Chapter 7

Chapter 7

SAGE

Citrus! Clean, fresh, and smooth, it settled in my nostrils, making my wolf,Vlyn, stirred in my head, he was just as intrigued as I was.

This isn't Sloane's scent; it's the princess’s. Her scent was as intoxicating as the first day we met at the gym.

I pulled away from Sloane, tilting my head to both sides,but there was no sight of her. I knew she was here, hiding somewhere perhaps.

“What is it?” Sloane asked, bringing my attention back to her. “Nothing,” I replied, fixing my shirt and wiping my lips.

“Your face tells me otherwise, my Lord.” Sloane said, reaching for my face. “You can tell me what is bothering you, just like you have been doing for the past nine years.”

“I said it's nothing.” I repeated calmly ,"Join the council, the meeting will begin soon.” I said and walked away. Heading back to my office.

I pushed the door open and found Kaius seated and patiently waiting.

“Thought you started the meeting without me…” he said with a tired glaze in his eyes.

“As if I could ever.” I rolled my eyes and walked over to my seat, settling down.“I had some important business to run.”

“I heard.” He replied briefly,

“Sloane was on the training field.”

“Yes.” I confirmed his words, “Did you by any chance cross paths with the Princess today?”

Kaius straightened on his seat as if someone had pulled on his strings. “No. Did she come to you? Tell you anything ? I haven't seen her today, nor yesterday. Why? Did something happen?”

“Forget about it. Just give me the updates on the pack issue, the council meeting will be starting in ten minutes.”

Kaius sighed, adjusting in his seat. “There's still no trace of the missing people, but the search troops got a lead on where most of them were last seen.

“Where?” I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the desk.

“In the northern trading outpost, just beyond the old quarry,” Kaius replied, his voice low. “But…” He hesitated.

I narrowed my eyes. “But what?”

“They say there's a strange energy … faint, and unusual. They heard whispers and screams at one point, like there's a wall or cage of...”

Kaius paused, seeking permission to mention those words. “Forbidden magic.” I completed.

“ Yes,they believe these missing people are trapped there. Do you think he's back, and haunting down the pack members for revenge?” Kaius asked, earning a glare from me.

“He's long gone, and shouldn't be brought up on this issue. It's clear we have another traitor in our midst.”

“Tell the search troops to extend their search. I will be joining the next patrol. For now, we will deal with the council meeting.”

***************

The Council, Sloane, Kaius, and I were now settled in the central hall. The council; is a group of seven wise women, young and old, sharp witted, conscious,intelligent and courageous . There women are chosen by the goddess to govern, each time a new Alpha takes on leadership.

They are always filled with opinions and knowledge,but right now,for the sake of my mental health,they were all silent, but I knew they had a lot to say, they only needed my permission to proceed.

Only the Goddess and Kaius know how much I dread the council meetings.

“Begin.” I finally gave the go-ahead, after mentally preparing myself for whatever they had to say this time.

Shantel, the eldest Councilwoman and the first ever chosen, adjusted her glasses and began, “We have received multiple complaints of mass resignation from the chief commander. The women in the army have dwindled massively, most of whom claimed they were only there for Sloane.” She explained, her gaze fixed on Sloane who was seated next to me.

“The chief commander had made promises of Sloane's return and that was why they stayed, but now they see through these lies, and chose to quit….”

“I find this ridiculous and not worthy of our time.” Benedict, the second chosen and youngest of the council chirped in, folding her arms dismissively,and looking unbothered by anything Shantel had just said.

Shantel shot her a glare before turning to me, “This is serious. We need these women in the military just as much as we need the men. They have contributed to the pack's safety, and we cannot take their resignation lightly. We have to prove to them that we care, that we appreciate them, that we need them.” Shantel's sober gaze shifted to Sloane, “Sloane gave them that, they say. After she left, they felt low ,incompetent and unwanted. Now that there has been a mass drop in female warriors. We need Sloane back in the military to work her magic on them.”

“Is that the only reason I am wanted?” Sloane finally voiced out, leaning back on her chair with a cocky smile on her face. “To lift the spirits of the women. Why then do we have you all as the council’s ‘wise ones’?”

“Yes.” Sharp and blunt. Ares, third chosen and slightly older than Benedict, replied without hesitation.

Her voice was flint, “We uphold the responsibilities of the pack just as the Alpha does, we patch up the little cracks that arise, and do our best to make sure the peace and prosperity of the pack remains. That is our sworn duty to the pack… And what is yours which you swore to uphold but tossed aside for no valid reason.”

“Excuse me?!” Sloane snapped, sitting upright, I could hear her breath come in quicker as she stared in Ares’s direction.

“Enough,” I said evenly, cutting through the tension. Silence fell, but it was fragile, they all still had something to say.

“If you think you can shame me back to service, then you are wasting your breath, Ares.” Sloane mirrored Benedict, crossing her arms.

Ares smiled, one that didn't reach her eyes, “It's not shame I offer Sloane, it's the truth. And the truth can be bitter sometimes, but It won't quit to reach something it can never get.”

Sloane banged the table, forcing me to glare at her. She gritted her teeth, having something to say, but my glare shut her up.

“The real problem is these women were too dependent on one figure instead of the system itself.” Benedict spoke. “If the military collapses because one person leaves, then perhaps it was weak to begin with.” she continued.

“That ‘one person’ inspired them to fight,” Shantel countered, her tone sharp as glass. “And sometimes inspiration is the difference between victory and annihilation.”

Then the Luna can step in place of Sloane.” Uria, the fifth chosen council member, interjected. “Princess Faye will be the Luna of the SilverWolf pack in two weeks. I believe she can uplift the morale of the female warriors and ask them to return to service. It is a part of her duty either way.”

Shantel glanced at me, waiting to hear my response to Uriah's thoughts.

And I gave her what she wanted,“The princess will give her permission for decisions that involve her.”

“I agree with Uriah and Alpha Sage.” Benedict joined in, “She's a better chance and hope for the future of our pack.”

“I concur.” Ares followed.

“We agree.” Yara, fourth chosen; Tamara, sixth chosen; and Baski, the last of the chosen, all agreed to Uriah's suggestion.

Shantel was the only one left, she looked exhausted as she slowly leaned back on her chair. “We will speak to the Princess tomorrow. Hopefully, come to a final decision.”

Hearing her conclusive words, I stood up, and they followed.

“This meeting is adjourned until your final decision,” I said and headed out. Surviving yet another council meeting.