Changes pt 2

Jessa woke up the next morning to soft sunlight streaming through the curtains of her open terrace doors. She didn't feel her mate beside her and it suddenly felt very lonely. She frowned as she kicked the blanket off and sat up. The note in the pewter holder attached to the vase of red lilies caught her attention. She picked it up sniffing the blooms and opened the note.

"My Dear Luna,

I had to go to the office, I will be back around 10am to bring you to the council meeting as I can't imagine you'd want to miss it. Also, as a future Luna, you should sit in with me on a meeting with a few neighboring clans. It would suit to know who is friend and who is foe to the pack. Put on the first dress hanging in the bathroom love, and the shoes. The second is for tonight. You'll see why. I love you, I'll see you at 10." Love, Prince Charming

The closing had her chuckling her way into the bathroom until she saw the dresses there. The first was a navy blue pencil skirt, a white silk blouse and a smart blazer with it. Causal navy blue Michael Kors flats were lined under them, the navy blue stockings were sat on top. She put the suit on and thought herself to be feminine yet elegantly business-worthy.

The second dress… oh, the second dress! It was dazzling! Stunning! It was a shimmery silver/blue and reminded her of a shorter paired down version of Cinderella's gown, the skirt was fitted and stopped right above the knee, the fitted bodice had long sleeves, a higher back and a deeper sweetheart neckline. It would hide her scars, he thought of her even then. He knew she still felt self-conscious about them. The dress was amazing. He was absolutely amazing. Then the shoes caught her attention. They were elegant and far too delicate looking to possibly be worn. The thin silver leather delicately shimmering with hundreds, no thousands of crystals, giving the illusion of being slippers of glass. This was far too much. There was no way she could wear these clothes. What on earth could possibly be occasion enough for such a dress?

She pushed the thought aside as she dabbed makeup here and there on her face. She rolled her hair back into a tidy bun. She wished she had her ears pierced to wear some cute little earrings. Pearls to match the delicate gold chain with the single pearl dropping from the middle. It was beautiful, pity she couldn't wear the beautiful earrings with it. Maybe she could get them pierced when she got better enough to earn some money. For now, she'd have to settle for wearing the necklace. Just as she swiped the rose/taupe toned lipstick across her lips a knock came at the door of her bathroom. She smiled and opened it to find James standing there in a navy blue business suit looking all too fine in it. His red tie with silver pin striping. He really was too damn handsome. And he was all hers. What a wonder that was to her.

He could smell her arousal and hissed out a breath trying to ignore the scent of it. She noticed his face when he groaned and hissed out the breath he'd been holding. She blushed and reigned her hormones in. She still had to get used to the fact he could sense these things now. It was strange. They were marked. Though she was curious what the colors of their marks could mean. They were certainly more than unusual.

They exited the house, Jessa still just a little weakened and leaning on James's arm a bit but holding her head high. She would make an amazing Luna. He had no doubt about it. She was kind, brave, strong, and level headed when the time called. Hadn't she managed to take control of the situation with Drayven and Amelia, and didn't she push herself into a shift for Caleb? She knew instinctively that she was needed and she did. That was the mark of a true Luna.

James knew she worried for Caleb. There was something there. There was no other explanation as to why the boy was an early shifter and a true warrior. There was kin somewhere linking them. There had to be. He'd wager his reputation. Jeanine said she found something amongst their blood works that needed to be discussed today. Maybe they'd have the answers there.

Reaching the meeting house of the pack's elders Jessa stood in awe of their houses. So elegant. They were elders and naturally earned their ranks and a few luxuries. She spotted Elder Jason and smiled warmly. She very much liked the old man. He was kind, and she could tell he was still as quick of wit as he ever was, even though he must be pushing 100 or so. Longevity was the were-kinds.

Jason wandered over to Jessa and took her hand in his. He had a fierce fondness for the Future Luna. She was almost as a great-granddaughter to him. Though how could she be? She had no kin that they could trace.

Once everyone was settled at the large black marble table Jeanine was given the attention of the room. She had a power point set up and several pieces of paper. Each person got a few handed to them. The lights dimmed and Jessa felt the first stirrings of something about to happen. Something groundbreaking and unexpected. She didn't know why, but she just knew something was about to happen that would forever change everything.

"What you're about to read and see is a tad confusing, but I will do my utmost best to explain it clearly and carefully. It is also a bit of a shock to me too so I will answer questions at the end as best as possible. Please bear with me." Jeanine started. She clicked the power on to the projector. "I asked all of you here as it effects all of you, some more than others. Beta Sam, I specifically asked for you as I believe you might have actually figured out part of this for yourself, hence you asked me to draw your blood in this mix too. You, Amelia, and young Caleb here do indeed share DNA. Sam, they are your sisters pups. She birthed them both." She said matter of factly.

"Impossible! Mom died when we were 12, we'd have remembered her being pregnant again, she wasn't. So how?" Amelia said.

"I had two sisters, Deanta and Jenessa. They were both taken when my former pack was decimated by an unknown attacker. We still to this day have no idea who killed my mother and kidnapped my sisters. Now I guess I know what happened to them in the end. I have nieces and a nephew." Sam said a tear rolling down his face.

"I am not Deanta's. I was taken in by her, but her blood I am not." Jessa said

"You ARE hers. Just as much as Amelia. I would like to know how she came about being in that pathetic excuse of a pack. And how did Jen? Were they always there together? Or were they separated. I want to go turn that pack upside down and find out." Sam was angry, his wolf was seething.

Jessa spoke up. "Can we take a moment? Sam, I'd like to talk to you privately. Elder Jason, is there a place we can speak privately? James, you should come along too. This isn't going to be pleasant. Luna Mae, you as well."

They were lead into a separate room and were left alone. Jessa took a steadying breath.

"I have something to show you via mindlink. I know this won't be pleasant. It's less than flattering to be honest. But I believe you need to see this." She sucked in a breath and opened the link their pack bond allowed them. She played the memory back. The young lady humiliated and looking like she'd rather be dead. Julien having at her. She didn't have to ask. She knew it was Jenessa. She could feel his recoil.

"I'll gut him. I'll beat him to death. He'll BEG for death!" Sam roared. Jessa involuntarily shrunk back and the double timbre of the alpha command filled the room.

"STAND DOWN!" James roared back, "I know you're pissed, I'M pissed for you. But you have to keep your head. We have to go about this the logical way. If we go in guns blazing we'll not be the coordinated well oiled machine we've become known for being. We will bungle and mess up. I want them ALL, not just some. We'll get them all. Soon. I swear to you.