Chapter 23: Taking Control
1846 Words
*Piper’s POV*
As Dee and I approached the meeting hall I could hear all the commotion. It only intensified the closer we got. She wasn’t kidding when she said they had been freaking out. Apparently this was an odd occurrence to have the alpha and fighters gone this long.
We reached the doorway and I looked upon the crowd. Some of them were arguing with each other. Some were crying and then there were the others who just sat with blank looks on their faces. They were all becoming unglued it seemed as the more time went on that there was no word from Nikko, Jaxon or anyone from the pack.
“Does it not normally take this long for them to return from a fight?” I asked Dee.
“Them not being back is part of it. It’s mainly because we haven’t heard from anyone. Everyone’s minds have gone to the worst case scenario.” Dee explained in a nervous voice.
“And where’s your mind at on this?” I wanted to see how she was holding up.
“I don’t think they’re dead.” She tried to seem confident but I could sense she was even nervous. “I mean it is Nikko and Jaxon, I refuse to believe anything bad has happened to them until bodies get brought home.”
I looked over at the man who was standing on the raised area that created a small stage. This must be Brandon, the one Dee said Jaxon had left in charge. He was older than me with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. He looked like he was exhausted and not sure where to go from here on how to handle things.
I grabbed Dee’s hand and headed right for the stage area. We approached and Brandon’s eyes were slightly surprised when he noticed me coming over. I could sense he was a little nervous as well. I couldn’t blame him, this pack still didn’t know if they could trust me yet. Now was my time to prove I only meant well.
“They just won’t listen.” Brandon finally spoke in a defeated tone. “I’ve been trying to keep them calm for hours.”
“Step back.” I ordered.
He nodded and moved out of my way.
I cleared my voice to get all of their attention but it didn’t work. They all continued to have their meltdowns. There was only one thing I could think of that would really get their attention. I gripped the podium in front of me and then took a deep breath. I then released the loudest growl I had in me.
The pack members froze and proceeded to give me their attention. I looked around then and over to Dee who had a puzzled look on her face. Whatever was the reason we would have to talk about it later. Right now I had to take control and get everyone to calm down before I lost their attention.
“I understand that Alpha Jaxon and the fighters have been gone longer than expected. I also understand no one has heard a word from any of them.” I began to speak to them. I had never addressed this many pack members before and I really wasn’t sure what to say. The best I could do was wing it here. “I know it’s easy to expect the worst right now but we need to remain calm and in order. I know you all trust your leaders, if anything happened to them I’m sure we would have heard something by now. Until we do, then the best way to view it is no news is good news.”
“Why should we listen to you?” A familiar female voice spoke up. I looked to see who it was, as suspected it was Emma. “You’re not even our luna or marked by Alpha Jaxon, you have no authority here.”
“Because clearly listening to each other has only caused chaos.” I remained calm as I answered her. I knew her type, they got off from trying to get a rise from others. She wouldn’t be getting that from me.
“So? You’re an outsider.” She shot back.
“I may be an outsider but I don’t see anyone else trying to help. If you think you can do a better job Emma then please be my guest!” I gestured to the stairs that led up the stage. “Come on Emma, come and tell us all your ideas.”
She was clearly taken aback by my response to her. Clearly she was the pack’s mean girl, but I wouldn’t tolerate it. I had put her in her place once and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. With or without Jaxon here.
I waited for her to respond instead she remained silent.
“Emma, I meant what I said during our last conversation.” I spoke further in a warning tone. “Don’t test me again.”
She stayed silent but at least gave a nod. In her mind she must think she’s hot s**t but when she was called on it she was really just a coward.
I turned my attention back to the pack in front of me. “I may not be your luna yet, I may not be marked by Alpha Jaxon, but I know how to lead. If you’re willing to listen it will help you all see what I can do, then when it comes time to accept me you will know I only have the purest intentions for you. Are we all on board or will we have any problems?”
I waited a moment in silence for anyone to protest. They didn’t though, their eyes remained on me. Brandon approached beside me.
“I think I speak for the pack when I say we’ll give it a shot.” He looked around to make sure no one was upset for him speaking out. “What do you want us to do?”
“I want you all to go about your normal business. I’ve noticed by walking around the past few days that you all have been assigned your tasks to keep the pack running normally.” I responded and looked at the eyes that were on me. “I want you to get back out there and do those, if you don’t things will start falling apart and supplies won’t be readily available. While you do that I will try to find out any information that I can about what’s going on with our fighters. If any of you have any private concerns you’d like to discuss let Dee know and we’ll get you worked in to talk with me.”
They all nodded in agreement.
“You’re all excused. Get to work.” I ordered.
I watched the pack empty out of the meeting hall. No one protested, not even Emma thankfully. When they were all outside I turned my attention to Dee and Brandon.
“How was that?” I asked.
“Great.” Dee gave me a reassuring smile. “You’ll know in a few minutes how effective it was by whether or not they all do what you told them too.”
“How are you going to try to get an update on the pack?” Brandon asked. “You’re not marked by Jaxon and you’re not the luna yet. The only communication would be through mind link and that would be hard for you in this position.”
“I don’t know.” I bit my lip. That was the one thing I really had no plan for. I needed to figure something out though.
I may not be showing it but I was extremely worried. I wanted nothing more than to see Jaxon come into the pack house doors. The past few days made me realize how much I missed him, how much I truly wanted to be with him. I was ready to cut all ties to Moon Stone and let him mark me once he figured out how to do it.
“We can try using my link.” Dee chimed in. “Nikko’s a beta and we’re siblings, I can keep trying to reach out to him. Why don’t you join me in the library and we can see if we can find something to help you connect with Jaxon?”
“Okay.” I nodded. I then turned to Brandon. “I want you to keep me updated if anything starts to get out of hand again.”
“Yes ma’am.” He responded with a nod.
I followed Dee outside of the pack house. She led the way to the library which gave me the opportunity to see how the pack was doing now. It seemed like everything was much calmer now. The members were doing the jobs they were assigned to and though some still were clearly unhappy they were holding it together.
We reached the library where Dee tried linking Nikko. It didn’t work so we started looking through her books. We couldn’t find anything that was helpful. We continued going book after book until we decided we needed a break. Dee once again tried to link Nikko, but nothing.
“Hey Dee. Can I ask you something?” I figured if we were around all these books maybe she would have some helpful information for me.
“Of course, anything.” She responded as she set down a book.
“Do you have anything in here about a chosen mate's mark being removed?” I questioned.
She gave me a puzzled look. “I mean I do. I wouldn’t think you would need a book to know how to do that though.”
“I just want to know, that way Jaxon can mark me.” I spoke as I processed her words. “Wait, why wouldn’t I need a book?”
“Oh.” She had a look on her face as if she said too much. “I forgot Moon Stone sheltered you guys so much.”
“What do you know?” I raised a brow.
“Piper, Jaxon is your fated mate. All he has to do is mark you as he normally would. A true mate’s mark remove’s the chosen mate’s and breaks the bond.” She explained. “Jaxon could have marked you at any time and he was aware of it.”
“What?” I was dumbfounded.
He had made a whole bet on the chance of finding a way to mark me. In the end he had known all along what he needed to do. He didn’t do it though. I couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment that shot through me. Did he have second thoughts about committing to me like that? What was holding him back?
My disappointment quickly turned to fear, the fear of being rejected by my mate once her returned home.
- Writer
