Chris smirked at Terrant noting to herself he was not just 'book smart'. "I understand that 13,000 is a large number. However, you have to understand that I did not take that all on at once. That number has built over the years and I have become... use to the side effects." Alpha Freeman shook his head and Alpha Gray had a horrible smirk on his face. "In fact after today I will begin burning the contracts as there is no point in keeping my secret any longer."
"Well I have had just about enough of this fun distraction." Alpha Gray said standing up with a smarmy smile on his face. "So let's get down to business. I disagree with allowing-" Alpha Gray cleared his throat before continuing. "Alpha Winters in the council, and I want to put it up to a vote."
Chris's face turned stoney, and Joseph rolled his eyes. Before Chris could counter, Alpha Freeman stood up. "I second Alpha Gray." He turned toward Chris looking down on her. "Even though your story seems to be truthful in some sense. I don't find you trustworthy. Alpha Hunt agrees as well."
Alpha Hunt stretched his arms lazily above his head and with a noncommittal face he shrugged. "I don't agree one way or another."
Alpha Gray looked shocked, "I thought you didn't want her-"
"I never said that... I am very curious what a female Alpha can do that a male cannot." He leaned forward with a cold smile focused on Chris. "I look forward to testing it out." Even though the words appeared harmless Chris felt like it was more of a threat. Her wolf growled at the challenge. Alpha Hunt glanced across the table at Alpha Terrant, who was looking bored again. He narrowed his eyes and said, "I'm sure Alpha Terrant would be more than willing to test your prowess."
Terrant glanced back at Alpha Hunt lazily and plastered a fake smile on his face. "If it would make the council feel more comfortable I would be more than willing to 'test' Alpha Winters fighting prowess." Then his voice turned sarcastic. "But since no one else in the council has to jump through hoops. It sounds rather sexist. Doesn't it?" Alpha Hunt glared at Alpha Terrant who went back to examining the rings on the broken table.
"I call for a vote!" Said Alpha Gray loudly attempting to draw the attention back to him.
"Talking about sexist," muttered Alpha Black.
"What did you say?" Alpha Gray countered angrily.
"Stop with the pretenses. We all know that your reason for calling a vote is simply because Alpha Winters is female." Alpha Black said, glaring at Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman.
The Alpha intent appeared to be shrinking in embarrassment as his father made a strangled noise of offense before yelling back, "I am not sexist! I do not trust Alpha Winters to carry out her part in this council!"
"So your decision would not change if Alpha Winters was male?" asked Alpha Woodland pulling at his beard and watching curiously.
"No it would not!"
"You are going to eat those words," whispered Joseph.
"You should talk Joseph! You knew who she was this whole time and you still suggested she be a part of the council." countered Alpha Gray his eyes blazing with fury.
Before Joseph could reply Alpha Hernandez cut in. "If I chose who dis better for dis council Alpha Winters win over you. Ganan por cierto!"
Alpha Gray's eyes turned black, and his breathing became ragged as he let out a very wolf like snarl.
Before Alpha Hernandez could retaliate Joseph stood up claiming everyone's attention. "Alphas please! I did not make this room wolf proof and the poor table cannot handle any more abuse. Let's all calm down." The combination of Joseph's good nature and humor brought Alpha Gray down to a human level. His eyes returned to normal and he settled for turning his nose up at Alpha Hernandez as he sat down.
"Joseph it is our right to call for a vote." Said Alpha Freeman who was still standing.
"You do understand. We need Alpha Winters." Alpha Amari said with a look of concern on his face.
"We do not have the numbers or resources without the Winters pack. The whole plan revolves around the Winters pack." Finished Alpha Woodland scratching his head.
"Plans can change" Said Alpha Gray haughtily.
"At what cost?" Alpha Black said angrily, "How many wolves will die because you couldn't get over your prejudice ideals?"
"I have my reasons, and I don't need to share them with you." sneered Alpha Gray.
"Alpha Winters is not officially part of the council and by tradition all members of the council must agree to allow a new member to sign the contract." Alpha Freeman said pulling everyone's attention back to him. "Therefore the fact that Alpha Gray and I dispute her being added to the council already ousts her from joining. We can do a formal vote just to make it official."
"Terrant is that true?" asked Alpha Woodland, sounding annoyed.
Chris watched as Terrant glanced up at Alpha Freeman and then to Alpha Gray his face stoic as he contemplated his answer. "Yes... and no."
"There! Straight from the horse's mouth." Alpha Gray said motioning at Terrant, who started to laugh quietly.
Joseph opened his mouth to respond when Alpha Terrant began laughing out loud. Joseph's face turned from confusion to concern for his friend. Everyone was looking completely bewildered at this bizarre reaction.
Alpha Gray looked shocked and offended as Terrant continued to laugh. "What is so funny?"
Terrant finally got a hold of himself enough to wave his hand and shake his head, "I just can't wait to see your face."
Alpha Gray's face twisted in anger and annoyance. "Can we just continue. Alpha Winters per our council policies you are no longer invited to stay."
Immediately Terrant stopped laughing. He stood up next to Chris and placed both of his hands on the broken table making it tilt slightly. Staring down at Alpha Gray he said in a deathly, serious voice. "You are not leading this council Alpha Gray. You do not have the authority to uninvite Alpha Winters or any member of this council."
Alpha Gray's face lost all color at the intensity of Terrants stare. "Well...I just-"
"Did you sign the document with the understanding that if Alpha Winters showed up there was an empty spot on the contract for her?"
Alpha Freeman and Alpha Gray shared a look. Alpha Gray continued, looking as though he was swallowing a lemon. "Yes... but I had no idea-"
"So, when you signed the document you understood there was a possibility another Alpha would be signing? And that other Alphas name was Alpha Winters?"
Alpha Gray looked like he was going to choke. "Yes, but-"
"And you signed the document anyway?"
Alpha Gray began to turn red. "Yes-"
"So at the time, before you met Alpha Winters, you were okay with the contract being signed by Alpha Winters."
"Yes, but-" Alpha Gray glanced around the room, panic evident in his eyes. "After we met Alpha Winters-" He attempted to square his shoulders and look up at Terrant, then immediately looked back down at the table. "I do not trust her, and do not find Alpha Winters capable to be part of this council."
"As you and Alpha Freeman have already stated numerous times." Terrant pulled his weight off the broken table allowing it to shift back to its original position with a small creek. Chris watched as his face became softer, less serious but his voice continued to have an edge as he focused on Alpha Gray. "If you had any antagonism towards Alpha Winters you should never have signed the contract in the first place."
"We didn't know Alpha Winters at that time."
"Even more of a reason not to sign a contract with someone you did not know." Spoke up Joseph, who was examining his finger nails again. He glanced up at Alpha Freeman who was sitting on the edge of the seat. "Why don't we stop with the pretty talk and get down to the ugly truth?" He leaned back in his chair linking his fingers in his lap; looking back and forth between Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman. "You both don't agree with Alpha Winters being female and apparently have some sort of animosity towards her because of that fact." Alpha Gray and Alpha Freeman immediately tried to argue the point, but Joseph cut them off. "Otherwise, why would you have surreptitiously agreed to the supposed male Alpha Winters, who you didn't know at all, and disagree to the real female Alpha Winters who is standing before you?"
*Thanks for reading! Please vote and comment! I love constructive criticism, however if it becomes mean I will take you down.*
-LostArrow-