Chapter 14: Chapter 14: She's Not a Saint

Rose

“Welcome,” I greet my clan Elders, the group of people who sit on our council to advise me on any big decisions. It’s similar to how werewolves operate, except we don’t meet every week. It's more of an as-needed situation where members can call a meeting for any reason. “Elder Fray, you called the meeting, so I’ll hand you the floor.”

“Thank you, Clan Leader,” Declan Fray replies as he stands, his fiery red hair combed back neatly. He’s been alive for centuries, but you’d never tell by looking at his attractive face. He was bitten in his early thirties, an ideal time for any vampire, at peak fitness and attractiveness.

Lucky bastard. I’m stuck with a baby face for the rest of eternity. Why couldn’t my aging stop at, I don’t know, twenty-five?

I guess it could be worse, though.

“As you all know,” he begins. “Luna Genevieve of the Black Opal pack openly endorsed a politician seeking to subjugate our people, despite this being prohibited by the Chicago Accords. There are vampires in this room, including me, who fought alongside Caelynn and Erik during Saemel’s War to gain our freedom, so to see that freedom threatened again when so many lives were lost, is sickening.”

I look around the room at solemn faces. Behind their eyes are memories of friends, maybe even family, they lost during the war. I wasn’t around to witness it, but I’ve seen the aftermath and know the history. Vampires lost a lot to gain equality, and I know I’m far too young to remember a time when it wasn’t the case that vampires could roam freely without persecution.

But some of my Elders remember that time well, as it was that way for the majority of their lives. Old habits die hard, and so do prejudices. I can't blame them for fearing the reactionary words of Thatcher when they've lived through their grave consequences.

Elder Fray continues, “Furthermore, Luna Genevive has been spreading lies about our clan for the past year. She interrogated our Clan Leader based on needless and frivolous accusations; things are only worsening. Her behavior is escalating, showing no signs of stopping on their own. When will it end?” He poses, looking at me with pleading eyes. “With our heads?”

“I appreciate your concerns, Elder Fray,” I reply. “But what is it you are suggesting, exactly?”

“I suggest we attack their pack and destroy the problem before it grows too large.”

“You want to kill Luna Genevive?” I ask incredulously. “How many laws would that be violating?”

“None if it’s mutual combat.”

I scoff. “Even if it would be legal, which I’d have to look into to be sure, waging war on a prominent wolf pack, our neighbors no less, would piss off the other packs we are surrounded by! There’s only one other prominent vampire clan within a hundred-mile radius. Where would we find allies willing to travel that far to assist us if need be? Since we’d surely be starting a species war, as much as people like to pretend we’re all kumbaya!”

“The other wolf packs might support us, Rose,” Victor chimes in. “You’ve said so yourself; they’re growing tired of Luna Genevive’s antics.”

“But she’s still one of them!” I argue. “They’ll always support her over us unless she does something truly heinous and unforgivable. And she hasn’t crossed that line yet.”

“So we should wait until she does?” Elder Fray asks, furrowing his brow. “If we do that, it may be too late by the time we act.”

“We have no evidence that she’s planning to oust us from anything. We have to be patient and give this a chance to die down. If you want to engage in a cold war, that’s fine, but we will not be the ones to make it hot,” I announce, keeping my tone strong and posture steady.

“Why do you care so much about avoiding a fight?” Elder Rafael Bathory asks. “Did she frighten you into submission during your interrogation?”

“That is an asinine accusation,” I hiss. “Nobody is intimidating me; she wasn’t even the one I spoke with. I spoke with Alpha Asher.”

“What did he say that changed your mind?” Victor asks, and I glare at him. Why is he on their side? Why isn’t he backing me up? “A couple of months ago, you might’ve been willing to attack them for all the bullshit Genevive has put us through. But, ever since that interrogation, you’ve seemed much softer on them. Why?”

“My opinion would’ve been the same months ago,” I answer honestly. "It would be silly to start a war over words. It’s not as if Genevive has done anything concrete that could be considered an act of war. Is she annoying? Yes. But is she dangerous? No." At least not yet.

And are there other reasons I’m reluctant to attack the Black Opal Pack? Yes. Do the Elders need to know that? No.

I continue, “And, if you must know, I found Alpha Asher to be a very level-headed, competent leader. It just seems his influence hasn’t quite reached his mate’s head yet.” And it probably never will.

I bite my lip, my stomach turning. It’s a sad admission, especially since my worst fear is her influence may take over all of him. I can already see how horribly she’s broken him down to a shell of a man, his own wolf having turned against him from my observations.

I’ve broached the topic with him on a few occasions, but he avoids it. Maybe if I could get him to tell me exactly what she’s doing to manipulate him so effectively, I could stop her? Or maybe it would be reason enough to intervene? But I can’t do anything if I have no information. I have a few educated guesses on some of her tactics, but that doesn’t change the fact that it's all speculation until he confirms it.

Besides, even if I am correct and she’s abusing him in ways beyond cheating and name-calling, if he’s not ready to talk about it, that means he’s not ready to leave her. If I attempt to intervene, all that will do is push him away and make him even more isolated.

Same as relations with Genevive, this is a waiting game. The ball is in his court. All I can do is create conditions conducive to him opening up to me. I fear it’ll take hitting rock bottom for him to admit what’s going on, but that’s about as out of control as my blossoming feelings for him are. All I can control is how I treat him, showing him that better is possible.

“Rose?”

I snap out of my trance.

“Sorry,” I mutter, glancing at Victor, who must’ve called my name. “I spaced out for a second. What did you say?”

“I said I trust your judgment and hope that Alpha Asher will get a grip on his mate. But, if things don’t change, and soon, then we may have to seek alternative options.”

“Agreed,” I answer quickly, itching to see Asher.

There’s only so long I’ll be able to hold the Elders off before they want to take action. Violent action. I’m not against the possibility; I want to kill Genevive just as much, if not more, than they do.

But if we attack their pack... What would that do to Asher? It would destroy him, especially since his sister, Marabelle, is a member of their pack military. And, if the goal is to kill Genevive, who is to say my clan would be okay with sparing their Alpha?

I have to speak with him. Convince him to do something, anything, that’ll make Genevieve ease up on us even if that means siccing her on someone else.

That could be it, couldn’t it? Victor mentioned that she’s been making disparaging comments about the River Run Pack. What if I told Asher to goad her into focusing her attention on them, thus taking the heat off us?

That might not be great for their pack in the long run, but at least it would buy me some time to figure out another solution. And it would appease the Elders.

It could work.

All that remains is convincing Asher to do it.

How the hell am I going to do that?