Chapter 155

Grace

Esme smoothly produced a document, laying it out on the table for me to peruse.

"Read. Understand and sign."

The parchment felt charged with magical glyphs. As I skimmed through the contents, it became apparent that this was a contract outlining the terms of the audit to be conducted by Stormclaw. The clauses were carefully worded, and the terms seemed fair, emphasizing transparency and cooperation. It also detailed that Esme would represent me, Mooncrest, and Wolfe Medical against the States and the Inter-Species Alliance if necessary.

While I reviewed the contract, Esme took a seat and started reading the documents and left by the Inter-Pack Police. Her scrutiny was sharp as if she could glean the essence of the situation just by studying the papers. It was a testament to her expertise and, perhaps, the kind of power she wielded.

It reminded me of watching Eason plot a response to a public relations crisis. Once I signed the contract, Esme looked up. Her expression was stern as she stood.

"I desperately hope you understood the contract you understood."

I smiled wryly. "Honestly... even if I didn't, it's you or them, so..."

She laughed. Her eyes sparkled as she seemed genuinely delighted by my response.

"So much spirit. I got that sense during your address. Good on you for telling that bully to piss off... I can't wait to see you on the Senate floor," she said. "Now, there are a few things before we go. For now, I'll need you to get your pack lawyer and the legal team of Wolfe Medical heading up to converge with us in the conference room."

She turned to Amira. "If you could make it clear that this should appear to be a normal summoning, my presence here is planned. The Inter-Pack authorities are not."

Amira nodded and turned to type on her tablet. She turned back to me.

"You will sit with me, and I'll give you a crash course in what they're charging you with and what's going to happen when we go in there."

I nodded as she turned the document in my direction. Amira came back, stating that it would be at least twenty minutes before they could all arrive, but she was arranging it so that they all arrived at about the time.

"I let the receptionist know to tell your pack lawyer to come on up."

"Excellent," Esme said. "It is so lovely to have competent help. Come, young Amira, you could benefit from this. I hear you'll be the wife of an Enforcer soon..."

She flushed and came closer, taking the other seat.

"First, you are absolutely right. No authority can just show up the way they have with some forewarning unless they have a court order for an arrest or a warrant. They do not, and it would be impossible to be granted that."

"Why?"

She smiled. "The Inter-Pack Police could not arrest you without the presence of a Lycan Enforcer. Part of the treaty between the Clans and the States. Hard-won. His Majesty played quite a bit of hardball to ensure that."

I blinked. "Why?"

"Mixed blood alphas in the States had a history of being treated in the same manner as you're being treated now. So, we'll start with the lack of formal proceedings for the audit. These documents don't lay out what fraud and theft you are being charged with, which they can't do. I suspect we will have to, ironically, force them to hand over the subpoena they no doubt have, as it's the only way they could be here on official business."

"Okay." I found myself nodding in agreement. "And what about the fraud accusations?"

Esme smiled, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. "We'll demand concrete evidence. Accusations without substance won't hold." She patted my hand. "And, for your peace of mind, so long as you can prove that you have no direct or indirect hand in any of the fraud claims, and the theft claims can be debunked, this will all blow over. They're harassing you, dear."

She stood. "So let's go harrass them back, hm?"

I nodded and followed her.

"Take my lead, and let's ruin the days of racist chauvinists!"

She clapped and seemed to hover off the ground for a moment before turning to leave. Following her out of the room, we approached the Inter-Pack representatives waiting in the hallway.

"You do have manners. How lovely. If you'd like to continue this conversation in the conference room? The pack lawyer and the legal team of Wolfe Medical will be with us shortly."

Amira blinked and typed out a few messages on her board as we headed down the hallway to the conference room.

As we approached it, I took deep breaths and tried to keep my fear off my face. Esme glided down the hallway, humming softly. I tried to embody some of her confidence. There was an enigmatic quality to her actions. I got the sense that she was never out of sorts. This situation would be in hand within an hour if everything went the way she planned for it, too.

It almost felt like she would ensure that it did. I was eager to see how she'd handle the unit and the auditor.

We entered the conference room and settled. Esme placed me in the center of the table. She sat to my left. Amira to my right as if we were entering negotiations. The rest of the legal team, including our pack lawyer, came in and took their seats on my side of the table.

"Now, gentlemen, let's get to the specifics. To be clear, I am requesting a very clear and exhaustive explanation and detailing of the charges you're pressing against Alpha Grace Wolfe and the reason for this impromptu audit that violates all manner of laws. You can start with why the Inter-PAck Police is here for an unsanctioned and illegal audit rather than an interview about the recent attack of Blood Moon and to render whatever aid may be necessary."

The auditor flushed. "The Blood Moon incident was a direct consequence of her negligence. If you read the document, you would see the charge of reckless endangerment."

"Reckless endangerment, you say?" She pushed the document forward. "Nowhere on this document does it mention reckless endangerment. Are you perhaps intimating that you have a subpoena that you have not rendered to my client yet?"

The unit leader cleared his throat. "As she did not have a good reason not to step down when the city was threatened, it is called reckless endangerment because she doesn't have the command of the Mooncrest Police."

"How fascinating," Esme said. "That you managed to truly say that out loud, and you think that is sufficient. Are you suggesting that as a leader, as the alpha of Mooncrest, it was in the best interest of the citizens to step down and allow a terrorist-aligned leader to take her place, likely to mistreat any citizen that has come to Mooncrest for her stance on inter-species tolerance?"

"Well--"

"And you would know the massive shift in demographics that has happened since Alpha Wolfe took over, as you are authorities with access to those records."

"To facilitate the terrorist attack," the man said, flushing.

Esme's eyebrows arched in mock surprise. "Are you suggesting that Mooncrest orchestrated an attack on its own territory?"

The absurdity of the claim hung thick in the air. The officers stumbled over their words, casting furtive glances at one another.

"Indulge me and tell me, exactly what led you to that conclusion?" She scoffed. "Let me clarify — terrorism involves acts that pose a threat to sentient life with the intent to deal an emotional and mental impact beyond the direct targets. Now, unless you've suddenly redefined the term, I fail to see how Mooncrest, a predominantly Lycan-mixed city since the shift in demographic, falls under this umbrella, given Blood Moon's apparent hatred of lycans."

"We have reports that Eason Wolfe was involved with Ethan Darrow. He went missing for a majority of the siege."

My gut churned as I remembered those harrowing days of not knowing where Eason was.

Esme leaned forward, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Ah, guilt by association. It's a classic move. Let me remind you that Ethan Darrow and Eason's relationship was over for years before this incident, and there is documentation proving that Ethan's father, the WSU, and even Blood Moon had been targeting Eason since then. Pushing charges against Eason for an ex-boyfriend, especially this ex-boyfriend, is ridiculous. Now, would you like to go over these fraud and theft charges, perhaps, or will you hand over the subpoena as per protocol and leave?"

The room hung in a tense silence as Esme awaited their response. Then, the unit leader grunted and pulled out a parcel, dropping it on the table.

"Criminal neglect of duty by virtue of her ex-husband's position."

They stood and left. The air cooled as the door swung closed. I felt like we won, and then Esme picked up the parcel with a hard expression.

"What?"

Esme looked at the documents, her expression serious. "Well, Grace, that is the one charge they have... a rather decent case for. The others all rely on that case, given the marked struggles... Worse than that, if you lose, you will have to step down or accept the proxy that has been named for you by the President."

My stomach plummeted. "Who is it?"

"Fenris Mark."