Page 66 of Bad Attitude
Chapter 11
The Council
Things were going well and severalmonths had passed.The apartments were all built, six of them.Theywere full of pack members.Their small community had taken on alife of its own with several pack members opening businesses inpartnership with the alpha.A beauty shop, an open air market, adiscount store, and a hardware store all were right on mainthe mainstreet.
People were happy and many had beenelevated while doing the kind of job they’d always dreamed of.Theyhad several going to school or college to train for what they hopedwould be lifelong careers.An accountant who worked out of hishouse handled most of the businesses in town.A bank was comingsoon.
All in all, the progress had beenamazing, and most people seemed quite happy with everything thatwas being done.Duroc was happy with the progress atof thebusinesses and had found more businesses that either he or the packowned.He had a map in his office that showed the area his packcovered and all the land that he or the pack owned was marked off.Businesses they owned were also noted on the map.This pack shouldhave been running well with good jobs, houses, and prosperity forall.
Instead, a few selfish and greedyleaders had hogged everything for themselves leaving others tosuffer in abject poverty.That this had gone on for so long wasunbelievable.The alpha had in time forgotten all about the counciland what they could possibly demand from him.But the council hadnot forgotten about the alpha.Damon and Marissa were coming for avisit and as much as he loved to see them it made himnervous.
Duroc and Bindi would be going to theairport to pick them up in an hour.That was when the council planewas scheduled to land.Others would be on the plane too and he wasnot sure who those others might be.The only bright side was thatnow he would know what the council demanded of him.He’d figuredout that the council had some kind of plan to bring all wolf kindinto a more modern world.But what did that mean?It was true thatthe old style ways allowed some alphas to run their packs at thecost of the individuals they ruled.
The act of killing the family of thedeposed alpha, sometimes even the mate and female pups, was nolonger acceptable.This abuse and often the demise of any packmember that disagreed with them could not be tolerated.He agreedthat things must change, but what part could he play beyond what hehad already done?That was what he feared he was about todiscover.
He and Bindi were now loading into theequivalent of a four wheel drive stretch limo.It was large enoughto hold all their guests.If this was not the case, the SUVfollowing behind would get any others.The closest airport was nowowned by the pack and used privately.Their council plane was dueto land shortly after they arrived to pick up theirguests.
There was a surprise because the planelanded early and their guests,guests were waiting on them.He couldsee the council president was among them.Damon, Marissa, David,who was council president, and two of the guards rode with them inthe limo and the others were in the SUV that followed.He couldalready see that this meeting was going to be a serious one.Asmuch as he thought he wanted to know what was truly happening, henow began to think he might be better off uninformed.
They arrived at the alpha house andtheir guests were shown their rooms.It would have been nice to geta break and let everyone settle in, but Damon had other ideas.“Okay, Duroc, I think you know what this visit is for, and we needto get started.Is there a room that will allow us privacy and willbe big enough to hold our small group?
“Yes, we have a meeting room that wasadded behind the house that we use for parties and get togethers ofvarious types.There is a large table that will accommodate all ofthis.”
“I will get our group together and youget your mate.No one else needs to know about this meeting.But ifyou are asked, we are simply talking about alpha participation andinviting you to a council meeting whenever you should find the timeto attend one.We are also checking with you to see how you havedone since you took over this pack.”
“So that is the cover story?”Durocasked.
“You are being invited to a councilmeeting and we are checking on you to see how you have done sinceyou took over the pack.”
“Alright.I'll go get my mate andwe'll meet you there.”
He went and got Bindi and they went tothe meeting room where they were the first to arrive.The otherscame in and soon they were all there including two of the guards.Duroc sat upup at the head of the table with his mate beside himand David the council leader sat at the foot.There was no realdistinction between the head and the foot, .foot, so no onecomplained.
It was no surprise that David beganthe meeting.“Bindi it is so nice to meet you.I don't often getaway like this where I can get to know my alphas and their mates.It looks like you have done well here.From reports I see that youhave institutedset many of your original objectives.Most of yourpeople seem happy and well cared for.I would say the change inleadership has been successful.It is my hope that you and yourmate might attend a meeting of the council when you are able to.Ifyou find the time, please just notify my secretary who will makeall the arrangements necessary.”
“Thank you for noticing theimprovements we have made.I'm sure that we will find time beforelong to attend a council meeting.But out of curiosity I wonder whyyou don't just mark a meeting to be open to pack alphas and othersthat have interest?”Duroc asked.
“That would be my way of handlingthings if meetings were more regular then twice a year, and those Icall on emergencies.I have tried to get monthly meetingsestablished but the vote is always overwhelmingly against me.Othercouncil members say they are simply too busy to plan for that.Usually those that say that do little to nothing when they are notin a meeting.Unfortunately, my position doesn't carry the power togo against a majority vote.”
“I understand.”And he reallydid.
Damon spoke for the first time sincethey had started this meeting.“I believe the guards should bedismissed.They can wait outside the door.”David nodded and theyleft.“We will now get to our final matter.David, would you liketo begin this?”
“First, I will explain that noteveryone agrees with this plan.If you can even call it a plan.Some might call this a new order, but I don't.This is simplytaking action that should have been taken years ago.You may noticethat several alphas such as the one that was in charge of this packare no longer in charge.These alphas committed atrocities that wecould no longer tolerate.And while the council condemned theiractions, they took no action to correct this.”
“I suspect that everyone has noticedjust that and wondered how the council could allow such things butthe council of old was terribly corrupt and everyone knew it.Theaverage person had no respect for that council.They knew if theyneeded help it would have to come from elsewhere.”
David flushed.“I cannot deny it.Butuntil we began to weed out the corruption and replace some of thosehorrible alphas there was little the rest of us could do.And whilethat's beginning to change, we need more change before we can trulydo what's right.I will let Damon explain more.”
It appeared that David was tired ofthe hot seat.Damon on the other hand was used to it.“That I cando.None of these takeovers could have happened without assistance.Most where spurred on by the matings of victims to capable alphas.That cannot always be counted on.Ariel joked about the starsaligning and fate finally claiming her due.It's as good anexplanation as anything.Since Danny’s fight with Hemple werealized that we could help these challengers by finding them,assuring a fair fight, and assisting them to restore the pack theyare now in charge of to the condition it should have always beenin.This pack is a shining example of the difference we can allmake.”
“Thank you.Now let’s get down to whatyou need?”Duroc questioned.
“Soon, we may need help for one of theother packs in Oregon.”
“May?”
“We don’t push anyone into anything.Asituation is developing that may cause a challenge or may not.”Damon admitted.
