Damon
The next morning, I woke up to the rising sun. I felt a mix of excitement and worry about the emergency council meeting my Alpha father had requested. I quickly got dressed in my council attire, to attend the requested assembly.
Contrary to the string of thoughts going inside my head, my walk to the council hall was relatively peaceful. As I approached, I could feel the tension in the air, hinting at the upcoming council that I bet none of the other council members had an idea about considering how they exchanged reactions inside the council hall.
We all gasped when my Alpha father entered, Mathilde trailing behind him and taking a seat at the council table. I couldn't help but frown at her presence, but she seemed utterly untroubled. Never did my father allow a non-council member in this assembly, so her presence was a shock to everybody. Her graceful poise only heightened the tension in the room, unbothered to the questioning glances we threw at her.
My father cleared his throat and addressed the council, "My fellow Blood Rose Council, as you all know from yesterday’s announcement, I've decided to remarry, and I've chosen Tori, a Beta daughter from the Goldenridge, pack as my bride."
The council members erupted in congratulations and applause, expressing their well wishes for my father’s second marriage. But then, my Alpha father turned to the head of treasury, silencing everyone as we waited for his next decree.
"Council of Treasures, I urge you to provide Mathilde with a dowry for her daughter to symbolize our unity and goodwill. Mathilde Mitchell will be awarded twenty bars of gold, a trove of jewelry, and a piece of land outside our Blood Rose territory in Redridge Valley."
The council members started whispering among themselves, torn between tradition and Alpha Roman's decision. The assembly hall, once filled with joyous anticipation, now crackled with tension and dissent as the council deliberated the future of their pack.
The head of treasury was speechless for a while before nodding in compliance. Meanwhile, the rest of the council whispered amongst each other, expressing their shock at the decree. Council Ed, the head of agriculture, was particularly affected. I had expected this as he was trying his best to request more budget for his department which my Dad constantly rejected in favor of our military forces. This decree might have offended him greatly.
He raised his hand and spoke up when acknowledged, "Alpha Roman, I definitely understand the need for you to award a dowry but isn’t it a bit excessive? Besides, never did we allow an outsider to owe such fortunes here while inside Blood Rose.” Then he turned to Mathilde, “If the Lady meant well, I am sure she would not hesitate to turn this down and ask for a more appropriate amount. You know, for the sake of courtesy.”
Dad's face darkened, and with a swift, silent move, he crept up behind Council Ed, his fingers tightening around the council member's throat.
"Did you just insult my future wife’s mother in front of me?," Alpha Roman hissed, his voice low and dangerous.
Council Ed pleaded for his life, his eyes wide with fear. "Alpha Roman, please... I beg you…”
My father continued to strangle him until his face reddened due to lack of air. Everyone was concerned about Council Ed’s life but no one was to stop the alpha. Surprisingly, my father spared him, but not before throwing him against the wall with a forceful push. The room fell into a hushed silence, everyone's eyes fixed on the unfolding drama.
"Anyone who dares to insult my bride-to-be or Mathilde will face my wrath. Am I clear?” he declared, making me clench my fist. But in the end, I only kept my objection to myself.
“Yes, alpha,” we uttered in unison as we all bowed our heads to submit to his authority.
The room remained silent, the weight of Alpha Roman's words sinking in. My eyes darted to Mathilde, who was smirking with satisfaction. A sense of foreboding washed over me, fearing this marked the beginning of her rise to power within the Blood Rose Pack.
"That's all for today. We'll reconvene in two days for our next council meeting. I trust that we won't have any further... disruptions. Mathilde will still be joining us next time as a new member of the council who will handle pack affairs. Any objections?”
No one uttered a single word. With that, the Alpha stood up, with Mathilde trailing behind him like she did when they arrived and disappeared from our sight. The council members started to disperse as well, including me. As they left the room, they exchanged hushed conversations and concerned glances, but careful enough for the Alpha to possibly see them.
I went back to my paperwork, the weight of the recent drama still on my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that the dynamics within the Blood Rose Pack were about to change in ways none of us could predict. But I decided to clear my mind off of that and focused on the reunion that would happen tonight. My thoughts were consumed by the forthcoming meeting with the real Serena, giving me something to look forward to in a situation like this. Counting the hours until that meeting became my only solace in the midst of the growing uncertainty
As the sun dipped below the horizon, I headed to the designated meeting place Ash had mentioned the night before. It was a cabin a bit far from the central village, chosen for its seclusion and enhanced security.
The sun's warm, golden glow painted the sky with shades of orange and pink as it set. This beautiful sight matched the nervous excitement that coursed through me as I eagerly walked out to meet Serena. I didn’t realize that my steps were hastened until I reached the place without even realizing it.
At long last, the wait was over.
There she stood, my true Serena, bathed in the soft, fading light. Her presence was nothing short of breathtaking, and my heart swelled with emotion. I had longed to see her for what felt like an eternity, and now, she was finally before me.
"Serena," I whispered her name, relief flooding over me like a wave. Her mere presence brought a profound sense of completeness to my existence.
"Damon," she replied, her voice filled with warmth.
At that moment, the world seemed to fade away.