Chapter 36

MIRIAM'S POV
I started thinking about going back to the dining room where I came from. On the other hand, I thought of just standing there, eavesdropping on their conversation, maybe I would get something tangible out of it at the end of the day since Daniel is not ready to talk.
While I was battling with what decision to make, their voices rose higher and I could feel the heat of their argument from where I stood.
"I thought you were raised better? Why are you standing here doing nothing when there is an urgent matter to settle in there?" My wolf yelled at me and once again I felt the ignition that I felt some moments ago.
My heart was filled with agony because I wasn't able to stand up to my responsibilities. I know how domineering and confrontational those elders could be and leaving just Daniel in there with them was something that made me very uncomfortable. He is the softest man I know and he could concede to their biddings if they overwhelm him.
"Go in this moment and do what you are supposed to do or I will do it myself." My wolf threatened and I became really scared because the last time she did this, there was blood spill and not one single soul was spared.
This happened when my father was still alive. We had a little disagreement with one of our enemy pack and before things could come under control, it was a full blown war.
I had the chance of killing one of the most feared members of our enemy pack but I let him go and he didn't honour our pact after I freed him. My wolf was so angry that she took laws into her hands. From that day onward, I vowed never to let her anger get to that point again.
At that moment, I opened the door and stood right in front of all of them but no one noticed my presence. Everyone was busy arguing and shouting and all fingers were pointing at Daniel.
I began to wonder what Daniel had done to the elder such that he ignited their wrath upon himself in such a fierce manner but I could not think of any offence he is likely to commit. I have always known him to be a complete gentleman.
At first, Daniel was also shouting alongside the elders but after a while, he stopped throwing words at them and remained quiet while they rode on him.
After standing for about five minutes without anyone noticing my presence, I had to sit because my waist was hurting already.
It was after I sat down that Daniel's eyes met with mine and he gave me a beautiful smile. A smile that was able to heal someone of a heart break.
Moments later, he stood up from his seat and walked towards me, he stopped when he got to the position I said seated and smiled again before giving me a wink and then he headed towards the door.
I thought he was going to stand at the door and watch me address these elders but he did not. Daniel opened the door and walked out of the conference room.
He left me behind with these angry elders that are obviously looking for whom to pour their anger on. My whole world was covered with darkness as he closed the door behind him.
I just could not see anymore, neither could I think of what to say or how to say it. I could not even process all that was going on at the moment.
By this time, the noise from the council of elders was beginning to die down.
It was only the ones that noticed my presence that were quiet. They were obviously surprised to see me seated here.
The ones that were ignorant of my presence finally got to know and the whole room was as quiet as a graveyard.
"What the hell are you doing here? Do you think we are here for jokes?" The very last one that saw me spat out and I was utterly disgusted at his outburst. I wanted to respond to him but I thought it would be a total waste of energy to banter words with a paranoid old man.
"Are you deaf? What makes you think you can just jump out of wherever it was you were and come back here with nothing but the intentions of being alpha?" The eldest man, the one I had always seen the way I saw my father expressed his anger and disappointment.
I just stayed quiet thinking that one of them may be reasonable enough to give me an opportunity to defend myself but no one did. Everyone was just busy throwing stones at me for the decision I thought was best for me years ago.
My wolf kept screaming at me telling me to throw back words at them but I never saw it as the right thing to do. I was getting banters from the elders and my wolf was adding to it.
The whole thing was beginning to sound like a tantrum and I just sat there laughing at their stupidity.
"Can you all shut up?" I roared when I could no longer take in the nonsense they were vomiting from their mouths and surprisingly, there was absolute quiet.
Little wonder my father was always aggressive whenever he had a meeting with the council of elders. Shouting at them had a way of bringing them from their crest of anger.
I let out a little smile seeing that I now had all of their attention and that was all I needed.
"Now that I have all of your attention," I started as they all resumed their seats one after another.
"You can't just impose yourself on us like this, we would not accept it and,,"
"Neither do I need your opinion." I interrupted the elder with the long hair and all the others were awestruck as they couldn't believe what was going on.
"Now that's it, proceed." My wolf cheered me and I felt more confident than I have ever been.
"Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I am here now and I have to resume my position and take up my responsibilities as alpha." I continued but stopped for a while and observed their reactions which shows that they were not very comfortable with whatever I was saying but I really didn't care.
"Don't work your heads beyond necessary, you all will get an opportunity to air your views. But for the meantime, you would have to listen to me." I authoritatively declared and for the first time, I saw the elders in my pack in their most sober mood. They looked so humble and I wished it would remain that way all along.
"First, I am sorry about the way I left, although I know I left my position in the best hands." I said and they all began to make inaudible chatters..
"It's fine, " I said as I stretched out my hand to calm them down.
"It's not fine, he has been incompetent. You are lucky you have wise men around to put him through, else this pack would have been the talk of all for no good news." The eldest said after a very long time of being quiet.
"I perfectly understand you and once again, I apologise for everything. And I want to assure you that things will be different from now henceforth." I said as I concluded my impromptu speech.
There was an inordinate silence in the room and that was not how I envisaged it. I thought they should be on my tail with questions and objections by now.
"I am waiting for all of your responses." I officially announced the end of my speech.
"I don't know how you would lead us as alpha again because from the look of things, we have all lost confidence in you." Another elder said and I smiled at his remark.
"This is nothing to laugh over, you cannot be trusted anymore." Another added and as much as I expected it, I was highly disappointed at their remarks.
"Tell me what you would have me do to get back your confidence and watch me to get it done." I said with so much confidence and they were beginning to shake.
I didn't know what was frightening them and I wasn't bothered about it at all. I was just happy that they were beginning to fear me and I was no longer at the receiving end of their hostilities.
"We should just give her a few weeks to act and watch the results that she would bring to the table at the end of the day." The last elder who has not said a word since I started talking finally spoke out. I was beginning to think he had a personal problem with me that made him not say a word.
"Let us start with the issue we have at hand." One of them suggested it and I couldn't wait to hear what was going on.
"Please tell me what it's all about, I am listening." I pushed for it but everyone became mute at that point.
"Can someone please tell me what is going on?" I demanded and the oldest elder cleared his throat.
I passed him the bottle of water that was standing before to help him with his throat but he declined my offer and cleared his throat again instead.
I wasn't bothered about how many times he cleared his throat anyway, I just needed an answer to my question because that was my major concern.
"Let us reconvene some other time. It's no matter of urgency so don't be bothered." He finally spoke up and I gave him credit for ending this meeting. I was already tired of it. My legs were swollen and about to burst open.
"So are we meeting tomorrow?" I asked them so I can prepare very well for them tomorrow.
"Our usual meeting date. It's a little over two weeks from now. That would be fine." The eldest said on behalf of all the others as he was still standing.
"That is totally fine. I will see you all then." I said with so much strength in my voice as I stood up and sluggishly walked towards the door.
"What about your baby? Don't you think you should take care of it first before thinking of this?" One of the elders said although I didn't know who it was that made me statement because I felt it was nothing but a stupid question.
As I came out of the conference room, I met Daniel, Cherry and Ivy all standing at the door.
"How did it go?" They all asked in unison while I smiled and walked past them.
Cherry and Ivy lined up behind me and followed me to the living room while Daniel stayed back to ensure that the elders were discharged.
I got to the living room and sat on the couch I would always sit on and stretched my legs on the table.
Trish hurried to meet me with a bowl of warm water in her hand and a small pink towel was in the water. The towel was so lovely and I kept admiring it as I sat there waiting for Trish who went to get massaging balm.
"Please tell us how it went." Ivy demanded as she sat beside me.
"Can I get a cup of water?" I asked and she hurried off to the kitchen to get me the water.
And in less than twenty seconds, she was back with the glass of water.
"Here you go." Ivy said as she handed me the glass of water.
" Thank you." I replied and I lifted the glass and started drinking from it immediately. While I was drinking the water, my eyes were just on Cherry who looked not too happy.
I am not sure I have ever seen her in such a mood lately and I was anxious to know what was going on.
"Are you okay Cherry?" I asked her as soon as I dropped my cup on the table and she did not respond.
"Cherry is fine. Can you now tell us what we need to hear?" Ivy cut in and Cherry didn't even dispute her assertion.
"Can you please allow her to speak for herself?" I scolded Ivy and Cherry started laughing sarcastically.
"I told you she is fine." Ivy said I apologised for not taking her seriously.
And once again for the tenth time, Ivy demanded to know what had just happened in the conference room.
"Top secret." I responded and she smacked my hand lightly and I let out a scream like it was actually hurting.
"Sorry." Cherry said as she continued laughing at Ivy.
"Let's wait for Daniel, he can't miss out on the gist." I said as I relaxed my back on the couch properly, still waiting for Trish to come and massage my swollen legs.
"Aren't you hungry? You have spent a long time there already." Cherry asked me and I could only smile at her.
"I'm going to get you some food. I made you oats." Cherry boasted as she walked out of the living room.
Just then Trish walked in and started massaging my legs.
I was beginning to doze off as she used the towel to press my legs softly with the towel soaked in warm water.
It was so refreshing and just when I thought that was all, Ivy stood over me and started massaging my shoulders and the feeling was heavenly.
While they were still at it, Cherry walked in with a plate of food in her hand and handed it over to me. I ate half of the food and couldn't continue with anyone so I dropped the plate.
"Lost appetite again?" Cherry asked as she picked up the food and began to eat the leftover.
I sat there watching them as they looked at me like a child would look at his super hero.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? I am sure I look horrible." I sneered and they all began to laugh.
"Please don't pretend like you don't know what we want from you. Kindly tell us what we want to hear and save us all the suspense." Cherry said for the first time demanding the gist from the conference room.
"I thought I was the only one who wanted to hear the story." Ivy chipped in and I was just happy seeing them throw words at each other.
"And I loved your courage. It was everything to me." Trish applauded me and I was so proud of myself.
Finally, the long awaited Daniel walked into the living room after seeing the elders off.
"Come sit here." Cherry tapped the empty space beside her for him but he walked past all of us and headed straight to the staircase. This only tells that something is clearly wrong with Daniel.