Page 6 of Eclipse Pack

“I do not need anyone’s permission to enter my own office and you, sir, need to remember that it is neither your office nor your place to speak to the Alpha Heir in such a manner. Address the pack's Alpha Heir, my son, in that way again and I will meet you in the training ring as is my right. Are we clear on that point?” It is obvious that my father is in Alpha Chet mode.

When there is no answer forthcoming, my father steps further into the room and addresses all the elders. “You will answer my question. Is that clear, or I will take it you as the elders, as a whole, wish to challenge my authority in the ring. What is it to be?”

Three of the members look at the fourth and he shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “We are clear, Alpha Chet.”

“In formal proceedings such as these, you will address me as Alpha Blueblood.”

“We are clear on both points, Alpha Blueblood. My apologies.”

My father turns to me, gives me an outrageous wink that almost has me bursting out laughing, and then leaves the room whispering, “Give them hell, son.”

Entering the room fully, I sit in my father’s chair at his desk, and not in the seat at the table that has obviously been left in front of the four of them to be intimidating.

After formal introductions have been made, as if I didn’t already know who they were, they begin making suggestions as to how I should proceed when my father steps down in a week's time. This surprises me, as there have been no discussions as to when I will formally take over the pack.

“Where did the timeframe come from, may I ask?”

“What timeframe?” Elder Francis asks.

“The one that you’ve just quoted. The one where my father steps down next week!” I try to sound confused, as if I’d missed something.

“We would expect you to take over as soon as possible. You want to get in thebig chair, don’t you?” Michael is the one that my father faced down. I’ve taken a very strong dislike to him and I foresee us having problems.

“Oh, I see. I’m expected to give him the date of his stepping down. Very well, continue.”

Noting down their suggestions on my pad from my father's desk, I see a pattern emerging. Giving them a little more rope to hang themselves with, I sit quietly as though agreeing to all their ideas. When they suggest that I look for a mate from no-man's-land as a way to keep us out of the coming war, this is the last straw.

“Elder members of the pack...” I begin but am soon spoken over.

“We are the elder council, if you please.” Michael again.

“Elder members of the pack, and if you interrupt me again, Michael, you will meet me in the ring, not my father. IS THAT CLEAR? You are only a council by your own choosing. There has never been an elder council and unless you cease this nonsense that you have made yourselves into, there won’t evenbe any ‘Elder members’ meetings. That is what this is, after all, a meeting granted to you by the Alpha of the pack.”

“There has been an elder council since time immemorial, Alpha Heir Bronze. There will always be an elder council and you will respect it.” This elder has been quiet so far and appears to be the youngest of the elders.

“Jude, isn’t it? History tells us that Saint Jude was the patron saint of lost causes, I believe, and you are certainly that gentlemen. I have heard enough of your self-righteous bullshit, and your demands that only benefit yourselves and your families since we sat down. I have scoured the archives and there is no elder council, nor has there ever been one. Elders'meetingswere set up to stop a corrupt Alpha and prevent a recurrence. That was all there was, or ever has been. Over time, your predecessors have tried to become more powerful and wealthier by insinuating themselves into being more than they are.” Taking the copy of the Alpha diary from my pocket, I pass it to Jude.

“Currently, none of you give to the pack. You have a wage, a substantial one at that, free food, free housing, free clothing. In fact, you pay for nothing. You gentlemen, are parasites, and are no longer to be tolerated as such. I will be drawing up an elder members' charter in the future that will determine what is required of you and what remuneration you will receive, if any. Living for free will cease on the day I take over the pack. That is a certainty.”

Watching their faces go ashen as they realize that their days of lording it over the pack have ended with the paper they have been handed.

“You will not dictate to me who my mate will be. You are all well aware that my mate is currently preparing herself to becomean outstanding Luna, and yet you have the audacity to suggest that I abandon her and my moral responsibilities to our allied packs by taking a mate from no-man’s-land to save your wealth and future. That diary entry states that after five alphas have succeeded the corrupt one, the elders may be disbanded by any alpha that sees fit to do so.

“Gentlemen. If one word of this meeting leaves these four walls, you will find that I will be that alpha. Now get out of my office and prepare yourselves to once more be of some use to this pack.”

Chapter 4

TARIA

As I am waiting to be summoned before the Shifter Council, I feel my nerves starting to get the better of me. I’ve seen the council at Blood Pearl Pack in the past, but they were always there to have dealings with my mother, never me.

You are strong. Don’t let them take the lead.

‘I hear you, Maya, but it’s not that easy. I want to appear strong so they don’t put obstacles in the way of me going to the Eclipse Pack and Bronze.’

Don’t appear strong. Be strong.

Hearing my name spoken, I look up and see Councilman Flint standing by the Alpha’s office door.

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