C16 The Situation at Hand...Or Rather, Out of Hand

As the Alpha and Beta remain huddled in their whispered conversation, the last of the council members summoned for this emergency meeting arrive. Gamma Harold speaks up...

"Pardon me, Alpha Sebastian, but it looks like everyone's present; so, perhaps you and the Beta could hold off on your family's dispute for the time being and start the briefing." He briefly glances over at Joslyn with a noticeable judgmentally scrutinizing expression upon his countenance, "With all due respect; I believe that the need to address the current situation at hand far outweighs the two of you squandering any more time over Joslyn's usually typical, unruly behavior."

Damon, who's been unsuccessfully pursuing Joslyn for the past few years ... not so much because he has any romantic interest or affection for her, but rather having his eyes determinedly set on hopefully taking over the Alpha role someday by marrying Alpha Sebastian's eldest daughter ... immediately puts on a pretentiously gallant, false air to 'come to the damsel's rescue' and defend Joslyn's honor, and quickly interjects...

"Come on, Dad; stop being so harsh. Besides, you're wrong ... Joslyn may be a bit headstrong; but she's not unruly."

Joslyn's not falling for Damon's feigned, chivalrous act ... seeing right through his obvious, pretentiously gallant charade ... and she displays and impish grin, as she flippantly quips...

"Oh; I'm unruly, alright ... and, also more than just a bit headstrong; but very much so. But that's all just part of my charm..." she turns to her cousin, "wouldn't you agree; Doreen?"

Doreen quickly nods; while evoking one of her typical huge, friendly smiles. The Gamma rolls his eyes; then gruffly huffs...

"You see; that's just how she is, Damon ... I wouldn't expect anything else. So, stop wasting your time futilely chasing after her ... remember, Alpha Sebastian has Henry Cavendish in mind for his future son-in-law; so just give it up already. Also, there's no need to defend someone when they willfully admit their own guilt..." he shoots her a reproachful glare, "especially when they do it so unabashedly brazen, at that."

Joslyn reciprocates his reproachful glare with yet another impish grin ... which instantly irks the Gamma; causing him to snap...

"What's with that 'shit-eating' grin of yours; girl?! What; did I say something you find amusing? Are you really that shamelessly proud to be so defiantly unruly; is that it?"

Still tauntingly wearing that goading grin, Joslyn saucily retorts...

"Well yeah, kind of; but that's not what the 'shit-eating' grin, as you call it, is for."

The agitated Gamma snaps again...

"Then what's so amusing?!"

"Honestly; I find it kind of that only minutes ago you were telling my dad and uncle that they shouldn't be 'squandering any more of their time over my unruly behavior' ... but here you are, still going on and fussing over little, old me."

Doreen titters aloud and immediately draws the Gamma's attention; and he immediately shoots her over a reproachful glare, while snapping...

"And what are you snickering at; you fat little, impudent she-wolf?! Sure, your cousin may be insolent; but at least she serves a purpose and contributes to the pack ... unlike your worthless self! It's no wonder your own father is ashamed of you; if I were your father, so would I."

Instantly infuriated and embarrassed that his daughter was chided by an underling in front of the council members ... instead of himself being the one to reprimand her ... Beta Alfred rebukingly glares at Doreen; then rushes over with the intent of delivering a hard rap to her mouth. But as he angrily swipes out at her face, Joslyn sharply grasps hold onto his wrist ... tightly clenching it in a vise-like grip ... then dominantly wrenches downward and twists the Beta's arm around his back; seemingly doing so in one swift movement. ... The Gamma and his son ... whom devoted their entire lives providing security for the Luminary Pack ... can't help but to be impressed by Joslyn's well-executed ... and, instinctively quick and overpoweringly fierce ... defensive maneuver.

Showing a little bit of mercy towards her uncle, Joslyn slightly loosens her vise-like grip ... though still maintaining a firm hold on his wrist ... then angrily growls through gritted teeth...

"Don't even think about hitting Doreen; Uncle Alfred..." she pauses briefly as a subtle, mischievous grin emerges upon her mouth; then facetiously corrects herself, "Sorry; I mean ... Beta Alfred."

Then Joslyn looks over at the Gamma, and derisively sneers...

"If anyone should be smacked in the mouth, here today; it should be Gamma Howard, over there."

The Gamma's face instantly flushes to a dark, beet-red shade; and the veins in his forehead pop out, while he tightly clenches his jaw and grits his teeth. Meanwhile, his son blurts out a brief snicker; causing him to receive a sharp punch in the upper arm from his irate father.

All of a sudden, the booming bellow reverberates throughout the main conference room, as Alpha Sebastian authoritatively belts out in his most dominate Alpha tone...

"That will be enough! Everyone; shut up and take your seats!" He sternly glares at Joslyn with piercingly rebuking eyes, "Joslyn ... release your uncle; now!!"

The Alpha has everyone in the room quivering in fear as they 'quake in their boots'. Well; everyone except Joslyn that is; who ironically was intended to be main recipient for the brunt of his enraged outburst ... which is really irking the fuming Alpha. Instead, Joslyn smugly smirks; then condescendingly pats the Beta on his shoulder before releasing her grip and lightly pushing him away. Then, she lovingly wraps her arm under Doreen's, and leads her cousin over to the table; making sure to have her cousin take a seat beside her, on the right. She looks over at her uncle ... who's carefully kneading his aching arm, trying to rub away the pain ... and impishly grins again, while tauntingly goading...

"Like I told all of you before ... this is my 'right-hand gal', over here; so, don't any of you forget it."

The 'emasculated' Beta clenches his teeth together, then spins about and walks over to the Alpha; with the Gamma in close tow behind him. He exasperatedly huffs before commencing another whispered conversation...

"I told you, Sebastian; she's getting more and more out of control. We need to do something about this before things totally get out of hand."

The Gamma quickly concurs, "Your brother's right, Sebastian; if you don't nip this violently defiant behavior of hers in the bud soon, we won't be able to control her anymore."

The Alpha chuckles, "'Control her anymore' ... as if we have any control over her now. Frankly speaking; we've already lost control over her years ago. The only thing we can do now is to be sure not to piss her off, and hope for the best." He briefly pauses before continuing...

"That being said ... I don't want to hear any whining from either of you, because you only brought it on yourselves. You may be able to get away with pushing Joslyn so far before she retaliates back; but there's no way in hell she's going to allow anyone to mess with Doreen ... yet knowing this, you both still went after Doreen; so, don't blame me for what happened. The two of you were basically asking for it." He looks reproachfully at his brother, directly in the eyes...

"You should know that better than anybody else, Alfred ... but you still keep insisting on demeaning and attempting to strike Doreen in front of Joslyn; so, don't be so surprised when your niece lashes out at you for it."

The Beta bites down on his lip before grumbling...

"I'm her father; so, I'll discipline that worthless she-wolf however I see fit, Sebastian. Just because you're neglecting to discipline your own daughter doesn't mean that I won't discipline mine. Again ... it's my right to handle Doreen how I see fit. If I want to demean and hit that useless, gluttonous pig of a daughter of mine; then so be it."

The Alpha briefly stares at the Beta, then slowly shakes his head before letting out a short huff...

"Whatever, Alfred; you're right ... Doreen's your daughter; and how you raise her is entirely up to you..."

The Beta haughtily poises his arms across his chest while curtly cutting off the Alpha...

"That's right."

"But..." the Alpha warns the Beta, "if that's really the way that you're going to raise Doreen ... again, I can say is that if your niece lashes out at you for it; then so be it."

The Beta and Gamma are momentarily speechless ... both displaying a partially agape mouth ... until the dumbfounded Gamma finally asks...

"Sebastian ... don't tell me that you actually condone your daughter's aggressive behavior?"

"No ... not necessarily..." He once again pauses briefly before stating, "But ... if we take into consideration the situation at hand that we're facing now; perhaps Joslyn's aggressiveness isn't so bad, after all. It might come in handy and prove to be useful while dealing with this issue."