Chapter 7

Opening my eyes I roll over in my bed which turns out to be a bad idea because I'm nearly blinded by the sunlight pouring into my room through the large window. I groan squeezing my eyes back shut while also trying to block out the voices coming from the living room. It feels like I was only asleep for a few minutes when I'm reality I know I got enough sleep to get through today. Sitting up I rub the sleep from my eyes as I pull the comforter away and untangle my legs from the sheets. The voices don't seem to be quieting down anytime soon, so I walk over to the door swinging it open to say good morning to everyone before I start to get ready.

Unfortunately the events of last night don't come rushing back until my eyes land on Quentin leaning against the counter talking to Aidan. My dads and Della turn their attention to me as I stand in the doorway frozen. I can't believe I forgot about last night. That just shows I probably didn't get as much sleep as I should have.

Quentin turns his eyes connecting with mine as a crooked smile takes over his face. I yelp jumping back into my room slamming the door behind me. Fletcher and Della's chuckles can be heard through the door as I rush into the bathroom, looking into the mirror I let out a sigh of relief. My bed head isn't too bad. I quickly brush my hair and teeth before changing into my dress for today. Since it's my first council meeting I want to make a good first impression, so I decided to choose a elegant dress that's also not too formal. The long sleeved teal dress has a natural waist and flows down to my knees. I put my hair in a pony tail not wanting to have to mess around to style it.

"Tessa hurry up!" I can hear Fletcher yell from the living room. I rush back into my bedroom to grab my plain black flats because I know we are going to be walking a lot today and I don't want to have sore feet for the three days straight. Last but not least I fasten the clasp of Jaspers compass around my neck. As long as it's closed it just looks like an ordinary necklace, and it helps me to have it.

"Sorry." I huff out as I hold onto my bedroom door frame slipping on each shoe. Everyone is standing at the front door waiting for me to finish. Ryder hands me my binder of papers as I approach them, but Fletcher doesn't open the door right away.

"First is breakfast then is the introduction ceremony. What time is your evaluation?" Fletcher turns to Quentin who seems a lot more serious than last night. His playful carefree expression is replaced with professional sternness. It worries me but I can't imagine how nerve ranking it must be to go in front of the council to try and get your pack recognized.

"One thirty." He glances down at a paper in his hand probably double checking. I hope that we'll be able to attend.

"Good. I already talked to Ivan so that we can sit in on it. Told him I wanted Tessa to see as much as she could." Fletcher turns flashing me a devious smirk. I chuckle at his expression, but still wonder why he didn't just tell Ivan the truth. I suppose me being Quentin's mate might complicate the approval process so we might as well wait to tell everyone until his packs approved.

"Remember no fighting." Ryder points to everyone individually. Once we all nod in agreement he opens the front door holding it open as we all file out into the hallway. Della and Aidan take the lead heading towards the elevators with my dads following close behind and me and Quentin last in line.

"Good morning." He whispers with a half smile, but his eyes still hold worry in them. His attire is more formal than it was last night with grey suit jacket and pants paired with crisp white buttoned up shirt. Even without a tie he looks like he's ready to run that meeting.

"Morning." We stop outside the elevators waiting for one of them to eventually make its way to our floor. The atmosphere toady is a lot less laid back instead it's stiff and professional. Every person we pass by is already in what I like to call "Alpha mode". Even Lunas with their loving and caring nature seem a bit tense today. So far Emeric wasn't kidding about these meetings it's definitely no party.

One of the elevators finally opens after a few mintutes and it's thankfully empty. We all pile in as Ryder presses the first floor button. The doors close and I feel eyes burning into my temple. Blush starts to creep up my neck as I remember what happened less than twelve hours ago in this same elevator. I peek at Quentin from the corner of my eye only to see him already looking at me, but not in the way I thought he was. I can feel the waves of anxiety emitting from him. Turning to fully look at him I can see the concerned look he's giving me. I slip my hand in his giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"You're going to do great." I mouth to him which gets me a small smile that sadly doesn't reach his eyes. It pains me that I don't know how to help him other than to just comfort him. I don't know any of the rules required to become an official pack nor do I know if he's in compliance with them. If fact I know nothing about what he's going through today. Sure I studied running a pack, but that's exactly that running a pack that's already recognized. I've never had to worry about learning about that aspect, but now I wish I would have studied it regardless.

The elevator doors open and I snap my eyes up to see we've only descended two floors. My as eyes connect with a couple at the same time Quentin pulls his hand out of mine. I turn to him confusion written all over my face, but he doesn't acknowledge me as the couple steps into the elevator with us. I huff taking a step away from Quentin which doesn't go unnoticed by Della. She looks from me to Quentin before shaking her head rolling her eyes as she turns back around. My mood has gone from excited to sour in the matter of a second. The only explanation for that is he's embarrassed to be seen with me, and if he thinks I'm going to stand for that shit he's in for a rude awakening.

The tension rises within the small metal box as the silence turns awkward. I almost let out a sigh of relief as the elevator doors open revealing a bustling lobby. I walk ahead of everyone else wanting to put some space between me and Quentin. Now that I know how the basics of where each room is it's easy to navagate around the groups standing around engaging in conversation. The cafeteria isn't as crowded as I thought it was going to be but that's probably because it's getting late.

I make a beline for the tables filled with different breakfast foods. Grabbing a plate I start my journey to find literally anything with blueberries in it. I check the muffins, pancakes, and fruit area but there is nothing. I notice a women with a hair net checking the pancake station.

"Excuse me is there any blueberry pancakes?" She turns to me smiling politely before glancing around the tables.

"There were but it seems they've already been snatched up." She gives me an apologetic smile before walking off. I let out a long sigh before grabbing some eggs and a fruit cup that doesn't have my favorite fruit. Storming over to an empty table I slump down in a chair rubbing my temples. I've barley been awake for an hour and I'm ready for this day to end.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you I'm just really stressed and confused right now." Quentin sits down next to me turning his chair so he's facing me. "A lot is weighing on today, and I didn't expect to find my mate this weekend." I cut him off before he continue his rambling.

"Well than I'm sorry I'm burdening you." His eyes widen as he starts to shake his head, and he tries to scoot closer to me but I slide backwards crossing my arms across my chest. I'm not settling for a mate who only wants me around when he deems it convenient.

"That came out wrong. When I say I'm beyond elated to have finally found you I'm telling the truth." His eyes hold honesty, but this wouldn't the first time I've believed someone's lies only to be burned in the end. "My pack needs to be recognized today, and if we don't there is going to be grave consequences." My eyebrows furrow at his words. I know it's important to be a recognized pack, but what "grave consequences" are there if they are not recognized.

"What grave consequences?" My anger dampers slightly with the new curiosity. He sits up straighter his jaw clenching as his demeanor changes.

"Unrecognized pack have no protection from the council or other packs. If we were to get attacked from other rogues the council would have no responsibility to step in, and if another pack invaded or attacked us and we were to defend ourselves we would be found at fault. Our land is still considered neutral territory leaving us susceptible for some other packs or even rogues coming along and claiming the land and the council would do nothing about it." My anger flares up but not at Quentin.

"That's bullshit. How is that even still in the laws?" I'm going to have to have a talk with my dads and have them explain when and how this became law and why it's not been altered. Quentin chuckles his shoulder relaxing slightly.

"I know, but it's just what I have to deal with at the moment. I'm not trying to be distant or ignore you. I need to keep a clear mind until my evaluation, and when your near I can't think about anything else." He attempts to take my hand in his and I let him. I'm still pissed he didn't just say so in the first place, but now that he's explained himself I understand why he's acting the way he is. I can't imagine the amount of pressure he feels with the lives of I don't even know how many in his hands.

"Next time please just tell me instead of pushing me away." I sigh squeezing his hand in mine. He brings our intertwined hands up to his mouth placing a gentle kiss to it.

"I promise." I blush as my family makes their way over sitting down at the table with us. Della sends me a knowing smirk causing me to turn even more crimson.

"We have twenty minutes until the introduction ceremony so eat fast." Fletcher hasn't slowed down since he woke up it seems. It's rare that I see either of my dads being so consumed by work since they always made sure to leave Alpha issues outside of the house when I was young. As I got older they let me in on different disputes and problems involving our pack and others, but this is a completely different experience.

We all dig into our food. Della and Aidan open up one of their binders and start discussing pack lines or something, and my dads talk in hushed whispers about goddess knows what. I look over only to see Quentin with his head buried into his binder and his leg bouncing with anxiety.

"Aren't you going to get food?" I know he needs to concentrate, but his health has to come first. He lifts his head looking flustered.

"I'm not very hungry. If I eat something I'm worried all throw up everywhere during the evaluation, and I'm pretty sure that wouldn't leave a good impression." His humor doesn't go unnoticed by me as I roll my eyes at his dramatics. I place my fruit cup in front of him handing him a clean fork.

"Fruits are light and even if you throw up at least it will be colorful." We both look back at the bright red, orange, yellow, and green fruit making up the fruit cup. This gets a true laugh out of him that helps ease some of the stiffness in the atmosphere. He eyes the fruit for another minute before turning back to me. I raise my eyebrow challenging him to fight me in this. Raising his hands up in surrender he apprehensively lifts a strawberry up to his mouth. A few minutes later he's finish the fruit cup setting down his fork.

"Happy?" He asks collecting all his papers putting them back into his binder.

"Esstatic." I pick up our trash throwing it away in the nearest trash can. By the time I make it back to the table everyone's packing their stuff up.

"Ready?" Fletcher asks looking around at everyone. We all nod following behind the group of people heading out of the cafeteria and up the first set of stairs to the second floor. There are a set of double doors that people are slowly filling through. Inside is a huge auditorium with tables set up on different layers forming a large semi circle. On the other side is a stage with a long table filled with what I assume are members of the council. Quentin turns left heading down the stairs, but when I move to follow him Ryder grabs my arm.

"You're still sitting with us little Luna." He offers me a sympathetic smile as I follow behind my dads to find our table set up with three chairs. Della and Aidan's table is right next to ours so I'm assuming that the tables are set up based on territory placement. I sit in between my dads setting my binder on the table in front of me. I search for Quentin among the crowd finding him across the room his table lower down than ours sitting next to a women with short blonde hair. She keeps leaning close whispering in his ear.

"That's Julia their packs head warrior. She didn't bring her mate because he's a doctor and Quentin's brothers mate is due to give birth any day." Fletcher whispers to me. I know it's his way to ease my jealously. No matter how bad I pushed it down when my eyes landed on her my wolf automatically felt threatened by her presence near my mate. I take a deep breath expelling any and all untrue theories my brain concocted when I saw them sitting together.

"Welcome everyone.." the room falls silent as a man with dark hair steps up to the podium on the stage.

* * *

"We're gathered to discuss and evaluate Quentin Alston's request for his pack to be recognized." We sit in a much smaller room than the auditorium. After the introduction ceremony I didn't see Quentin because we had been in different meetings. Now my dads and I along with a few other Alphas and Lunas sit in on Quentin's evaluation.

Quentin and Julia sit in front of a board made up of five council members. While the rest of us are pushed to sit along the wall and out of the way. Julia seems a lot less nervous than Quentin at the moment. I can see his leg bouncing under the table as the board address him.

"You've provided us with proof of more than four hundred packs members along with a compiled list of ranking members. We've sent council members last week to make sure your hospital, pack house, and training grounds are all up to code. You passed with flying colors." I see Quentin let out a visible sigh of relief.

"You haven't had an incident within the last year, and have gotten many letter of approval from surrounding packs to use the land." The man who I learned name is Ivan keeps stating all the rules and requirements Quentin has complied with, but I feel as if there is a "but" coming up based on his tone. "You've passed everything except for one thing." The room goes silent as Quentin freezes and I stiffen up. "Your Beta is not present." That's it? I don't see how that's even relevant at the moment. Out of the corner of my eye I see Fletcher sit up straighter in his chair. This can't be good.

"My brothers mate is due to give birth to their first child any day now I'm sure you can make an exception." Quentin's words are a demand, but his voice makes it sound like a plea. Every nerve in my body is telling me to go comfort him, but I know I can't interrupt the evaluation.

"I'm sorry Quentin, but you need to have either your Beta or Luna present and last time I checked Julia there already has a mate." Ivan exudes smugness making my fist ball up in anger. It's no secret that my family and Ivan don't have a great history and I'm starting to see why.

"Please we have met every requirement and followed each rule you gave us. If I don't get my pack recognized today wolves will die." My heartbeat pounds in my chest with each word that pass Quentin's lips. The terrifying reality of his pack getting rejected seems to grow more likely by the second.

"You can bring your Beta or if you find your mate within the next six months your Luna, but until then you will need to go through another six month observation period." Quentin slumps in his seat defeated as Julia looks to him panicking. I know what this means for his pack and soon to be my pack as well. Fletcher tries to stop me but I'm already standing my chair scrapping obnoxiously against the floor. All eyes are on me including Quentin's somber ones. I don't waste another second turning my attention to Ivan.

"He already has a Luna." My words cause a weight to be lifted off my shoulders, but the way Ivan's looking at me with a sinister smirk I have a feeling I've caused more trouble than I intended.

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Song: Strike a Match by Zayde Wølf

First off I want to say thank you for getting Rogue to Luna past 3,000 reads! I appreciate all the love and support you all give to my work so much. I'm so excited to show you what the rest of this book has in store. I would also love to hear your guys theories because I have it all planned out and I want to make sure I'm not hinting at any future twist too much. Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and if you did don't forget to vote and comment. Until next time.

~Stella Gordon