Jen tapped on the table with a rather irritated glare in place on her face. A headache was beginning to creep its way up her neck as she stared at the source of her glare and headache. The ancestral council was comprised of the pack leaders of the past, each becoming part of the council as they passed from the living to the dead. In the room with her and the council was her mother, Carlotta, and her father, Kravyn.
Her mother's black hair was pulled into a tight, formal bun that pulled the already sharp features of her face even sharper and pinched. Her golden eyes seemed set in a perpetual glare that always fell on her. The second oldest of her siblings, Jenista had yet to accept a mate, even though she was expected to take one over five years ago.
Her father was a stark contrast to Carlotta. His brown hair, that resembled wolf fur more than anything, was kept in controlled chaos. Though tamed, his thick hair still spiked up slightly. His golden eyes were warm, showing the wisdom of the years he held as the pack leader.
Jen plainly preferred her father over her mother. Her father was more patient and kind. He once told her that he saw the fire of a true leader in her, ever since she was a pup. Her training had come from him, even though her mother had openly disapproved.
Far more concerned about appearances and tradition, Jen's mother wanted her to be more princess-like. It was the appropriate thing as a royal family. Though she couldn't blame her mother for her concerns, something about her disapproval rubbed Jen the wrong way. Jen often found herself going out of her way to anger the wolf queen. Her current state of unmated bliss was the focal point of that anger.
Part of her wanted a mate to rely on and fall in love, but a darker, more selfish side wanted a legacy. Despite the damage it would do to the reputation of the royal family, Jen wanted to be the only female in the history to lead a pack of Wolf-demons while remaining unmated. Her older brother, Salvatore had reliquished his claim to the throne to mate with a she-wolf named Jettalynn. Though Jet was a pure blood and a wonderful person, the leader was required to mate to one of the royal families.
Being second in line, the throne fell to Jen. As each suitor presented themselves to her, she quickly banished them, blaming her instincts would not allow her to mate with a weaker wolf. Although true, Jen's reasons and motives were entirely different.
In such times of peace, most of the princes were incredibly weak, and it was easy to cast them out. The more stubborn ones quickly earned a ticket to the afterlife from Jen if they pushed her too far.
The ancestors continued to mutter about themselves, which Jen felt was more for show, as they were linked in thoughts and the foresight anyway. Her nail kept a steady beat as she arched a brow when one of the ancestors finally turned to her and her parents.
"The child that is to inherit the throne must be mated within a week, or the kingdom will fall." The words of the ancestor rang through the etheral hall and Jen's brow arched further.
"You are actually going to try to tell me that the fate of the wolf-demons hinges on whether or not I mate?"
The silence that answered her caused her to growl. "You are fools to think that such a powerful race would fall solely because I refuse to go against my instincts and mate to a lesser male wolf."
"Jenista!" Jen's mother jumped to her feet to chastise her. "You are in no place to be calling-"
"Enough," the head of the council barked. "Our wisdom has been spoken. We have nothing else to say."
The ancestral council faded from the room, their etheral blue glow slowly fading as the room returned to normal and Jen awaited the tongue-lashing she was about to recieve from her mother.
"You have some nerve, child," her mother chastised.
Had Jen not been so used to being able to restrain her anger with her mother, she would have snapped at her mother's flippant tone. "You must mate," she continued. "You are well passed the age for a mate and it is a disgrace that you haven't found one. You will choose a mate today, and so help me if you kill another suitor-"
Jen cut off her mother's tirade with an irritated tone. "Maybe you shouldn't send suitors I can kill. Find me a male that is stronger and it will be considered."
Yeah, fat chance it would actually be considered. At this rate, it was impossible they would find a royal male more powerful. Teach them to beat her to the brink of death so many times. Which brought her to another point. "Which by the way, you can thank yourself for not being able to find a stronger wolf. Maybe you should have thought through trying to break me better."
"You deserved every single-" her father cut her off.
"Carlotta. Enough," he commanded and Jen smirked triumphantly. Dad to the rescue.
"And You," he said turning to her. Damn. "You know better than to instigate. I raised you better than that."
Jen's triumphant smirk fell and nodded slightly. Her dad sighed, irritation starting to build. "Leave us for a moment, Carlotta."
Reluctantly, she obliged and left the hall. The silence seemed to draw out as she awaited her father's words. Something about the whole situation made her feel like a little kid again.
"I knew from the minute you were born that you would be a force to be reckoned with. Even as an infant, you fought with everything you had to do things your own way," he said, his eyes clouding over with pride and memories. Double damn. Effective guilt trip here we come.
He looked back to her "Now I don't believe our kingdom will fall because you haven't found a mate, but it is important for the future leader to be mated. So could you do me a big favor and consider it? The least it would do is get Carlotta off my case about you. The things she suggests is best for you just seem out right ridiculous."
Her father's eyes darkened a degree, haunted by a time when he thought her mother knew best and allowed Jen to be beaten to the brink of death repeatedly over nearly a year to try to get her to submit. In the end the young care-free girl had become the woman who delivered the guards ordered to beat her to his bedroom door, thuroughly beaten and dead. Some part of her wondered if it had made her better or worse.
In the end, it didn't matter what it made her. It had failed to do what Carlotta intended for it to do. With a long sigh she looked up at her father. "I will consider it," she said grudgingly.
Before her father could say anything, a group of foreign energies caught her attention and Jen left the hall to investigate. The sight she came upon caused anger to boil through her as she launched herself towards the group.
A/N~ Okay so I lied. The meeting is the next chapter but don't worry~ I already have it typed up :) It was just too long as one chapter and seemed be break into two fairly seamlessly.
On a side note, you know how they say crackers are terrible to eat in bed? Like how someone who is extremely attractive would be someone you would let eat crackers in your bed? Well I have found fried chicken is worse. Last time I eat lunch in bed with my laptop typing up a chapter. My sheets are in the wash now but crumbs were effectively Everywhere. So future reference, if you are contemplating whether or not you find someone attractive, instead of crackers, think "Gee, would I let him eat Fried Chicken in my bed?"
Anyway, I'll be posting the third chapter here shortly. In fact it will probably already be up by the time you read this note.
Much love ~Jessa