Chapter 34
FLINT
Today, so far anyway, has been an exceptionally good day. All the Alpha’s and Luna’s of our packs have come together to celebrate Gerry and Aurora becoming chosen mates, and to attend their Alpha and Luna ceremonies.
Seeing everyone together has been an uplifting experience. Although most were present at the previous Alpha meeting several weeks ago to discuss the rogue situation, it was a very different atmosphere. We are all aware that the problem hasn’t gone away, but it’s been put on the back-burner, so to speak, while we focus on some positive aspects of pack life and culture.
Gerry and Aurora chose to have a very formal ceremony, both in customs and in dress. Everyone has attended in their pack’s formal wear. I was worried that this would cause divisions between the packs present, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Gerry insisted on the dress code, despite voicing my misgivings, however, he has been proven correct. All the guests are mingling well and the pride that each show in their own pack is great to witness.
Using the traditional speech for the Alpha ceremony was a little odd for me, as recently there has been a trend to go ‘modern’ as it were. I did enjoy going ‘the old way,’ and by the guests' reactions, they did too. Let’s be honest, ‘modern’ has its place in the world, but maintaining our culture, history and heritage is also extremely important.
Gerry’s speech spoke of these things and how he believes that the pack should always pay homage to both its origins and its destiny. He received an excellent response from all present. I saw a couple of the Alphas nodding to each other at the end.
Aurora came across as positively regal during the Alpha ceremony and she totally glowed while becoming the Luna. She had the audience on their feet and eating out of her hand, all at the same time.
Everyone is feasting as though they’ve been starved for a month. Cook Ivy has excelled yet again. She insisted on having fire pits built so she could have a hog, a deer and a bullock roasting. She was adamant that without these, people would go hungry and that wasn’t happening in front of her pack Alpha and Luna.
The smell alone is enough to make you gorge yourself. I’ve had more than a ‘helping’ of each meat and the accompaniments are to die for. There is hardly any room to sit in the dining area, as trellis tables, covered in ornately decorated tablecloths, hold such a wide variety of specialty dishes, originating from each of the packs. The tables and chairs have been set up outside, with picnic blankets spread to cover any shortfall in seating.
When I first arrived, I spoke with Gerry and Aurora. Apologizing for my poor behavior, and then my rudeness, certainly helped relieve some tension that I felt from them.
We also agreed that I should have a meeting with all the pack leaders once they were all present, and before the ceremonies began, to update them on a few things.
Gathering them all around the conference table in the Alpha’s office, I began with my own apologies. I seem to have a lot of that going on at the moment.
First item on the agenda was giving them as much information, as the Council thought prudent, about Eve Planter and her death. We didn’t announce the fact that Gerry was present. This was to prevent Gerry from having to revisit it every time someone was interested in some minor detail. He should not have to relive that day, over and over just to satisfy a morbid curiosity.
I talked this point through with Gerry prior, so he fully understood our reasons. He was grateful that we had given him this consideration.
Second was the consequences to Ulmer Oakfold after he held the meetings with the Alphas. We tried to arrange a single meeting for him with all present, but this wasn’t possible, so he held three meetings in total.
Asking for their input as to how he should be dealt with, backfired on the Council somewhat, as there was no general consensus as to what this should be. Due to this, we took a ‘majority rule’ stance on it. Most Alphas suggested he be demoted from the Council, so that’s what we did.
We have been preparing to interview for a less senior position, but still with serious responsibility. Our Central Library of Information and History has a chairman that will be retiring soon. He has been looking amongst his ranks for a replacement, without success.
Ulmer, having been a Council member for over thirty years, has an intimate knowledge of much of what would be kept on file. Seeing this as an opportunity to both fill the vacancy with a suitable candidate and to demote Ulmer to a position that we could monitor him, without losing all of his wealth of experience, we made the decision.
Once again, the Council finding itself short of members, we looked for candidates. Examining all the packs for suitable replacements, we saw that the Eclipse pack are training their Alpha Heir Bronze to take over. Approaching the current pack leaders, we were able to recruit Luna Sage almost immediately. Alpha Chet needs to remain until his son has taken over the Alpha position and will then join his mate on the Council.
During the afternoon, the festivities have diminished somewhat. Most have been off for a nap following all the excitement and such quantities of food. I find myself alone and enjoying the dessert table that Cook Ivy has filled with many delicacies.
“You’ll get fat eating all that sweet stuff and then sitting around the Council chambers. You’ll need to get more exercise than you normally get if you’re not going to pile on the pounds.” Xavier stands there, shaking his head and scowling. “Is this what I’m to expect as a Council member?”
“Xavier. Join me. I was going to seek you out later so we could discuss your appointment to the Council.”
“You haven’t made a formal offer, as yet, and I certainly haven’t agreed to anything. This is not a decision I take lightly.”
Seeing how serious he is, I can see I’m going to have to have my negotiator’s head on, if I’m to win him over.
“Let me take you through some of the benefits of being a Council member. There will not be as much rushing around from place to place. Your life will be much more relaxed and at a steadier pace. There’ll be time to start doing all those things that you’ve wanted to do, but never had the time or the energy for.”
“That doesn’t sound like your life, Flint. I don’t see you making time for yourself. Quite the opposite, in fact. You're dashing from here to there and back again so often, it’s a wonder you don’t pass yourself coming back! You’ll have to be more convincing than that.”
Xavier takes a small plate and places a large piece of dessert on it. Taking a small bite, he waits for my response.
“I’m a little different than most. I enjoy the faster pace, hence why I have my motorcycle.” Watching his reaction carefully to see if I have been convincing, his laughter tells me I failed.
“You would have your own property nearer to the Council chambers. You could have your meals in the chamber's dining room. Prepared by our very own chef. He’s exceptionally good.”
“Flint. He’d better be more than ‘exceptionally good’ to tear me away from Cook Ivy. I’m thinking of joining Blood Pearl pack, just to have her breakfast every day. I don’t know what she did to that deer over the fire pit, but it was the best venison I’ve ever tasted. Believe me, I’ve eaten a lot of venison. It's my favorite meat.”
“With your property you could have a gardener. You could have a flower bed to the front and a vegetable and herb garden to the rear. Think of all the lovely fresh fruit and veg you could be enjoying.” I smile encouragingly at him and nod my head as though this is the best thing since sliced bread.
“Fruit and veg? Herbs? What the hell?”
I see Xavier’s attention drawn to his wolf and wait for what’s coming next. Havoc’s voice soon echoes in my head.
Flint. If you think I’m going to sit back while he becomes a ‘veggiesaurus’, you have another thing coming. We’re wolf shifters. Meat eaters. Predators. I’ve never heard of a ‘sheep shifter’ and I’m certainly not becoming one.
Too right, Havoc. I’m with you on that one! Bruno’s voice interrupts.
‘Bruno! Whose side are you on?’
The one that eats meat, Flint. You can have the salad all to yourself!
Xavier is laughing out loud, and I know I definitely lost that round.
“There would be no utility bills, so you’d have money for those things that you wanted to do!”
“The things you think I want to do. Let’s stop pussyfooting around, Flint. Why do you want me on the Council? What’s the urgency for an answer?”
“I think, no, I believe, you will be good for the Council. You have a wide knowledge base that will help us when dealing with issues like the rogues. It may be a rare occurrence, but it’s a serious one. You can bring things to the table that we currently lack.”
“And that’s the rush? The rogues are up to something. They have a power hungry ‘Alpha’ that wants to rule like a king and you need my knowledge to stop him?” Xavier tilts his head on one side and looks at me. “I don’t buy into that story at all. You’re selling yourself short, Flint. There’s more to it than that.”
“We don’t understand the need for power. Shifters aren’t normally motivated by wealth or power, so why is he? What does he expect to do if he gets the power? He can’t take over every shifter realm. Others will band together and stop him.”
“Have you approached any others with this knowledge you seek? Think carefully before you answer.”
“Others have been approached, but none with your experience. One was close, but lacked your ‘unique’ abilities.”
“And he now has his own pack to run. It was an easy deduction that Gerry would have been your first port of call.”
“Yes, he has got his own pack. So, what do you think? Are you up for the challenge?” I’m hoping this is a done deal today and something I can tick off my to do list.
“I don’t know. I have some personal considerations to take into account first. I like my life as it is. It isn’t complicated and I have my freedom to go where I want, when I want. We both know that being on the Council will have certain restrictions to that. If you need my knowledge base, I’ll help where I can, if that is allowed. As for a decision, I am not willing to commit at this time.”
“Very well. Thank you for your honesty and I hope that when you decide, you’ll join us. In the meantime, I will not press you.”
Xavier stands, gives me a head nod, and leaves me alone once again.