Page 89 of One True Mate

“No pack will risk their entirety on a battle such as that. We will have the numbers.” Jason confirmed stoically. “Let's just all pray it doesn't come down to it.”

By that evening, Collier and Longhorn representatives had already arrived and Central was only a few hours out. We had more than filled our home and decided to move everyone to the pack house. Mary and several of the she-wolves were busy preparing meals. I stopped by the kitchen to offer my help and was immediately shooed out, but not before giving her a quick hug and thanks. I smiled at Sally Merchant who reached out and squeezed my hand as I made my exit.

There was a knock at the main door as I passed through the foyer heading for the community room where everyone was currently sprawled out in deep conversations. I knew that was odd because pack members wouldn't knock. I hesitantly opened the door only to be greeted by all five of the Grand Council wide eyed and maybe even a little fearful.

“Kelsey,” Omar began, “we humbly ask to speak with your Pack Council.”

Kyle, they're here.I screamed through the bond trying not to show an outward response.

A low growl of warning sounded off to my left coming from the direction of the community room and growing louder in approach. I wasn't scared though, I would recognize that growl anywhere. Relief washed over me.

“Kyle,” his father said with enough authority to calm him and piss him off a little. “Please, calm yourself. The Grand Council means no harm entering our halls. Isn't that correct?” He demanded more than questioned.

“We need to talk, Jason.”

He sighed and invited them in. All five seemed oddly uneasy.

“Alone,” Omar said. “This is a private conversation.”

“You entered my son's house in the middle of the night,” he accused. “You stole blood from our future Pack Mother. I can only assume you wish to discuss the results of such actions. There is nothing you will say that will not be taken back to my pack, so please, speak freely.”

Man, Jason sounded pissed, and as scary as the Grand Council was, I could have sworn each of them squirmed slightly under his accusations.

“I agree, our methods were perhaps out of line. But Jason, the results are not something we wish to broadcast publicly for fear of the outrage and fear that could result.”

Cole stepped up as Kyle's arm possessively tightened around me.

“Kelsey is an Alpha Female, hidden by her parents from the executioners and shouldn't be alive today.” He said frankly.

Their eyes grew wide and their faces reddened in anger.

“You knew? And yet you harbored her all this time?” He paused and looked around at the Westin Pack Council in shock. “Jason, do you realize the predicament you have put us all in? Do you realize how dangerous this all is?”

“Kelsey Adams is no danger to us, nor you. And I know this to be true because I have tested her powers personally, and if even an ounce of that strength showed up in your little test then you know that she willingly gave it because otherwise there would be absolutely nothing you could do to stop her. Yes, I agree, she is powerful, even more so than you realize now that her bond has sealed with Kyle's. I do not say that as a threat, I say that for you to consider that with so much power, how is she able to control it? Afterall, isn't that the real reason the Old Council placed a death sentence on children like her? Because females are too emotionally unstable to actually control the power? That is what the old books say, and I dare challenge you to test her level of control. It is unlike anything I have ever seen.”

The Grand Council was furious. You could see it all over their faces.

“The penalty for harboring such an atrocity against nature, is death. You have just willingly admitted that you and your Council have done just that. And now you make threat against your Grand Council?”

“I've made no such threats, Titus. Do not put words into my mouth. I have simply invited you to test her for yourself and see that she is no threat to you.”

I hated that they were speaking about me as if I weren't standing right there.

“Jason, there's more to it,” Callum spoke softly. “I'm afraid the Bulgarians were the ones to raise the alarm and demand inquiry. We honestly took the sample of her blood only to try and identify her pack line. Nothing more. So forgive us, as we are all in shock over this discovery even if you do not seem to be.”

“And was it?” I asked softly. “Was my pack line discovered?”

He looked at me sadly and nodded. “I'm afraid it will not bring you peace. Quite the opposite actually. May we sit?”

I started to shake. I didn't like the sudden softness of his voice. I could deal better with the fury and outrage than whatever this was.

“Kelsey, how much do you remember of your childhood?”

I looked to Kyle, then to Jason. Both nodded their heads encouraging me to tell my story. They already knew what I was, so what harm could possibly come of it now?

I took a deep breath and launched into the story of my childhood, what little I remembered and the dreadful night of my parents’ murder, how I got away, how I changed that night, and a little about how I survived afterwards prior to coming to San Marco.

They were quiet for a few moments after I completed my story. I wasn't sure what to do or say. They just sort of looked at each other knowingly.

---