Erika's POV
Angel's fight was approaching. However, that was not my primary concern today. The meeting about me was to be held today.
Early in the morning, I got up and wore the dress that Derek bought me the other day.
Angel came over. She insisted on applying makeup on me so that I could be more in line with the Luna that their pack wanted.
"Luna, my uncle is one of the representatives. He will vote for you!" Angel said.
Thank you. I smiled. I knew she was trying to make me feel better. But one vote wouldn't make a difference. Juste then Derek asked me to relax. I knew that everything was under his control.
In the afternoon, we went to the meeting room. It was the first time I came here and I was shocked at how spacious it was.
"We have two meeting rooms. One is small and the other very big. This is the big one. People can come to listen if they want." Derek explained.
It was amazing. In the former pack, we only had one meeting room. Activities concerning the whole pack could only be held in the hall.
Angel glanced at the audience and frowned. "Why are there so many people?"
What? I mind-linked them.
"Normally, there aren't so many people in the audience. But there is still half an hour before the meeting starts and one-third of the seats are already occupied." Angel said suspiciously.
"It's OK. Maybe people are very interested in gender issues." Derek patted me on my head and comforted me.
The meeting began.
Derek sat in the center, introducing what the meeting was about.
"As some of you may know, complaints are made about the Luna’s teaching a girl to fight. Some even question whether Erika can be the Luna of our pack. It is our tradition that women are not allowed to take fighting lessons. However, as the Alpha, I hold that Luna can teach Angel to fight and that if Angel can win the fight against a warrior of our pack, she can learn to fight and become a woman warrior. First, as my mate, Luna can do what she deems beneficial to the pack, which does not necessarily include taking care of the members, as she is quite different from ordinary Lunas and her difference should be tolerated. Second, women are deemed unable to fight without having the chance to prove their capacity, which is unfair to them. I used to hold the bias that women couldn’t fight until I met my mate, Erika. She was once a Gamma and I believe she can also be a good Luna by inspiring more girls talented at fighting to get engaged in it."
I sat beside him and listened to him without looking at him. My wolf was turned on simply by listening to his voice. It was this deep and masculine voice that enchanted me first before I ever saw his face.
After he was finished, the pack leaders began to express their own opinions.
Kent stood up and said first, "I’m against the training of women warriors for the following reasons. First, it is against the pack tradition, according to which women are not allowed to get engaged in fighting training. I suggest the status quo be maintained. Second, the warriors might get distracted if girls are allowed to take training in fighting…"
Bullshit! I covered my face with my hand and didn’t even want to hear it through. I could hear Derek’s speech carefully because his voice was so charming. After one minute into Kent’s speech, my mind wandered and I didn’t hear what he exactly said. But I knew that he was against me. That was not surprising.
Gerald didn't make a speech as expected. What surprised me was that Carl spoke for me. I thought that he would speak against me considering the unpleasant talk the other day. However, he said something quite moving.
"We should acknowledge the fact that the development of our pack is achieved through the sacrifice of the interests of women and girls. Now that we are a strong pack and we don’t need to worry about our security, I think it is time that they were given a chance…"
I noticed that his eyes were fixed on a woman sitting in the audience’s first row with a baby in her arms. I guessed they were his wife and daughter. It was a beautiful woman. What a happy family. Somehow, I grew envious of them. I was not raised in a family and family was not my thing. Honestly, I was unable to deal with a mate and all I was thinking about was escaping from him.
Erika, you were a coward.
The vote began. All the pack leaders and the representatives could vote. Their votes were collected in a box and the result would come out after a few minutes.
Soon, Carl came out with the box accompanied by two representatives and one audience member.
"I announce that the result of the vote is 17 to 14. Erika is allowed to teach Angel and her position as Luna should not be questioned. Other related issues will be discussed later."
I looked at Derek and smiled at him. Angel waved her hands excitedly and almost jumped up.
When Derek was about to give a closing speech, a fat man in the audience booed.
"Women warriors? That’s ridiculous!" He shouted and looked very emotional.
"Yes! Ridiculous!" Another old woman stood up and shouted in a shrill voice. She groped in her purse and took out lipstick. Then she threw it at me. "Take that. That’s what you need!"
Derek held me in his arms and dodged the lipstick. It crashed into the wall and fell into pieces. I had to say, despite how strongly this old lady was against women being warriors, she could be a good warrior if she was twenty years younger, since she could throw lipstick at such a long distance.
My Goddess, does that often happen during your meetings? I mind-linked Derek in confusion.
"It has never happened." Derek said with a frown.
At this time, Angel stood up and pointed at the old woman. "You old shameless bitch! You are also a woman and now you want to prevent me from fighting? That’s not gonna happen."
"She’s the girl who wants to fight. It’s all her fault!" Suddenly, a middle-aged man stood up and pointed at Angel. He clenched his fists and was about to attack Angel behind her back.