C15 While Waiting for the Alpha to Return

Upon entering the main conference lounge, Joslyn sees her uncle, Beta Alfred, in what appears to be … judging by the grave expressions on their faces … a very serious discussion with Gamma Harold, Chief of Security for the Luminary Pack, and his son Damon, the head of their pack's Defensive Security Detail … or DSD for short … and a few of the pack's council members. On the other side of the room … arranging items on the table designated to station the coffee, tea, juice and bottled water … Doreen is beside Frederick, who standing at nearly seven feet tall … and weighing in at around three hundred and twenty-five pounds of rock-hard, solid muscle … towers over her five foot, five-and-a-half inch, pleasantly plump frame.

Who Joslyn doesn't see present is her father. She walks over to Frederick...

“Frederick, where's my dad; I thought he wanted me to meet him here. How come he isn't here?”

“He got an urgent phone call that he needed to take it, so he stepped out. I guess he's still taking that call; but he should be back once he done with it.”

A concerned ... but really more curious … Doreen cuts in...

“Jos', are you okay? Uncle Sebastian didn't lay into you too hard; did he? I tried calling you like a bazillion times to give you a heads up, but you never picked up...”

An impish little grin emerges, as she lowers her voice to whisper in her cousin's ear...

“I know you don't want to be disturbed when you're getting busy with Alyana, but you really should at least check your phone once in a while; just in case something like this happens.”

“What's happening?”

Doreen shrugs her shoulders...

“Beats me … all I know is that Uncle Sebastian's been frantically making phone calls trying to find out where you were to contact you since around four in the morning.”

Joslyn looks to Frederick...

“Do you know what's going on? Why was my dad looking for me?”

“I don't know; he didn't tell me, either … but I suppose we'll find out when he gets back.”

The impish grin on Doreen's mouth contorts to more of 'the cat that ate the canary' grin, as she mischievously jests...

“So … I heard through the 'grapevine' that you were threatening your future father-in-law. Do you really think that was the smart thing to do? I mean, what happens when you do finally go ahead and ask Count Von Barski for his daughter's hand in marriage; do you think he'll happily hand her over to you? I don't know; you might have made a major boo-boo there, cuz.”

Joslyn glances over at Frederick while raising an eyebrow...

“Heard it through the 'grapevine', huh?” Joslyn displays a devilish grin. “You may want to find a more accurate source for information. I was threatening him … I was warning him.”

“Oh; I see … so; what's the difference?”

“A threat is something you merely suggest trying to coerce someone to do what you want them to do … whereas a warning is letting them know what you are going to do if they don't do what you tell them to do.”

“Ah … got it.”

The cousins start to titter, just as the Beta walks up...

“Hmm; nice to see the two of you enjoying yourselves and having a merry old time while we're facing a serious situation.” He looks reproachfully at Doreen. “Did you finish setting up the drinks?”

Doreen playfully snaps to an attention stance and delivers a sharp, sloppy salute...

“Yes sir, Beta sir; drinks are all set up … sir!”

Instantly feeling conscientious over his daughter's saucy behavior, the Beta looks back at the distinguished pack members in attendance and takes notice of their judgmental stares. He turns back to Doreen and shoots her a rebuking glare, as he curtly snaps...

“Watch that attitude, you impudent girl! If you're finished, then take your leave … get out; there's no need for you to even be. I don't know why you uncle agreed to let you tag along, in the first place. Honestly, you're nothing more than a useless she-wolf whose only talent is stuffing her face with food.”

Joslyn's ire is instantly stirred; and she immediately jumps in to defend Doreen … and justify her cousin's presence...

“Hold on … what are you talking about, Uncle Alfred; she...”

The Beta abruptly interjects, “That's Beta Alfred; Joslyn … we're formally meeting in an official capacity this morning; so you should show me the proper respect and address me as your Beta, and not your uncle.”

she can tell that her uncle is blatantly using his position to call her out in front of the others as retaliation for speaking up on Doreen's behalf. She clenches her jaw and grits her teeth as she thinks to herself … 'Okay, uncle; I see what you're doing here. If that's how you want to play.' She loosens her jaw and stops gritting her teeth...

“My apologies … Beta Alfred. I certainly didn't mean any disrespect; I merely had just momentarily forgotten what we're here for. Again, I apologize.” Joslyn displays a mischievously devilish smirk. “However; that being said … surely you must agree that while performing your role as Beta in an official capacity, you too should be acting accordingly; and therefore treat your subordinates with the proper respect that they deserve. Openly scolding and belittling them in front of others is not only a bad example to set as a pack leader; but also totally uncalled for.”

Joslyn steps over and throws her arm over her cousin's shoulders...

“Doreen is far from being a 'useless she-wolf', as you said; and she has every right to be here. Just so you know, as soon as she finishes college and gets her business management degree; she's going to be my 'right-hand gal' and help me run the Pacific Grand.”

Joslyn takes a brief pause to flash another mischievously devilish smirk at her uncle...

“And once I take the Alpha position, my first decree will be to make her my Beta; this way she could help me run the pack, as well.”

Every one of the distinguished pack members are taken aback as shockingly appalled expressions instantly overtake their countenances. They're all aware of Joslyn's unyielding willfulness … sometimes to the point of being viewed as an unwavering obstinacy … and fierce boldness; but they still can't believe how brazenly defiant she's now being towards her Beta uncle. And that last declaration … nothing short of 'heresy'.

Beta Alfred heartily scoffs...

“Ha … you the Alpha … and her Beta?! As if that were ever to happen … over my dead body, I assure you. … What nonsense.”

The Beta crosses his arms in front of his chest and lowers his head; then briefly shakes it while musingly laughing aloud under his breath. Once done with this, he looks up to Joslyn...

“Seriously Joslyn, what do you think this is; some sort of cheap, trashy werewolf web-novel where the pack accepts a she-wolf as their Alpha? Alpha's have always been … and always will be … male wolves; that's just the way it is. So, unless you can somehow magically change you gender and grow a penis and testicles between your legs, I wouldn't hold your breath; because it's never going to happen.”

He takes another brief pause; then sneers at her...

“In fact, if you keep acting the way you've been acting, it will be a miracle if the pack accepts you as their Luna even if you do marry an acceptable male-wolf candidate for the Alpha position.”

Doreen has been struggling to keep her mouth shut up until now; but she can no longer contain herself, as she flippantly remarks...

“Personally, I think Joslyn would be an excellent Alpha … she may not have a penis; but in my opinion, she's got bigger balls than any other male-wolf in the entire pack.”

The Beta snaps...

“Keep quiet, you impudent little she-wolf! No one wants to hear what you have to say. Like I said, the only time you should be opening your mouth is to stuff food in it; that's your forte.”

Now, Joslyn snaps...

“And like I said, if you want to be treated as a Beta and shown proper respect, then you need start acting like a Beta, and treat pack members with respect and allow them to maintain their dignity!”

Beta Alfred laughs...

“You expect me to respect her? I don't think so. … And come now, Joslyn; how much dignity do you think a gluttonous pig like your cousin could possibly have?”

There are three individuals that one should never attack … whether it be physically or verbally … in Joslyn's presence … or ever, for that matter. They are the three loves of her life: the one's closest to her in her heart … Alyana, Doreen, and Jasmine. Without even giving it a second thought, Joslyn quickly protracts her claws and steps in towards her uncle; but immediately stops in her tracks when she hears her dad bellow out in his Alpha tone...

“Control yourself, Joslyn! Stand down and back off!” Alpha Sebastian stomps over to Joslyn, and rebukingly glares at her. “What is with you and those claws of yours, today? Retract them this instant, young lady.”

Joslyn's anger is demonstratively evident on her visage ... with tightly gritted teeth sitting behind pursed up, gnarling lips; a flushed, red complexion; a scrunching up at the bridge of her nose; and furrowed eyebrows resting atop wide-open eyes with fully dilated pupils … as she intensely glares at her uncle with seething eyes. The rest of her body is rigidly tensed up as her hands and arms incessantly quiver, looking as if she's forcibly holding them back from swiping out at him. But shortly; she reigns in her anger and starts to recompose herself … and draws in her claws.

The Alpha continues to rebukingly glares at both of them...

“Now, tell me; what's going on? What's gotten into the two of you? Have you both lost your minds?”

The Beta replies, “Isn't it obvious, Sebastian; your daughter had yet another lapse of lost judgment and forgot her place in the hierarchy of the pack … and her family.”

Joslyn impishly grins, as she flippantly retorts...

“That's Alpha Sebastian, to you. Don't forget to show proper respect … Beta Alfred.”

The Alpha and Beta briefly stare at Joslyn; then the Beta leans into the Alpha and whispers in his ear...

“You see; this is what I've been warning you about, Sebastian … that anger of hers is frequently taking over; and she's becoming more and more out of control. If we don't do something soon, we won't be able to handle her in the future.”

Then, after a brief pause...

“I'm sure you don't want to deal with a repeat of Sondra's great-great-grandmother; do you?”

A seriously grave expression suddenly overtakes the Alpha's countenance.