Are You Competent?

**Twenty minutes later**

Good job Ciandra first mission is done, now you have to be a diplomat and help the young man talk the issue out with Beta Pierre. She thought as she listened to the young man in his mid-twenties. Things turned out okay, the hunters were furious at Beta Pierre as it wasn’t his first time disturbing them. 

“What is the meaning of this?” Beta Pierre and his stupid face asked Alpha Ciandra. 

“Alphonso is asking for you.” A wolf she has never spoken to told her. 

“I believe you will handle this well, Pierre.” She said as she looked at the human with assurance, she was sure he was reasonable and wouldn’t start a fight. For Beta Pierre, Alpha Ciandra hoped he heard the warning in her tone. 

Walking towards the packhouse behind the wolf, Alpha Ciandra once again noticed the quietness of the Dark Shadow Pack. Yes, most of the time the Vagabond Pack was busy training, but at least anyone could hear them talking, evident enough the pack was inhabited. This… the silence. It was something she couldn’t place her finger on.

The wolf opened the door leading to the first room she had been sitting in the first day of arrival and Alpha Alphonso was sure the wolf who escorted her was out of the hearing shot, he yelled, “sit, now!" 

On the floor? And why did he wait for the wolf to leave completely? She pondered. She couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps it was because he was showing respect. As she walked to where Alpha Alphonso was, she looked at the wolves staring at her. 

Around a hundred pairs of eyes were on her but only two pairs stood out, Elder Karela’s furious ones and Elder Delora’s disappointed ones. "What is the meaning of this?" She asked. 

Elder Delora stood, and for the second time since she arrived, she was sat in the middle of the room, a room she had come to learn was named ‘the Shadow Court.’

“You have wronged us.” Elder Delora said. 

She gazed at everyone in the pack and then returned her gaze to Elder Delora, "care to explain?" 

"You ordered Elder Karela not to use magic against the hunters, prolonging the time we had to fight those morons." 

She almost scoffed. 

Standing, as a loyal soldier, she placed her hands behind her back, calmly and collected, she said, "it only took us what? Twenty minutes to handle the hunters? They were harmless and only driven by anger towards Beta Pierre. They didn’t even plan to be here in the first place.” 

"We will handle Beta Pierre ourselves, the problem is you." Elder Delora pointed. 

Making eye contact with Alpha Alphonso who was staring at her with a smile on, she explained, "I am here to protect the pack and if I see fit not to fight, that is it. Sometimes, we don’t have to fight by our hands but by our words.”

“I don’t recall asking for a diplomat, Alpha Ciandra. We need warriors and warriors fight.” Elder Delora retorted. While another in the middle of the room said, “we don't care what you think.” 

Am I in court defending myself for doing something right? Alpha Ciandra wondered. Everything happening right now was the complete opposite of what she thought would happen.

"We have our alpha here, you breathe because of us, for us, and if we perish you will be nothing." Another elder spoke. 

God dang it! Alpha Ciandra cursed as she stared at Alpha Alphonso. Was she the only one with knowledge of what was inside the letter? How soon have they forgotten they asked her not a few weeks ago to lead the pack? 

“Alpha Ciandra, why did you order Elder Karela and who gave you the permission to?” Elder Delora asked, clearly, expecting Alpha Ciandra to have understood what the other elder have said about her only living because of them.

“I apologize, Elder Karela.” Alpha Ciandra apologized. If the elder accepted her apology, at least one problem would be out of the way. 

The elder leaned forward, “apologies not accepted, we have a meeting later with Elder Delora.” 

Alpha Alphonso cleared his throat, “elders, I am sorry for the confusion of today, I will talk to Alpha Ciandra myself. But first thing first, you should visit the Tagadi Town leader and speak to him about his children. Hopefully, he will understand and we won't have to murder anyone. Right, Alpha Ciandra?" He smiled sweetly at Ciandra. 

Alpha Alphonso dismissed the wolves who left while glaring at Alpha Ciandra, she heard them saying, "she isn't our alpha." 

Beta Pierre came into the room, she went to Alpha Alphonso and whispered something into his ear. They all looked at Alpha Ciandra at once then returned their gazes to the five elders who didn’t leave.

For a minute, they looked at each other, then as if being controlled, they all stared at Alpha Ciandra. If she hadn’t been used to being the center of attention during meetings and training back in her pack, she would have huddled herself into a corner. 

"Alpha Ciandra, it has come to our attention that you are disturbed." Beta Pierre said. 

"Excuse me?" Asked Alpha Ciandra. 

"Words on the street is that you left the Vagabond Pack while in distress."

She stared, did they do a background check on her? The audacity of the elders had. 

"Alpha Craton." Elder Delora spoke. This made her stop. 

Slowly, emotionless, she asked, "what about Alpha Craton?" 

"He hasn't returned to the Vagabond Pack and it seems like you are worried about him.” Elder Delora reported. “We know it is against your pack’s rule but we wanted to let you know. To let you be at ease, you know?” 

Funny how they defined being at ease. How is the news of her father's no return put her at ease? By now, Alpha Ciandra has learned why she was always leading meetings. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought Elder Delora was the alpha and not Alpha Alphonso.

"I officially welcome you to my pack, Alpha Ciandra." Alpha Alphonso announced.

"Thank you." She said

"Good. You heard the last line, yeah?" Beta Pierre asked.

Good heavens, they were getting under her skin. She nodded. 

Alpha Alphonso slapped her back, “good, it is my pack, our pack, and not yours. You are welcome to order the wolves once in a while but not the elders or Beta Pierre.” 

"Sure.” 

"Okay, I don’t like your attitude, talk to her later and make her understand, Alpha Alphonso.” An elder said with disdain in her tone.

"And you, Alpha Alphonso?" Alpha Ciandra blurted. 

A knowing look passed on his eyes, dirty and evil, everyone stared at him, waiting to see if he would go crazy, instead, he surprised them, he chuckled, “the elder is right, we must talk.” 

"Understood, Alpha Alphonso." 

"Are you competent enough to be a warrior or should we return you to your pack?" The elders asked simultaneously as if they have been waiting for her to reply to the alpha. 

"I am competent." Her voice spoke of power, assurance, and confidence. They nodded and looked at their alpha. 

"Leave for Tagadi Town and meet its leader. When you return, find me immediately.” Alpha Alphonso dismissed her. 

“Of course, Alpha Alphonso.” She turned on her heels, mind in turmoil, neither did she expect the pack to lay down the red carpet for her nor ululate and declare adoration at her, but she knew it wasn’t how they should talk to her. 

She was the great alpha Ciandra and not a servant.