Chapter 45: *”Sub clause?”*
*The pups seem a little excited about what I am.” Officer Terrawing said to Alpha Andrew, amused by their reactions to him. “One looks as if she wants to study me, another looks as if she’s fighting with herself internally, and the other is trying to fight his instincts.”
The three he mentioned, Alora, Serenity, and Darien in that order, froze with stunned expressions on their faces. The wide–eyed looks the Dragon Master received from the three pups greatly amused him. Officer Terrawing loved being around younglings of all kinds, he always found their varied reactions to him amusing.
Alpha Andrew saw how amused the Dragon Master was and smiled. “I take it pups amuse you?”
“Younglings of all kinds amuse me. It has been a few centuries since my mates and have had a hatchling of our own. Sadly, even our eldest hatchling remains unmated, and we have no grand hatchlings to fawn over. Far too many Dragon Masters are going through the centuries without finding their mates as we have become too closely related to find our fated mates among our own kind. But my King is issuing an order and a change to our laws that gives me hope that all my hatchlings will soon be allowed to go out in the world and hopefully find their fated mates among the other beings of the world.” Officer Terrawing told him.
Alpha Andrew looked surprised. “Really, what about the Bloodpurists of the Dragon Master Council?”
“The King is no longer going to allow the Bloodpurists of the Dragon Master Council to prevent Dragon Masters from seeking their fated mates in other species. Before, the only reason the King allowed it was because the vast majority of Dragon Masters agreed with those Bloodpurists. Now with the majority of Dragon Masters four centuries and remaining mateless, they have changed their tune. Many a Dragon Master is tired of going through these long centuries alone, no mate, and no Hatchlings.” Officer Terrawing said, “The King’s order is being made official right now. Tomorrow you should start receiving requests for permission to enter your territory from Dragon Masters seeking their fated mates.”
Alpha Andrew’s expression was joyful, as was Luna Ember’s, this was an opportunity for many of their mateless Pack members to find their fated mates as well.
“This is wonderful news you bring us, we will welcome what Dragon Masters decide to start their search here.” Alpha Andrew said.
“That is good. My female said you were a great Alpha of Alpha’s and would welcome this news.” Officer Terrawing complemented.
“Your female?” Alpha Andrew asked.
“A female Werewolf from the Middle Plains Pack, she still has many kin in that Pack, and we visit often. My male and I found her when we were flying out to her Pack on Council business centuries ago, she was out for a run. It was an eventful first meeting.” Officer Terrawing said, rubbing the back of his head smiling and laughing.
Luna Ember laughed. “I’ll bet, I can only imagine what it would have been like as a female out on a run, and then to suddenly be surrounded by two giant dragons. I would think I was about to become lunch.”
Officer Terrawing looked at Luna Ember with his eyes wide, then he burst into deep rumbling laughter. “That is exactly what she thought, at first. She was snarling and barking, then she transformed, and we quickly realized the snarling and barking was her cursing and yelling at us for scaring her half to death and making her think she was about to become a midafternoon meal. Then she proceeded to yell at us that we were lucky she was a wolf and could scent that we were her mates, and would we please transform so we were no longer towering over her with hungry expressions on snouts that had way too many teeth for her liking.”
Alpha Andrew and Luna Ember laughed with the Dragon Master. It was obvious that he adored his mates and was more than okay with having a cranky cursing Werewolf female as one of them.
“Well, I am glad your female put in a good word for me.” Alpha Andrew placed a hand on Alora’s shoulder. “This is Alora, the pup mentioned in the Will, I have the paperwork here with me,” He pointed to a yellow file sitting on the table. “That proves Alora has met the terms on her end to receive her inheritance.”
“Excellent.” Terrawing said, he held out a hand for the folder and Alpha Andrew handed it to him. The Dragon Master looked through all the paperwork and found that everything was in order. “Good, good, she has indeed met the requirements of the Will as set forth in order for her to claim her inheritance.” Officer Terrawing’s gaze snapped up to meet Alora’s, startling her a little. “How long have you known about this Will and your inheritance?”
Alora did not expect to be asked this question so suddenly and immediately spat out the answer. “Just now, right before you arrived.”
Officer Terrawing frowned at that. “Did your parents hot want you to know about it?” He asked her.
Alora shook her head. “No, they didn’t.”
Officer Terrawing frowned even harder. “Were they waiting till you were older to tell you?”
Alpha Andrew cleared his throat. “Alora’s parents never intended for Alora to ever find out about the Will, the requirements to receive her inheritance, or the contents of the Will.”
Officer Terrawing’s expression became grim. “Do you have proof this was their intent?” he asked in a serious tone.
“Yes, the Principal of our Pack’s high school overheard her parents talking in the parking garage at the school not that long ago. He recorded most of it after realizing I might need proof of their actions. I have the video on my phone, I can send it to you.” Then the Alpha glanced down at Alora, before returning his gaze to the Dragon Master’s. “I would ask that you wait till you are not here to listen to it, there are some traumatizing details in that conversation.”
The Dragon Master met Alpha Andrew’s gaze, his expression grim as he thought about Alpha Andrew’s request. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, I will do as you request. Do you know their reason why they were intent on never allowing Alora to know of this Will?”
Alpha Andrew nodded. “Bettina wanted the inheritance and titles for herself. She knew about the clause in the Will that gave her everything in the event that Alora did not change her surname to Heartsong by her twenty third birthday.”
Officer Terrawing nodded, looking down at the folder he had brought with him with the necessary paperwork to get the Will signed and processed. “There was that clause, however she must not have known about the sub clause.”
Alpha Andrew frowned. “Sub clause?” He had never heard of a sub clause.
“The sub clause to Bettina getting Alora’s titles and inheritance if Alora had not changed her surname by her twenty third birthday. It requires Alora to knowingly reject
the terms
of the Will and sign off on her rejection. In other words, Alora would have still had to be made aware of the Will in order for Bettina to get Alora’s inheritance. If by chance Alora was not made aware of the Will and did not sign off that she knowingly and willingly rejected the terms of the Will. Then all contents and titles contained within the Will, would have still gone to Alora. Without Alora having to meet the original requirements. Meeting the requirements now just means Alora can now claim her inheritance without waiting till her twenty–third birthday.” Officer Terrawing explained to them.
Alpha Andrew stared at the Dragon Master stunned. “This means, Brodie never meant for Bettina to get anything from the Will. He built in a failsafe, he most likely suspected Bettina would never allow Alora to get her hands on anything he left for her.”
Officer Terrawing nodded. “This is precisely the reason this clause was written, that has been noted in the paperwork. I went over this Will extensively, and originally thought that clause out of place until now. I realize that this man must have had incredible foresight to have placed such a sub clause in his Will.”
Alpha Andrew let out a sad sounding sigh. “I believe by that point he could already sense how twisted and greedy his own daughter had become. This was his way of protecting the granddaughter he thought of as the future of the Heartsong Clan.”
Officer Terrawing nodded again. “Now, about this request he submitted when he filed his Will with the Supernatural Council Law division. Do you know why he would request that the Supernatural Council be the ones to process his Will and oversee that all the terms are met by all parties?”
Alpha Andrew’s expression was grim. “Brodie was worried that members of the Werewolf’s Council that are related to Bettina, would prevent Alora from claiming the title and the position in the Pack he left her.”
Officer Terrawing looked at Alpha Andrew with a steady and assessing gaze. “Do you believe they would do so?”
“Yes, very much so. That is why I submitted my own request for a mediator from the Supernatural Council to oversee the process.” Alpha Andrew answered.
Officer Terrawing looked satisfied with Alpha Andrew’s answers. “That concludes my initial investigation.” He said, then he reached forward and opened the folder in front of him. “Now let us get to signing these documents and processing this Will.”
