White Wolf

CHAPTER 6

It seemed like all the air had been extracted from the room. Or it was just her, holding her breath.

"What is it, Ruri?" His voice had gone ten times lower with a tinge of annoyance as he faced the lady, Ruri.

Raina let out a deep exhale. It felt like her lungs had been tied up. A subconscious act of hers whenever she's tensed.

"My father sent me to you." Ruri informed him, her eyes still on Raina before she moved them to Lucas.

"Do you mind telling me who she is?"

"That isn't your top priority now, is it? We'll talk later, I'll soon be heading for the hall."

Ruri raised her brows at his words. He was telling her to leave.

He had never been the nicest talker so she never really minded his words but this time she found them insulting.

And he had to say that in front of a stranger.

With that thought, her eyes moved to Raina yet again, "You look tattered, darling. Do something to that hair."

And then she turned and walked out, shutting the down hard after her.

Raina had the urge to touch her hair or have a look at her reflection somewhere but she didn't move an inch. She only stared at the closed door.

She could feel his eyes on her now.

"Stay here. I have a meeting to attend. I'll send food and water for you. We'll continue when I'm back."

Ofcourse. Like the prisoner she had always been. Always locked up.

She said nothing. Didn't even move a muscle to show she heard him.

Lucas watched her. She was quiet since Ruri left, staring at the door and nowhere else.

He wanted to hear her voice before he left but she said nothing still.

Was she bothered by what Ruri said? Did she suddenly feel less?

He wanted to ask her those questions but was interrupted again by a knock on the door.

He gave a sharp exhale, "What is it?" He thundered.

The door opened. Klaus was the one behind it, still holding the door knob, "The Elders are waiting." He informed him quickly.

Lucas sighed and took one more glance at Raina before walking to the door and stepped out.

Klaus glanced at her for a second before closing the door after him.

~•~•~

"Don't you have any questions?" He asked as Klaus trailed two steps behind him. Surely he must be curious.

"She looks lost."

"That's all? No questions?"

"None. Not yet."

Lucas' brows twitched a bit, "Why is that?"

"Because you don't have any answers."

He stopped. Klaus followed.

There was silence till he turned to face him. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. His eyes twitched.

He was speechless.

Klaus was right. If he had asked any question about her, he still wouldn't have any answers. He didn't even know her name!

That alone was sad enough.

He turned back and without a word, he continued walking.

Klaus had no reaction. He just followed after.

They got to the hall where the Elders were already gathered, waiting for him.

He walked to the end of the hall where his chair was situated on top of a podium.

He stopped at the foot of it and turned to them. They were eight in number. Four on each side facing each other. They were all standing and so will he.

He never fancied sitting on the chair. It was just too much for him. He was going to make this quick anyways.

Klaus stood at a distance behind him. Some elders had complained that a non Council member being in their meeting was wrong and unacceptable but Lucas never gave a s**t.

He had always looked over their complaints until they got tired and stopped.

"Greetings, Alpha Lucas. We are once again honoured by your presence." Elder Lycus, one of the oldest and important members of the council spoke with a small bow.

He was Ruri's father. The one that had sent for him.

Lucas nodded. What was it this time?

He continued, "This is our first meeting after you single handedly gave out an order for a census to be conducted without our knowledge."

Right. The census.

"It was urgent. I had to give out my orders immediately." He said it with a straight face.

"And why was it urgent if I may ask?"

This old man...

"I needed the numbers but the statistics weren't accurate." Actually, he just wanted to find his mate.

"Right. Is there any other issue you'd like to discuss with us?"

Lucas looked at Lycus warily. Lycus was a smart man. He had wit. He had sent his daughter to him earlier for a reason and now he was asking this question for the same reason. He had a hunch anyways.

"No, nothing in particular. Why?" But there was silence.

He squinted at the sudden pause before another elder spoke.

"We heard you arrested a couple. We're wondering why?"

Are they now?

Another spoke, "And also, who's the girl you kept in your quarters?"

Ofcourse. That was it.

They must have seen her earlier when Seth took her to his quarters. That was the reason he had told him to secretly do it.

Maybe he didn't so they would find out. You never really know who to trust even though the person might be good.

On the other hand, they might have found out through Ruri.

She had seen her and went to tell her father. That sounded more believable.

"Seth suspected they were holding her hostage." Lucas replied, avoiding the second question.

"Holding who?" The last elder who spoke asked again. They were persistent.

Lucas looked at Lycus. His expression was unreadable - just his usual occasional subtle smile.

He didn't speak again after his last question. He had said all he wanted to say. For now.

Lucas thought hard. Yes, he told Raina he would bring the matter to the Council but he never actually meant it. Now, he was afraid no matter what he said now, they would still be brought before them.

There was no escaping it from the beginning.

He had the right as the Alpha to tell them he would not be discussing the matter with them as he had decided on what punishment to give to them but the Elders represented the people.

They trusted the Alpha's judgements but the Council was there to help him judge better and make better decisions.

So not involving them was out of the question now.

Guess she'd just have to show him how well she can defend her person.

He took a quick glance at them, "Why don't you find out yourself?"

"As you wish." Lycus finally spoke again and gave another small bow.

They had Seth bring Marlyn and Carl before them while Lucas asked Klaus to bring Raina.

Klaus left without a word. He got to the study and saw her sitting by the window still looking lost.

"You're being summoned." He said, jolting her with the sound of his voice.

She looked in his direction and blinked. She wasn't expecting to see him.

"Huh?" She was still quite lost. He wasn't going to repeat himself. Never had and never will.

He waited for it to sink and register in her brain.

Seconds later, her eyes went wide. She finally got it.

He turned and opened the door as he waited for her by it.

She was summoned. He'd really told the Council. She sighed.

With a shattered heart, she followed Klaus to the hall.

On arrival, the first thing she saw were the backs of her Aunt and Uncle. She rushed up to them and hugged them, her eyes becoming teary.

They hugged her back as they let out a breath of relief seeing that she was fine.

She also did a quick check on them to see if they had any inflicted injury.

Marlyn shook her head and smiled with tears, wordlessly saying that they were fine.

She then remembered that she was in the presence of the Council and... Lucas.

She turned to them. She avoided looking at him even though his aura made her want to. She could feel his eyes on her too.

She quickly looked at all the elders before bringing her eyes to the ground and gave a bow. She could feel all their eyes on her. Literally everyone in the hall was looking at her.

She had mixed feelings about it. It was all new and strange.

Not having anyone know of her existence some hours ago and now not just some random person was looking at her, the whole great Council was. It shouldn't be a big deal but then it was for her.

"What is your name?" Came the first question from one of the elders on her left.

Finally, someone could ask her that question again. It suddenly reminded her of the girl she met when she snuck out.

"My name is Raina. Raina Woods." She spoke calmly.

"Who is your father?"

"Tyler Woods."

"Where are your parents?" Another asked.

"They are late. Died years back. They are my guardians now. The only family I have left." She nodded at Marlyn and Carl.

"Family that locks you up?"

The question made her look up and her eyes met Lucas' eyes. She stared for a moment before looking away.

"They didn't lock me up. They were protecting me."

"From what?" She couldn't even differentiate from which elder was asking these questions.

"From who or whatever killed my parents. The same people you couldn't protect and till this day didn't even know existed."

She was looking at Lucas now. He knew she was talking to him.

"How dare you! Is that an accusation against the Council?" One of them raised his voice and she dropped her eyes again.

"No. I was just telling you why my guardians did what they did."

"They locked you up." A calm voice spoke. She rose her head again. It was an elder. He was the first elder at the right side of Lucas. He looked like a very important member of the Council by the looks of his face.

"Because you were a stubborn child, weren't you?" He continued, "They were trying to protect you but you never listened. You must have snuck out countless times for them to decide to lock you up. You realize you're the cause of their situation, right? You put them in that cell, Raina."

Raina just stared at him. She said nothing else. She just stared.

He was right in a way. She was the cause. If she had always obeyed, they wouldn't be here talking about this. But she didn't regret it. She didn't regret sneaking out. She wanted to but she just could not.

Lucas was starting to get agitated by the whole situation, the questions and Lycus.

He was going to put an end to this until she spoke.

"I did, didn't I?" She asked but continued, "But I don't regret sneaking out. Yes, they were trying to protect me but a child will always be a child. I wanted to know what was out there. Wanted to explore. Was I so wrong?"

Silence answered her.

She continued again, "So you can't just judge me neither can you judge them. I did what a normal person would do in that situation and they did what every guardian would do."

She had them all speechless.

Marlyn had been crying her eyes out since she began talking. Her little Raina was big now. Standing up for them.

Lucas looked shocked and impressed. He never knew she had all that in her. Especially when it came to the Council.

He had issues coming in terms with them sometimes but she gave them too many reasons to stay quiet.

That was it. The last sign he needed.

"So you can't punish them." She spoke again.

"And why is that?"

"Because she is my mate." Lucas spoke for the first time since Raina came in, shocking everyone to the core aside from Klaus.

"She is my mate and therefore will be the Luna." He declared with finality.