Chapter 46

Rachel POV

Alpha Council Chambers

"Grandmaster, please introduce the next petitioners."

The Grandmaster took his place at the podium to read out our details. I felt as if I were being electrocuted, my insides vibrating with enough nervous energy to make me think I was plugged into a socket somewhere. Every word felt amplified by ten thousand, far louder than an old wolf standing behind a microphone.

"We have the case of Rachel Flores, no pack affiliation on record, being supported by her witnesses Bella Assante of New Moon Pack and Jack Jackson of Golden Gleam Pack. Rachel Flores wishes to petition for pack status for herself and her unborn child. In accordance with our laws, the blood father, Alpha Tyler Wright of Moonrise Pack, has been notified of this session and he has chosen to attend to speak his part. In support of Rachel Flores, Alpha Nathan Lewis of Full Moon Pack has chosen to attend to speak for his house as well."

All these people were here for me---and my baby.

I hadn't allowed the technician to tell me the gender during my last ultrasound. She had clearly found out while doing the scan, but something in me wanted to wait before opening the door to my child's potential future as either a player or a pawn in the game of life.

A male Alpha heir would be expected to live up to his father's deeds then exceed them. He would carry the weight of his name, his house, his bloodline.

A female Alpha heir would be expected to fall in line with her father's plans for her. She would shoulder the burden of being a valuable asset for her parents, her house, her bloodline.

I wanted to just keep thinking of my baby as "the baby" for a little while longer.

Standing before the Alpha Council, I felt stupid for having chosen to wait. I could have used the gender reveal to push for further rights for my child. Knowing whether I offered a male or female heir would have given me a bargaining chip to try to sway them to see I deserved the right to claim protection of the pack of my choice.

Jack lightly touched my wrist and I staggered forward a step.

I was meant to speak first. The Council was hearing my appeal so I would be given the first and last word during the proceeding.

"After finding out I was pregnant, I decided to choose a pack to pledge myself and my baby to because a child needs to have a supportive environment to grow up in. I have never cared about belonging to a pack. My mother was estranged from her home pack. I was raised believing Patrick Flores to be my father---and his pack was not welcoming to our family due to Patrick, umm, Mister Flores's bad acts."

"Bad acts?" a Councilor asked, brow raised in question.

"Patrick Flores had---no, has a gambling problem. He also drinks and uses drugs and does other things I know aren't legal. I don't know any specifics. I would have turned him into the police if I knew something specific he'd done to someone else, I mean."

"Implying he did something to you which you could have reported to the police?"

I looked at the Councilor who asked the question and I knew panic was clear on my face. I couldn't help I had no record of anything specific Patrick had done to someone else and me? What would have happened if I had went to the police the night Patrick traded me for his debts being cleared?

Those men had already taken Ethan! My brother most likely would have died if I had went to the authorities or anyone at all to ask for help other than with money to pay their ransom demand.

"Nothing he did to me has any bearing on this petition."

My hands trembled at my sides and I balled them up into fists to try to stop showing my emotions. Jack had been great about preparing me for this encounter. I was supposed to protest 'no bearing on this petition' for anything I couldn't prove or might hurt my appeal. I was supposed to direct questions to him if I didn't know how to reply.

"Fine. What conflict prevents you from joining your former mate's pack? We need some clear provocation to rule his child should not be inducted into his bloodright pack."

All the Council looked at me while I tried to recall the answer I'd rehearsed with Jack. In the end, my thoughts wouldn't come together just right. I decided to go for sincerity over being sophisticated.

"Councilors, I want my child to be loved. My former mate has told me throughout our entire mating he wants no children. Children are only pawns in his pack when they come from an Alpha House. I do not want my child to be a bargaining chip or to ever feel as if he or she is not wholly loved regardless of their gender, Alpha status, or their ability to barter for relationships with other packs."

They were all nodding as I spoke. I could practically hear Tyler grinding his teeth together behind me. He had only himself to blame for forcing us to this point. I had no other choice than to fight for my child; Tyler himself had given me the best ammunition to use against him.

No one's family was flawless, but his was openly toxic.

"House Wright has never been very affectionate. John Wright does not like me or feel I am good enough for his son. He ordered Tyler to keep me a secret even though I am his fated mate. My child should be no one's dirty secret. According to my research, I belong, rightfully, to House Campbell which is an Alpha House in its own right of Moonglow Pack. I want to give my child my birthright."

Silence fell in the chamber as the Council began to communicate through mindspeak. I could tell they were consulting each other as their eyes all seemed to go dead at once. For the first time in my life, I wished I'd been born with psychic gifts so I'd know what they were saying.

"We have reviewed the documents you submitted for proof of your parentage. This Council agrees you have a right to claim a place among Moonglow Pack unless they protest your application to join them. Furthermore, we have issued a summons to House Campbell's Alpha to answer as to your parentage in regards to his line of succession."

My eyes couldn't have gone wider without falling out of my head. What were they talking about with the line of succession? I had no desire at all to challenge Richard Campbell for the right to the Alpha Seat of House Campbell!

"I don't feel it is necessary to challenge---"

"We decide what is necessary."

I shut my mouth. I could tell when I was pushing my luck.

A Council member gestured to Tyler who stepped forward to speak for his part of the claim. I had a fair idea of what he would argue thanks to Jack. My biggest fear was the Council intended to dismiss my claims of coming from another Alpha House and they'd already proven those fears were unfounded.

I wasn't afraid of what Tyler Wright would say about me to the Council. I'd never committed any crime he could use to take my child from me and Tyler was not the kind of Alpha to lie to get his desires met.

"No offense is intended toward Rachel Flores, but I would like to go on the record to state she has never made claims of parentage from an Alpha line until this pregnancy happened. I do not doubt she wants the best for the child. I do doubt her claims of being from House Campbell when no one has ever mentioned her existence from the house in question."

John Wright would have known if House Campbell claimed me, too. He was notorious for wheeling and dealing to get the best possible matches for his pack. I was certain Tyler would have been told to marry me if I had come into his life with a clear claim of succession from House Campbell.

An Alpha House fated mate would have been a gift from the Goddess herself to John Wright.

I, Rachel Flores, daughter of an omega with bad tendencies had been an embarrassment.

"Your protest is noted. Do you have proof she fabricated these records?"

I sucked in a breath at the accusation. I could understand why they'd ask, but Tyler couldn't think I was making up my birth record, could he? I hadn't written Richard Campbell's name on my birth record in the place of 'father.' The documents were all legal! The only fakes in the bunch were death records for my mother!

"I have proof Rachel Flores can't provide proof of her claims. Is that sufficient?"