16. Elders and Morals

Eric

I got a text from Noel letting me know everything was going well with Lilith and him at the high school. When he texted around lunch time it concerned me. My mate had been pulled off to the side to talk to a guy. I didn’t like that. She didn’t mention anything about a boyfriend and none of the guys who went to Ray’s acted like she had a boyfriend in a long time. Noel texted there was too much talking in the cafeteria, so he couldn’t make out what was said between the two of them.

I felt possessive with her, as it was between mates. I sighed I needed to meet with the Elders today. They had requested a meeting, no doubt to talk about Lilith. They were older and traditional and conservative. I knew I would be hearing all their concerns. But they were not the deciding factor of anything that went on in the pack. I was Alpha and had the final say, but they were a council that aided in facilitating me in my job. They guided and helped where they could. And their sway in the pack went a long way.

I decided it would be best if I let them know beforehand that Lilith’s Wolf was a Draco. The pack would find out this evening, so it was better it got out before she came home this afternoon and went to train. I also wanted to explain to the elders she would be training Monday through Friday to satisfy her needs. That was more than anyone else in the pack, trained myself included. I didn’t know how she was so active. She never seemed to have a moment's rest.

“Dude Lilith is too into this crap.” Noel texted me and then again sent “I am bored. How did it go with the Elders?” I looked at the phone. Of course he was bored. He had already completed high school, which honestly had almost not happened. Noel was smart, but he had more street smarts. His brain could work out problems like no other, but books and tests were not his strong suit. I responded. “I am meeting with them in a few minutes.” I sat there waiting for my brother to respond looking at the three dots on my phone. We were too far apart to mind link unfortunately, so texting was our communication for the moment.

Then a picture popped up. It was Lilith reading a textbook on biomechanics, that looked like it was more advanced than something from a high school. She looked so focused. “You guys are not studying that are you?” I texted. I had looked at Noel’s schedule this morning. I had Roxie hack into the school, to ensure Noel had all his classes with Lilith. I didn’t remember seeing that on the schedule. “No, of course not we are in English and the teacher, who by the way, looks like a frog, said we could read for a bit and your mate pulled out that monster.” I couldn’t help but laugh. I knew Lilith said she liked chemistry but by the looks of it she just liked science.

“What are you reading?” I asked my brother. “Does sports illustrated count?” I raised my eyebrow at my phone. “You brought that to school?” Three dots popped up. Then the boardroom opened. I had been sitting in here waiting for the elders.

I slid my phone into my pocket, I would have to wait to find out if my brother really brought that magazine with him to school. I watched as the older men filled in. We had no women among the elders. I didn’t know why we didn’t, there were older women in the pack, but I didn’t appoint who the elders were. They were elected and I had never seen a women run for a position among them. They all took a seat around the rectangular table with me at the head. I leaned back in my chair already prepared; this was going to go bad.

They all nodded at me saying “Alpha.” It was a respect thing. I gave them the same courtesy. Returning their nods. “So, who wants to start?” I asked wanting to get those done as soon as possible. The first to speak was Ferris. “Alpha, we have concerns about our new Luna.” I sat there my arms crossed, I was waiting for him to go on and Ferris did “We were hoping you would speak to her about the way she dresses.” I stared at the old men sitting around they were all nodding in agreement.

“I am not going to dress my mate up like she was a doll.” I said to them. Amos then spoke “We are not asking you to Alpha, just if you could talk to her and make her see we in this pack don’t normally present ourselves like that. We would prefer to be more wholesome.” I continued to stare them down. Ferris spoke again. “The Luna represents our pack, and we want other shifters in the pack to look up to her. Especially the females, what kind of message is she putting out there if she dresses the way she does.” The old men grumbled in agreement.

“Only three of you met her the day she arrived, you only have seen her in one outfit, how do you know if she always shows her midriff?” I saw a few of them cringe when I said Midriff. This was ridiculous. “Alpha if she wore that when she first arrived. She knew she would be meeting some of the pack on her arrival. Which means she would have a first impression, and if that was her first impression, I am positive she dresses that way on a normal basis or even more provocative.” I growled in warning they were on dangerous ground. Amos spoke again. “You could just talk to her about it. Maybe she has not been taught the right way to dress.”

“The Luna of Grey Crest Pack can dress anyway she wants, whether you approve of it or not. That is my ruling on it, and since she above you when it comes to pack order you guys will just have to figure out a way to get comfortable with whatever she wears.” The whole of the elders where something I did for the pack, anything they said or asked of me didn’t have to be done but these men spoke for the larger of the pack, so I tried to listen to their thoughts and take them into consideration, but I refused for them to think they can boss me, or their Luna around. They don’t have that kind of power.

The men looked displeased but remained silent on this particular issue. “What is next?” I asked. “When will the Luna be joining the pack. Most of the pack want it to happen soon.” Ferris seemed less pleased speaking of this, no doubt because I had put them all in their place. “Yes, about that.” I spoke and continued. “You can tell the pack their Luna will officially be joining the pack in a few weeks.” The faces around the room looked confused. So, I went on. “Lilith her wolf, Kali, is a Draco Wolf.” The old men became frantic. Amos shouted she needed to die. I stood from my seat and grabbed him by his overly starched collar. “You ever say that shit again. I will rip your head from your body.” He was trembling. “Understand.” I snarled and he nodded. I sat him back down.

Now that the others had seen my warning, they seemed to quiet down but were every bit concerned as they had been a second ago. I said “Calm yourself. Lilith has control of her wolf. She does a ton of physical things to work out the angst. She shifts into her wolf every evening and lets Kali run as much as she wants. She also beginning today will be training every afternoon, as she has been doing for several years. The reason both myself and the Luna are waiting a few weeks for her to join the pack is so the pack can grow accustomed to her.”

“Once she is Grey Crest Pack, her and her wolf will be in the pack link. The pack needs to have some sort of feeling about both of them. Kali may say some things sometimes that are unsavory but, the pack still needs to be trustful of her, and know to disregard her crazy that she sometimes has. Also, the time will allow the pack to see that Lilith has control over her shifter side. This is a decision that we both made together.” The elders were all silent. Otto finally spoke “Noel said that the Luna has never been a part of a pack.” I nodded and he went on “So she has never been around any other Draco shifters then.” I shook my head and I saw a small smile on his face. He looked around and as well as addressing me he addressed the others. “I think this will all be okay; The Luna has not been around others like herself who have given into the kind of things Draco's are notorious for. She has helped herself to find what works to keep control. I have never ever heard of anyone trying to fight the nature of their shifter side. I also think being in a pack with good values will help her and her wolf Kail.”

I gave Otto a brief smile. Of all the Elders he was my favorite. He was not so shortsighted and didn’t give any craps about traditions. “I want you guys to get the word out to the pack that Kali runs in the evening every night. Over the next few weeks, I expect every single person in the pack to run with her wolf at least once. I need them comfortable with her wolf.” Otto smiled. “I can run tonight and join you and the Luna.” I tried to hide a short laugh. “Looking forward to it Otto.”

The meeting ended after a few more remarks about most of the elders wanting me to talk to Lillith about how she presented herself. I had no plans to do that. I was not in the business of caging others unless they had done something to hurt another person. I walked across the packhouse planning on going to find some food in the kitchen when I saw familiar blond hair. “Fuck!!!” Axel shouted in my head. I knew who was standing there in the foyer, Mia. I decided no encounter was better. She would leave eventually so instead of getting food for myself I mind linked someone to bring me some.