The Half Mutt Mate

Chapter VIII: Thomas's PoV

Usually, there was a meeting of all the local wolf leaders once every two years. It was largely a chance to socialize, with good food, a brief meeting, a few bits of news from the elders and maybe even some dancing. It was held at a different pack house every time, and the hosts were always welcoming. However, this meeting was called as an emergency, already a year early. The elders had convened beforehand and decided that it was necessary for the ongoing protection of the packs.

We gathered in the elder's room, which was a large eating hall, dominated by a long table on a platform going the width of it, which was where the elders sat. The rest of us were seated at slightly shorter tables, going length ways across the room. I slid into my seat, next to Caroline and across from Annie, as the Alphas and second in commands were always sat on different sides.  

In front of us was a simple yet delicious looking meal, which, after a simple introduction from George, we began to eat. We talked quietly as we ate the steak and potatoes and sipped our wine, waiting for the real meeting to begin. In previous meetings, the meal had been fun and drawn out with lots of laughter and alcohol, but this year the conversation was strained and we ate quickly. We knew there was more important to things to do. Eventually we had all finished, so one by one we turned to the front table to await the council's words.

The council of elders, or the eldership, as we called them, was a group of twelve old wolves, all men, who were very experienced in werewolf law. Most of them had been Alphas in their day but had since passed the role onto their heirs, as an Alpha is meant to represent the strongest of the pack. My own father was an elder, and he sat at the front table, looking directly at me. 

I did not wave or smile. I knew I had disappointed him, I knew he was disgusted by what had happened. He had sent me enough letters and messages that there was no way I couldn't know -- with my father actions always spoke louder than words, however, and I knew that he'd been the one orchestrating the attacks on part-breeds and even some humans to get his message across. Between him and the other vigilantes making causing so much violence, the entire werewolf community had been exposed to humans. Of course, most humans already knew about our existence -- we had wolves in most positions of power, we even ran several countries -- but now it was official, and now we were endangering humans. The whole thing was a mess.

Elder Beaumont stood up and cleared his throat. He was a tall and imposing man, with a neatly trimmed grey beard. He wore traditional wolf robes in green, the colour of the eldership.

"You all know why we are here," he said. "We are here to discuss the recent issues that have arisen in our community. Scandal has plagued members of our society," he looked pointedly at me, "while scrutiny has plagued the rest of us. Tonight we must put an end to it. We must find a solution!"

"Here, here!" The wolves replied.

"Would Alpha Thomas, of the Brenin Blaid bloodline, please stand."

I rose from my seat, acid pooling in my stomach. The eyes of every Alpha, Beta and Luna turned to look at me. I squared my shoulders and kept my eyes straight ahead, trying not to show an ounce of my trepidation. Nathan, my wolf, was growling in my head. 

"I understand, Alpha Thomas, that it is you who has become our undoing." Elder Beaumont's words were shockingly blunt, and murmurs spread across the room.

"Sir," I said, choosing my words carefully. "Had I been able to prevent any of this I would have, I assure you."

"Well, is it true that you took a child, your mate, and presented her to your pack as Luna?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you let her, a child, escape, to join with rogues?"

"Yes, sir."

"And I am correct in saying that the girl is a mutt, and you let her escape yet again with her life."

I looked down in shame. "Yes, sir."

"Then tell me, Alpha Thomas, who was once so widely respected, how is this not your doing?"

I looked straight into his eyes and held his gaze for a moment, letting him feel the full force of my will. Even to someone who is not my pack mate, someone who was once an Alpha himself, the gaze of a true Alpha has a strong effect.

"I understand that there is no place for a mutt as a Luna," I said slowly. "I rejected the girl as soon as I found out. Tell me, Elder Beaumont, can you or any person in this room imagine rejecting their mate? Can you truly fathom the pain it causes? I did it without hesitation, sir, for the good of every wolf I know. I was hurt by it, sir, I was injured -- I could not possibly chase her. That's why the girl escaped."

There was silence. Every wolf in the room had their eyes glued to me. I stared straight ahead at the elder, waiting for his reaction. Eventually, with a slow, deliberate, smile, the elder spoke.

"So, Alpha Thomas, you would have us believe that you had no choice?"

I nodded.

"Very well, I believe you," he said. "Nonetheless, that still leaves the problem of the mutt."

At this moment my father stood up. He was a large, broad-shouldered man, with dark grey hair and a hard glint in his steel coloured eyes. His face was set in harsh lines from age and worry but his beard was sharp against his jaw. He did not smile.

"The mutt," he said, his voice dripping with disgust, "is the most dangerous creature out there. It poses an immediate threat to each and every one of us -- it must be destroyed."

My wolf growled angrily but I beat it down. Around me, everyone else nodded in hard-eyed agreement.

"Alpha Thomas," said my father, not even addressing me as his son. "Are you capable of taking down the mutt? If needs be, are you capable of being the one to kill it?"

I hesitated. I glanced across the table at  Annie's scowling face, then next to me, to Caroline's stony exterior. Finally, I locked eyes with my father, waiting eagerly for my response. There was only one answer I could give, but could I really do it? I knew there was only one option.

"Yes," I said. "I can kill her."