LAST OF THE IMMINENT BEING (The Being Book 1)

C H A P T E R. 2

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It's been two years now.

The apparel is the same. A long white coat with red in-lining and a black hood. It signifies the purity of our bloodlines and it's a religious practice to wear them at every council meeting, no matter the weather. You'd think after centuries of being active, a member would've decided to add in seasonal wear. It's not like it'll put a dent in the treasury.

Piper and Pepper, along with five other young women, most likely in their early twenties, help me get dressed. Our head governor certainly has a specific criterion for employment because each of the girls are short and pale with delicate frames, wide soft eyes, and light blonde hair tightly tied up in head scarves.

The five women must be new too. I've never seen them work in the Lycae Castle before.

And quiet. None of them utter a single syllable to me, not even Piper and Pepper, though they usually keep their words to a minimum. They all just get to fixing me up immediately.

Pepper is speaking to one of the guards at the door, probably updating him on my readiness, while Piper is preparing my jewelry. Two are on my feet. Two are fixing my dress around my waist and shoulders. The one, most likely the oldest of them, gently nudges me towards the large vanity table where she attends to my hair.

The Sigil of my family is the Wolf, the original Lycanthrope, so she styles my hair accordingly, the way the women of my tribe do. Three corn-rowed braids, braided until mid length then tied together with thick fur to form a tail. The two parallel rows have gold wolf-like trinkets decorating the tracks, while the middle has silver rings in each loop. It's said to mimic the colour of the original Lycan's eyes, gold and silver, before The Divinity cursed him.

It usually takes near to an hour to get it right, but with her swift hand movements and clearly refined technique, she's done in thirty. She must've come from the Canidae Tribe. She understands our designs too easily for her not to have originated from the Canidae.

She adds ruby hairpins for a better distinction, which she perfectly adorns my hair with. She's meticulous and focused; each is, actually. And there's a synergy that I find myself envying. To work in such perfect harmony that one's work doesn't disturb the other... could the council ever?

Once each lady finishes, Piper looks me over, and with a satisfied look, hands me the Canidae Sceptre and steps back with a gentle bow.

"Thank you."

The new girls flinch at the sound of my voice, and for some despicable reason, that makes me smile. They bow deeply, never raising their heads once.

Now, I should apologise, I know this, but I suddenly feel proud. The twins are used to this, and at some point during the past two years that they've been here, they became used to me, so I sometimes forget that people outside of my personal circle will misunderstand me. But at the same time, they're just servants. Do I really owe them anything?

The twins usher the girls to the side, noticing their changed demeanor, and offer me a reassuring smile. Giving them a curt nod of my head, I leave them still bowed to their hip height. My personal guards flank me from every angle possible, and walk me to the main wing of the castle.

By the time I get there, the Crescent Hall is already full. I'm the last one in, and it's evident because as soon as the doors close behind me, all eyes fall on me. Judging me. Discreetly disapproving of my presence. But I don't care. Just because I suffered a tragedy doesn't make me any less capable of leading the Were-Beast Kingdom.

The hall room is just an under-sized stadium. In the centre is where the council people sit. Six chairs around an awkwardly crescent-shaped table. The way it's designed allows the council members to face the Witnesses who are present throughout every single council meeting.

The Witnesses are usually elders or important members of their Tribes and Clans. Their job is to bear account of the meetings, kind-of-like meeting minute keepers. Against the wall are the sixty seats belonging to the witnesses. The silent jury. And where the witnesses sit is parallel to the seat of their Chief. It gives them better views of the other tribe leaders.

Amongst the Canidae Witnesses, I can see my mother's hair colour from a mile away. I sometimes wished I had inherited the golden nature from her. She always stands out... in the good way. The other members are some advisors who work with my family, alongside family heads and alphas.

I feel more at ease seeing her. Though I feel nothing for her in particular, she makes things more bearable.

Two years huh? It feels longer. Like an eternity.

"Being a council-woman means you must abide by the laws of punctuality." Anastasia, Chief of the Felide Tribe says, with a polite smile showing all her teeth but not reaching her eyes.

Making my way to stand before the Crescent table, I slightly bend my knee and offer a deep bow of apology. "I understand your frustration, I got delayed."

"That doesn't sound like an apology."

"I would apologise if I were late," I say, meeting her gaze. "But the meeting starts at noon, and the last time I check, it's exactly noon."

"Most people would arrive-"

"Please, please, take your seat, Council-woman Theresa, of the Canidae Tribe," The eldest and temporary Acting Chief Member, Frazer of the Aves Tribe, says. "A lot of time has already been wasted on pleasantries. We have much to discuss."

Anastasia rolls her eyes before resigning into her seat. It's at times like this where I'm thankful that my seat is furthest away from her when she's in a mood. Aside from the fact that our beasts naturally don't get along, Anastasia is just nasty to me. Especially since the accident ─ I'm also the youngest at the table, even if I am the unofficial Chief in place of my father. Arriving late isn't a good look on me.

"Right. Now that all six tribes are here, shall we begin?" Frazer says.

We all present our sceptres and point them towards the sky. Metaphorically speaking, because there's at least 30 feet of century old cement and architecture separating us from the outside.

As per tradition, we recite the treaty between the Were-Beasts, because as outdated as this is, it's somewhat of a symbol of peace:

As the Great Divinity birthed us in unity

So shall we stand together

Through prosperity and famine

Through peace and war

The Canidae

The Felidae

The Bovidae

The Reptilia

The Aves

The Pisces

Declare unity forever and evermore

We each then lay our sceptres out on the table, creating a six-star formation, with each tip touching. Only after this, officially take our seats. The significance of leaving our tribe sceptres in the view of everyone shows camaraderie. That and we don't trust each other to not attempt to steal another tribe's sceptre.

For context: A Sceptre is like the identity of the entire entire tribe. Imagine the war that would break out if it were stolen by another tribe.

Frazer stands, dramatically stretching his arms out in greeting. "Tis a blessed day indeed, where all six tribes are gathered in one accord under the banner of peace. Alas, it is also under the pretense of grievance that we gather."

I shoot a quick look at Anastasia and she sends one back. She might hate me, but we both think the same thing. Frazer speaks like he hung out with William Shakespeare.

"Get to the point. What's so urgent that the council had to gather before the New Moon?" Sapora, Chief of the Bovidae tribe, says.

She has a short temper and she often clashes heads with Frazer. She believes birds shouldn't rule over larger beasts. Frazer believes birds were chosen by The Divinity to watch over them. They all keep forgetting that he is the temporary acting chief. Emphasis on the temporary. But then again, I don't remind them because I don't like to get into the elderly disagreements. It stresses me out.

Frazer, ignoring her indignation, motions for one of the six secretaries sitting from us, to pass around large black envelopes. Once he's sure we've each received them, still sealed and not tampered with, he sits. Suddenly, his usually bright grey eyes that glistened with a youthful glow, darkens with seriousness. It reminds me why we voted him for this temporary position. He's presence naturally demands attention.

"Only open these once you have returned to your homes. It is of the utmost importance that you are the only ones to see what is in your envelopes."

"That still doesn't explain the meeting, Frazer." Daniel, Chief of the Pisces tribe, spoke up.

Personally, he's my favourite. He was the first one to approve my pending appointment. It helps that he's 26 years old, the third youngest chief, before Anastasia - who's 23 - and I. You'd think with how close in age we are, Anastasia and I would've gotten along. We used to... she changed.

"People keep going missing," Anastasia says, pausing as she glances at me, before continuing. "I've received several missing-person's cases, nearing the hundreds within my tribe."

"We too have had reports of missing families. I am afraid each tribe is experiencing a global trafficking scheme." Frazer says darkly. His shoulders are tense as his jaw locks. He's angry.

Suddenly, I feel cold eyes on me. Looking up, I meet the eyes of Adrian, the Reptilia Chief. He rarely speaks during the council meetings, and he often rubs me off the wrong way. Something about the way he's looking at me, in a way that says 'I know something you don't', like a child teasing another at the bottom of the jungle gym. And he doesn't let up, even when I glare right back at him. At the sight of my minor challenge, the corners of his mouth twitch. His smile is small and slight, his eyes softening just a bit. I'm the one who calls chicken, who turns away.

"Currently, we are fearing the worst," Frazer continues, looking at each of us one by one. "We believe there is a group behind this. Organised and unified. There have been incidences where we have been close to discovering information, but it all comes up naught. Our tribe is at a loss."

"So you've known about this - threat - and you're only telling us well into a year since these missing persons reports have started?" Sapora ask.

Even I feel offended at the accusation in her tone, but Frazer, seemingly already prepared for such thoughts, doesn't look uncomfortable, but rather proud of himself. The Aves figured out a pattern, which brought them to this discovery. They're ahead of us, and know things we don't.

"We thought it was either rogue attacks or even pack members turning rogue for reasons we are unsure of. It took a deep, intensive investigation for us to even discover that it was not single isolated incidences but rather small distractions to cover a larger operation."

"So what does that mean for us, the other tribes who you decided to keep in the dark?" Anastasia asks, a look of intrigue blossoming on her face.

" That is why we are here. Though we do not have clear facts and refined information, we will issue a warning as the council. Spread the word. Always travel in a small pack. Make sure your location is always known. And most importantly," Frazer looks at me dead in my eyes, with an expression unreadable to me. "Trust your instincts."

"Where are the reports for these investigations made? Why haven't you sent them to our respective offices?" Sapora asks, a little heated now. "I mean you cannot expect us to become sitting ducks, completely at a disadvantage because we do not know anything."

Frazer's eyes narrow before raising his chin and puffing his chest. "We, the Aves Tribe, have already begun investigating missing persons within our own tribe from the very first case. You will have to understand our reluctance to share such information if, at the time, it did not affect your tribes. And you will find our findings will justify becoming sitting ducks."

Sapora bares her teeth at him but says nothing, knowing he's right. If missing people turned up in the Canidae tribe, why would I go and tell the Bovidae tribe? It's logical and that's what pisses her off.

"Which is why," Frazer continues, filling the brief silence. "Once each Chief has read through the contents of their envelope, we are to envoy again to the Lycae Castle."

"For what reason? Two meetings, in one month, before the Autumn Equinox?" Daniel asks, looking at him with mild annoyance. "What exactly did you find, Frazer, that you can't tell us in front of the witnesses?"

"The end of the world." Frazer says matter-of-factly. "Take your envelopes and open them. Then you will truly recognise the level of sensitivity required for the severity of the situation."

I stop listening soon after. Frazer stops speaking on that subject and begins droning on about irrelevant territory disputes and the upcoming graduation. There are multiple back and forths between Sapora and him. Anastasia and Daniel would comment every now and then, before going silent, satisfied with the answers. But Adrian speaks no words at all. Like me, he holds his opinions to himself, but unlike me, he observes every word spoken. I've been watching him. There's just something... off about him. Something I don't like at all.

The council meeting concludes after. We say our farewells, then end the meeting. The witnesses are the first to leave, as their job is done, followed by each chief's personal guards who will wait for them outside, then the chiefs themselves.

Frazer lingers, seeing off the other chiefs before quietly approaching me. The look on his face is not pleasing. Its not welcoming. It's not even empty. He seems happy to see me for once, but for reasons that aren't for my good.

"Theresa of the Canidae Tribe, may I have a word?"

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"That f*****g raisin piece of prune juice s**t! How dare he-he interject himself into my tribe business!" I'm so furious, my blood feels as if it boiled through my skin.

My mother watches me as I seethe. We're in my father's office, at our manor. I couldn't even park my car right, given the high speed I was driving to get to our villa. The moment she saw me, mother led me to his office, locked the door and sat down on the sofa. Then she let me rant for an hour about my growing loathing of the Aves Chief.

"Can you believe him? Implying that dad wasn't in the right state of mind to select me—his first born—as Crown Alpha!"

Mother nods her head in agreement, still not saying a word.

"And then, has the audacity to suggest that he should come oversee my ascension, not as an honoured guest, but because 'we aim to protect the sanctity of the Lycan bloodline'," my head aches at the thought of those words. "Just because I haven't transitioned yet, he's basically implying that I don't have the gene. Who the hell does he think he is?"

When she says nothing, I slowly look at her, my face red and eyes close to tears. "You're quiet. Do you... agree with him?"

Mother shakes her head quietly as she smiles and stands up, walking to me. She looks like she's about to open her arms to hug me, but then an afterthought changes her mind and she stops.

"Pay no attention to Frazer. He was just close to your father. Admired him, I suppose. In his mind, the next person to take the Lycan throne has huge shoes to fill."

"Don't they think I know that?" I say, my voice unintentionally hard. There's an uncomfortable knot in my chest. "Bad enough everybody thought Tomas was a shoe-in... I-I just don't understand why he chose me."

Mother steps closer to me, her hand lingering around my face as if to cup, before lifting my chin up to look at her. "Something worth the succession. And I see it too, every day, the more you embrace it.

I can feel my heart swell a thousand times in size as an afterimage of my father appears, sitting in his chair watching us with a look of pride in his perfect eyes. Except, it's not me he's looking at, but Tomas. And the more he gazes at him, the deeper my guilt sinks. The more I feel unworthy. I turn away from his chair and release myself from my mother's embrace.

"I should work."

"Theresa—"

"Really mother, I insist." I said. "I've got to go over some things."

Mother nods slowly, letting go of me. Just as I buzz on the intercom for Ozzy, she turns and looks at me, her face suddenly sad and weary. It's like she's aged in the past two seconds.

"It's okay to miss him... them," She says. "Not a day goes by that I don't."

She leaves after that and my eyes can't help but stare at a hole in the door.

It's been two years. And I don't know what to do without you.



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