"You said you'll tell everyone that i'm your mate? How well will that go over?" Ashton asked, rolling his eyes. Quinn chuckled. "The only problem they'd have is that you're not within the clan already. Otherwise you'll be accepted just fine, male or female." He stopped in front of Ash and tightened the buckle on the pants. Quinn leaned in and nuzzled Ash's forehead. "Please, just trust me on this. You're nervous, I can tell." Ash kissed Quinn before looking over himself in the mirror. The armor seemed to reveal more than he usually did, but maybe it was meant to be that way? " I dunno about this, Quinn."
"Come on, we've got two hours before everyone starts arriving... Wanna go have some fun?"
*****
The trip to the house of the Silverfoxes hadn't taken too long. Quinn and Ash were approaching the entrance to the very large den where the gathering would be held. With every step Ash became more nervous. Quinn put his arm around Ash in an attempt to comfort him. "Please, just relax. After the meeting, dinner and whatever else happens, I'll take you before the council."
Quin told ash beforehand that the reason for the gathering was to discuss the passing of a noble, one of their oldest and most respected members. His will would be read, and during that time, Ash wasn't allowed into the hall while the meeting was happening. "You can stay up in my room, if you'd like. Just while the meeting's going on. Unless you want to hang out with a bunch of cubs?" Ash shook his head as Quinn opened the door. Before he even got the door open, Ash could here the sounds of seven families chattering and enjoying their dinner. It started to quiet down, however. As Ash approached the table, holding Quinn's paw tightly, all eyes appeared to be upon him. It made him very nervous, and he tried not to look anyone in the eyes.
That's when the large, old fox sitting at the head of the table spoke in a voice much larger than his body.
"Quinn! Who is this outsider?"
'This is it... We're fucked.' Ash was pleading for it to be over soon.
Quinn spoke to the elder. "This is my mate, Ashton." There was a moment of silence, before someone spoke up. "Finally, Quinn! You found someone!" And another pitched in "It's about fuckin' time!" Even the older fox who had scared Ashton so much before was smiling. 'This went better than I thought it would' Ash told himself as he took a seat next to Quinn.
*****
Dinner was pleasant enough, though there were a few scuffles between younger foxes over females. A couple cubs invited Ash to play ball with them while the meeting was going on. Ash politely declined, preferring to lie on Quinn's bed and drift in and out of sleep. However, this didn't last long. After about fifteen minutes, Quinn came rushing into the room. Ash sat up to face him. Quinn was in a rush, looking very alarmed."Ash, you'd better get down here. Your father's name came up in the will, meaning whatever he receives is yours.."
Ash didn't know what to say... What had his father been up to with these strangers?
