The first tactic Luna Sarah decides to employ is humor; hoping that perhaps a bit of levity will somehow relieve at least some of the mounting tension abounding the room. So, she jocularly interjects...
"There, there you two; can we please hold off on all this squabbling until the next family reunion barbeque ... after all, nothing beats a dinner and a show."
This sudden quip from the Luna seems to have had some effect, at least at the moment; distracting the battling siblings' attention, and giving her enough time to take the opportunity to move in beside the Alpha and cradle his arm in hers.
The Luna then snuggles up against her husband and begins to softly caress his arm while trying to coax him in a sort of manipulatively coquettish manner...
"Come now, Julian; my love ... I know that what she's done is quite distressing; there's no denying that ... and that you're only thinking about the safety of the rest of the pack ... but regardless, Sasha is still just a five-year-old, little girl; is it really necessary to keep her locked up in the detention center? Couldn't you see it in your heart to release her into Teresa's custody, and make her responsible for keeping Sasha in line?"
The Alpha immediately realizes what the Luna's up to, seeing right through the ploy being orchestrated with those crafty feminine charms of hers. He looks to his wife with a steadfastly stern expression prominently etched upon his visage, and tells her...
"My dearest Sarah; you have two roles to fulfill in our pack ... you are the Alpha's wife; and you are the Luna of the Rainier Pack. And right now, it makes no difference which role you have decided to take on; whether it be as my wife or the Luna of the pack, you are crossing the line and seriously stepping over your boundaries."
Alpha Julian gently takes hold of Luna Sarah's wrist and untwines their interlocked arms, then walks over to his desk...
"I know very well what you're trying to do, and it won't work."
He picks up a manilla envelope and pulls out the photos from inside, spreading them atop the desk's surface. He repeatedly taps his index finger on a few of the photos as a means of gesturing for her and Teresa to come and take a look...
"This is what that 'five-year-old, little girl' did. I dare you to look over these photos taken at the incident's scene and honestly tell me that you still believe I should allow Sasha to be released."
Both Luna Sarah and Teresa gradually walk over to the desk and gaze down at the graphically explicit, shockingly grotesque, brutally raw and 'in your face' photos capturing what some could argue was just 'the tip of the iceberg' of that abhorrent carnage from Sasha's bloody massacre.
The Luna's immediate response to those horridly ghastly images ... she emits a sudden deep gasp, then quickly draws her hands over her instantly formed fully agape mouth.
She momentarily tightly squeezes her eyes shut to avoid looking at them any longer, then rapidly spins around and rushes over to the nearest couch to take a seat before her now wobbling knees buckle out from under her.
Teresa's response to those highly disturbing images, on the other hand, is completely different than the Luna's; probably because, unlike everyone else present ... with the exception of the Delta; who's earnestly hoping that the truth remains buried ... Teresa is aware of at least some of the truth behind the so-called emissaries that Sasha killed.
She just looks down on them unfazed, maintaining a stoic visage. And, after a short time of perusing over the photos, Teresa looks her brother directly in the eyes and tells him without reservation in no uncertain terms...
"Julian ... I still honestly want you to release my daughter..." Teresa noticeably raises her voice in a demanding manner, "Now."
Elders Elliot Chandler and Victor Strong, both members of the Rainier Pack's Tribunal of Elders, have also been in attendance this whole time in the Alpha's private study; and up until now, had decided to remain silent and just listen in. But this is about to change.
Elder Elliot has always been one of the strongest opponents of the Alpha's decision to allow Teresa to adopt Sasha and Katarina from the very beginning; and has remained one of the most vocal among the dissident wolves to speak up about it.
Then, there's also the fact that he was a close, lifelong friend of Alpha Julian's and Teresa's deceased father, the former Alpha Walter Thurgood.
So, between his esteemed position on the tribunal and his close ties with their father, the Elder has taken it upon himself to mistakenly assume that he would naturally have 'Carte blanche' when speaking with them; allowed to freely offer his advice and opinions ... which in most cases wound up being viewed upon by the siblings as nothing more than the blathering of some old, pompous windbag and irksome meddling.
And this self-perceived 'Carte blanche' had always annoyed Teresa the most because ... with the exception of Julian granting her request to adopt Sasha and Katarina ... Elder Elliot always tended to agree with and take Julian's side; even before he held the position of Alpha.
So now, after Teresa's latest resolute demand to have Sasha released, there's a momentary unnerving silence permeating the study as the mounting buildup of tension continues to rise throughout the atmosphere of the meeting. That silence is broken when Elder Elliot foolhardily blurts out...
"And here we go; as usual, Teresa's thinking that it's all about what she wants. It's like I've always told you, Julian; you need to stop pandering to your sister's whims and allow her to keep having her way. She's clearly become spoiled to the point of flagrant insolence."
The Elder makes an even bigger blunder as he looks Teresa directly in her eyes ... which are now once again fiercely glaring with those 'piercing daggers being thrown out from them' ... and tells her...
"Listen up, missy; if it wasn't for the fact that Julian foolishly allowed his brotherly love for you to get the better of his usually good judgment and caved-in to that preposterous request of yours to adopt that damn rogue she-wolf and dampyr five years ago, we wouldn't be in the predicament that we're in now."
Beta Stephen Caldwell interjects with a question, "Pardon the interruption, Elder Chandler; but just exactly what predicament do you think we're currently in?"
The Elder takes a moment to look back to the Beta to respond...
"Why, the fact that we may become targets of the vampire community."
He then goes back to looking Teresa directly in her eyes...
"Because now, thanks to that little psychopath of yours, we're more than likely going to find ourselves at odds with the Clan of the Old Order."
It has taken just about every fiber in her body to restrain herself long enough to graciously allow Elder Elliot to speak his piece. But the very moment he finishes ... once again taking action before anyone has time to react ... Teresa lunges at the Elder and tightly grasps hold of his shirt collar; wrenchingly twisting it while pulling him within inches of her face; lifting him up slightly off the ground to where he's unsteadily balancing himself on his toes.
With those fiercely piercing, 'dagger-throwing' eyes repeatedly 'stabbing him' as she intensely glares at the vigorously trembling Elder; Teresa menacingly growls through gritted teeth...
"If I wanted to hear your opinion ... which I highly doubt I ever would in this lifetime ... I would have beaten it out of you. I was talking to my brother, no one else; so, stay out of our discussion and keep your fucking mouth shut."
Alpha Julian uses his most authoritatively commanding tone as he brusquely barks out...
"Let go of him this instant!! ... Have you really completely lost your mind, Teresa? ... Elder Chandler is not only one of the highest-ranking members of the Tribunal of Elders, but he was also one of father's most cherished friends; so, give him the respect he deserves."
Teresa flippantly retorts out of the side of her mouth, "I am giving him the respect he deserves."
Again, Alpha Julian barks out, "Teresa, get your hands off of Elder Elliot and release him; now!!"
Teresa pulls the Elder in even closer, intensely glaring at him while uttering one last growl; then unceremoniously shoves him away. Teresa glares at Alpha Julian...
"He may have been a cherished friend of father's ... but he's no friend of mine. So Julian, I strongly suggest that you 'keep your dog on its leash', or I'll keep kicking it aside to the curb until it learns its place."
The Alpha harshly rebukes his seemingly impertinently rebellious sister...
"That's enough, Teresa!! ... And 'I strongly suggest' that you hold your tongue while you still have a tongue to hold."
Feeling a bit vindicated by the Alpha's apparent scolding to Teresa, believing that he has the full support of the Alpha in this matter; Elder Elliot hastily fiddles about with his collar to straighten it out, as he snidely comments...
"I believe that Delta Colin was absolutely correct when he brought up the point that Sasha must get her violent tendencies from Teresa. Both of their irrationally volatile behavior demonstrated tonight clearly proves that they are indeed 'two peas in a pod'."
Teresa immediately moves back in towards Elder Elliot, but luckily this time Gamma Ray is able to react and intervene before another physical altercation escalates.
He manages to quickly position himself between them and firmly, yet not too forcibly, takes hold of Teresa's shoulders and guides her back, separating the two with even more distance between them than before.
Alpha Julian first looks to Gamma Ray and gives him a nod of approval; then turns to the oblivious Elder, who is apparently suffering from a severe case of 'diarrhea of the mouth', and advises him...
"With all due respect, Elder Elliot; might I strongly suggest to you that you mind your words and refrain from making any further remarks that may agitate my sister. I'm afraid that if you don't take my advice and continue to make such comments; we may not be able to hold her back again."
Disappointed now with the realization that he doesn't have as strong of an ally as he thought he had within the Alpha, Elder Elliot bites down on his tongue as he mutters in a griping tone...
"Understood, my Alpha. Of course, I will heed your advice and do as you wish."
"Good; I believe that would be best for everyone." Alpha Julian turns to Teresa. "As for you ... although Elder Elliot's opinion may have been unsolicited and thoughtlessly phrased; he did make one irrefutably valid point which cannot be overlooked..."
The Alpha cups his hands behind the small of his back and wanders over to the study's window. He stares into the darkness outside as he soberly states...
"Sasha's violent rampage tonight has placed us in a very precarious predicament with the vampire community. I don't believe that Countess Ardelean will respond too kindly once learning that Sasha viciously killed the emissaries sent here to pick up Katarina and take her back to Transylvania."