Miakoda

Shining Light

The dinner had been a supernatural feast. Shared with stories, comfortable nervousness and appreciation for the pack's chefs.

Ryder and Hunter were deep in pre-meeting conversation of what needed to be discussed when a lively Cassandra entered the dining room. Flushed and refreshed from her hunting. A sudden silence enveloped the crowd, making Cassandra's bouncy form fall sullen, but the silence was broken by a familiar retort.

"Goddess Cassandra! I know you like your meat rare but keeping some on your chin for later is desperation." Said Agatha with a wide and yet taunting smile.

"Oh my dear Agatha, have you learnt nothing from what we've been through." Cassandra taunted back and the two of them start laughing to which Andrea joined, making an acapella of hysterics.

Everyone from the group that was brought back with us, familiar with the two women's banter, started to laugh as well and it quickly became infectious as it spread through the pack members.

"Take a seat Cassandra, no-one gets left out from this table." Hunter stood and offered her his chair at the table.

Out of sheer respect for this alpha offering up his own seat for her, she bowed her head and politely accepted it.

Ryder seeing this, smiled, turning to his brother and said. "Mom and dad should have handed you the crown brother. Tonight you have united us all."

Cassandra looked at both of them in turn and her eyes widened drastically as did Agatha's and a few others from the group. "King?" Suddenly Cassandra realised who she was sitting next to. "King Ryder Blake? King of the Lycans... Ruler of the supernaturals? "

Ryder smiled humbly and nodded his head.

To tease him a bit she states nonchalantly. "Actually, you should be thanking Mute for this unity."

An instant echo of, "To Mute!" Sounded out around them from everyone in the rescued group.

Ryder looked at Hunter raising his glass. "To Mute." Hunter couldn't help but feel a concoction of pride and utter sadness at the mention of his mate.

Andrea seeing her alpha turning inward to his pain got up, nodded to both Agatha and Cassandra. She moved to Hunter's side. Gently placing a hand on his arm.

Hunter looked at her, she smiled knowingly. "It's time we have our meeting. You need the answers we collectively have for you."

Hunter nodded, glanced at Ryder, nodded again. Then mind linked his Beta and gamma to meet them in his office.

The team excused themselves wishing for everyone to stay and enjoy themselves. While they retreated to their business.

Andrea, Cassandra and Agatha walked into the office first, followed by Ryder, Hunter, Logan, Michael and Merrick.

They all took a seat and just sat there in an awkward silence at first. Not knowing where to begin.

"Where do we need to start?" Asked Andrea.

Agatha looked at them all and cleared her throat. "I think I should be the one to start. Apart from Mute, I was there the longest."

Agatha's POV

I started my account from when I  was captured by the hunters, 8 years ago and gave them a quick run through of what happened  at the compound and what I had seen, both on the hunter and rogues side of things as well as Mute. How I had seen her grow up, what she had been through and what I had noticed about her.

All attention was on me, patient and quiet.

"When I was first brought to the compound I had no idea what they were going to do with me. I just assumed that they would want to use me. That's what normal hunters do, right? Use another's abilities for their own purposes. But they didn't. Which I found rather strange. You'd rather watch someone with gifts waste away than use those gifts. It makes no sense. They didn't seem at all that interested in my abilities."