Chapter 21
FLINT
Keeping peace amongst the council members and shifters in general is not easy. Taking on the head council member position, I had not realized how hard it was going to be. The addition of Roman and Cinder Walker has been a great help to me. They both are organized, have the shifter world at heart and as they have had their own pack, they understand the way a pack works.
I have never in all the years I’ve been on the shifter council had to remove a member through sheer spitefulness. Eve has, for some reason, gone past being reasonable, and shown colors we didn’t realize she had. She’s attacked an active Alpha whilst on their pack territory, in their packhouse, during a council member meeting.
Personally, I cannot condone her staying in her position. But we will have to vote on the issue of her staying or being removed. She will have to move out of her council owned property, but will be offered a smaller property without staff to live in.
Walking into the council chambers two hours later, I notice all the members are here and have brought along with them a somber mood. We all know this is something we cannot avoid discussing and making a decision about. It’s not something we can ignore and hope it goes away.
Taking my seat at the head of the long rectangular table, I take a deep breath and open the meeting. “Good morning, fellow council members. Today is a historical day, as we have to make a decision regarding one of our own. Eve Planter.”
“We know what we have to do Flint. We saw it with our own eyes. She’s out of control, and all because of jealousy.” Lykos looks from one of us to another, as do I. I also see all nodding their heads in agreement.
Ulmer speaks, surprising us all. “I’ve been friends with Eve for many years. We have spent many hours together in that time, and she has occasionally mentioned she’d wished to be the Alpha for what is now the Blood Pearl Pack, but I never had the feeling she held so much resentment or jealousy.”
“I agree with Ulmer. I’ve had many meals and afternoon teas with Eve, and she has never shown this side of herself to me. To see her attack an Alpha is mortifying. I cannot see a way to keep her on the council, and in all conscience, I cannot agree to her keeping her position,” Porter states firmly.
“Let’s not waste any more time, Flint,” Ulmer says, turning to look at me.
Standing, I walk to the door, crack it open and speak to the warrior standing guard. “Please have Eve Planter brought to the chambers. She keeps the cuff on.”
Warrior Mitchell gives me a slight nod before walking away. I turn and close the door before returning to my seat. “We will take a vote once Eve is here to see and hear the result.”
Merry places her hands on the table and links her fingers before speaking. “We cannot allow that type of behavior, no matter who they are. If it was myself, Cinder or you Porter, we all would expect to be removed from our position.”
“I agree. We would probably resign before you could even take a vote. Remove ourselves from the situation, easing it for everyone else on the council,” Cinder replies.
Before anyone else can speak the door opens and Warrior’s Mitchell, Gavin, and Robert lead Eve into the chambers. Eve looks disheveled, tired and angry, very angry.
“Eve Planter, you are here today in front of the Shifter Council due to your behavior at the Blood Pearl Pack. Do you have anything you would like to say in your defense before a vote is held regarding your position on the council?” I keep my attention on her fully as she looks as though she would explode into her wolf, Misty.
“I have no option but to live with whatever decision you make today. I have resented Aurora since she took the position as alpha. I felt I was the better person for the pack, but I allowed myself to become bitter when I received no support when I put myself forward.” Eve looks from one to another of us, and stands looking resigned at what is coming.
“Council, please stand.” Every council member gets to their feet and looks at Eve. That is the protocol for voting on serious matters, and one I’ll not allow to slide. “I need an aye vote for Eve to remain a council member or a nay for her to be removed. Ulmer, your vote please.”
Looking at Ulmer, he nods, then decides, “Nay.”
Porter, “Nay.”
Merry, “Nay.”
Lykos, “I’m sorry Eve. Nay.”
Roman, who shows how angry he is with her and the situation with the scowl on his face, “Nay.”
Cinder, “Nay.”
Myself, “Nay. I declare that Eve Planter is to be removed from her position on the council. You will be vacated from your property forthwith, and an allocation made for a new smaller property. You will have a choice of three, but if you refuse all three, you will be removed from the area in which case you will become rogue or you will require permission from an alpha to join their pack.”
“When will you remove the cuff?” Eve asks.
“The cuff will be removed once you are settled in at your new property and we know you are not going to do something silly, like going to visit the Blood Pearl Pack. Prove to us you are not going to look for some kind of undeserved retribution. Eve, you have served well, but your jealousy has changed you and not for the better. Look for new avenues to occupy your time, and to find peace with your life.” I give her what I hope is a comforting look, but from this moment her life has changed and maybe not for the better.
Eve doesn’t reply, but it is fairly obvious she has to face the future alone and it will be different from what she would have predicted. She is led away with no fuss.
Once everyone has left the chambers, I take a calming breath and write out the report for the files. Every meeting, I write a report and place in a folder for anyone that may need to see a kind of transcript of a meeting. It has come in useful in the past, and I’ll continue to do it even though it’s time consuming.
Placing the report away, I can now move on to other things I need to get done today. But one has to be waiting for the report from Warrior Mitchell, who was the warrior with the highest authority of the three attending Eve.
I walk out of chambers and to my private office, taking a moment to freshen myself in the en-suite washroom. Behind my desk, I pick up my phone when it starts to ring.
“Hello, Councilman Flint speaking.”
“I know who it is, you fool. I just rang you.”
Looking closer at my phone, I notice it’s Alpha Chet who is contacting me. “What is it I can do for you, Alpha Chet?”
“I want to know the conclusion of the case with Eve Planter.” As always, Alpha Chet is right to the point.
“Eve Planter was removed from the council this morning. If you have any problems with or from her, you must let me know immediately.”
“Oh, I will, but it may be after I deal with her myself.”
“If you have an issue with her, it is not council business, unless it causes a problem… you know it’s pointless as I cannot say anything. As Alpha of a pack, you know what the laws are.”
“Yes, I do. I also won’t be putting up with her on my pack lands knowing she’s now not on the council.”
“Has she caused you trouble previously?” I can’t help but ask.
“She has caused everyone a problem, so you can expect her to not be welcome anywhere from this point forward. Now, let’s change the subject. What do you know about Taria?” Alpha Chet surprises me by asking.
“Taria is a lovely young she-wolf. Over-protected by her mother, which was relaxed when she became Alpha due to her many commitments. She should have had a role in the pack, one that grounded her, but I think Aurora wanted her to find her own place within the pack, settle where she felt most comfortable. Instead, it left her floundering, not having a true purpose. But, don’t think she isn’t going to be a great Luna, because she is. I’ve seen with my own eyes her knuckling down to learn all the roles of the pack. Her training is good, and Warrior Roul has reported to me she is growing in strength and style every day. She’ll be an excellent mate for Bronze, but he also needs to show he can be a fit mate. So far, he's shown her he finds her lacking, asked her to prove herself. What kind of start to a bond is that?”
“I agree with all you have said, and Luna Sage wasn’t thrilled with him. We understand why he feels she has to be a good fit because our pack is, and always has been about strength and leadership. Bronze is worried that if she doesn’t show herself in a good light, they will reject her as the Luna and that would leave him in a dangerous position of does he leave the pack with his mate, or reject her for the pack’s benefit.” Alpha Chet sighs on the other end of the phone line, and I can understand all parties but cannot interfere unless it becomes council business.
“I’m sure it will sort itself out, but let me know if I can do anything to help the situation. I will watch Taria and I will step in if she needs any support. As Alpha of the Blood Pearl Pack, Aurora, as you know, cannot interfere when Taria leaves the pack to train with the other Lunas and I’m sure that is going to happen.”
“Okay, will do. But know if Eve Planter tries to come onto my pack's land, I will turn her away. We don’t want her toxic person here.”
“You do what you need to do, Chet.”
“I will,” Alpha Chet replies and then closes out the call.
Seems something more is going on with Eve, her wolf Misty doesn’t speak with me anymore. Bruno mind links.
‘It seems we took our eye off her and we shouldn’t have. I had a feeling all was not right with her, but I didn’t know what was wrong,’ I respond.
Misty sounded tired the last time we communicated. It sounded like she’d given up and wanted to go back to the Goddess. I tried to ask more, but she blocked me, and has never spoken to me since then.
‘I will try to find time to speak to Eve. I’ll see if there is anything I can do to help her.’
Finishing all that needs my attention in the office, I quickly make my way home, freshen up, and change before jumping on my motorcycle and heading to Wolfsfoot and Tatiana.
Parking my bike outside the newly built packhouse. It’s a beautiful place, and the pack has paid a lot of attention to the flower borders, which they’ve intermingled with herbs. It looks fascinating when you notice mint, rosemary and others peeking out from behind flowers.
Sitting with a cup of tea in my hand and looking at Tatiana, who is glowing with health and confidence, I can’t help but think how far she has come from when I first met her.
“Stop reminiscing, and tell me why you are here,” Tatiana asks, but she’s got a mischievous look on her face.
“Taria, daughter of Alpha Aurora, is the mate of Bronze, who is Alpha Heir of the Eclipse Pack. They are at odds at the moment even though they are mates. I think Alpha Aurora will contact you to help Taria learn the role of Luna. If you can give her the same help you were given, you know, pass it on, so to speak, that would be good….” Holding my hand up because I know she’s going to say something, “I know you will as you are that kind of person, but as a council member I have to ask you to help another become the best they can for the role.”
“I would do it as a matter of politeness. I understand how she must be feeling, to a degree anyway. Is Bronze a fit male? Is he going to be a suitable mate for her?” Tatiana is showing her Luna tendencies to care, and it is heartwarming to witness.
“Yes, he is a fit male. He knows the Eclipse pack members would not accept a weak Luna, and as Taria hadn’t been training and has not had any official role, it would be seen as a weakness.”
“I see. Well, I can help her if, or when I’m contacted. Don’t worry about that, Flint.”
Before either of us can continue our conversation, the door of the apartment flies open and none other than Brod runs inside. “Oh, hi, Councilman Flint, how you doing?”
Keeping the grin from my face, I respond, “I’m fine. Thank you for asking. How are you? Still warrior training?”
“Yes, I am still training.” Brod gives me a puffed out chest and a serious look, obviously trying to impress me.
“You have certainly grown since I last saw you. In height and width.”
“Well, I am a growing shifter, and since the Goddess has extended the time to finding our mates, I have more time to become strong to protect what will be mine.”
“Ah, it was a good move on her part. I think eighteen is a better age to find a mate.” I give him a steady look, and the little devil is grinning at something.
“Brod, why are you here?” Tatiana asks.
“Well, Tati, sis, friend, I…”
“Stop with the bull. What are you doing here? Why are you not at training?” Tatiana gives him her Luna look, and he can’t resist answering.
“Aw, come on Tati.”
Before he can say more, the door opens and Alpha Gabriel walks into the apartment, giving Tatiana a hot look that could melt anyone.
“My love, how are you?” Gabriel murmurs as he stands Tatiana on her feet, pushes his nose in her neck and takes a huge lungful of her scent.
“Alpha Gabe, don’t start that again. We got things to be doing, people to see, you know, jobs,” Brod smirks.
Alpha Gabriel looks over his shoulder and gives Brod a filthy look, before kissing Tatiana, placing her back in her seat and turning to give me his attention.
I find this all highly amusing because most mates act this way, whether they have been away from their mates for a minute or five hours. But the love between these two is so pure it is something every shifter would love to emulate.
“Good day, Councilman Flint. What brings you here today?”
“Oh, I’ve completed my business with Tatiana, and if I’m honest, I just wanted to feel the wind in my face for a while. I’m informing you officially that Eve Planter is no longer a council member, so if she causes any problems for you please contact me, or as Alpha,” turning to look at Gabriel, “you have every right to deal with her as you see fit.”
I’m watching Brod out of the corner of my eye and slowly turning toward him, I watch as he’s bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. Swinging his arms as though exercising and just burning off energy.
The door opens, Drake walks in, gives everyone a nod, grabs Brod by the collar and drags him out the door. All without saying a word. I look at Gabriel and he is grinning broadly.
“When are you leaving, Flint?”
“I can leave now if you have other things to do?” I reply.
“Oh, I’ve better things to do,” Gabriel grins. “See yourself out.”
I watch as he picks up Tatiana, carrying her bridal style, and walks out of the room. Tatiana giving me a finger wave over his shoulder. Oh, what it is to still be young and foolish, I think to myself. Letting myself out of the apartment and back to my motorcycle.