In The Beginning, Chapter 20
Charlie POV
Daniel drove us to the Elders, looking delicious in his steel grey suit, he left the top buttons of his dress shirt undone, which made him look a little more casual, but unbelievably sexy. Maria and I chose a simple rockabilly 50's style dress I had found in a thrift store and my mother had altered. It was a pale periwinkle blue, with long sleeves, a scoop neck, and full skirt. She had sewn in a silver petticoat for added body, that brought out the silver roses embroidered on the hem, it fell to just below my knees. I kept playing with the skirt, my anxiety plaguing me. Daniel had asked me to leave my hair curly, and was playing with it, as he drove, his own thoughts consuming him. All too soon we pulled up to the same building my tribunal was held, the butterflies in my stomach felt like they had mutated into giant bats.
“It’s just for an hour, and then we will have to leave for the pack meeting.” Daniel explained as he held my hand.
“The pack meeting isn’t here?” I asked confused, while Daniel scratched the back of his neck nervously.
“Usually it would be, if the pack meeting was just the Elders, they would then relay any information to their ranks. But this meeting is for the whole pack, and we will not all fit in here. When a full pack meeting is called, we use the high school football field, it is big enough for everyone.” I could feel my body trembling with nervous energy, and took a steadying breath as Daniel opened my door for me. He wrapped a possessive arm around my waist, as we headed for the steps, and I let his touch and smell calm me. As we entered through the doors, Daniel paused, removing my coat for me. He handed it to a man dressed in a tux, before he led me to the right, through another set of massive double doors, to a room easily double the size of the one where my tribunal was held. I nestled into him as my eyes observed the finely dressed people in attendance. They all had glasses, and were conversing in groups, but all chatter stopped when they saw Daniel’s imposing frame. Maria was easy to spot as she made her way through the crowd to us, a warm smile spread across her features, making her even more beautiful in her crimson, high necked scoop, column, floor length dress. With shoes and lipstick to match, her long dark hair swept to the side and softly curled, allowing everyone to see the unblemished tanned skin on her bare back. If it had been white, it could have been a wedding gown, or something you’d see Jackie Kennedy wearing in old pictures. She was captivating, and more than one of the men in the room was looking at her with lust. She rushed to me, placing her forehead on mine.
“You look beautiful!” She gushed, making me smile bashfully.
“So do you!” I replied, moving back to take in all of her again, my hands in hers, she broke our connection to do a little twirl.
“Well, I’ve had to up my game, can’t let my Luna look bad by association.” She said with a grin, and I realised what she was doing. She was advertising her approval, and I noticed several of the men who had been watching her, were now looking at me. I heard Daniel growl; he did not approve of their eyes on me. I looped my arm through his, and interlinked our fingers, leaning into him slightly, to calm him. Ben must be used to the attention Maria garnered, as he was relaxed at her side, until he linked Daniel at least. It was almost imperceptible, but his posture stiffened, after his eyes lost focus. Maria noticed too, as she slid next to me, I saw her scanning the room with a suspicious look.
“Is something wrong?” I asked Daniel through the link.
“No, just a feeling, and I want Ben and Maria to stay close, just in case.” He replied, I squeezed his hand in acknowledgement, and he started moving us further into the room. Maria remained at my side, but Ben moved behind us.
“Elder Tanner, allow me to introduce you to my mate, Miss Charlie Phillips.” Daniel loudly called to a man close to us. The man, who was around 6ft tall, looked to be in his fifties, and had a thick mop of salt and pepper coloured hair, which was slicked back with product.
“I am honoured Alpha, Miss Phillips.” He nodded respectfully to each of us, with his hand on his chest, I’m sure he was attempting to seem grateful and humbled, but it just looked melodramatic to me.
“Please call me Charlie, Elder Tanner.” I replied, with a nod of my own.
“Only if you call me Ted.” He said with a far more genuine smile. “I have to apologise for my part in your tribunal, had any of us known of Owen’s betrayal, I assure you, he would not have convinced so many of us to go ahead. He made it sound like he had knowledge of you, that would ruin the pack. Many of us are ashamed of our part in what happened.” He said solemnly.
“If there are any with doubts, they should talk to me so I can set them on the right path.” Daniel growled menacingly, and the chatter that had only just started up again, died instantly, and I could feel Daniel's aura just below the surface, bubbling and ready to come out.
“Daniel?” I whispered, and put my hand on his chest. “People have questions, that’s all.” I turned to Ted for aid.
“Yes, of course, I did not mean to imply anyone wanted another tribunal, just curious about Miss Phillips-"
“Charlie.” I interrupted with a smile, he sighed in relief, before continuing.
“Yes, we are just curious if you knew any more about Charlie's heritage.” He explained, Daniel grumbled at him using my first name, but said nothing to stop it.
“Unfortunately, we don’t, but maybe soon.” I answered, and Daniel continued to scowl, but I noticed several people around us had witnessed Daniel's anger abate under my touch, and were whispering amongst themselves. Sensing others were waiting to examine me up close, or maybe that’s just how it felt, Ted quickly made his excuses and left. We had barely taken a step, when the doors behind us were flung open, and Richard and Miranda entered, looking like a regal couple. Richard was in an expensive high-end designer three piece navy suit, with gold cufflinks and tie clip, a crisp white shirt, and navy tie. While Miranda looked stunningly elegant in a one shouldered, high waist jumpsuit, with gold trimmed detail, that came down from her left shoulder, to her right hip. It looked like an expertly draped shawl, except the detailing continued down her right leg, to her designer stilettoes. She had a few gold bangles on her wrists, and gold earrings, her hair was once again in an elaborate chignon. Upon seeing us, Richard strode towards us purposefully.
“Alpha.” He nodded to Daniel, who silently returned his nod. “Charlie.” He smiled, turning to me, and gave me a hug, that nearly lifted me off the ground, and made laughter peel out of me. “You look beautiful my dear.” He said as he let me go, and did the same to Maria.
“Not what I would have chosen, but I suppose it will do. For now.” Miranda stated bluntly, looking over my dress, and kissing my cheek.
“You look beautiful Miranda.” I said with a smile, making the sides of her mouth tug upwards slightly.
“Yes well, I will have to take you shopping before your Luna ceremony, we can’t have you dressed in... who is this?” She asked suddenly, and I couldn’t contain my laughter at her expression.
“It’s vintage! And when am I going to have time? I heard you’ve made appointments for the next six months for me.” I teased.
“We will make time, the only time you should wear something vintage, is if it is couture.” She sniffed, and snapped her fingers. Immediately a man in a tux appeared next to her with drinks on a tray. She took a champagne flute and sipped, still scrutinising my outfit, and I heard the chatter increase.
“Did you plan this?” I asked Daniel via the link.
“Plan what?” He asked feigning innocence.
“Your family, welcoming me, even your mother is trying to be nice.” I replied, just as he took a sip of whiskey from the same tray as Miranda. He badly, attempted to cover his laughed as a cough, but placed a champagne flute in my hand.
“Well, let’s not stand here, practically in the doorway, we must mingle, introduce our lovely Charlie to the pack.” Richard said loudly, and I found myself ripped from Daniel’s arm as he towed me over to a group of men.
“Elders Davies, Webber, Parker and Downs, allow me to introduce our next Luna, Miss Charlie Phillips.” Richard announced, his hands on my shoulders as he steered me towards them. And so, for the next hour I dutifully allowed myself to be dragged, pushed or yanked from one group to another, learning names, as best as I could, and smiling at everyone warmly. Despite wanting nothing more than to punch some of the men who looked me over like a prime cut of meat, and slap some of the women who literally looked down their noses at me, like I was unworthy. Thankfully someone was always with me, growling in warning at the looks, but more than once I had to prevent Daniel from becoming physical, especially with the men. It was Maria I had to keep a hold of when it came to the women’s behaviour. Just when I feared my cheeks and feet could take no more, Daniel raised his voice to interrupt the conversations, and silence descended on the room again.
“It is time for us to join the pack.” He stated, and without another word led me out of the room. I didn’t have to turn around, the sound of footsteps trailed us to the doors, where the same man that took my coat, was holding it, ready for me to slip it on. But as we got within arms reach Daniel snatched it from him, the man bowed at the waist, while Daniel held the coat for me. I shoot him an exasperated glare, but slipped my arms inside. He spun me around, and pulled the coat tight across my body, before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. It was almost comical, as he straightened his spine, I saw the Elders acting like children, pushing one another aside to get a look at their Alpha’s antics.
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