My brows creased at that explanation that Channing had given about the Omega blood elder, "So Axel's ability is to see the future?"

"No," Channing shook his head, "Axel never developed an ability in his entire life, but he gets visions of the future. He is too good at deciphering them."

That can be nasty if he had any vision of my future. I just hoped that he did not. "Okay, I am ready. Let's go," I said as Channing and I walked through where Paul was and through the door that was behind him. There was another waiting room made of the same white interior, adorned with shelves of books and newspapers. Paul was the one who went through another door and then came outside to ask us to go in.

"Alpha, you can go inside," Paul said before going back to his previous place.

This was the moment I had eagerly been waiting for. The people I would be seeing were the ones that I needed help with for my mission. I could not directly ask them because before that I had to change the minds of the general public.

"Alpha Channing pays respect to the elders," Channing said, and bowed.

I had to follow, so I used the same phrase to introduce myself, "Beta Selene pays respect to the elders."

"Rise," said the eldest elder, Madilyn Hooper, her voice as shrill as her age, and it felt like I was back in the castle. That was exactly how my mother used to ask me to rise when I used to go presenting my respects to her as a child. When I saw everyone, it was not tough to guess who was who, as Channing had discreetly explained their looks and abilities. In the middle of the round table sat Madilyn and on her either side were the two former Betas, Chris Walter and Colton Hunter.

"I heard about the new changes being implemented," Came a voice from the extreme right. I guessed him to be Axel Evertt the Omega who had earned the privilege to be an elder.

I smiled at his acknowledgement of the change I was implementing in the village.

But when I was about to say something, Colton was the one who spoke through his long grey moustache and beard, "change is an inevitable part but only when it comes from within. The kind of change you are enforcing will be followed for a few days before the enthusiasm downs."

The pressure already built up for me by that mere disagreement and the rest joined in.

"That is also true. You will have to work hard to keep that zeal," said Madilyn in her low and rough voice.

Channing's father joined to give a different opinion though, "Change is something that is a need of all times, the kids will surely try to bring the best out of it." There were immediate and evident sneers at Mr Collins's words and his eyes met with mine, proving it to me that his opinion was truly not excepted here.

Channing bowed low got up before he spoke, "We will try and work our best to bring out the best of the people. After all, we are working towards improving our village. We can always try to see how it works out first. "

I turned to look at Channing, but held back the look that welled up on my face. How can he say we had to check whether it would work rather than support? Maybe he was being cautious in front of the elders, but I was a little taken aback by his sudden shift in opinion towards the elders.

There was no point for me to hold back as Channing though, so I said quickly, "We will surely give our best towards the initiative."

"Of course, trying is a must," came the gentle reply from Axel. He was the only one who seemed to be accepting of the change. "It is when you try and give your best, then only the chances to succeed increase." I smiled at his words. Somehow, he was the only one in the room who was seemingly upping my enthusiasm.

"And also you get to know whether the idea failed," came another curt reply from Colton as he flashed a smile to me, which got hidden behind his grey beard.

This was truly nerve-wracking to stand here in the amount of tension that they were building. I bowed because Channing had been doing that when as well, "I will give my best as the Beta of Winterwells." I had no other words to offer, as it was only going to turn into a chain of disagreement and agreements.

It was always best to throw the results on their face instead of making promises and something told me that they would be happy even if the results turned out good. The elders looked like they had their own internal conflicts going on and the eldest one seemed to stay neutral, as she had not spoken yet. I wondered what her personality was like. After all, her abilities were to control someone's mind and she sure must have seen many minds in her entire term as the Alpha of Winterwells.

"I hope you are good," Mr Collins talked as if we had no conversation before this. "And let's hope you don't turn out like the one we had before," he said tauntingly.

I could tell why others did not get along with Henry Collins. The man sure loved to rub salt on people's wounds. One of the elders tensed and I very well knew it was John Walter's father, Chris Walter. He cleared his throat in distress and spoke curtly, "go now. We have other important things to discuss than handling mere introductions."

"Best of luck for your term, Selene," Madilyn spoke, and I and Channing bowed for the final time before turning on our heels to make an exit. Why did I feel like things were going to be very messed up whenever I try to mend the feud?