My Mate

We are sitting at the table in the conference room in the packhouse.
Drina sits next to me on the Luna chair, much to the surprise of everyone in the room except Jace. He's grinning like a little boy who just stole from the candy jar. He knows Drina is my fated even though I didn't answer his question a few weeks ago.
To my right are the high rankings in hierarchical order.
Alpha Remus is right before me, followed by Jace and Cleo, my Head Warrior. Given the issue to be discussed, I also invited an Elder from my pack to join. Elder Antonius looks around with interest, this is the second time he notices Drina in the Luna seat. I'm sure I won't be able to avoid his questions after this meeting.
I deliberately kept Clark out of this meeting.
My suspicion is with my Gamma and his girlfriend. Clark is now concerned with Remus' family.
I look around, everyone stares at me expectantly.
“Jace, the issue of why we are here concerns your relationship with Erina. You noticed a lot of last-minute interest in coming to Midnight Moon. That was more because of meddling”, I let my Beta know. The shock and pain on Jace's face are horrible to watch. I hold my hand in the air. “There is a rumor going through the packs that you are a pedophile. Your girlfriend with who you are living together is just a pup.”
The screams of hysteria in the room do not help Jace's mood.
“We are here to discuss this matter with Alpha Remus, president of the Council,” I continue. Cleo stands up and stands next to Jace to console him. I now turn to Alpha Remus and Elder Antonius. “Erina came into Midnight Moon on her own. She was hiding in Drina's parents' vehicle. She is related to Drina”, I indicate. “Instinctively she formed a strong bond with Jace, children often do that. I am not aware of any sexual relationship between the two," I declare firmly.
“A five-year-old girl who lives with a grown man. Is that normal to you, Alpha King?” questions Alpha Remus disapprovingly. He looks from me to Jace. "Do you approve this?"
My eyes are starting to fire, my integrity is being discussed here. "Alpha, my pack will not tolerate pedophilia, nor the others under my control," I say with restrained anger. “There is no case of child abuse here. Not in the packhouse where I live.”
"Is the five-year-old girl living with your Beta now or not?" the Alpha fires his question at me.
“No! As far as I know, three people live in the apartment. Jace is Erina's idol, she wants to be with him. There's nothing wrong with that. Why should all relationships be criminalized? The child adores Jace, I saw that with my own eyes. And I'm not going to sober her up, Jace is a good influence on her." The discussion is starting to get heated.
"This is why I refused to have her in my apartment," a broken Jace suddenly sounds. “I knew there would be gossip and the story would take a nasty turn.”
“We can quickly resolve this issue. Let's keep these questions concrete,” Elder Antonius now adds. "Alpha King Enrick permitted for the girl to live in Jace's apartment with a nanny, he denies that it is a sexual relationship and this is more of a positive affection between the two," he sums up. “I still don't see a problem. Of course, it would be less complicated if Jace had a mate. But a nanny is acceptable too”.
“I still don't see an issue here. Is there a reason to discredit my Beta? I will not accept that!” I hit the table hard with my fist.
At that moment, the door bolts open. Erina runs into the room, heading straight for Jace. "Jace, where were you all the time? You kept me waiting!"
The Beta hesitates for a second but catches her in his arms. He then let her sit on the table for everyone to see. “Erina, you have to go back to your apartment. The Council wants to protect you, you are too young to live with me,” Jace discloses to her.
Erina's eyes widen. And then I see the same authoritarian attitude appear, it's as if she derives power from some unknown status. She throws her head up and straightens her shoulders. And then she turns to Drina.
“Drina, you are the only one here who can forbid me to live with Jace. The Alpha King has given me my own apartment, but I feel good with Jace and the nanny,” she says, looking straight at my mate. “Every day, he takes care of my breakfast and sees to it that I eat healthily. That is necessary for my training.”
“Feeling good with Jace and that you get healthy food is no reason to live with an adult man, Erina”, Alpha Remus sounds again. “You can also stay in your own space with the nanny. She can also feed you healthily too. You don't need Jace for that."
“Drina, I want Jace to make my breakfast. He has to wake me up, take me to the training, and go shopping with me. I don't need anyone anymore." she declares firmly.
To everyone's surprise, Drina gets up from her chair.
Stately she stands for everyone, so much authority radiates from her. We have no choice than getting on our feet. I stare at her with interest.
“Jace, Erina would like to be with you and live with you. Can you handle that?" she asks matter-of-factly.
Jace swallows but nods. Out of sheer joy, Erina hugs him and hides her face in his chest. “Do you have a sexual relationship with Erina?” she asks again.
"No. Erina is a child. I'm a healthy man, my sexual preference is for mature women," Jace answered firmly. Erina jerks away from him. All eyes are on her now, waiting for a response.
“No, Jace, you can't. You have to wait until I'm sixteen. And when I'm eighteen and shift for the first time, we'll mark each other. But you mustn't look at any other woman, not even sleeping with them," she says confidently, pointing a warning finger at him.
Everyone in the room is holding their breath. Erina's words sound like…?
“And why can't he? Jace is a grown man, he can do what he wants with his life. You have no control over that”, Drina corrects her resolute.
“He can not. Jace is my fated mate. I own him”.
All mouths fall open, although for various reasons.
“Your mate?” Drina, Elder Antonius, Alpha Remus and I ask simultaneously, dumbfounded and stiff.
“Alpha King, Drina. It's true. Erina is my mate. It scared me too when I found out, but I can't deny it. I'm surprised she knows even though she doesn't have a wolf yet," Jace announces with a sigh.
“If so, she should be with Jace. His wolf has already recognized her and needs her by his side,” Drina explains. “Jace, you know the Were-laws. Let the nanny live with you, even if it is to silence the malicious rumors."..