The Panther Mage Mate

THE COUNCIL MEETING

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

(SCOTT)

After seeing all that Anna pass through just to pass the quests I realized how strong the woman was, most wouldn’t have make it out alive, even some of my clan member wouldn’t have make it and they have magic. Am so proud of her and disturb at the same time by what’s inside the veil, maybe I should ask Diana about it but I have to first apologize to her for saying the compound wiped people memory of what happen to them inside the veil.

“What are you thinking about.” Maddox asked.

“Just everything I saw today.”

“She’s a really strong woman and I think with more practice we won’t have to worry about her being among the fight to destroy the creature, I don’t think we would have a choice when the time comes since she would be the guardian of New York city by then.”

“That still scare me, how can she guard this city alone.”

“She doesn’t have to, she has you and me and her friends, we would always be there for her, and by the way Diana called, the guardian coronation ceremony is tomorrow, I know you won’t be able to make it due to the meeting tomorrow, I will record the event on my phone and send it to you so you won’t miss anything.”

“Thanks brother, it’s good to have you here.”

“I know.”

“Where is Anna?”

“She’s in the sitting room watching movies.”

“Alright, let me go and see her.”

I try not to make any sound as I move toward the direction of the sitting room, after the practice this evening she have been avoiding me in fact she start avoiding me the minute she start to get better, she stalk into the kitchen when she know am in the study or in my room, she won’t come down to the sitting room when am there she will pretend as if she was still sleeping, I tend to catch her off guard tonight since she has been using her heighten senses to her advantage.

As I move toward the sitting room I saw her eating chips and ice-cream I can’t help but smile remembering how I saw a note she left on the table of my study saying since she’s staying here for the time being it would be nice if I can get her what she like, the list she left was long but they are all food or should I said junks. I stand and admire her a little before moving closer to her, the look of surprise on her face make me laugh out loud.

“I guess you didn’t sense me coming.”

“What do you mean.”

“I know you’ve been avoiding me Anna and I would like to know why.”

“When did I avoid you, we talk today in the field.”

“That was because we had an audience, when will we discuss us and don’t try to deny it because I can sense you checking me out when you thought I didn’t notice, you are not the only one with the heighten senses and am a panther shifter so my senses are sharp.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Really, you want to play that game, don’t you think you are too old for that, I know you feel something for me.”

“And you?”

“of course I have feelings for you.”

“Why, because am your mate and I can break your curse?”

“Because you are a beautiful and strong woman who is very loyal to her friends and have a good heart.”

“Thanks, but it’s still my blood that will break the curse, I love my life and I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t think breaking the curse involve you dying, I still don’t know how maybe all we have to do is take a little bit of your blood and recite some word or something I don’t know but whatever it is I promise I will keep you safe trust me on that.”

“Alright I will give you the benefit of the doubt.” With that she stands.

“Good night Scott, see you tomorrow, I guess you won’t be attending tomorrow ceremony because of the meeting.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry I would be fine, sleep well.”

I watch as she left me alone in the sitting room, I guess she’s still running but no problem am a predator I love a good chase. Am sure at the end of this chase am going to get my reward.

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

As I step into the council house I head straight to where the meeting is going to take place, everyone is already present even Seth, I smile inwardly, am happy he showed up even though he has some reserve on the council.

“Good morning everyone am sorry for not being here on time.”

“I heard you drop your mate off at the compound for her coronation as a guardian, so we expect you to be a little late.”

I look towards Oliver with amazement, “How did you know about that? do you have a spy in my clan?”

“If only that’s possible your clan members are too loyal to you, they won’t do anything against you or the clan. My daughter happens to see you when you drop your mate off this morning at the compound, she’s also attending the ceremony.”

“How was the quests, i’ve always been curious about what it is, the guardians refuse to tell outsiders about their quests especially the veil. Do you have any idea what’s inside?” Reed look at me inquisitively.

“I really don’t know, all I know is it’s a parallel world where magic exists and as you finish a quest a portal will take you to the next quest.”

With a sigh Ronald a bear shifter inquires, “What abilities did your mate develop?”

“I think we are here to discuss how to get rid of the creature terrorizing the city?” Alexander requested with a scowl.

He is well known for his quick temper even though he’s smart, I wonder how he is going to take the news.

“You are right, we call this meeting today to discuss the creature that’s been killing females in our various communities, as you all know our females have been missing due to k********g and the information we got let us to know that it’s done by a group of fire elementals whose leader is centuries old creature with wings.” Reed elaborate.

Alexander turn to Cade who was sitting close to him with a raised eyebrow.

“What’s with the look?” Cade asked nonchalance.

“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me, the only being I know that has wings are griffins and dragons and we all know the griffins haven’t bother themselves with us for years, no one has even seen them for a long time. But your kind is all over the place and on everyone’s face causing trouble all around town.”

“I won’t respond to that.” Cade reply, “But let me assure you that despite the fact that my kind can be quite capricious we will never harm any females.”

“Says the man who owns the biggest and popular club where ladies sell themselves to men.”

“Every female employee I have are free to do whatever they like and if things get out of hands they are to be protected. Get out of that lab you lock yourself in and see the real world, my establishment isn’t a w***e house but an entertainment venue where anyone is free to explore their desires.”

“Enough about that what we are going to discuss today is a serious problem that affect everyone including the dragons.” Cole said with a stern look.

“Alex according to our source it wasn’t the dragon that is behind the attacks but something we don’t know much about and he’s not the only one, he has a master who has been asleep for centuries, and this creature is trying to wake him up with your mates.”

“What do you mean our mates, I don’t have a mate.” Alexander reply.

“You do now.” Oliver explain to everyone about the curse and the encounter Maddox and the ladies had with the creature.

“And you are just telling me this now, why? And you,” he said facing me, “It’s all your ancestors fault do you have any idea what my people have pass through watching their families die before them with no cure to the sickness no one know its origin.”

There was sound of thunder crackling outside with flashes of lightening that reflect inside the meeting room, well I was kind of expecting this if I was in his shoes I would have been furious too. I just hope the lightening didn’t strike the roof, I don’t think any of us will be spare if the roof caved in.

“Calm down Alexander, I also don’t have any idea of this until a few weeks ago and am sorry about what my ancestors did, they cause this mess we are in.”

“Shut up! Do you think saying sorry is enough for the life that have been lost?”

“You are not the only one who lose someone close to them.” Calmly, Seth said, joining the discussion. “I’ve lost families too.”

“And who are you?” Alexander asked angrily.

“I’m Seth Tomlinson, the alpha of the griffins, our females have been unable to shift to their human form since birth and that make them easy prey for hunters who sees them as nothing but animals, do you have any idea how many males die trying to protect their families from hunters attack, we ask help from the council but they were unable to do anything we have no choice but to hide where we can’t be border and we didn’t hide because we are weak but to protect our females, so if you are talking about loss you are not the only one here who have experience that and getting angry won’t solve anything we have to find a solution.”

Alexander seems a little calm after hearing Seth relate his story, the turmoil outside also calms and everyone feel at ease without the threat of getting struck by lightning.

“What are we going to do about the creature?” Cade asked the question on everyone mind, “And how did he survive for centuries, that’s not supposed to be possible.”

“I think I might have an answer to the second question, I explain to them about what I found out from Sia about the clorocons.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me you mean this have been happening right under our nose without alerting us? Cade asked exasperated.

“Do you think it’s this organization that’s been making immortality cure for the creature? Justin requested.

“I think so; I don’t think it’s a coincidence they kidnap people for experiment when the creature need blood to stay alive till he wakes his master.”

“How did the female know about this group of hunters.” Cade asked.

“She’s a hunter, her families come from a long line of hunters.”

With a grin cade whisper to me, “What’s her name?”

“Sia,” Seth replied before I could, with a snicker I told him, “So you take notice of the names with the way you were acting nonchalant, I thought you won’t.” He just looks ahead without replying me.

“You’ve met the females too.” Alexander said while shooting an accuse glare at me, “I guess I was the last person to know about the curse and the female.”

“I’ve not met them too.” Cade retort.

“Which might be a good thing who knows what you would have done, I won’t be surprise if you invite them to one of your clubs.” Alexander snicker.

“Excuse you, I own one of the most exclusive and luxurious club in north America, don’t insult me.”

“Enough of this please it’s not wrong to own a club and if people take care of their desires in that club it’s up to them.” Seth said trying to lift up the mood.

With a scoff Alexander replied, “Of course it won’t look wrong to you, you’ve been away from civilization for long.”

“I’ve not, my people merely live in secluded place away from the city that does not mean we don’t come out of our place to mix among civilize people, almost everyone work in the city, and i have some of my dealings there.”

“Really,” I asked surprised, “How did you do that with how far to the city your place is.”

“It’s a secrete am not sharing with anyone.”

“Are you sure?” Alexander asked or are you just saying that to prove you are civilized.”

“I don’t think I have to prove anything to anyone, am just saying it like it is.”

“Alright, now to the matter on hand, how do we deal with these situations.” Reed ask everyone.

“I think we should trail the clorocons, am sure they will lead us to where the creature is and we can attack him.” Cade supply.

“But how can we attack, if we don’t know what we are dealing with.” Alex reason. “I think what we should do now is to do some research on the creature, while in the time being we should also trail the clorocons to their base and find out what’s going on inside.”

“That’s a good idea.” Seth nod his head. “And with the information we gather we can know what our course of action would be.”

“I agree with that but what of the female, how are we going to keep them safe.” Barry direct the question to the four male sitting opposite him.

“I think each person should look after his own mate that way they will be safe.” Alexander said.

“I don’t think we have another choice that to do as Alexander suggest,” Cade said, “And if the creature comes after any of them the mate will be there to protect her.”

“I think that’s a good idea. With all that said, where are the females and when are we going to meet them?” Reed direct the questions at me.

“The females are not with me they are staying at their place except for Anna who is at my place for now.”

“What! You mean you leave them unguarded?” Alexander asked in disbelief.

“I thought they were with you after their encounter with the creature.” Seth asked.

“I told them to stay at my place till we figure out what to do but they all refuse saying they can take care of themselves.”

“Take care of themselves? That’s impossible, you should have teleported them to your place and explain the severity of the situation to them.” Cade said.

“Don’t worry you will get to meet them soon, and try to explain it to them. They are not easily swayed and they are all stubborn, but don’t worry I have my clan enforcers looking out for them if anything arise I will be notified immediately.”

“How stubborn can they be for you not to be able to convince them to stay at your place.” Alex questioned.

“They are all fighters; I guess they felt they can take care of themselves without putting others in harm way. When will you like to meet them.” I asked the council.

“After we do.” Cade replied before the council can answer. “Sorry council men but I think we should meet them first.”

“I agree.” Alexander add.

“It’s good that you can both agree to something.” Justin said with a smile, “No problem we will meet the ladies after you do and when is that?”

“Next week” Alexander, Cade and Seth said in unison.

“That’s all right, then we meet the females two days after that.” Oliver said. The meeting is adjourned, lets meet again when we’ve done our research on the clorocons and the creature.”