Chapter 59
The clearing was dark, even with the half-moon high in the night sky.
I still didn’t quite understand why this meeting wasn’t taking place somewhere indoors with chairs. Adrian explained that it was tradition, but I wasn’t convinced this was one that shouldn’t be left in the past.
Five older werewolves stood before Adrian, several other members of the pack were on the edge of the clearing, near the trees. I was among them. Adrian had escorted me to a spot on the edge and out of the way.
“If things get ugly, switch forms and run.” He had said, which did nothing to assure me.
Now he stood before the five older members, none of them except Phillip looking at all pleasant. Adrian stands tall and in control. The very picture of cool authority. There is a power about him that commands my attention and that of those around us.
He is, as usual, dressed in a suit. Which only contrasts with the woods around us. Dignified grace in a place of wild nature.
Everyone is silent. Waiting for their Alpha.
“I called you here, as the werewolves’ council, for a matter that both grieves and angers me. As your Alpha, I have a right to demand justice for myself, my family, and the safety of the pack. The allegations I am about to make are serious, and I do not take this matter lightly. I call forward Glenn and Vanessa to answer to these charges.” He announces and a murmur spreads throughout the clearing as Vanessa and her father step forward.
Both are ashen-faced, even in the low light, and Vanessa is shaking. I would feel sorry for her, but I’m fresh out of sympathy after she attacked me in the park and terrorized Grace.
“What are these charges?” Glenn asks, trying to sound confident, but his voice breaks slightly.
“Kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder.” Adrian practically growls in anger.
“These are indeed serious charges, Alpha.” A female member of the council states cooly. “Glenn and his family are well-respected members of this pack and have a long history of loyalty and honor. Tell me, what precisely do you accuse them of?”
At least three members of the council look skeptical. They were the ones loyal to Glenn. Their families had been friends for years and were even distantly related by either blood or marriage, Adrian had explained. They were the ones he needed to convince.
“Yes, and what proof do you have?” Another voice rings out from the clearing. A face comes forward. One I’ve been actively avoiding from the moment he arrived.
“The council does not recognize you, Julian Whitmore. Return to your place.” Phillip commands, and I watch as Julian’s temper flares.
“Remove yourself, or I will remove you.” Adrian growls at his son, “You are no longer the heir and have no authority here.”
Julian meets his father’s gaze and though defiance still flickers in his eyes, he lowers his head and steps back. I can’t help but notice Vanessa’s eyes bulge in disbelief and disappointment. Her jaw clenches, as though she’s physically restraining herself from demanding he come to her defense.
“The boy makes a good point though.” Another council member chimes in. “What proof do you have?”
Adrian turns his attention back to the council. “Many of you recall the day of the carnival, when my ward, Grace went missing. I will not traumatize her further by forcing her to testify here, but she identified Vanessa as the one who took her. Here are the photographs of the surveillance video at the grounds to prove it.”
He hands over the envelope in his hands to the council who look down at the pictures I know are of Vanessa dragging Grace toward the fence, then leaning down and shaking her aggressively before putting a cloth sack over her head and dragging her to the trees.
“As for the attempted murder,” Adrian continues. “Our resident computer scientist was able to locate the money trail of the payment to the assassin. Here are photographs of the cut breaks and the device that was placed under my car that would have set it on fire once it crashed killing both me and my mate. My Beta managed to locate the assassin where he identified Vanessa and Glen as the ones who hired him.”
“And where is this assassin?” Another council member demanded. Suddenly, the Beta came forward out of the trees, dragging a man along behind him.
“Found him.” The Beta announced. “Didn’t think we would again. If I were him, I would have left town.”
“Well, some can’t be accused of intelligence.” Phillip comments as the Beta takes the gag and blindfold away from the man’s face. “Well, what do you say, young man? Who hired you?”
The man, looking confused and little terrified, immediately looks at Vanessa and Glenn.
“Well, if it isn’t the two of you. You didn’t pay me enough. What the hell is all this, some kind of cult?” He demands.
Another murmur spreads through the assembly. It is as good as an admission.
Adrian nods at the Beta who shoves the gag back into the assassin’s mouth and drags him away before turning back to the council.
“It gives me no pleasure to make these allegations. This pack will not survive if it is divided. Yet not demanding justice will only endanger our community. If they are willing to act maliciously against their Alpha and their family, imagine what they will do to the rest of the pack.” Adrian turns slowly in a circle addressing the entire group.
The council clusters together, conferring with each other. Adrian turns and makes eye contact with me. He gives me a small nod of reassurance.
My stomach is in knots, and my heart is pounding in my chest. So much is riding on this. If the council doesn’t allow Adrian to take justice, I fear we will never be safe again. Vanessa’s family has seemed to make it their life’s mission to kill me and take Adrian’s position. If we don’t convince them, I don’t know what we will do.
Finally, the council breaks apart. Their faces are unreadable, but the woman looks at Glenn with something of sad disappointment in her face. I don’t know what to make of it.
The wolf is singing to me again. It’s started doing that more and more lately. The more anxious I get, the more I feel the need to switch forms again and run away.
“There are certain crimes that cannot go unpunished.” The woman says. “Harming children is one of them, assassinating our Alpha and his mate is another.”
“What defense do you claim?” Phillip demands of the accused.
Glenn kneels and Vanessa follows suit. “We are innocent. These photographs are misleading, and the assassin is mistaken. We are loyal to the pack and would never harm our Alpha or his family.”
“You’re a coward. You have coveted the position of Alpha for years but lacked the courage and strength to challenge me for it.” Adrian growls and Glenn pales. “Do you deny it?”
“I am no coward!” Glenn exclaims. “My son will testify to my character!”
At that moment, the pack turns to Leon who is staring at his father with something of shame and conflict on his face. My heart breaks for him. I can see the internal war that wages within him. He wants to help his family, but even I can tell he would be lying.
“Well, Leon?” Adrian demands and younger man meets his eyes.
“My loyalty is to this pack. I don’t know anything of these allegations, but I will testify that my father and my sister are ambitious and have coveted the Alpha position for as long as I can remember. I believe the allegations to be true.” He looks like he’s about to be sick. As though speaking the words were the most painful thing he has ever done.
“Leon!” Vanessa shouts in outrage.
Julian scoffs in disgust from where he stands next to him. As if he has any right to comment on loyalty to family.
Adrian’s face softens toward Leon, and he nods in encouragement.
“Is there no one who will speak for you?” Phillip asks Glenn and Vanessa. “Is there no defense of your innocence?”
The two look around anxiously, as though pleading with each and every face to help them. No one moves.
“In that case,” The woman says, “We have no choice but to rule in favor of you, Alpha. What punishment do you seek? Murder and harming a child allows you to demand their execution or their banishment.”
Execution? I gape a little and the blood rushes to my head.
Adrian turns to me in silent question. Without saying a word, he’s asking what I want.
Vengeance and justice are two very different things. Both of these people have hurt me and the ones I love countless times. But the thought of their blood on my hands makes me sick. If they are executed tonight, I don’t think I can live with myself.
With a look back at Adrian I know is a plea for mercy, he just turns back to the council and says, “I do not wish for blood to be spilled tonight. A werewolf without a pack is a punishment almost worse than death. I demand their immediate banishment and execution upon any return.”
Immediately, the group begins to turn. Fur, teeth, and snarls take the place of the people previously standing in the clearing and with no ceremony or chance to plead for mercy, they lunge for Vanessa and Glenn who switch forms themselves and flee from the clearing, the wolves chasing after them.
