5 Interruption

Dark Sky Pack

Alpha Anthony droned on and on and on about how the Hunt needed to return to the traditional chase and not what has been hosted for the last few years. Many packs complained about the changes that had occurred in the two years since Crystal River held their non-hunt. The main complaints came from the older generation. The younger generation and women that had suffered at previous Hunts embraced the changes.

Then you had packs like this one that wanted nothing to change. Desperately they clung to the old traditions. Refusing to change, refusing to move forward. Fighting those who tried to bring about changes and pull them into the twentieth century. Little steps, Wyatt thought, bring them into the last century and then the current one.

If there was ever a pack that was deeply ingrained in archaic tradition it was the Dark Sky pack. Other packs had enlarged the council chambers that they used to host meetings because the packs increased in number and officers. The Dark Sky pack council chambers remained the same.

Skinny tables attached to the back of the row ahead of them only allowed enough room for an Alpha and a Beta. Even that was a tight fit with the number of packs that had come. The change in the annual Hunt had become a hot button topic, and most packs did not want to change it back. Just as much as Dark Sky did not want to change their chambers.

Rock walls surrounded the multiple nine-pane windows that dated back to when the pack was founded in the early 1700s. Wyatt’s pack, Crystal River, was founded earlier than that and they retained their old chambers for ceremonies and private meetings. But even they had been updated over the centuries.

Two large fireplaces at either end of this room provided warmth and light. Kerosene lanterns hung on the walls and from the ceiling casting shadows in all different directions. More than once, Wyatt saw others making subtle shadow puppets.

Most chambers now had a single platform for the Elders. The Dark Sky chambers still had a high platform in the center wall for the Senior Elder and two slightly lower platforms on either side walls for the other two Elders. This configuration created the Elder Trinity in the form of an isosceles triangle.

There was so much about this pack that Wyatt did not like. The way that they treated their Omegas was top of the list. Followed immediately by the way that they treated the females. No female was allowed in the sacred chamber. Even the Omegas that maintained the building and grounds were all male.

Also at the top of the list was this stupid meeting and Wyatt hated to admit that his wife was right about it. This whole damned meeting could have been done by email. File the complaint and let it be addressed at the next council meeting. There had to be something more to this. He looked at his brother-in-law in the chair next to him who looked just as bored as he felt. At the nod from Sirius, Wyatt rolled his eyes to show his disdain.

Sirius casually reached over and grabbed Wyatt’s pen and wrote a single word on the other man’s notepad. robes?

Wyatt could only smirk at yet another way that the Dark Sky Pack was still stuck in the past. And the delusion that they held any type of power or sway over the were community.

The only wolves that still wore robes were the three Elders, the Blessed Three and the High Priestess, Divine Oracle and Divine Healer, which they all reserved for ceremonies and formal events. Pack Trios, made up of a priestess, oracle and healer, would usually wear them for ceremonies such as weddings, blessings and funerals.

Not an Alpha that refused to enter the twenty-first century. Or even the nineteenth or twentieth for that matter.

Instead of looking regal and dignified as Wyatt assumed the Alpha was trying to, he looked outdated, out of touch and downright stupid. Especially with the Elders wearing casual slacks and Polo shirts and not the formal robes. This not only showed how out of touch the Alpha was, but also that the Elders held low regard for the meeting.

He had seen two of the Elder Successors earlier, both women and both barred from entering the chambers. But he knew that if they asserted their authority, even the well-trained warriors of the Dark Sky pack would concede to the will of the Elders and their Successors. And how amusing it would be to see a woman in cut off shorts and faded T-shirt for an indie rock band sitting on the high dais.

Just as he was going to mention this thought to Sirius, there was a commotion outside of the large doors. An angry feminine voice commanded that the door be opened. Reaching over, Wyatt grabbed his pen out of Sirius’ hand and scribbled a message on the note pad.

I'm thinking you're sister would liven things up

Smirking, he wrote ‘same’ and turned the paper so that the other man could see it.

The two men grinned at each other as the double doors opened and the woman in question appeared. She shoved her way inside and her dog followed, snarling and still wearing his service dog vest.

“Come on, sweet girl.” Celeste said calmly and guided a young woman inside.

Suddenly the inner sanctum reserved only for men was broken with an aggressive and domineering Alpha she-wolf and a submissive and meek human woman.

Leaning ever so slightly in his chair, Sirius whispered to his brother-in-law, “You married that.”

With a proud grin, Wyatt whispered back, “Fuck yeah, I did.”

“What is the meaning of this?” Alpha Anthony demanded looking at the tattooed woman. “And why did you bring that filthy whore into my house?”

As the Alpha stood, his robes billowed out around him, making him look like he was about to issue a ruling from the US Supreme Court. Or cast a spell.

“Accio brain cells,” someone nearby whispered and those that heard were biting back laughter and coughing to cover it up.

Celeste let go of the girl and grabbed her dog as he lunged at the Alpha. Sirius and Wyatt moved at the same time. One placed a protective arm around the girl while the other one helped his wife hold the dog.

“What are you thinking, you stupid bitch?” The oldest son, AJ, demanded. As he stood, his robes shifted, emphasizing that they were too big for the young man.

“That stupid bitch is my wife.” Wyatt hissed out. “She’s also an Alpha. And a Marine. And her dog is a hell hound. But if you want,” he smiled, his fangs extended as Demon pushed to the front of their mind and his voice became more of a growl, “I’ll let them go.”

The dog’s eyes flashed red, smoke billowed out of his nose and mouth as his fangs extended partially. A low guttural growl emanated from his throat in warning as he sat at his mistress’s feet. Absently, she stroked his head while he basked in the silent praise.

“You have some Betas that need the night off.” Celeste said. “Mike and Jenny Naples. Their daughter is graduating college tonight.”

“That wolf-less skank?” AJ sneered and Electra flinched.

“You have no right,” Alpha Anthony started.

“But… I do.” Elder Alpha Marcus said as he and the other two council elders spoke to each other through the mind link. With a nod from the Senior Elder Alpha, Elder Alpha Marcus continued; “We have decided that your son is not receiving the training that he needs to be a good Alpha and leader. He will go to another pack to learn the discipline that he is lacking.”

“Sirs…” AJ began.

“The decision has been made.” Elder Alpha Stephen said. “Is there a pack that will volunteer?”

Celeste could only smile when Alpha James of the Marine Corps Pack stood.

“So be it.” Marcus nodded. “Miss Naples, I think a change of scenery would do you some good also. And I think that Alpha Celeste would be a good teacher for you. And congratulations on earning your degree. I am excited to see you get your diploma tonight.”

For the first time ever, Electra looked up at a wolf that she was not related to. When their eyes met, black eyes with a thin gold ring along the edge and similar eyes hidden behind dark brown contacts, a surge of power flooded through her. It did not last long, but the feeling that something inside her was waking up did.

A surge of power was felt throughout chambers, the flames in the lanterns and fireplaces flickered as if touched by an unfelt breeze of air in the stifling room. While the flames died down, a flash of gold filled the room from an unknown source.

The Alphas and Betas around the chamber were also looking around in confusion and Wyatt knew that he was not the only one to see and feel the power surge.

An Alpha standing close to the edge of the group quoted one of Electra’s favorite lines from Macbeth. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.”

She felt like there was something at the back of her mind that stretched and looked around before curling back up in the dark recess of her mind.

It’s not time.

The voice was from inside her head. She had heard it before, and it was familiar and comforting. Much like hearing her mom’s voice on a rough day.

Leaving the council room with the very tattooed Alpha, she found herself wondering about two things. The first was what was that sensation in her mind that she had felt earlier. And the second was why the council elders knew of her.

“Miss Naples.” Senior Elder Alpha Davis said gently with a friendly smile. “We expect to see great things from you.”

Yeah, sure; she thought as Celeste guided her out. No pressure.