"Do you have no common decency for your own race?"Chris found herself asking out loud, taking a step forward to stand next to Terrant.
Roland's face started to turn red as he looked between Terrant and Chris, attempting to gauge whether Terrant was going to intercede. "We have to look after our own pack. We are not philanthropists. Worrying about other wolves is a waste of our time. Not that a staff member like yourself needs to know the reasons behind our decisions." Roland guffawed at this which caused other council members to laugh nervously.
Chris's eyebrows rose as she examined the portly male behind her dark shades. "Negating the fact that your answer is rude, belittling and cowardly. I will assume that the majority of you have not served time in your military." She glanced at Terrant who gave a very obvious nod of his head, confirming her suspicions, while Roland pointed at her spluttering nonsensical words. "Then allow me to point out a serious flaw in your thinking council member Roland. The mere fact that Trawley has not shown interest in your pack is not enough to ensure your pack's safety. A very common military tactic includes eliminating other packs around your intended target to gain the high ground or tactical advantage. Assuming that Trawley had some sort of issue with the packs from 9 years ago is exactly what he would want you to think." The room was dead silent as she continued. "However, what you should be worried about is not that Trawley has not threatened you... yet. But that the numbers of his army are reaching levels that will be hard for even your pack to come back from unscathed."
"That information is inconclusive!" Shrieked Fay gripping her folder in anger. "I suggest that we send more agents out to confirm the information provided by Alpha Winters and your war council." Fay focused her attention back on Terrant, completely ignoring Chris. "Then have the council review and come to an agreement."
"That would take too long!" Shouted a male from the ever growing group of pack members above the council.
Another pack member chimed in. "Who will be to blame if we are not prepared! The council? Alpha Terrant?"
"Silence." The Head Councilmember said, now staring down at Chris with interest on his face.
"Silence won't save you." Chris growled as a collective gasp came from the council members and onlookers. "You do not have time to discuss this. Alpha Terrant made the right decision in acting quickly to prepare your pack in case of the worst possible outcome."
"You have disrupted this council long enough girl!" Roland yelled standing from his chair and pointing down at Chris. "You even talked back to the head of our council. I have never seen such insubordination in my life." Chris could see guards appearing at the top of the stairs, perhaps as a result of a silent message sent from Roland. "I invite you to leave this council meeting and not come back until you are fully aware of the council's code."
"You have no authority over her Roland." Terrant said almost lazily, waving his hand at the guards who slowly backed out of the room.
"Alpha Terrant you cannot be so bold as to allow this female-" Roland spat the word as though the fact that she was a female was disgusting. "Insult your Father among other high ranking council members!"
"He is your Father?" Chris asked Terrant, pointing at the Head Councilmember.
Terrant looked at Chris and back at the Head Councilmember, finally he nodded stiffly.
"See she doesn't even know those who rule this pack." Fay said sneering down at Chris. "Alpha Terrant she is too uncultivated to remain a part of this council meeting."
Chris turned to the Head Councilmember. "You are the previous Alpha? You are Logan Terrant Senior?"
The Head Councilmember looked at Chris curiously; tilting his head to examine her as he said, "I am. Who are you?"
Chris glanced at Terrant who nodded. " I am Alpha Chris Winters."
"You jest Alpha Terrant." Roland said, rolling his eyes. "Everyone knows females are not Alphas." The Council group nodded to one another some even took to laughing quietly.
Chris did not look or acknowledge the tittering council. She was staring at the previous Alpha, the Head of the Council, and Terrant's Father. She could hear some other council members making snide remarks, which were shut down by Terrant, but she did not register them as she continued to stare at the former Alpha. He knew her, she was positive he remembered her.
Finally he spoke in a quiet, deep voice. "Christine Winters?"
She clenched her jaw and nodded.
"Do you know this girl Head Councilmember?" Fay asked looking between Chris and the former Alpha.
The previous Alpha lifted his chin and hooded his eyes. "She is the eldest daughter of the previous Winters pack. She must have assumed the role of Alpha after her Father and Brother passed."
Chris stared at him, masking any emotion as the council members started laughing and snickering. She didn't care. Staring intently at Logan Senior waiting for him to explain or reveal the reason he knew her, but no... nothing else came from his tightly pursed lips.
"We should expose him." Her wolf said with a growl.
Chris pulled her eyes away to see Terrant who had gotten the council to quiet while he explained her claim the title of Alpha. Chris shook her head as she responded to her wolf. "No. We can't expose him... not here. Not now. This is Terrant's show."
With that Chris pulled herself back to reality. Promising herself... later, we will take care of this later.
"No matter your prejudice. Alpha Winters is part of the war council and is an Alpha. She will be respected in my pack as such. Is that understood?" Terrant stated looking around at the now quiet group. His jaw clenched and a murmur of consent was heard around the courtroom. Even Roland and Fay unwillingly responded with a forced, "Yes, Alpha".
"Good. Now that that is taken care of I have an announcement." Everyone was quiet as Alpha Terrant reached his hand toward Ian and immediately received a folder. Even his father looked down curiously as Terrant read from the first page.
"As of October 23rd, 2018, of the human calendar; the Terrant pack is considered a member and full participant of the War Council instigated by Alpha Terrant and Alpha Fairing. This is to challenge the threat of the war criminal Randall Trawley and any of his confederates. As a precaution Alpha Terrant will be resigning any and all power of the Terrants Pack Council to himself, disbanding the Council until further notice-" The room broke out in surprised and angry shouting, mostly from those in dark robes in the front row. Only Chris heard the last part of the sentence, "as per martial law or imperium in imperio."
She watched as Terrant closed the folder slowly, looking up at his Father, who looked as though he was slapped in the face. It only took one low growl from Terrant to silence the offending parties. Chris noticed that the guards had come back into the courtroom, obviously unsure of whether they needed to keep the peace or if they should stand guard at the door ways.
Terrant gave a cold look to the council before he opened his folder again to continue reading.
Before he could begin the low voice of the Head Councilmember permeated the courtroom. "Terrant. There is no need for this."
Terrant looked up at his father with icy, cold indifference. "Actually there is."
The Head Councilmember's face twisted in fury. "The proof that you provided is shoddy. The pack will not agree to this kind of take over. We, the council, speak for the pack. You do not have power-"
"I would like to know the last time you actually spoke for the members of this pack." Terrant growled. "The evidence is not inadequate and the War Council was within my jurisdiction."
The Head Councilmember looked as though he was chewing on glass as he continued in a low growl. "Are you suggesting, Alpha Terrant, that I am refusing your evidence due to my need for power?"
"I am STATING that we do not have time to fight over these trivial issues in a council. Which is why the council is being disbanded, for the packs protection, and so decisions can be made quickly without having to waste time. That is the reason imperium in imperio is part of our law, just like marshal law is part of the human's law."
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however, if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-
Edited by munbunny and ChelsieNielson