Mia
I was right that it was a serious meeting. The elders, as they were called, were seated in Albert’s study looking so fierce with their expressions that I wondered if they hated me and almost lost my footing. I didn’t though and quickly straightened myself up, my head and my shoulder high with pride as the Luna that I was meant to be.
I was glad that I had the boys with me or maybe I would have faltered in my confidence and steps. It was glad to have someone familiar and on your side in the room when you walk into the lion’s den because that was what it felt to me.
Even Albert didn’t act as if he knew me and I was glad that I had run outside and found the boys and had come inside with them. I would have been shaken if I had thought that I had Albert on my side and he was behaving like this. I understood him though. He was trying to act with principles and show that it was a formal meeting and he didn’t want to show any preference but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t have given me a smile when I had come in.
That would have gone a long way in calming my nerves down, especially seeing how the rest of the room looked at me like they would like to swat me out of the room.
I swallowed, forcing myself to remain composed as I pretended to be comfortable that I was in this lion’s den. I couldn’t have been more glad that I had the boys with me.
Quinn
I could sense mischief in Fredo’s eyes. I glanced at dad and noticed how he didn’t even glance at Mia or smile and I knew that Fredo must have taunted and frustrated his life that he was trying his best to look principled and not show that he was going to show favouritism for his step-daughter or daughter in-law to be which was why they had called Mia here.
I shook my head at Fredo. He was a menace even if he didn’t know it yet. I wished I could tell him that but that was going to be after Mia was already the Luna so I wouldn’t affect her with my own.
I could sense Mia’s hurt as well when she glanced at dad and realized that he didn’t even look at her or acted as if she knew her. She was hurt and I would like to tell her that she didn’t have to feel like that. I wanted to pull her aside and tell her why dad was acting the way he was but I couldn’t at this moment. That would have to wait. That would have to be after the meeting. We were going to bridge the chasm this had brought over us after the meeting.
Fredo glanced at us as we walked in behind us and smirked, his voice a horrible tease as he spoke. “Still not feeling ashamed of your abominable acts?”
Jack snorted. “What is there to feel ashamed of?” He replied in our defense. I had briefed the two of them about what happened yesterday evening in my room and how Fredo had been acting about it. I had told them as well to prepare for him taunting the hell out of Mia and us.
Jack, as usual, didn’t care and had told us that he would give Fredo a run for his mouth if he thought that he could embarrass us or Mia. I was glad that Jack was here to reply Fredo and give him the responses he deserved. He would be busy thinking of deflecting Jack’s insults and responses that he wouldn’t have the time to taunt Mia during her interview (which this was) and that was okay with me. That was exactly what I wanted and what Jack wanted as well.
Fredo snorted. “Of course, there is not. You don’t expect a fool to know that what he is doing is wrong.”
Jack grinned. “I’m glad you said that. I believe you don’t know that you are making a fool of yourself as well.”
Fredo reddened with rage. “Do you dare to call me a fool? I will not have you insult me.”
“But you can insult others?” Jack sneered at him. I was amazed at how fast Jack found responses for him. It was as if he had already a personal vendetta against him and couldn’t wait to rip him to shreds. I shouldn’t be surprised though. Jack had always been good with words – positive or negative – and he wasn’t reluctant to use them on anyone regardless of what the case might be to win a battle. Jack hated losing and he loved to fight with words. He would do anything to make sure that he got it.
Fredo was mad, his veins straining out of his neck and forehead as he looked at Jack, his nostrils flaring up in anger and his breath coming out in short puffs of anger.
“I will not tolerate this. Do you see and hear that? Is that what you have been teaching your sons?” He asked, turning to dad.
He didn’t wait for a response from dad before moving to Mia and glared at her. I was proud of her at that moment. She was nervous and uncomfortable about being there but she didn’t whimper or shake in fright when Fredo turned to her with his angry eyes.
“Is this why you couldn’t come alone when you were called? Is this why you have to go and call them when you were asked to show up? Is this why you are showing up late and coming with them so they could embarrass and ridicule all the elders here and shame them into accepting you without a choice?”
Mia’s mouth opened in surprise and I could see her struggling with a response but she didn’t have to bother. This was exactly why we here for her. She was thinking of how to say ber response as she didn’t know if her interview had already started and this was part of it and she had to reply as a diplomatic leader or it wasn’t part of it and she was to talk as honestly as she felt.
I knew though that this wasn’t part of the interview and Fredo was only talking as the bitter soul that he was, hating anyone that was part of our family. I knew he would have planned who the Luna of the pack had to be just as he had hoped that it would be Tyrex. It was going to shock him that it was going to be Mia, yes, someone from our family.
As for the response he wanted from Mia, he was going to hear it from me. I was going to be honest with the response on her behalf so she wouldn’t get into trouble.
“She didn’t come to call for us. We met her on the way and decided to come in with her. She is not as weak as you think she is so stop being prejudiced and hateful. Let’s focus on what we are here for.”
“Moreover, I didn’t insult any elder or shame them with the aim of making them accept Mia as the Luna of the pack. All I did was reply you with the measure of what you dashed out. I wouldn’t have disrespected an elder, I only talked back at one who didn’t know his place and also didn’t act as one.”
Fredo flushed with rage when he heard that and turned to the rest of the elders. “Do you hear that?”
Albus sighed. “That’s enough, the two of you. Don’t disrespect your elder, Jack.”
“If he acts as one.” Jack replied, bowing to Albus.
“Hear that?” Fredo asked.
Albus hissed at Fredo. “Act like one, Fredo. We all here are busy people and we aren’t here to listen to you bicker with a younger wolf. We are here for something important so stop distracting us.”
Dad chose that moment to finally break the ice and talked. “For the record, I didn’t train my children to be rude. They only know how to fight for themselves and the weapons they decide to use are up to them.”
Fredo wanted to reply to that but a glance from Albus quickly made him stop. Kehlan seemed amused and Binoo was impassive though everyone watched as Fredo sulked all through the meeting.