Full Moon on the Lake (13 page)

14

Kyla woke to the bright sun light shining in through her window.  She sat up quickly and looked over to the other side of the cold, empty bed confused. His pillow showed he had not slept there. Had something happen last night? Had she slept through it?  Why didn’t Derrick wake her up or come to bed?  Getting up quickly Kyla dress and headed to the kitchen for breakfast hoping to find him there.  Leisa would know what was going on if he was handling an emergency.

Leisa look at Derrick and wondered if she should get involved.  She didn’t like seeing him in this state and wondered what brought it on.  She changed her mind looking at Caleb curiously as Derrick snapped at one of the men who walked in the door asking a simple question.  Caleb shrugged slightly at her and shook his head.  Kyla walked in behind Jace while Derrick yelled.  She cowed in confusion at so much anger. She walked over and placed a loving hand on his shoulder and he flinched then tightened. Getting up he moved out from under her hand, storming out of the room saying he had to get ready for the meeting.  Leaving everyone muddled, shocked and Kyla was on the verge of tears confused by his rejection.

Leisa walked over to Kyla putting an arm around her shoulders and regarded Caleb, the look telling him he needed to go talk to his son.  Caleb stood just as upset by his son’s actions rose from his chair, giving his mate a kiss on the cheek and setting a supporting hand on Kyla. He smile confidently and walked out of the room to find out what was going on.  As the door swung shut it opened again to let Kate into the room she froze at all the tension in the air.

Leisa settled Kyla in a chair while putting a cheery face on, and motioned for Kate to sit as well. Leisa needing to keep busy with her thoughts mumbling she would get everyone’s breakfast.  Kate walked over to the counter where the coffee sat waiting, poured several cups putting them on the table in front of those without cups and filling others before she just stood lost. What was going on?  She passed Derrick who seemed to growl at her when he passed. Then Caleb came out behind him with a sad look on his face.  Did she have the right to ask?  Was she the problem? Was Jacob alright? 

Needing something to do she opened a bag of bread and started making toast.  Kyla stood hesitantly, went to the refrigerator grabbed the onions, peppers and potatoes, setting the butter on the counter by Kate. Reaching into the drawer closest to her, Kyla searched vigorously for a knife to prepare the vegetables with.  The room was silent except for the noise of the eggs frying and the vegetables being enthusiastically chopped. The women quiet with their thoughts and the men smart enough not to break the silence deep in thought themselves

Caleb caught up with Derrick as he enter his office, closed the door quietly behind him and sat down in the chair in front of the desk waiting. Derrick paced the room like a caged animal not sure what exactly he was really mad at. Or who. He turned around finally noticing that Caleb sat patiently watching him pace. Derrick heave a sigh thinking of the scene he made in the kitchen, walked over to his desk and abruptly sat.  He looked down at his hands seeing the file on the desk asked, “How should we handle this?” 

Caleb regarded Derrick and raised an eye brow at him in question, “And which problem are we talking about?” 

Derrick groaned running his hands through his hair looking defeated. Caleb watched as Derrick tried to sort through all the problems he was dealing with.  Taking a deep breath, Caleb inquired about the latest dilemma,

“What changed from last night to this morning? What has you so upset with Kyla?” 

Derrick looked up at Caleb’s questions, “Are you asking as my Father or as the previous, Alpha?” 

Caleb looked intently into Derricks eyes, “Your father is needed right now I’d venture a guess.  The way you acted toward Kyla is not good for the pack’s moral.  So we need to address that problem first.” 

Derrick inhaled sharply confused and frustrated by his own feeling, “Kyla is pregnant.” He announced bluntly, sounding defeated. 

Caleb smiled an eyebrow raised in astonishment, “Well then Congratulations!!  I’m gonna be a Grampa!  When is she due?” he exclaimed excitedly, trying to figure out why Derrick was so upset at such wonderful news.

Derrick glanced at his father embarrassed, mumbled, “I don’t know.”

Caleb took a minute before he answered, “I see.  And did you not think to ask her?” he questioned, slowly putting together what may have happened. 

“Kyla doesn’t know I know.”  Derrick Confessed. 

Caleb just stared at his son with a thoughtful expression.  So Derrick continued, “Kyla was brushing her hair in the bathroom, didn’t see me standing there behind her when she started talking to the baby. I was so dumbfounded; I left and didn’t go back.”

Standing up unable to sit still, he started pacing again, “Dad, I don’t know how I feel, I am mad on one hand that she did this to me and on the other hand;” Derrick turned and faced his father, “I am excited to know I am gonna be a father.”  The room was quiet, as Derrick smiling sheepishly, slumped down in his chair. 

Unexpectedly Caleb burst out laughing. “DUMBfounded is the right word to use.”

“Derrick; son;” He started smiling at his sons absurdity, “This is not the big problem you think it is.  I don’t know much but, I can assure you Kyla did not do this to make your life harder. I am quite sure she is just as upset about this as you are. You need to talk to her.  And soon!” 

Caleb got up and placed a hand on Derrick’s shoulder, “Son, she is one the finest alpha female we have. She understands more about the Alpha’s responsibilities and duties better than even Leisa did at her age.  You have got to give her more credit than thinking she is some scheming female. She is a strong alpha, she has the respect and gratitude of the entire pack.”  Caleb walked back to his seat finishing with, “She deserves that same respect from you.”

Derrick sighed, his father was right; he needed to talk to Kyla, but now was not the time he had a meeting to prepare for. Feeling this was as about as resolved as he could get it at this moment, he nodded once at Caleb. Looking down at the folder on his desk Derrick purposely ended the conversation,

“So how are we going to explain all this to the elders?”  Successfully changing the subject and picked up the folder.

All the wolves were finishing their breakfast; no one said anything through the entire meal. Everyone was cautiously quiet and seemed to be deep in thought, glancing over at Kyla and Daniela, who seemed more intent on moving the food around their plates than eating it.  Leisa watched as each wolf stood and placed the plate in the sink, kissed Leisa’s cheek in respect and left, leaving Kyla and Daniela alone with her. 

“First off,” Leisa said breaking the silence in the room when the last person left and the door closed behind them, “Kate; this has nothing to do with you honey, there is nothing wrong with Jacob at this moment. So you can relax, you have done nothing wrong.”  Motherly she looked over to Kyla’s face at her heart wrenching tears.  Leisa got up and moved next to Kyla, “What happened dear?”

“I don’t know.” She cried between sobs, “He said he would be right up after he checked on Jacob. He was so happy when I saw him last night.” Kyla sniffled, “He never came to bed.” She continued dejectedly.  “And he is obviously upset with me. I just can’t figure why, what it could be.” 

She looked up at Leisa, “I haven’t had a chance to tell him about….” She stopped looking a Kate then continued, “I just don’t know what I could have done to make him so angry.” 

Kate stood to leave, “I need to go see Jacob; I was told I could visit with him today.” Leisa smiled up at her encouraging her as she left.

Leisa looked back at Kyla. “Caleb will figure out what is wrong and we will get this straightened out.” She patted her hand “Don’t you worry.” Then standing continued, “Right now we have a meeting to go to and you both have to look unified.”  Leisa walked over to a drawer pulling out a cloth then getting wet giving Kyla a second to gather herself.

“Here,” she handed her a tissue and got a cold cloth, “let’s get ready and go get this over with so you and Derrick can talk.”

The Conference room filled slowly.  You could already see the pack grapevine was in working order, the women gathered on one side of the conference table and the men on the other. Whispered concern could be over heard as some asking about the incident in the kitchen this morning.  Speculation on what the problem is between the two alphas were asked, answered with free flowing as a best guesses and speculations. It seemed everyone had an opinion on what it could be and how to fix it.

Derrick surmised as he walked in, that the women would stick with Kyla, no matter who is at fault, and the men with him.  Well at least most of the men, if they figured out what happened they would all kick his ass. Derrick laughed to himself, at the juvenile way even as adults we separate ourselves.  This was his fault and as Alpha, as Kyla’s mate, he had to fix it. 

Caleb and Leisa walked in at that moment with Kyla behind them.  Leisa looked up and gave him that, ‘You had better fix this now or I will!’ look he always feared getting when he was a kid.  How could mothers do that, no matter what you did to get in trouble, or how old you were, they always made you feel worse than you thought you could ever have thought you could feel and never say a word.

Kyla followed Leisa and moved to the group of women holding her head up, smiling tentively at Derrick.  Derrick could no longer stand the hurt he had put on her face. Screw the meeting he walked determinately over toward Kyla, his face set with resolve. When he approached her, she cringed slightly for a second, afraid, before he gathered her up in his arms and kissed her right there in front of everyone. He looked into her eyes at the fear and confusion and hurt in her eyes and his heart broke.  She should never feel like this toward him, never feel afraid of him.

“I am so sorry.” He whispered into her ear, “This is my fault, I love you!  Never again do I want to see the fear I just saw in your eyes. It broke my heart to think I put it there.  Can you forgive me?” His face was in so much turmoil, the pain in his face, to much to bare and tears slide down her face.

“Yes, always.”

Amazed at this woman he called mate, he lifted her in a tight unyielding hug, kissed her soundly again.  The tension eased as wolf whistles and catcalls filled the room.  

Kyla blushed as he set her down on her feet, “We will talk later.”  He smiled impishly back at her. Then led her to the head of the table with his arm around her waist. The room now filled with laughter, the tension eased as everyone’s spirits lifted as they went to their seats.  Derrick remained standing after he set Kyla in her chair, waiting for everyone to settle down.

“This is a closed meeting. Michael would you please assign someone to watch the door.” Derrick waited until Jace move to the outside of the door and closed it. With Eric standing guard on the inside. He knew Jace would be updated and briefed later.

“OK, Now, everything that is said in this meeting, stays in this room.” The order in his voice compelling everyone to obey. Waiting just seconds for the order to sink in he nodded to Caleb then continued.  “I have asked only the Elders and security to be here for this meeting as it involves the pack and its security. He remained quiet as Caleb handed a folder to everyone. People opened their folders and suddenly looked up confused.

Leisa looked up puzzled and upset, ‘You have got to be kidding’ plastered across her face and many of the others at the table. Looking around the room, everyone else seemed to have the same disbelief expression he thought he had when Caleb gave him the file. Caleb returned the look with sympathetic eyes. As the noise level in the room began to rise, Derrick halted the abundance of questions arising,

“If everyone will calm down I have asked Caleb and Doc to explain the history and need for the precautions set forth to save Jacob.

Emily just looked around the room knowing the situation was going to become very difficult, the conversation could become out of control fast. As everyone continued voicing their outrageous demands for an explanation, she slowly stood and walked to the head of the table.  The room went silent as she stood in front of Derrick with a determined look on her face.

Derrick looked questioningly at Emily. Her smile, serious, belayed she could help, he bowed slightly and sat down next to Kyla, giving Emily the room.  She stood quietly staring at everyone and nothing at the same time.  She sighed and looked down shaking her head.

“Most of you know I am old, but the gentleman that you are, have never asked me how old.”  She paused and took in a deep breath, “I knew most of your great grandparents.” and in a slightly lower voice, “And theirs; and theirs as well.”

The room was so quiet you could have heard a feather falling to the ground.  Everyone knew you could live a thousand years but most died or disappear around 800 years.  “I was around when these rules were implemented,” She continued, “I helped write them.” Everyone looked down at the date scrolled on the bottom of the document, 1211 AD.

Taking a deep breath Emily continued, “There was a very good reason these rules or guidelines were implemented; to keep the females safe from a threat from the male which arose before, during and after a mating. It was written for her protection and to keep males safe from the disaster of going feral and having to be killed.” As she continued speaking, her voice was becoming stronger with a request for understanding and patience as she explained the reasoning behind the need.