Their End

Chapter 2 | Council Trouble

REMI

“The dragonborn haven’t touched this realm in centuries! Her appearance can be nothing but trouble!”

The arguments were growing heated around the large table. I avoided these meetings as much as possible, but the Elder Council demanded all three of us be present. They were not happy that we brought Fifi back to the pack with us.

“It’s being dealt with!” Cullen growled. “Do you think us incapable? Would we have brought her here without having a means to control her?”

That was a bold insinuation, even coming from Cullen. I wasn’t sure we could control Fifi. We could talk to her and reason with her. We could certainly bribe her. Control her? I kept my expression passive, though.

“We told your father two Alphas would not make this pack stronger. You were always destined to be our destruction!”

“I’d tread very carefully,” Calder warned.

“Don’t think we have forgotten the mess you made with your mate,” one of the men scoffed.

I grabbed Cullen’s forearm before he could explode from his seat. It wasn’t a secret that the Elder Council wasn’t my biggest fan. There was some derision after all the fuss over the twins finding me and the curse on my bloodline. Our most recent issues with the return of Voldigoad and involving ourselves in witch conflicts had not helped things for us. It seemed bringing Fifi home was just the cherry on top.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” Cullen snarled.

“I think it’s about time that we reconsider the seats of this council,” Calder linked us both. I wasn’t going to disagree with that statement. The rage currently ravaging our bond told me that my mates were just as frustrated with the situation as I was.

“We understand the situation is delicate,” I interjected for the first time. Cullen shifted in his seat beside me, clearly readying to beat back anyone who might direct their ire straight at me. “But the dragonborn does not pose a threat to us currently. I can assure you she is simply curious about this realm. We can either take her presence as a threat or use it as an opportunity.”

“What opportunity is brought to this pack with the threat of the dragonborn lingering on our land?” someone asked.

I smiled and looked at both my mates. I knew it would drive the members of the Council with a superiority complex crazy to think that I had outsmarted them in some way. “Goodwill, of course. We placate the dragonborn, give her our hospitality, and sway her to our side; then, we gain a powerful ally.”

I waited as everyone took in my reasoning. I knew a few were linking each other to speak their opinions privately before voicing them at large. The Elder Council had one main object: to ensure the prosperity of the pack. Opinions differed sometimes on the best ways to do that. Not everyone loved what the twins accomplished at my first Summit by annexing so many small packs. Not everyone even loved having two Alphas. However, the Council themselves could not disrupt the transfer of leadership.

“I think this meeting has come to its end,” Calder said, standing and buttoning his suit jacket. Cullen followed, also righting his suit. They each held a hand out for me. I slid my palms into theirs and let them gracefully lift me to my feet. Cullen slid an arm around my waist and turned us to leave. “We can meet again in a few days once things have settled and we are able to get a better grasp on the dragonborn’s intentions. If you all don’t mind, our children need some attention after the ordeal they have been through.” Calder effectively dismissed everyone in the room.

We left the meeting room silently. Despite their outward calm, both my mates were still raging on the inside. “Should we take this conversation to our bedroom?” I asked quietly as we worked our way back toward the stairs.

“Yes,” Calder answered. Cullen’s fingers dug into my waist as his grip tightened on me, but he remained silent.

When the door to our bedroom finally shut, I held my breath. It was silent for a beat before Cullen let out a deafening roar. Calder pushed his hands through his hair, fisting the strands. When the sounds of Cullen’s rage died away, he was breathing heavily.

“We knew we were taking a risk,” I reminded him. “We had no choice.”

“We could have let her dispose of the witch,” Cullen grumbled.

“You don’t mean that,” I sighed, turning toward our closet. I reached for the zipper on my dress, but another pair of hands pushed mine away.

“He doesn’t mean it,” Calder said behind me as he pulled my zipper down my back. “Samantha is Gentry’s mate. We had no choice. We just need to keep the dragonborn in line until we can find some way around her killing Samantha.”

“Or we take out the Council,” Cullen huffed.

With my dress undone, I strode into the closet, holding the loose garment to my chest. I quickly slipped out of the short heels and dress and swapped them for jeans and a chunky, off-the-shoulder sweater. When I returned to our room, Calder had discarded his jacket and tie, and Cullen was pacing still dressed.

“If the Elder Council is so against every decision you make, why haven’t you put new pack members on it?” I asked.

“It’s a little more tricky than simply appointing wolves to be on the Council,” Calder informed me.

“They certainly aren’t being very helpful,” I sighed as I lowered myself onto the couch. “I can’t say I am a fan of them summoning us at their pleasure.”

“We could just rid ourselves of the problem,” Cullen grunted.

“You can’t be serious,” Calder balked.

Cullen stopped his pacing. He held Calder’s eyes, silver to purple. It was odd to see them in these instances. They looked so alike but also completely different. It amazed me that some couldn’t tell them apart. “I’m afraid I haven’t been more serious since I brought Remi over the boundary,” Cullen said.

I snorted my laughter. When both my mates turned to look at me, I realized that Cullen wasn’t joking at all. “You really want to, what? Disband the Elder Council? What would be in their place?”

“I don’t believe they have made any meaningful contributions to the management of this pack in years. I’m not sure we need to replace them with anything,” Cullen answered.

“Lately, it seems they just want us to justify everything we do rather than offer any meaningful insight,” Calder agreed.

I shook my head. “I’m not happy about what just happened in there-”

“They completely disrespected you!” the twins growled in unison.

I held up my hand to stop them. “I know that. They haven’t been my biggest fan from the beginning, at least most of them. I don’t believe some of them care that I am your fated. I’m not happy about how they are currently acting, but we can’t retaliate out of anger.”

“Remi’s right,” Calder sighed.

A small smile tugged at my lips. I stood and smoothed down my sweater. “Now, I’m going to get my babies. I don’t particularly care to be away from them at the moment,” I informed them.

Cullen grabbed me as I headed for the door, pulling me into his body. He felt a fraction calmer. Closing his eyes, Cullen leaned his forehead against mine. He took a few deep breaths while I ran my hands over his tight shoulders. “I think we all just need a minute to relax,” I whispered.

“Go get the pups,” he said. “I want you all in my arms.”

I brought my hand up and cupped his cheek. His anger was giving way to exhaustion. He turned his face into my palm, kissing my hand softly. For everyone’s sake, we all needed to breathe.