. "I wanted to show you all this before we begin. You're all a part of this, therefore you deserve to know exactly what's going on. This is a letter we received from the opposing Alpha-borns. We'll open it together, as I don't know what's inside."
Quickly, he loosens the ribbon tied around it and uses both his hands to hold open the page. It's pretty folded up. His eyes scan the page and I watch his face for any change in emotion but there's none. 
I suspect that he knew what would've been written in the letter. I have no idea what it could be but he knows because he's practically emotionless as he reads it. 
"There you have it," he murmurs before turning his attention to the crowd gathered around him. "Well, it seems that they want us to enter an agreement with them."
The crowd is still as they wait for him to continue. I stroke my jaw and watch him, wondering why he didn't just make a decision instead of calling everyone around to hear this. What's he trying to do?
His eyes find mine in the crowd briefly before his attention is back on the page. "These are the terms: They want us to stop fighting for freedom, as they don't believe it's a real thing. We were never imprisoned or enslaved, so why should we fight for freedom? That's their response, not mine. Also, promising to keep everyone who betrayed them initially safe. They won't be punished for what they've done."
I have to suppress the urge to shake my head in disappointment. Of course, they'd say that. Once they're back in power and with all the authority, they'll take back their words. I know how they work. 
"They have other suggestions—it's either we stand down, or we separate territories." He waits for this to sink in. "We rule one side, and they rule the other, but there's a catch. He wants everyone who was originally from his pack to turn, and he wants his sons taken back."
I grow cold when he says this. To me, this last request is a sign of just how controlling he is, and how this must be one big joke to him. 
Draven folds the letter. That's the end of it, it seems. "I don't know about you, but I didn't think any of the solutions he offered were any good. What do you think?"
Everyone agrees with him. This made me angry enough to want to fight harder. How can he think that this will be accepted? He wants to live in a world where only he can rule?
No, that's not how this goes. 
"The reason I won't agree with that last term is because we're all one," Draven says. "Sending you back would be like leaving you behind. No, we want fairness for everyone. Happiness can never come at the cost of others. That would take away from its beauty. We've lost too many of us already and we won't keep losing more."
Murmurs of agreement can be heard. I glance at Lilieth and find her looking directly at me. I bet they want me alive. What would they do to me, then? Would he kill me for all my crimes against my pack? Punish me? Forgive me? Turn me into another puppet?
"We've come to the end of this war," Draven claims. "They're not going to stand down. This," he gestures at the letter, "isn't a sign that someone wants to cooperate. Ideally, they should have surrendered like all the other packs and territories did, but they're stubborn, and their cowardice will not be allowed to go on. That's why we'll have the last showdown. We'll propose it—us against them. That fight will determine who wins. Remember, it's all or nothing."
I look around the crowd at everyone. They look hopeful and not sad at the prospect of another fight. Golen asks, "And where will this fight be? What happens if they say no and refuse to appear? Remember, we're dealing with complicated people, here. They know our strength but at the same time, they refuse to give in."
"We'll march to them regardless," Draven answers. "They can either face us with honor or deal with the consequences. We're going to end this, though. Enough is enough. How many times should they invade our territory and burn our houses down? Kill people? I've spoken to the other Alphas. They'll give their support, meaning we won't face them alone."
In that case, my father's pack doesn't stand a chance. They only caused so much damage because they were attacking innocents who had nothing to do with the war. 
Once they face the real army and the real troops, it's over. 
That's when I realize that we already won this war. One territory can't fight everyone else. 
"So, I ask you—will you stand with me? Do you agree that this is something we have to do? Or do you wish to give in to their terms and let them take back what's left of their pack for them to rule?"
Despite all the attacks and the losses, the crowd enthusiastically agrees with him. Everyone's waiting for the perfect conclusion to this story, so why not get it now? Why wait?
I agree with this, too. 
And it's at this moment that I realize why Emberborns were born to rule and we weren't. 
Though he knew what the right decision was, he chose to ask the people what they thought. If they disagreed with him, he'd most likely listen, too. He doesn't give orders, he guides. 
This is incredibly significant. 
As the meeting comes to an end and everyone disperses, Timmon makes his way to my side. Unlike everyone else, he's crestfallen. 
"What's wrong?" I ask him right away. 
Timmon shrugs. "I don't know. I guess the fact that our parents want us back."
"To have us killed, probably," I joke. 
Timmon doesn't smile, though. It starts to concern me. "What's going on?"
He looks at me like there's something he wants to say, but then he shrugs and says, "Nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Timmon."
"Like I said, Cadeon. It's nothing."
I stare at him for the longest time, and he stares back. Then, he starts to walk away and I wonder what the hell is going on. Lili approaches me and asks me what's wrong with Timmon. 
"I don't know. He's being strange."
"This is taking a toll on everyone," she claims. 
I doubt that's the case with him. I have the feeling that he really wanted to tell me something, yet he changed his mind. Why? Why did he? Why won't he share whatever it is that's bothering him with me?
"What do you think about all this?"
I meet her gaze. "Do you mean, do I think I should hand myself over to my father along with all of you who were from our pack? That's horseshit and you know it."
"You know, for a moment there, I thought Draven would agree to the terms," she claims. "Didn't you?"
"No, I don't know. I don't think I did."
Silence falls upon us for a moment. Now, she looks plagued, too. I suggest we head back, and because there are so many people around, she walks ahead of me and I follow behind. 
I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens during this showdown. 
I hope it'll be the ending that we deserve after everything that we've been through.