Although a bit taken aback at first by her sudden appearance, the alpha isn't too surprised; for truth be told, she isn't exactly known for her patience when it involves things that she really wants.
"Teresa; what brings you here?"
Elder Elliot can never seem to keep from criticizing the younger generation in the pack when the opportunity arises … feeling it's his duty as an elder … so, he immediately interjects...
"What you should be asking her is why is she barging into a private meeting without even having the common courtesy to at least knock at the door first, then wait until being granted permission to enter. Honestly Julian, I realize that Teresa is your sister, but you really do give her too much leeway; spoiling her in the process … which is the reason why we find ourselves in this predicament today. You really need to consider pulling in and tightening the reins on her."
Teresa … who has a personality similar to that of Melanie's, although not quite as bad; after all, she is the sister of the alpha, so she needs to maintain some decorum … flippantly quips...
"Elder Chandler; always a pleasure to see you. You know, my day is never really made until someone points out my faults that need to be corrected … and I can always count on you to take it upon yourself to do so."
Elder Victor snaps, "Impudent child; have you no respect for your elders?! Elder Elliot is correct in saying that you're too spoiled. You definitely need more disciplining."
And now, Elder Victor becomes the new target of Teresa's flippancy...
"Oh, Elder Strong; you're here, too? My apologies, I didn't see you there. But that's my fault; I should have realized that you would be here as well, since Elder Chandler is here … I mean, where one of you goes, the other is sure to follow. You two are like the 'Bert and Ernie' of the Rainier Pack."
Trying to hold back from laughing and keeping a straight face, the alpha admonishes his sister, though lacking the authoritatively commanding tone that he usually uses when admonishing others...
"Alright, Teresa; you've said enough. Now, hold your tongue. That's no way to speak to your elders. Apologize to them."
Teresa brings her hands to her hips, then mimics a gesture as if she were clasping hold of an imaginary dress, then slowly pulls out the sides as she curtsies like one would do in one of those Jane Austen novels, while gently bowing her head and staring at the floor … mostly as a strategy to prevent them from noticing an impish little grin forming upon her lips … and 'apologizes' to the elders...
"My sincerest of apologies, dear esteemed elders; please, forgive my impudence and the disrespectful transgressions whilst speaking to you before. In the future I shall make my best effort not to act so spoiled and heed your recommendation of allowing my brother to 'pull in and tighten my reigns' in order to discipline me. Again, please find it in your hearts to forgive any affronts which I may have incurred upon yourselves."
Again, the alpha tries to keep from laughing while maintaining a straight face; as does the beta, gamma, and Felicia … and, even the uptight, obstinate delta finds this sight somewhat amusing. The elders, on the other hand, do not, which is clearly evident by those contorted visages prominently displaying expressions of bitter frustration upon 'facial canvases' of deep shades of red.
The alpha tries to bring order back into the study; hoping that the elders will have time to cool down while he addresses Teresa...
"Now, tell me Teresa; why are you here? Is there something I can do for you? Surely there's a reason why you came here?"
"Of course..." Teresa takes the opportunity to get in one last shot at the elders, as she briefly shoots a side glance off at them while replying, "I most certainly wouldn't just 'barge into a private meeting without knocking and waiting for permission to enter' without having a good reason for doing so."
Placing a loosely formed fist over his mouth, the alpha briefly clears his throat as an inconspicuous way to draw Teresa's attention and warn her to keep from trying to provoke and annoy the elders further...
"Ahh-hemm..." Teresa looks to her brother and immediately receives the underlying message; smiling as she acknowledges with a terse nod. The alpha inquires again, "So; why are you here, then?"
"I came here to see what was taking so long; and ask you if things were settled yet. The babies look extremely tired and they're becoming a little cranky; so, I was hoping to settle them in and put them to bed so they could get some sleep." Teresa takes a brief moment to look about the room, as she discerningly examines everyone's countenances. "And, apparently, it's a good thing that I came in when I did. Felicia was mentioning something about whether or not you were going to accept them into the pack? About them leaving? … What's going on, Julian; didn't we already talk over this, and you agree that I would be allowed adopt the child? Isn't that why Felicia and the others are here today; to bring me the child?"
"Well … things have changed since we initially agreed to take in the child?"
A puzzled expression appears upon her visage. "Things changed … what things?"
The delta brings it upon himself to try and interject, "You see, Teresa; these witches here are..."
Without even turning to face him, Teresa sharply extends her arm out towards the delta, delivering an open hand gesture indicating for him to stop while brusquely cutting him off...
"With all due respect, Delta Colin, I'm speaking with my brother, right now; so, please refrain from interrupting us." That previous puzzled expression is now overtaken by a more serious, grave one. "You said things changed? Tell me … explain what's going on."
"A new stipulation was added to the original terms. They're insisting now that we agree to take in the two dampyrs along with the werewolf child, or else they won't proceed with the arrangement."
Without hesitation, Teresa instantly responds, "Then take them in. I don't see the problem. Two babies mean twice the joy; right?"
"And the teenage dampyr; what about her? Don't tell me you're willing to adopt a teenager, as well?"
"Why not. I'll gladly take her in as my daughter if she doesn't mind. And, even if she's opposed to that idea, she can always help take care of the dampyr baby girl; being how I wouldn't be exactly sure how to raise a dampyr child."
The alpha tells her, "Teresa … we discussed this at great length before I agreed to allow you to adopt the child … we knew that we were most likely going to meet with resistance from the others by letting what essentially is a rogue wolf into the pack."
She quickly interjects, "Right, and like you just said, you agreed to let me adopt the child. You promised."
"Yes, Teresa; I promised that I'd allow you to adopt the werewolf child." He further clarifies, "But we never talked about taking in two dampyrs. This matter was never even brought up when the initial arrangements were made..." The alpha looks over at Felicia. "Yet, they show up here today, not only bringing the werewolf child, but also with two dampyrs."
Teresa reaffirms, "Again, I still don't see a problem. As I said, I'm more than willing to take them in as my daughters. Julian, believe me when I say, nothing could bring more joy into my heart than to receive three daughters today."
"Teresa, of course, nothing would please me more than to bring joy to your heart..."
Elder Elliot abruptly cuts off the alpha, "Julian, I told you, you need to stop giving in to your sister's indulgences so eas..."
And now, Teresa abruptly cuts off the elder, "Didn't I say this was a conversation between me and my brother?!"
Beginning to lose his patience with his at times too spirited sister, the alpha uses his typical authoritatively commanding tone to admonish her...
"And didn't I tell you not to speak to your elders in such a disrespectful manner?!"
Teresa fiercely snaps, "And didn't you promise me that I could adopt a child?!"
Alpha Julian snaps back just as fiercely, "A werewolf child! Not a dampyr child!"
An unsettling tension permeates the atmosphere of the study as the two alpha-level siblings steadfastly lock eyes with one another, intensely staring with rebuking glares as their gnashing teeth peek out through gnarled lips. Low guttural growling between them can be heard in the otherwise deafly silent room. At this point, even the usually loquacious Elder Elliot dares not utter a word.
After a few minutes of this unnerving face-off, Teresa is the first to withdraw from the angered posturing; albeit not to submit, but to state her position...
"Be it a werewolf or a dampyr, it doesn't matter to me; because all I see are three children who need a home where they can be loved and cared for."
The alpha relinquishes his angered posturing; then, tells his sister, "I'm afraid that the pack doesn't see it that way."
"I know they don't."
"Then, you understand?"
"Oh, I understand."
With evident relief in his tone, "Good."
There's a moment of silence again; but at least this time the tension that has been abounding the air seems to be slowly dissipating. That is until Teresa proclaims in an aloof manner...
"But I'm not planning on adopting the pack; am I? … I do, however, still intend on adopting those children … with or without your blessing, Julian."
The alpha sternly glares at his sister. "Blessing aside … what about my permission, Teresa? After all, I still am the alpha of this pack; or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgotten." She pauses briefly before cunningly adding, "Nor have I forgotten that you may not have been the alpha of this pack had I not jumped in front of you and taken that knife to my stomach to prevent that assassination attempt on your life, years ago."
Again, the elder can't keep his mouth shut, and blurts out...
"Despicable … despicable and reprehensible! How dare you drudge up the past so you could selfishly lord it over your brother's head and try to shamelessly manipulate him by conjuring up feelings of guilt he may unnecessarily be holding onto! … Tell me; do you really want a child that badly, Teresa?"
That last remark was the proverbial 'straw that broke the camel's back', causing Teresa to completely snap. Without any fear of the consequences … in truth, not even giving them a thought for a micro-second … in a fit of blind rage, Teresa takes bounding strides as she lunges towards the elder; tightly grasping hold of his shirt-collar as soon as he's in her reach, and pulls him in towards her, stopping within mere inches from her visibly evident infuriated-looking face.
In a state of partial transformation, her wolf claws are protracted out the tips of her fingers while her wolf fangs jut out from her jaw. The previous whites of her eyes have turned fiery red as she piercingly glares into the elder's eyes with a deathly-chilling stare. She snarls in an ominously low, guttural tone...
"Yes, I want a child that badly. … And, not that I owe you any explanation; but I'm only bringing up the reason why I can't have children on my own."
Before the situation becomes more out of control than it already was, the gamma charges up behind Teresa and takes a tight hold of her wrists, then rapidly wrenches down on them in a torquing motion to break her grasp from the elder's shirt-collar; then, pulls her away while quickly placing her in full-nelson hold. He whispers in her ear...
"Please, Teresa; stop resisting and calm down. The last thing I want to have to do is lock up the alpha's sister in a cell at the detention center." He gives her a moment to calm down a little; then, whispers in her ear, "Just for the record, I also think that the alpha should agree to take all three of them into the pack."
This soothes her nerves a little more; and soon she reverts back from her partial transformation. And, once she's no longer resisting, the gamma releases his hold from the alpha's sister and returns to where he was previously standing.
The frazzled elder is still gasping a little for air, with his whole-body trembling. Once he regains some composure, he frantically calls out to the alpha...
"She's crazy, Julian! Totally gone off the deep end! I told you; you've spoiled her to the point that you lost all control over her! See what she just did to me?! What are you going to do about it?!"
"What am I going to about it?" The alpha takes in a breath before replying, "I'm going to suggest that for the time being you keep your mouth shut; and watch what you say to her in the future. … With all due respect, Elliot, you crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed; and, whether you like it or not, because of doing so, you got what was coming to you."
Totally taken aback by this response, the elder is both angered and flabbergasted. He can't seem to find any other words to say but his usual, automatic reply of...
"Yes, of course, my alpha. I apologize."
The alpha turns to his sister. "And, now; for you … regarding those children..."
After having experienced that fit of utter rage, Teresa is totally spent and emotionally drained; she's been frustrated to the point of exasperation. She makes her final declaration...
"You know what, Julian; I've had it. I'm not going to discuss this anymore. You're the alpha of the Rainier Pack, so it's your call. If you want to refuse to take in those children just to appease the others, that's fine; do whatever you feel is right for the good of the pack. But I'm going to appease myself and do what I feel is right for my own good." She looks to Felicia. "Felicia … I swear by the Moon Goddess, I agree to take in and care for all three of those children, even if it goes against my brother's decision..." She turns to look at her brother. "Even if it means I have to leave the Rainier Pack and become a rogue myself."