“So how many of you have heard of this law? If a man of title finds their mate and the mate is underage, he may take them to preserve their maidenhood, ensure purity and ensure their bond will be completed or for other circumstances, and the man or persons of title needs an heir for pack transfer? This is the stuff I want to change. How many of you would be revolted if your underage child was taken before they could tell if the person taking them is his or her mate?” Kat asks.
“I will sign that one,” says a meek voice I instantly recognize as the woman from outside. The women turn in their chairs and look at her. Some smile sadly at her.
“What’s your name?” Kat asks her.
“Blaire, my Queen, I will sign. Garret found me and took me when I was fifteen and a half because he knew that law. He killed my father when he tried to stop him, my father was an Omega like me,” she says as she gets out of her seat and strolls forward.
She hesitates, slightly bows, and then takes the paper from Kat to walk over to the table. I see her look at the other woman. “I know at least four here who were dealt the same hand as me. So get up!” She says, yet none do.
“I have to go home with mine, and I am willing to sign this, so get up! If not for yourselves, do it for us who had no choice,” Blaire says. Three more get up, and so does Terra, and they walk over. Blaire turns and signs the document before handing the pen to the next.
“You call me spineless, yet you fear a piece of paper,” Blaire says before walking back to her seat.
The other woman I noticed follows her instead of sitting back in their original seats. Kat stares at the crowd, but no one else gets up, and she sighs.
“Why?” I step forward and ask.
“Why what?” Amy asks.
“Why do you all demand change, but you sit on your hands and do nothing when offered a chance to change it?” I explain my question.
“It’s not that simple. They are our mates, we live with them, and they would see this as a betrayal,” she explains.
“And why is that? Is it because they feel threatened, de-manned in a way? Or is it because they realize they broke the very laws we are asking to change? How many of you here have kids?” Most of them raise their hands. “Okay, say someone comes to claim your son or daughter. How many Alphas would challenge that for their kids, or are they as heartless to their children as they are to their mates?” I ask.
“Come on, raise your hand if your mate would fight for their kid,” I tell them. All of them raise their hands.
“If they would fight to protect their kid, why aren’t you signing? Because signing that is fighting for the next generation’s right to remain children until they can recognize their mates for themselves? If your Alphas would fight for them, why aren’t you? Over ego is why. Kat hurts their egos because she is a woman, not because what she is fighting for is wrong, but because she is a woman, and all those Alphas wouldn’t even hear her out because they feel less with her in charge. You will regret not signing that if it is your child that gets taken next?” I tell them and walk over to sign the paper.
If not theirs, Kat has my voice. And unlike their mates, I know Andrei will be proud of me for standing my ground. For staying in his sister’s corner while she stood in ours so many times. And most importantly – for fighting what is right.
“Amy, sign it. Weren’t you a year out from finding your mate when he took you?” Terra asks her.
“But he is my mate, and he is good to me.” Amy argues.
“Will your son or daughter’s mate be good to them because this protects them? Any Alpha could come to challenge your mate and take them, and you will have no proof of whether what they claim is true. This assures us because they have to recognize their mate before taking them,” Terra tells her when I realize something.
The soft-spoken woman is the influence, Terra doesn’t address her just because of what she said, but because the rest of the women will follow her, so whoever her mate is – he has influence clearly because, despite her quiet demeanor, the other women flock around her.
It makes me wonder if he is one of the top Alphas that left the table at the Alpha meeting where Andrei was sitting. It is clear the table was reserved for the higher-up Alphas, and Andrei said six seats were vacated because Kat sat down.
“You said he was good to you. Then, if he is, he would protect you, right?” I ask, watching the woman.
“Well, of course, but,” she starts to speak, but I know I need to cut her off.
“But what? Do you agree this law should be changed?” I ask her.
“Of course, I do.”
“Then sign it. Stop thinking of this as something personal. Think of what is best for your packs and your children. Forget the Alphas and your mates, forget status. Think of what’s right, and the repercussions we can deal with, Kat offers everyone a place if needed. But if they love you like they claim they do, they will stick by your decision. Or were you lying when you said he was a good mate?” I ask, turning back to Amy. She growls and rubs her temples before looking up.
“Give me the paper,” she says, clicking her fingers. “If this causes drama. I expect you to calm the Alphas,” she says to Kat.
“Of course, but they can’t have an issue with enough signatures if we stand united,” Kat tells them.
Amy signs, and once she does, so do the others. However, we are still short signatures making me count the women. “We are seven short,” I tell Kat.
“How many short?” A woman says.
“Four, my mates will sign, and so will Andrei, but we are four short,” Kat confirms, counting heads.
“Not everyone showed up?” Kat asks.
Terra looks around. “Not everyone is here.”
“The Alpha book must be outdated,” she mutters.
“Four, right?” Kat nods, and the woman walks off and opens the doors leading outside.
“Hun, can you come here?” The woman calls out. A man approaches her, all goofy-faced and doe-eyed, as he regards his mate like she is made of gold. They speak in hushed whispers before he looks over his mate’s shoulder at Kat.
“May I come in, my Luna Queen? I am Alpha Jason, Luna Larni’s Mate?” He asks, and Kat nods.
“You can enter,” she tells him.
“If I sign this. You know I can’t go against it on the bench,” Jason says to Larni, and she nods.
Luna juts out her bottom lip like a child, but the Alpha just sighs and walks over to the table and grabs the pen.