Damon's POV
Silence.
Silence.
Uncomfortable silence.
The King Alpha, Queen Luna, Alpha Cain, Luna Camille together with the others, have all gone to the dining room for dinner as invited by Alpha Cain and Luna Camille. My mate and I and my three future officers were left to "settle" some things as Alpha Cain referred to.
Lua-ann, my mate has been looking out the window ever since we were left behind and the four of us stood behind her, waiting for her to take the lead.
Mark, my beta mind-links me. "What now?" To which I do not know the answer to. It all depends on my mate. And we are going to wait for her decision even if we have to stay here the whole night until she does.
She finally turns around, facing us. First, looking me in the eye, then looking at my Beta, Gamma and Delta.
Her face showed conflicting emotions. I felt bad that she was maneuvered into this situation, but I was also thankful, for I know if my father didn't do what he had, may mate would have flat out refused to do anything at all to do with me, or us.
I still feel how my heart twisted painfully when she suggested rejecting each other. That was the only time I spoke up. My father, the King Alpha has mind-linked me and my mother earlier that he would be the one to lead the meeting. He saw how unsure my mate was of the meeting and he wanted to take this to our advantage. He knew it would destroy my sanity if this meeting went wrong and he was acting as a father would for his son.
I know they'll have my ass when we get home for every nightmare I and my future officers have caused my mate, but I am willing to take it. I am more grateful now for their full support for me and my mate, than worried of any punishment I would surely be receiving from them.
We look expectantly at my mate as she faces us.
I feel less worried now even though, everyone has left us. She has as much as agreed to the King Alpha and Queen Luna, even without expressly saying yes, that she would work with us in righting the wrong. Wrong as in hurting the weak, or in one word, bullying.
We have made a grave mistake, letting our power get to our heads. Belittling and trampling those who are weaker than us instead of protecting them. We let our power control us, instead of us controlling our power. For years, no one has dared to stop us, but now, it has to stop. We are the future leaders not just of our pack but of every werewolf pack. We should not just be leaders of strength and bravery, but also justice, morals and righteousness.
I looked at my mate with this realization. It is no wonder she doesn't want to be connected to us in anyway. We made school hell for her, and from what I have heard, somebody made home hell for her as well.
As I looked at her little form, uncertain of what to do to us, it was all I can do not to go to her and keep her in my arms. Make her feel protected with my embrace. Make her feel she has now a home so far, far away from hell. And make her feel that she has now a family that would love and protect her.
But I know, I will have to work hard and gain her trust in me and my pack. We have put her through hell for years and I know it is not easy to erase the nightmares we have caused her, but I look forward to the day when she looks at me with joy in her heart. Loving me just as much as I love her and accepting me as her mate as she accepts my pack as her own.
Lu-ann's POV
I look at my mate, his Beta, Gamma and Delta and I just feel... indifferent. School was hell for many years because of them, because of their pack but I am free now. I am content with my academic life and with my work. Even though some of my pack members still try to degrade me, I am able to avoid them, keeping busy with school and work unless I am required to render service for the pack. And I usually now have Kaylee who protects me.
If I had a choice, I would rather not have my life messed up again with these big bullies in front of me, but it seems I have been maneuvered into "grooming" these men to be righteous and moral leaders of their pack. A pack which I have never imagined I would ever belong to. Like the task I have never ever anticipated taking a role on.
"I am actually not so keen on whatever this is called." I started my little speech. I spread out my hands, motioning about everyone. "Obviously, I know nothing about training or grooming big, big bullies to be become big moral leaders you are expected to be."
"I think, it's actually in the blood and the environment. Being the person that you are. And I don't think I have what it takes to imprint morality or justice to such strong future leaders. As for you being my mate, I also don't think I have what it takes to be the future Queen Luna." I look at Damon in the eye as he stiffens with my words.
"No, I will not reject you. And I will not allow you to reject me. We are here to put a stop on all the terrible nightmares inflicted by the strong to the weak. The King Alpha has deemed you the proper person to lead, and I believe, it is the right decision."
I felt my jaw drop the second time that night as Damon finished his contradictory speech.
Then Mark speaks challenging me. "Are you scared?"
I knew if I said no, that would mean I accept the challenge. "Yes, I'm scared."
"All the more reason for you to take the role. Be the strength of all the tortured by the strong." Mark answered. Why do I feel like I stepped into another trap?
I looked at Damon. Why do I feel like I wanted to surrender? Give way to whatever they want? Is this the mate bond at work?
"Lu-ann, I know it is hard to believe but we have realized and accepted our mistakes. This is a big wake up call to us. Not just because you hate your mate because of us, but also because we have decided to take steps in changing for the better. And you are in the center of it all. Are you not even a little curious to see that we will push through it? That we will be able to go with it to the end?' This was Rick. He wasn't very active in making my life hell then, but still, he did not do anything to stop his friends.
I gently chewed my inner lip in confusion. This was a different approach. I have expected them to plead, force or even use the King Alpha's name and I was mentally prepared with my objections but this argument caught me off guard.
"First of all, I don't hate my mate." I see Damon's face brighten. "I hate that I was mated to him and I hate everything that he and you has done to me in the past. And though I am curious as to whether you can truly enforce this to the end, I can always observe from afar."
"Yes, but not see it first hand. This could be your biggest project." Now that Rick had my attention, it seems no one was going to stop him from changing my mind and I feel his arguments working. Slowly breaking my barriers down, or maybe I was just tired...
Biting my inner lip, I feel Damon's eye on me. Feeling my heart thump, a little stronger. I sneaked a look at him, and I feel a little blush start at my cheeks. Why is he looking at me that way? As if he wanted to eat me. I avoided everyone's eyes, least I might embarrass myself. I concentrated on something above Rick's shoulders.
"I'll think about it and let you know."
"When?" Two voices. Damon and Mark. Excited, are we?
"Tomorrow?" Still looking above Rick's shoulder.
"What time?" Still two voices. I look at them both now. Showing them my confusion for their seemingly agitation to set the date and time that they would even talk at the same time.
I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. I'll just let you know."
Silence. They all look at each other. Mind-linking? Mind-linking is actually the ability of werewolves to talk each other through the mind without talking. This is only possible if they belong to the same pack or family.
And I can only guess what they were talking about.
"Okay. Set a time and we're done." Damon says for the group.
I thought of how my day would go tomorrow. Tomorrow was a Sunday. I work for six hours on Sundays from nine o'clock in the morning to three o'clock. Then I get the time to walk or run in the woods in my human form, with my little wolf. Sometimes, I spend the whole afternoon relaxing in the woods, drawing, being one with nature. Perhaps, by six o'clock so I still have time for my woods - personal time. Okay. I don't think I'll ever have time for this but just to finish the meeting? "Six o'clock?"
"We'll be here." Damon says immediately.
"No. It's in the evening"
"We'll still be here."
"No. I'll call you."
"Can I have your number then?" Damon immediately asks as the four of them take out their phones.
"I don't have one." I see four pairs of eyes focus on me unbelievingly.