When we get back in the car, I don't go back to sleep. Instead, I begin to think of all the possibilities that await me at the Senate. I'm not sure what they can offer us for help, but maybe we can figure this out together. I know that I can't unveil my identity, not yet anyway. I'm not prepared for the responsibility that comes with it. What I can do though, is offer help. I will ask for their help finding my pack members, and to help me bring them back home.

"We're approaching the main gate now, according to your father." The driver, a man named Dante, says.

"Alright. Thank you for the heads up." I say, pulling myself out of my own mind. The car becomes tense, everyone staring out the windows.

A large white metal gate appears, as if out of thin air. "Carrying Alpha Sophelia Sinclair Desperte." Dante says out the window, and the gate slowly opens, definitely magic.

Our caravan enters without an issue, which kind of surprises me. Why are they letting all of us in if they've never allowed that before?

I mean, I had an argument planned and everything to allow all of us in, but I wasn't expecting this.

"This is weird." Connor whispers to me. I nod and he looks down at me. "I don't like it, but we'll see where this goes. Dante, next gate, I'll be saying it."

Dante nods sharply, then focuses on the road. "We'll keep our eyes peeled for any suspicious activity." He says, doing just what he said. Lily and Trish also become alert, while Desmond looks at us, confused.

"What's the big deal? We're just going to the Senate. It's not like we're going to die." He says, trying to calm us all down.

I turn to look at him. Placing my hands on top of his and speaking calmly. "I know that you're new to all of this, but we've spent years keeping each other alive. I have just come back from the dead, and we aren't sure who all knows. My life could be in danger, along with Lily and Trish. We take it very seriously, and you should too. You're one of us now. Your life is in as much danger as everyone else's."

His eyes widen, but he quickly gives me a nod. He looks to Lily, then watches the trees, a look of determination on his face. He's a good guy.

We reach the inner gate, and Connor repeats what Dante said earlier. Again, it opens, and we move on. No suspicious activity, no people. We haven't even see anyone outside since way before the first gate. "I don't like this." Connor says just as we pull up in front of the Senate building. There is a group of people standing outside, waiting. We pull up slowly, and Dante parks just in front of them. Everyone gets out before me, and I take a deep breath before stepping outside. Connor stands beside me, watching everyone simultaneously.

I hold my head high, walking forward slowly. A tall man with wispy white hair steps forward "It's wonderful to meet you, Alpha Sophelia Desperte. I am Philip Hughes, warlock. We were wondering if you would make it to our little meeting, although it seems you've taken the liberty to bring some friends. "

"Their protection is necessary. I couldn't come without them." He waves a hand dismissively, then looks to Connor.

"Ah, Alpha Thompson." He gives Connor a smile, but Connor growls softly in his chest.

"I resigned from that position." Connor says sharply, causing a bit of shock from everyone, even me.

"I'm sorry, your father said you'd be reclaiming the title soon in his last update. We'll make sure to take that off of our records" the man turns back to me. "We convene in forty-five minutes. I'll show you to the floor, and, after that, you will have a bit of time to rest, and put together the last bits of your proposal." I nod and he turns to walk inside. Everyone else watches me as I walk up the stairs.

It feels almost surreal. I never thought that I'd walk up these hallowed steps. I never thought that I'd be an Alpha, even if it is only until I can get my brother back to his rightful place. Never, in my life, could I have ever thought this up. These are all impossibilities that never should have happened, but for some reason, have. I know I could've taken the title if I had wanted to, but I never wanted to. I never had that urge. Now that I am an Alpha, it almost feels wrong. I know it isn't official, but there is no pack to care about tradition, now is there?

Inside the building are massive vaulted ceilings, with magical paintings between the plaster designs. When I say magical, I mean shifters moving and fighting along the ceiling, witches and wizards casting spells and vampire covens terrorizing old cities. Our histories may not have been pretty, or majestic, but they are our past, and that's something we can never forget, nor repeat.

"It is quite remarkable. We have always added prime points in history to our ceiling. I have a feeling we'll be adding more in the near future." Philip casually mentions, noticing my gawking.

"Why's that?" I ask, still watching the painted pictures move, as if they're a movie.

He chuckles in a friendly manner. "I'll just say that I have good intuition." I nod and he stops about a meter from two massive oak doors. "Welcome to the Senate conference room." He gently presses his hand against the door and I take in a quick gasp of air.

If I had thought the ceiling was amazing, then this room is breath taking. Every major moment in history lines the walls, separated only by a thin line of pristine white marble. The floors are that same marble, and the floor is so clean, I can see my reflection. There are candles lit all throughout the room, giving it a heavenly hue. I wouldn't have pictured this room to be so regal. I expected a table, with a bunch of chairs around it, similar to the room my dad used to discuss the details of the pack with his Beta, Gamma, and his head warrior. This, this is nothing like that. Instead of a dark wooden table, only meant to hold four or five people, there is a huge circular ring table, with about forty chairs surrounding it. In the center, is a podium. Under it, a deep red carpet, one fit for royalty. That's where I'll stand when I speak to all of these people.

I've never been afraid of public speaking, but now I'm starting to realize why people fear it. "This is...amazing." I whisper softly.

Philip nods. "Most people have that response their first time seeing it. Don't worry, you're not alone." He gives me another friendly smile and I give him one back.

Connor stands silently, also mesmerized. I don't blame him. My hand slips into his and he looks down at me, giving me a calm smile. I return it, and he gently squeezes my hand.

"I'll take you to your room now, if you're ready?" Philip asks, noticing our gazes. "I do hate to break a mated pair's moment, but I really do have business to finish." He smiles genuinely and I nod.

"Of course." I smile. "Lead the way." He nods, then begins to walk away from the room, the door closing behind us. I glance around, admiring everything. I notice everyone else is being lead in a similar direction, and feel a bit of relief. They aren't going to make a fuss over this.

"Now, even though we've never had this many people here before, we are equipped for such an instance, so you're lucky. There is a wing just for such a situation." Philip says, in an almost tour guide voice. "Actually, the name of the hall is quite a bit odd. It's based around the mythical Tigress, a child of the Sun Goddess, although it's just a myth. The Tigress has never once appeared in history, and, if she has existed before, she has most likely already died."

I glance up at Connor, shocked. He gives me a similar look, then looks ahead. "Tigress? But that's absurd." Connor says, rolling his eyes.

"It does sound absurd, but some of us believe she has existed before. Whether or not she exists now, we believe in the myth. It is a myth that is carefully protected by the Senate. Not many people know of this legend. Only members of the Senate, and possibly their families. Of course, books have been written, but they're put off as children's stories, meant to show children a different world. Not many realize that it could actually be real. That there could be a young woman, girl, or even elderly woman among us, hiding this gift." Philip explains.

I nod. "Are there any books here? You've intrigued me." I say, giving him a beaming smile as he turns to look at me, shocked.

"Well, I'm glad I've sparked interest in you." He gives me a wide grin. "We have books in the library, along with several scrolls speaking of her."

"I've actually come upon this topic before." I mention. "At school, there was a book titled "Tigris Surge". Have you ever heard of it?"

He nods happily. "Yes, that's one of the more popular collection of children stories, along with a brief description of who and what she is. It was an attempt to make her better known. Although that part failed, the stories became very liked amongst the wolves. I'm not surprised you've read it." If he's not surprised, then why had I never seen it in any library? That book was given to me. I didn't find it. "You can always go to the library during your stay here. Proposals normally take a few days. In your free time, feel free to visit and explore as you please. Don't mind the older members of the Senate. They're less open to the idea of the Tigress. I, on the other hand, feel we should embrace her, even if she isn't real. Her meaning is much more than we could ever wish to achieve with this Senate."

I nod and Connor pulls his thinking face. "If you all don't know if she truly exists, then why do you have a wing in her honor?"

Philip falters his steps for a moment, then returns to his steady pace. "This building was built long before my time. Long before anyone here even existed. It was built when The Red War pushed us to the brink of extinction. The first members of the Senate were the few that believed peace was attainable. This is where the legend of the Tigress is first mentioned. A member had been visited by the moon goddess and told of a being more powerful than all of them combined. A woman given the powers of the sun." The tigress has existed for that long?

"And they built this, in hopes she'd come to their aid?" Connor asks, being the voice for both of us.

"Yes." Philip says. "But the idea of a woman being more powerful than any man ever created, it wasn't a very popular concept at that point in time. It was a very progressive movement made by the Senate that only lasted within the Senate itself. Even now, there are members of the Senate that believe we don't need her. They believe that since we are in the most peaceful time we have ever experienced, that the argument will be let go. It won't. It never will. I'm far too young for it to go anywhere anytime soon." He smiles, and I have a feeling he does that quite often. "Well here we are. There is a library in this wing that you can access anything connected to the Tigress. Hard copies are held in the main hall, just head back the way we came, and look for the door with a book inside of a golden circle."

"Thank you." I say. "I'm very glad to have met you Philip."

He nods. "I can say the same, Miss Desperte." He winks. "I can tell you don't like the Alpha title. Don't worry, I won't call you by it in private, but I have to in public."

I laugh quietly and thank him again before he walks away, his tall form disappearing a few feet away. I have a good feeling, a very good feeling.

A/N

This chapter took a lot of time to write, I worked on it every chance I got while I was gone. Sooooo, who's curious about all this mysterious Tigress information that Sophie is just now finding out about? Anyone else wondering why the heck her dad didn't tell her anything? I know I am. Why would he keep it a secret? Who knows? Oh, wait. That'd be me. :) Sadly, you all have to wait to find out :( but, I'll say that within the next few chapters a lot is going to happen. Be ready for drama, action, and maybe a little romance :P (cause I'm a sucker for Connor and Sophie.)

I'm starting to get really pumped up about this story, and what all is going to happen. I hope you all are too, cause I'd hate to be alone lol.

Anyways, enjoy to your heart's content :)

As always,

Renegade Druid :)