Two-Council Fiasco

Jax enters the council center just as Rafe bellows “Where the fuck is my Beta?” And Jax rushes over to him handing him the coffee and saying “Here….caffeinate. Now what’s got you in such an uproar?”

Rafe said “ If this mating business is brought up one more time, I guarantee I will lose it! I will accept no less than my Goddess granted mate as my Luna. I will replace every fucking member of this council, with Goddess as my witness!”

Jax says “Okay, big guy.. let’s put the big guns away and try to get through this fiasco. Before we go in, what can you tell me about the girl who leased the warehouse on Hines?” Rafe said “What girl? I don’t recall approving a lease for anyone in that area. It’s not the best defensible part of town” Jax said “Andrea Whiting…I am pulling the lease up on my tablet.. hold on.”

After a couple minutes, Jax hands Rafe the tablet and shows him the lease. Sure enough…he signed off on it. He looked at the date and realized he had just returned from aiding BlueMoon pack with a rogue problem and was running on 36 straight hours with no sleep.

He said “ From now on we go behind each other and check our signatures “ Jax agreed. Then he said “ I think we should install some security cameras around that warehouse on Hines. Maybe some alarms on the warehouse windows and doors. And make sure the smoke detectors and fire alarms are in working order.” Rafe raised an eyebrow at him and said “ This girl affected you this much?”

Jax said “ No…Yeah.. I don’t know, Rafe…there’s something about her. Not sure if it’s something troubling or something great. I just know she bears watching.” Rafe slaps his back and says “Well, I trust your judgement and if you say we need it done, get it ordered. Now…off to hell we go!”

They entered council chambers and Rafe says “ Good afternoon, Gentlemen! Let’s get right to it, shall we? What is our first item of business?” Elder Philip speaks up and says “The hospital reconstruction is well underway. We are requesting an additional $30,000 for the remaining equipment the doctors have asked for. I have the itemized list, as well as three separate prices available.” Rafe looks at Jax and nods. Jax says a check will be presented to the administrator in the morning.

Rafe says “ Next on the agenda…” Elder Thomas says “ It is our turn to host the annual mating ball in six months and we believe it is best to invite single Alphas and Betas only.” Rafe replies “ Why? Are lesser ranks not entitled to a mate?”

Thomas backpedals with “ No, Alpha.. I only meant our community center couldn’t possibly house everyone.” Rafe said “Well, that’s bullshit! Find a larger venue” “Next item of discussion “.

This time, Elder Edward speaks “ Alpha, we have spoken previously on this, but…” and Jax mutters “and here we go. Nuclear” Edward continues “The council have agreed it is time for the pack to have a Luna. And after careful consideration, it was voted that you take Cassandra as your chosen mate.”

Rafe sits very still. Very quietly. Never blinking. Never removing his eyes from Edward..and Jax knows an eruption the likes of which would make Mt. Vesuvius weep in shame is about to occur!

And it starts quietly…rising in decibels exponentially, by the second. Rafe says “Oh. You have agreed. You have voted, have you? Unanimously, I’m assuming…and you have so graciously, appointed my chosen mate, without any input from me.” “Alpha, please”

Rafe roars “SILENCE!” In a calmer voice, he says” I refuse to choose anyone who is not my Goddess given mate. I will never accept a chosen mate..certainly not one voted for me by buffoons..and this will be the last time I say it!”

Edward has to open his mouth “You are arrogant and selfish. By remaining unmated this long you weaken us! You have advisors for a reason. We know what this pack needs and that is a Luna!”

Rafe is out of his chair choking Edward blue and Jax links him.. ‘you’re going to kill him and that looks like shit on a resume’.

Rafe cracks a smile and lets Edward fall to the floor choking. Rafe steps back and says “You are my advisors. You offer me recommendations. You suggest ways to make things better. You do Not Now…or ever get to decide my life or dictate when I have a mate! If you can’t get back inline and do your fucking job correctly, I will replace each and every one of you. Are we clear?” No answer. “I said….Are. We. Clear?”

And a unanimous voice was heard collectively “Yes, Alpha “. Rafe takes a moment to look each member in the eye before he says “ This meeting is adjourned!”

He looks over at Jax and says “ Let’s go to Marcia’s… I’m in the mood for beer and wings. Wanna invite Madilyn?” Jax says nahhh..that would mean bringing her sister and he knows Rafe doesn’t want to see Cassandra right now. Rafe shivers and says Fuck no!

Rafe links Gavin to meet them at Marcia’s for beer and wings. Gavin links we are already here. Rafe asks “we?” And Gavin says “yeah.. I met this tiny little pixie of a woman with a sassy mouth, but only when she’s talking to herself and she rides a Harley. A real honest to Goddess biker chick!” Rafe starts laughing and says “You should probably lay off sugar for the rest of the day.”

The guys walk into the diner in time to see a tiny woman flit to the table Gavin was sitting at, with what looked like napkins in her hand. Jax said “ Hey! That’s the girl!” And rushes over to her, putting his hand on her shoulder to turn her to face him. And that’s how the fight started, the saying goes.

Andrea grabbed the hand on her shoulder with both hands..yanking it up and spinning under it, she bent over and flipped the behemoth to the floor, trapping his neck with her boot. Gavin and Rafe were trying and failing not to laugh. As Andrea realized who she trapped on the floor, she backed up and offered her hand to him, saying “I’m so sorry, Skippy. I don’t like being touched if I’m not looking at you”

Gavin couldn’t hold it anymore. He was laughing so hard tears were rolling. While Rafe asks “Skippy?” All the while, Andrea is mumbling “Say his name.. Come on… say his name!” I can’t keep calling him Skippy all night! And that did Rafe in.

He realized she doesn’t know she’s saying it out loud. She says “ Yeah..I…umm… forgot his name so I just said whatever came up” Rafe started laughing and said “I didn’t think you’d admit it”

She shrugs and says “Why not? It’s the truth “ She holds her hand out and says “Andrea Whiting and you are….Holy fucking taller than the walking trees!” Their eyes meet and at the same time he growls “Mine” she says “Fuck my life”

Andrea looks over at the guys…grinning like Cheshire cats and says “Beta? pointing at Jax and Gamma?” pointing at Gavin. They both nod. She looks at Rafe and says “ You must be Alpha as he nods, she says “Lucky me.”

Rafe says “I am Alpha Raphael Brennan. All the important people in my life call me Rafe and I am beyond happy to meet you, my beautiful mate” and he takes her hand. Sparks explode all the way up both their arms.

She says “ Yeah well. Might want to hold off a bit. Sit down please. I ask one favor. Don’t ask questions or interrupt until I get it all out. I have never told this whole story before. And I never want to again. So here goes nothing…”

Rafe linked Marcia to lock the diner and allow them privacy. And Andrea began speaking…