Chapter 36

The past week has been tough for our entire pack. It was hard for all of us to rejoice in the fact that we don't have to fear waking up everyday waiting for rogues to attack again, while mourning family and friends who lost their life fighting for those who couldn't. The only thing that kept me sane this week was Quentin holding me tight throughout the night even while I battled my nightmares.

I don't believe the nightmare will ever stop, but they have evolved. It went from confusing hidden messages wrapped in a twisted display of bloodshed, but now I'm plagued by a nauseating replay of the most heartbreaking moment of my life. The most horrendous part of it all is that sometimes it's not always Carl. The worst night was the night it was Quentin on his knees bleeding out as Eric took that final swing of the blade. Let's just say Quentin spent the next few hours holding me while I sobbed until the tears ran out.

Today's the day we meet with the rest of the Alphas and Lunas to negotiate the terms of a treaty and sign it. I would be more anxious about it but I woke up with a good feeling about today, and as Della motto has yet to prove me wrong. A different aspect of today that I'm not as optimistic about is trying to convince Katherine to stay with her pack. She's currently still staying on Mystic Rivers territory until the treaty is signed, and the remaining members of her pack can transfer to the pack of their choice.

"How are you feeling?" Quentin asks sitting on the bench next to me. He insisted that we make the trip last night before it got dark so I could take it easy. I didn't fight him on it because although I got my stitches out the skin is still sensitive, and shifting can be a little uncomfortable.

"Surprisingly good." I smile taking a deep breathe, looking out to the small creek that runs across the back lawn of Mystic Rivers pack house. "I don't know why but I have this feeling that everything's okay, yet a deeper part of me is saying that there will always be something we have to face head on. A darkness lurking just around the corner waiting for us to let our guard down." Quentin nods clenching his jaw. He's had difficulty dealing with the loss of our pack members, whom he told for years he would protect at all costs. The other night I heard him on the phone with Aidan talking about it, and I'm just glad he has someone to talk that understands his pain and will listen.

"We've been through hell already, but with you by my side I know we can make it through anything." He squeezes my hand leaning down and connecting our lips. Unfortunately it's short lived because someone clears their throat interrupting us.

"Hi dad." I stand up wrapping my arms around Fletcher, and I don't miss the small glare that he shoots Quentin's way. It's one of the small indicators that lets me know he still views me as his little girl, and I doubt that's going to change any time soon. "How is Brandon holding up?" Asher's Dad thankfully agreed to stay Beta until my dads can find an appropriate replacement.

"Each day gets better. The pack understands that he had no idea, and the support from them has lifted his spirits a bit." I'm happy that Brandon isn't as miserable as he was last week. The last day I saw him was when we all traveled to Jasper's pack to bring back our pack members home, which included Asher's mate Stephanie.

Asher claims she knew nothing, but I'm not sure I totally believe that. My suspicions didn't start until after we broke the news to her, which in and of its self was a rollercoaster because when we showed up at Jasper's pack we found out she had given birth to their daughter while we were away. Brandon asked if I could come in when him and my dads broke the news to her, and of course I agreed for Brandon's sake.

It was something about the way she was more upset than shocked that leads me to believe she knew more than she lead on. Her tears were relentless as she blabbered on about her uncertain future as well as her daughter's. At the end of the day I can't compare what her reaction should be since I've never been in her shoes before, and since there's no proof of her possible involvement I can't do anything but be cautious going forward.

"We should head inside." Quentin nods in agreement standing up from the bench and following us inside the nearly empty pack house. I shiver scanning the eerily vacant dark hallways with no sign of life. It saddens me seeing what I'm positive was once a vibrant pack house broken down to a carcass of what it used to be. My dad grabs my elbow stopping me from grabbing the door knob to the meeting room.

"No one in that room has ever experienced a situation quite like this, so the next few hours are going to be grueling as we negotiate terms of this treaty." I nod already having thought about this, but the tense look in his eyes has me staying quiet. "You know how you fought your dad and I on everything when you were growing up?" He asks. One side of his mouth lifts into a lopsided grin as Quentin snickers quietly beside me.

"Well I wouldn't say everything. There were certain times I agreed with you.." I trail off blushing at the fact I just proved his point, but he just shakes his head chuckling. "Okay, yeah but what does that have to do with anything?" I cross my arms eyeing the closed door with anticipation.

"I want both of you to fight like hell for what you believe in. Don't let the older Alphas and Lunas belittle you because of your age because you have both been through just as much shit if not more than they have and you are half their age. Your voices matter don't forget that." He stops looking over my shoulder. Turning around I face Jasper pulling him into a tight hug. We haven't seen each other in a week, but it's feels like forever.

"Sorry if I'm late." He scratches the back of his neck yawning tiredly. I was worried his nightmares would only get worse after the battle, and it seems my fears are coming true.

"It's okay we still have a few more minutes." My dad reassures him. "Lastly I just want to prepare you because Bruno, the guy who lives in the mountains, sent all of the records he has and they want to go through them." The room spins around me, but Quentin wraps an arms around my waist before I fall. "It isn't all records on your mom. There is other stuff that we haven't seen about other people." I feel slightly better knowing I'm not going to have to talk about something I haven't fully processed yet myself. I really haven't had the time to.

Quentin takes my hand in his as Fletcher opens the door leading us into the meeting room. Surprising the set up looks absolutely nothing like the council meetings. The tables are set up in a circle formation, so we can all see each other with ease instead of seeing each other's backs like at the council meetings.

"Jasper you are in between Della and Tessa." Fletcher points out the one chair situated between mine and Quentin's spot and Della and Aidan's. Dad sits next to Ryder, who pulls me down into a quick hug before letting me move and sit down in my spot. Once we are all seated everyone in the room looks to each other waiting for someone to speak up. Thankfully Alpha Elijah clears his throat easing the awkwardness in the room.

"I would like to start by saying thank you. Each one of you came to my packs aid when we needed help, and I think that shows that everyone in this room is about to move our society in a better direction." His words are full of emotion and gratitude uplifting the gloomy atmosphere lingering in the room.

"I feel we should start by going through all the records Bruno has given us." And just like that my nerves skyrocket again. Quentin slides over a binder full of copies of the papers from Bruno, and I timidly open it. Flipping through it seem most of the records are about Blake's closest men. I stop on the newly familiar face of my father. His dark brown hair and striking blue eyes mirror my own except for the dark look in them. It's clear from small scars littering his face that he was an active warrior doing goddess knows what for Blake.

"Most of the information in here is useless since almost all of them are dead." An Alpha across the room thinks out loud making me flinch knowing my mothers papers are in here as well. She doesn't deserve to be lumped into this group of despicable soldiers.

"Holy shit!" Ryder's stunned tone catches my attention. "Page seventy four." He stammers out his eyes never straying from his binder. My breathing picks up as I frantically flip through the papers attempting to find what's got him so freaked out.

"Oh my god." Della gasps her jaw dropping. Finding the page my stomach drops when I see it's still about my dad, and I scan the page until I find the sentence they are talking about. Travis Adams half brother of Alexander Clay, Beta of Black Moon Pack.

A flood of older memories of a man I barely remember invade my brain. He was kind to me until the day of the battle, and then I got to witness his true intentions. I remember Violet way more than him, but even those memories are scarce. A picture of Alex is near the bottom of the page leaving me with more questions than answers. They look nothing alike, well maybe other than their bone structure, and eye shape. It says they have the same dad but different moms which makes sense because that's the only way to hide an obvious infidelity. The big question is who was Alex's dads real mate?

Leaning back in my chair I turn to Della who is already staring at me. Actually everyone is staring at me including Jasper, who even looks a bit pale at the news. My head throbs as I try and wrap my head around this new information.

"I don't know what to say." I admit out loud not only to my family but to the entire room. As someone already so kindly put it this information doesn't effect much because they are dead. All we can do is learn from their mistakes and move forward. "Just know we had no idea until Eric told me." I sit up addressing the elephant in the room. A major part of signing a treaty is trust, so I don't need them being skeptical of us. "None of this changes my view. They are still my family." I motion to my dads to my left and Della and Aidan to my right.

"We believe you." Nora, Luna of Crescent Pack, speaks up sending me a encouraging smile. The rest of the room follows suit nodding their heads in agreement. It's a weight off my shoulder more so because it isn't going to change other opinions of my family.

"May I ask what the two of you plan on doing with your traitor?" A really old Alpha directs his question at my dads. Fletcher immediately sits up setting his hands on the table.

"After we sign this treaty he will be officially banished from our pack. From there it's up to him and you all whether you want to let him join your packs or not." My dad's voice never wavers as he keeps his head held high even as some of the other Alphas and Lunas seem irritated by his answer.

"But he still poses a threat." A Luna a few table to our left counters with attitude. Ryder closes his closes his binder letting the smacking of it gain everyone's attention again.

"Unless you know of any council members or rogues we may have missed he has no one to lead him. I've watched the kid grown up and he isn't evil just gullible and easily manipulated, so if you don't want to allow him to join your pack that's your decision. He'll live the rest of his life by himself than as his punishment." I swallow the lump that forms in my throat from thinking about not just Asher being alone for the rest of his life, but also Stephanie. I wouldn't wish being separated from your mate on my worst enemy, so to have to see my childhood best friend go through it is somewhat rattling.

"What happens if he finds someone else who manipulates him into doing more damage than he's already done." Now my dad is agitated. He clenches his jaw letting out a slow breathe before forcing a smile and repeating his previous statement.

"As I said unless you know of any council members or rogues we may have missed there is no threat." The Luna rolls her eyes, and I have to fight back the urge to snap at her.

"What do you call that kids pack?" Jasper looks up calmly staring at the old Alpha who mistakenly spoke because now he has my attention.

"A pack of people who are no different than we are right now. Technically we are all rogues at the moment, isn't that right?" I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow challenging him to try me again.

"None of you are concerned that there was a large pack of rogue right under our nose that we didn't know about?" The room is silent at his rhetorical question, but I notice a few people shift in there seats with guilty expression.

"If I may." Jasper interlaces his fingers placing his hands on the table. "My pack started as a safe haven for people seeking refuge away from normal pack life. I've heard a number of different back stories all of which were equally as horrendous, but there was only one reoccurring theme with each of them." He sighs looking down at the open binder in front of him. "Their trauma could have only occurred with the old system in place." My face falls at his sorrowful tone. He's seen enough horrors in his life to last a lifetime and he's only fifteen, still a child.

"I'm not here today to beg to be apart of the same level of hierarchy as the rest of you, but simply to make sure the past doesn't repeat itself." The same people who not even ten minutes ago were skeptical of Jasper now appear to feel bad, which irritates me more. Did they honestly think a child was going to create an army to take us down from the inside? "I'd be stupid to think that my pack won't grow larger in the coming years. There will always be a child shunned from their home for being who they are, a mother running from a toxic relationship, and a family hiding from an abusive Alpha, and in order to protect my pack members relocating is my only option." His revelation nearly knocks me out of my chair.

"What?" A chorus of arguments all at once break out, but Jasper silences them all with a simple raise of his hand. I don't think he or most of these leaders realize the power he naturally has.

"I will still come to these meetings and send you updates if it makes you feel better, but I promised my pack safety and security. That meant moving to a different location." He shrugs.

"You can't just move." A different Alpha scoffs shaking his head.

"It's already done." My jaw is on the floor. How did he manage to completely relocate his entire pack in a week! I've seen his pack and it isn't exactly small. "I'll sign the treaty and agree to the terms, but my pack will remain what it's always been from the start, rogues." His authoritative tone leaves little room to argue.

"His pack deserves this." Katherine asserts, speaking for the first time today. Her eyes hold very little emotion, but from the redness surrounding them I can see she's hurting. "Why would he help save us all and fight along side us only to turn on us? It's unfortunate that the only child in the room is being the most realistic and compassionate." Her words slice through the tense atmosphere clearing the dark cloud lingering above our head.

"Let's talk rules." Aidan manages to steer the subject in a different direction without backlash.

"I propose a system that connects all of our reports involving rogues, so we can track trends and issue if they were to arise." Della smiles.

"Raise your hand if you agree?" Elijah once again gets the ball rolling. Not a single hand doesn't shoot straight up into the air. Della grabs a large piece of paper from the corner of the room placing it in the middle of our circle and writes her idea down.

"Every Pack is equal to one another." Nora firmly states and once again hands raise in agreement. She bites back a smile pushing her red hair over her shoulder before writing hers down as well.

"I think we should still have yearly meetings." Fletcher's idea doesn't get as many hands as the others, but it's still enough. I send my dad a proud look as he writes his down before moving back to his seat.

"I want people to be able to move to a different pack with repercussions." My mom shouldn't have had to go through all the trouble she did back then just to feel safe and be able to raise me. If only there had been a pack like Jasper's back then.

"That could cause..." a younger Alpha starts but I cut him off.

"You all say you don't like the idea of Jasper's pack yet create an environment that pushes them right into his arms because you are lazy." I stand my ground knowing this is better for all of our members not just some. My family raises their hands first slowly fallowed by just enough to make it official.

Quentin claps as I stand up causing me to blush as I write down my idea. His silver eyes shine with love as I walk back over and sit back down next to him. I'm thrown off guard as he swoops down connecting our lips in a brief kiss.

"I'm so proud of you." He whispers against my lips, and it takes all my self restraint to not pulling him back for more.

For the next hour we sit debating different proposals, and advocating for what we each believe in. By the end almost every single person has a piece added to the treaty. Surprisingly no one seems upset by the final product probably because Jasper agreed to add a section pertaining to his pack abiding my some of the same rules in exchange his pack's location remains a secret. At least I'm hoping not to me.

"Katherine is there any way we can convince you to stay?" I plead with her one last time. My heart continue to break for her. She did what was right but still lost in the end, and there is nothing I can do to take her pain away.

"My mind was made up the second I stepped away from my mate and pack. I'm not an effective leader, and my pack members that are still alive deserve better. I have one last request." She bites her lip facing away from us for a moment to reign in her emotions. "Don't hold my pack accountable for mine and Evan's choices." She whispers before standing up and rushing out of the room. I want to chase after her, but Della grabs the treaty signing it quickly before passing it down.

"Let's get this over with so we can go home and celebrate the future with our families." Her words ignite a sense of curiosity within me. Although we have resolved so many issues today I still have a plethora of questions. I pushed it down an hour ago when I found out, but I didn't miss the fact that I could still have one remaining blood relative out there. Violet was pregnant when she left without another word, so if she survived her child would technically be my cousin.

"Tessa." Quentin whispers pulling me from my thoughts. Sliding the treaty over to me, he slips his hand into mine giving it one last squeeze. Engraving the way hope swirls in his silver eyes into my brain, I want to remember this moment forever. A time when we saw a broken system, fought for what we knew was right, and worked together to build a new promising future for everyone. We're living and breathing proof that you can make the world into a better version of itself as long as you push through the helpless feeling the darkest days forced upon you.

"To the end of a revolution."

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

Song: The World We Made by Ruelle

I want to thank every single one of you for sticking around on the crazy journey that was this second book. It's not technically over yet because I still have to post the epilogue, which will be up later today. Also trust me when I say that before this series is over you will get answers about Violet! I'm so excited about the next book, and feel free to comment your theories because it helps me know if I'm hinting at certain things too much or not enough! You all are so supportive, and the best readers a writer could ask for. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and if you did don't forget to vote and comment! Stay home, safe, and healthy! Until next time.

~Stella Gordon