Page 11 of Welcome Home: When Shifters Unite!

Robbie interrupts, gaining everyone’s attention. “Come on guys, it’s time to face the assholes.”

Walking into the town hall half an hour later, I take in the long table that has been placed at the top of the room. Eight Elders are sitting looking stern, and the four town council members are among them. Two sitting on each end of the table, but all four look as though they want to shift and fight. Not a good look, and not good for my confidence.

“Adira Strongbow, my name is Elias Whitelaw. I am the head of the Elder Council, and these are the other council members.”

Elias sweeps his hand out to indicate the other council members. I keep my face blank, but say ‘Good Afternoon’.

“We know, of course, you have formed a pack, but said pack is not registered with the council…” Elias starts to speak once more.

“I’m sorry, but we have no intention of the pack being registered. We like being rogues and we intend to stay rogues.” I quickly get that comment out before they start their spiel on becoming members.

“We have put the pack registration in the system. It will be completed in four weeks. You cannot form a pack without it being registered.”

Oh, he looks smug, but he’s going to find out I cannot be bullied anymore.

“So, you have used authority you didn’t have over a rogue town to force the registration of a pack, and we know the reason. The reason you want me is that of my blood, and you are hoping to put me out there to be a walking womb for some Alpha that I don’t give a shit about. Now, let me tell you Elias, and the rest of you, it is not going to happen. I know we have to sign the paperwork for any pack to be official, and as Alpha of the Hunters Bow Pack, I refuse to sign.” I’m gritting my teeth and my eyes flash as Blue comes to the front.

‘I don’t like them, Adira. I’m watching and I’m ready if anything happens.’

“Thank you, Blue.” I can feel Blue pacing in the back of my mind. She has her hackles up and wants to shift, and I’m sure she will if any threats are thrown my way.

“You cannot stay unmated, Adira,” one of the Elders adds, but I give him a withering look that has Blue’s eyes shining alongside my own.

“If I decide to mate, it will be with who I want and not someone you have lined me up to mate with. I will not align myself with the Elder Council. You asked me to go to Luna Camp. I did that. I worked hard, gained top marks in everything, even excelled at hunting. Then when I went home, YOU…” said with a lot of force as I eye each of them, “had given permission for my fated-mate to reject me for someone else. Now you reap the payment of that choice. You betrayed me, and I won’t forget it and neither will Blue, my wolf.” My eyes again flair, showing them Blue is in full agreement with my statement.

“Step in line, Adira. You have royal blood of old running through your veins. It is needed for the good of the Wolfen Society…”

Before this elder can say more, I pierce him with a look that is full of Blue. I didn’t know Blue could take over my body, but she is so angry she has and speaks for the first time to anyone other than myself.

“I am Blue, Adira’s other half and we will NOT be mated to anyone unless we want it to happen. Yes, we have old blood, but that blood is strong and we will never be mistreated again. We stepped back to allow ourselves to be secondary in what was supposed to be our family, and look at what happened to us.

“You come here sitting on your asses, thinking you are above the rest of us, but you are nothing without the society below you, and we can throw you out as quickly as keep you in power.

“Pack, come forth…”

I push Blue back before she starts a war with the council, but I see the nine members of the pack step forward from where they had been standing at the back of the room watching. Blue pushes again before I can say anything.

“We, the Hunters Bow Pack, remain a rogue pack. We reject the Elder Council as our leaders, and we remain rogue for the good of the pack and the town.”

The pack members unite and stand on both sides of me. “We remain rogue, as does the Hunters Bow Pack.” It echoes around the room, but when the door opens and town members rush into the room, taking places at the side of the pack, and behind, standing united with us, my heart leaps.

Alan, the Estate Agent and caretaker, speaks. “I, Alan Letterman, make a request to join the Hunters Bow Pack.”

Turning, I smile at Alan, but when everyone in the room makes the same request, I hear the Elder Council getting angry behind me. But I open my hand and slash across my palm, running it along every hand that has been also slashed in front of me. I walk from one to another, clasping hands and creating one pack member after another. I have to cut my hand a few times with my fast healing, and the more members of the pack, the faster that healing has become.

I can feel pack members building in my mind, and Blue is strutting proudly, welcoming all wolves, and other that are connecting with us.

Turning, I look at the Elder Council, and I can see they are angry that their plans have been foiled. The Town Council step away from the table and push to stand within the town, who are now pack members. They need to remain outside of the pack asliaison with the Elder Council, but they are still rogues and will do what they think is right, and not what they are bid by the Elders.

Joyce steps forward and gives the Elder Council a disappointed look before speaking. “I’m sad to see that the Elder Council has become a political platform, losing the respect it has always had. We would have been more than happy to align the pack with the Wolfen Society, but, as you can see, we are not all wolves. Our town comprises of various shifter species. We also have humans who are outcasts in their own world, but not of their own doing. We look after each other, and now we have a pack that is mixed species, the first of our kind, but know that we will all fight next to our pack mates no matter they be wolf, leopard, lion or anything else. We will not allow you to take our Alpha and we, as a pack, will die stopping you. Now, I think you need to leave and if you come back, you better come back with less of an attitude.”

A clapping hand is heard and I stand firm, not turning to see who has started this, but the slow clapping builds until the room is loud and a little overwhelming. I turn and walk out with my pack following behind.

Now there is a huge job to do because I need to make sure of who is in the pack and will need to be recorded in a ledger for posterity. But feeling much lighter than when I came to this meeting, I know there is hope for the future.

Chapter 6

*Adira*

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