Chapter 9

Chapter 9

PIPER

By 4pm, I was already seated in the gigantic hall. Kaela stood by my side even after pestering her to take a seat. The council wasn't here yet, so we still had time to discuss.

“Do you think I should be seated here? I mean, what if they ask me to switch seats, or what if Alpha Sage shows up and I have to leave the head chair?” Kaela shook her head, smiling in her usual gentle way.

“Alpha Sage informing you about this meeting says something. He respects the council, he listens to their words, and if he has chosen to inform you of a meeting to be held with them. Then believe me, you belong on this chair.”

“If you say so.” I sighed, feeling the heat of anxiety settle in my bones. I believed her, I just wasn't sure if I truly belonged on it. We still had about 30 more minutes before the arrival of the council. Kaela already briefed me on how to compose myself around them, so I just had to take note and try to remember the essentials.

“So Shantel is the first chosen, she's wise, outspoken, reserved, and kind, she's like a mother figure, she hates being interrupted and appreciates someone willing to listen and…”

“Learn.” Kaela completed. “Great start, keep it coming.”

“Benedict is the second chosen, she's picky, precise, and impossible to impress, she hates long talk and believes in the logical part of everything.”

Kaela nodded, “Correct.”

I heaved a long breath, sighing, “Ares is the third chosen, she's an observer, not much of a speaker. She tends to be very blunt when she speaks and has strong listening skills.”

“Keep it coming…” Kaela encouraged, boosting my little confidence.

“Yara,” I continued, tapping my fingers lightly on the table as I tried to recall Kaela’s earlier words. “She is the fourth chosen, she is calm and graceful, but very… urm… unpredictable with her moods. She values tradition and dislikes anyone who questions it.”

Kaela smiled approvingly. “Exactly. Just be respectful and don’t argue unless you are certain of your point.”

I gulped, “Uria is the fifth chosen, she is quiet but powerful in presence. People say she rarely speaks unless she feels the need to, but when she does, everyone listens,”

“Tamara is the sixth chosen, she has a way of making you feel like she is peeling back your every thought. And she doesn’t like flattery.”

Kaela chuckled. “Yes, just be sincere, she can smell pretense from a mile away.”

Finally, the last of them, “Baski, she's the seventh chosen. She is direct, not rude, but her tone can make you feel small if you are not prepared. She values strength and hates people who avoid eye contact.”

“That's all of them,” Kaela said, giving me a thumbs-up.

I swallowed, and my palms felt moist against the polished table. As I thought of how I would prepare myself to be in a room with these seven ladies. With no idea of why they want to see me.

Kaela gave me a light shoulder squeeze, “You can do this Princess. I believe in you. They are coming here to listen to you as much as you are to them,” Kaela reassured me. “Remember, you have a voice in this hall.”

Before I could respond, the heavy double doors at the far end of the room creaked open. My heart leaped in my chest

They are here!

One by one, seven women walked in, dressed in robes of different colors but with the pack's symbol embodied right in the middle like a label.

Kaela subtly stepped back and began walking towards the door. Watching her leave was a gentle reminder that at the end of it all, this is my journey.

The councilwomen stopped before the table, slightly bowing as they addressed my presence.

I stood up, raising my shoulders to strike a more domineering pose. “Welcome Council women, I have been waiting for your arrival,” I said and slowly sat back down on the head seat.

The women also took their seats. I couldn't tell who was who, but thankfully, there were number outlines on their robes. Shantel, as one, and Uria, as five, seemed to look the oldest amongst the seven.

“We apologize, Princess Faye, we didn't mean to keep you waiting,” Shantel spoke, her brown eyes boring into mine, I didn't look away. Kaela made that very clear, never to avert my gaze, and keep my shoulders up as constantly as I could.

“That aside,” I began, my voice was more bold and composed than I anticipated, but it was good, my confidence was a little boosted and a part of me felt I could play by this title for real. “Alpha Sage informed me of this urgent meeting, and I am intrigued to know what the issue may be.”

Shantel nodded, adjusting her glasses, “Indeed Princess Faye, apparently the pack’s military is having an issue of mass resignation. We have lost a lot of female warriors due to their role model, Sloane Wande, being long gone from service. They have complained about how they are being treated and wish not to continue.”

Sloane? She's the reason the council called for this meeting? What exactly do they want from me?

“Sloane has refused to return to service for reasons best known to her, so we seek your guidance as the future Luna of SilverWolf. What do you suggest we do to save the military?”

My shoulders were starting to ache from my composed seating method, and now the question Shantel shot at me added to the pain.

“Hmmm…” I sighed, staring at the other faces, patiently waiting to hear what I had to say.

But what do I have to say? I never really thought about this part because Sage didn't bother to give me a heads-up. It's like he purposely chose not to, to prove to the council that I am not a fit match. Does he hate me that much?

“Princess Faye…” I tilted my head a little, and my gaze fell on a lady with green eyes staring back at me. The number tag on her robe was three.

She's Ares. She must have called my attention back to them.

Well I couldn't remain silent, “It is no news that I have just arrived here, and I feel highly honored that you all have chosen to include me in the pack duties. However, I am an open-minded woman, and I wish to hear what everyone of you has in mind as a solution to this particular issue.”

I didn't know where that came from, but that soft purr at the back of my mind, made me realize Nara was solidly behind me, despite how I shut her off this morning. She succeeded in giving me the entire confidence boost I needed.

I got this.

“Ares,” I called, my gaze not shifting for a second. “Perhaps you can begin.”

Ares' lips twitched as if she wanted to smile or scowl, I wasn't sure.

“Thank you for the opportunity, Princess Faye. I believe Sloane Wande is not the solution to the military’s problems. They only need to see the support and appreciation of their leader, especially you. Our soon-to-be Luna.”

“And what type of support do you mean?” I asked, and finally she stretched her lips, it wasn't a scowl, it was a smile, small but vivid.

“To join the Military.”

*What!* I barked in my head.

“That's too much of a dream.” Benedict, from the tag two on her robe, spoke.

“Benedict!” Shantel called with a stern tone, before turning her gaze to me. They all waited for me to speak, but I couldn't. My tongue suddenly felt heavy.

*Get it together, Piper. We can do this.* Nara encouraged me, but it didn't stop my racing heart.

“Good suggestion, Ares. Does anyone else have a suggestive solution?”

“A conference with these women would go a long way in showing them that we care,” Yara said, I guessed, judging from the labeling of number four on her robe.

“A conference sounds efficient, but that is only if the Princess is accepting of it.” Shantel chirped in.

A conference sounded more subtle than joining the army, and before any more weird suggestions from Ares could pop up. I voiced out.

“I accept.”