"Thank you, brother; I truly am grateful for this. And I'll be indebted to you for the rest of my life for allowing this incredible blessing to be bestowed upon me. … Now, if you all will excuse me; I'll be on my way."
Teresa starts to leave the study, but is quickly called back the alpha...
"Hold on, Teresa; and just where do you think you're going?"
"I told you before, the children need to be put to bed, so I'm..."
With a hint of sarcastic cynicism in his tone, "And you were planning to leave now; just when Felicia is about to fill us in on the details of … as you called them … 'your children'? Can't that wait a little longer … surely as 'their mother', you would want to know every detail about them; and be here at this pivotal moment to be informed?" The alpha shoots his sister a goading grin.
Teresa responds with a grin of her own. "My dearest brother, surely as a parent yourself, you must realize that 'pivotal moment', or not, there are times when the needs of our children must come first, even before all other matters. And right now … my children … need to be put to bed."
The alpha just shakes his head and laughs. "Very well then, if they must be put to bed now..." The alpha turns to the elders, who are standing off in a corner consoling one another over their recent attacks from the alpha's sister. "Elder Victor … I need you to leave now and inform one of the servants that they are to take the children to my sister's quarters and put them to bed. They are to stay with the children and watch over them until my sister has finished here and returns."
A befuddled expression emerges upon the elder's countenance. "I'm sorry, my alpha? I don't understand."
The alpha slowly rolls his eyes while emitting and tired huff. "No, I'm sorry, Elder Victor; were my instructions not clear enough? Do I need to break them down and simplify it further to make my instructions easier for you to understand?"
The elder quickly answers, "No, my alpha; it's not like that … it's just..."
"It's just what, Elder Victor?"
"It's … well … the witch is about to tell us about these children you're having us take into our pack; so, as a representative of the Tribunal of Elders, I feel..."
The alpha's growing a little impatient with the elder. "Isn't Elder Elliot a representative of the Tribunal of Elders, as well?"
A bit sheepishly, "Y-yes, he is my alpha."
"Then, it stands to reason that the tribunal is already represented by his presence; so, there's really no need for you to be here. I'm sure Elder Victor will adequately fill you in on this meeting's discussions later on with the rest of the tribunal elders."
"But, with all due respect, my alpha..."
"No, with all due respect to you, Elder Victor; my sister already made herself clear before that you weren't worth the time or effort for her to waste on given you a well-deserved beaten..." He turns to his sister, shooting her a quick smile and wink; then, looks back to the currently perplexed elder, "But I'm sure even she couldn't argue the point that you must be at least capable enough to pass along a simple message; nor, object to me having you carry out this simple task."
"But … my alpha..."
The irritated alpha brusquely snaps in a growling fashion, "But what, Elder Victor?! Don't tell me you aren't even capable of carrying out this simple task?! … Perhaps you're even more worthless than my sister believes you to be?"
Taken aback by the alpha's sudden angered outburst, the elder shuffles back a bit, slightly cowering as he draws his head into his shoulders and looks down to the floor, while meekly muttering...
"No, my alpha, I don't think of myself as being so worthless … despite what your sister thinks … and I'm certainly capable of performing such a mundane task if that is what you wish. I was just a bit confused as to why you would ask me, an elder on the tribunal, to leave a meeting which I was invited to just to go handle such trivial matters. Why not have Gamma Ray over there, who wasn't even supposed to be present during these discussions, but imposed himself into them … and, might I add, is also quite suitable to pass along that message to a servant … do it?"
The frustrated alpha clenches his jaw and grits down on his teeth while taking in a deep breath; trying to calm his nerves and regain some composure before continuing dealing with the irritating elder. It was bad enough that Teresa had already savagely manhandled one member of the Tribunal of Elders earlier; the alpha dreaded the thought of what the pack might think if both alpha-level siblings attacked each elder present during the meeting.
"Elder Victor..." He takes in another breath just for good measure. "I realize that at times both you and Elder Elliot appear to have selective hearing; but did you not hear before when it was decided that Gamma Ray would be in charge of the security arrangements for the protection of my sister and her newly adopted children? It's imperative for him … more so than anyone else in this room … to be present to learn of these children's backgrounds; in order for him to come up with the most effective strategy."
"Yes, of course, I understand that my alpha; but..."
"And correct me if I'm wrong; but didn't both you and Elder Elliot adamantly swear to me that I would have your full support and backing in this matter?"
"Well; yes, my alpha."
"And I also believe … again, if I'm not mistaken … you, Elder Victor, had also added that you'd swear to me your loyalty as one of this pack's members of the Tribunal of Elders; didn't you?"
"Yes, my alpha; I did."
"I see. So, tell me then, Elder Victor; have you changed your mind so soon? Do I no longer have your full support and backing … are you taking back your allegiance of loyalty?"
Totally flustered and worried that he has offended the alpha … fearful of the severe reprimanding and harsh punishments which he may face for doing so … the elder emphatically cries out...
"No, of course not, Alpha Julian! You will always have my complete loyalty and faithful devotion! I swear it! … And, as I swore before, you have my full support and backing in this, and every, matter."
"Very well, then; it's time for you to demonstrate that loyalty that you have sworn to me by finally carrying out my previous instruction of informing a servant to take the children to Teresa's quarters."
"Of course, my alpha; right away." The elder begins to hurry out the study; but comes to an abrupt halt in the middle of the doorway. He slowly turns around and sheepishly utters, "But...?"
The alpha lets out yet another huff and raises an eyebrow. "But?"
"Which servant should I tell do this?"
The alpha lowers his eyebrow and thinks to himself finally a valid question that isn't a waste of time. He turns to his sister and asks...
"Well, Teresa; who do you want to put the children to bed?"
Suddenly put on the spot, Teresa finds herself in a bit of a quandary as she mulls this over; finally telling her brother...
"Honestly, Julian; right now … I really can't say. At this point, other than Irena, who's been looking after the girls this whole time; I honestly don't know yet who among the pack I can entrust to look after them."
Without thinking … just reacting impulsively in his typical manner of 'operating mouth before engaging brain' … Elder Elliot snidely comments...
"My, that's a nice thing to say about your very own pack members; isn't it? I'm sure they'd love to hear you speaking so highly of them."
Teresa sharply turns to the elder and piercingly shoots him a fierce glare. It instantly dawns upon the elder what he's just done … and suddenly it's like he could 'taste the foot he just put in his mouth'. He immediately steps back into the wall and rapidly raises his arms out in front of him as if he were fending off an attack. He quickly blurts out...
"But I can certainly understand how you feel and why you would say that. I'm sure there will be those who may object to the children's' presence in the pack. … I apologize; pardon my interruption. By all means, please, continue your talk."
Felicia takes it upon herself to interject, "Excuse me, Teresa; if it would put your mind at ease … if you'd like … I can have Melanie and Cora put the children to bed and stay with them until you get there."
"Yes, I think that's a good idea. … But wait, you just said Melanie and Cora; what about Doreen?"
"If it's alright with you; I believe Doreen wouldn't mind if she'd be allowed to wait outside by that little Koi Pond out front to get a little fresh air."
"Oh sure, that's fine."
Delta Colin raises his hand and begins shaking it about to get the alpha's attention; looking like some sort of elementary school student who knows the answer to the question and is trying to suck up to the teacher. The alpha quickly notices the delta's erratic motioning, and it suddenly dawns upon him; that he had rebukingly scolded the delta before, telling him not to speak for the rest of the meeting unless the alpha tells him to. This alpha can't help but to find this a bit amusing and lets out a brief laugh. He calls upon the delta...
"Yes; what is it, Colin?"
Before speaking up, for a brief moment, the prejudiced delta stares in an evident seething manner at Felicia with a scornful glare emanating from his eyes...
"Julian, do you really think it wise to allow witches to roam freely about the premises?" He turns to the alpha and adds, in a what appears to be a non-biased, professional manner, "After all, even visiting werewolves are typically escorted within the compound … especially when within the mansion and on its grounds."
"Hmm … yes; Colin does make a valid point. It is customary for guests to be escorted while moving throughout the compound."
Gamma Ray interjects, "Pardon my intrusion, Alpha Julian; but, along with the sentry who's currently posted with her party, we do have extra sentries stationed at the front door. Perhaps we can use a couple of them as well to accompany Felicia's companions."
"Yes, good idea, Ray; I believe that should suffice … don't you think; Colin?"
The perturbed delta tightly clenches his jaw and grits his teeth as he tries to bear it; momentarily holding his tongue before apprehensively conceding...
"Yes, my alpha; as you say, that should suffice … I suppose."
The alpha looks to Elder Victor; who's been standing in the middle of the doorway the entire time, "Elder Victor; go to the sentries at the front door … have two of those sentries meet up with the other sentry posted in the east parlor with the witches and children. Of the three, one will accompany Doreen out by the Koi Pond; while the other two will escort Melanie and Cora as they take the children to Teresa's quarters … tell the sentries that they are to remain posted outside of Teresa's quarters until she gets there. Understood; Elder Victor?"
"Yes, my alpha; understood. I'll be on my way, then."
The elder leaves, and the alpha looks to Felicia...
"Now that everything else has been settled; Felicia … I do believe that it's finally time for you to reveal the truth behind the identity of these children … and, of course, explain to us, in as much detail as you can, all the matters regarding these 'dire circumstances' you spoke of."
"Of course, Alpha Julian; as I promised you, I will tell you everything I know about this situation..." Felicia takes in a breath before somberly uttering, "For better or worse."