Alexander’s POV
“Alpha?” Luke called, shaking my arm lightly.
“What?” I asked, looking up confusedly at Luke. “Sorry, what did you say?”
Emily’s frightened face was distracting me. I didn’t mean to lose control and scare her; I was just so frustrated with everything that was going on.
“The council said they were ready,” Luke said, a teasing smile playing on the corners of his lips. “They asked if the accused could be brought forward.”
“Oh,” I said. “Yes, very well.”
Luke turned his head and gestured to the warriors to bring Michael forward.
I sighed, feeling mentally and physically tired.
“Maybe you should get a decent night’s rest,” Ghost said.
He has been with me the whole day, silently observing.
“Do you think it would help?” I asked. “With everything that is happening, the chance that I would get some proper shut-eye would be scarce.”
“I know you are worried about Emily packing up and disappearing,” Ghost said. “But we know her life is at White Moon Pack; finding her would now be easy.”
“Still,” I argued. “The mate bond is adding to my mood. If I don’t mark her soon, instinct will kick in. I just can’t understand how Emily can act so cool around me. It is like it doesn’t bother her that we are not marked yet.”
“Calm down before you hurt yourself,” Ghost yapped. “Willow says that Emily is finding it difficult to stay away from you.”
“Then why-”
“Hey, she already said she will give us a chance,” Ghost said. “Now we just need to make it up to her-well, you.”
“And how do you expect me to do that?” I asked, frustrated. “I just scared the living sh*t out of my mate!”
“Well, you had all these ideas about how to woo our mate,” Ghost said. “Why don’t you start there?”
“I don’t even know what she likes,” I muttered.
“Call her best friend,” Ghost suggested.
“Who, Mila?” I asked.
“Yeah, she should know,” Ghost said. “She is Emily’s best friend, and girls like to gossip among themselves. Mila will be able to give you some insight.”
“But Mila hates my guts,” I argued.
“I know,” he said. “Just apologize and explain your reason for calling her. I can guarantee you that she will help you. She would love to see her best friend happy. In any case, it was Mila who suggested that you two tango in the first place.”
“What will I do if Mila refuses?” I asked, worried. I wasn’t used to asking anyone for help, and I feel a bit uncomfortable about doing so now.
“Plan B,” Ghost chuckled, and his gaze moved to Luke.
“I guess plan B stands for Beta?” I muttered my breath.
“Sure thing!” He said. “Luke is a helpless romantic.”
“And it is sickening to watch some days,” I added.
Some days I wished for Luke’s sake he would find his mate; girls were standing in line to have him.
Not that Luke complained; he had enough company to keep him busy, but I could see the longing he had for finding his own fated mate.
“Ranks, council, and pack members,” Luke’s voice echoed over the PA system, and the pack settled and quieted down.
“Our Alpha and Council have been given the difficult task of deciding on a punishment for one of our pack members.”
Whispering erupted among the pack members, and some even looked around bewildered.
Luke nodded, and the guards brought Michael in and tied him in the center of the arena.
“At what charge?” Someone yelled from the crowd, and my gaze snapped toward the voice.
“Did you see who that was?” I mind-linked Luke, shifting my weight in my chair. It might have been Michael’s accomplice.
“No,” he linked back. “But it seems like your father has.”
I nodded and turned my attention toward my father.
He was looking down into the crowd; his eyes narrowed, focusing on someone.
Did he have the same speculation as I did?
“Can you figure out who my father is looking at?” I linked Luke.
Luke’s gaze moved to where my father was looking, and he flinched yet recovered quickly.
I guess he just did.
“The charges will be set out by our former Alpha and Councilor Cole,” Luke said, stepping aside.
My father took the stand, and Luke sat next to me.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“I am not 100 percent sure, but it looks as if your father looked at Michael’s father or brother,” Luke linked.
“It makes sense,” I linked back. “Let’s start our internal investigation with them first.”
“Noted,” Luke said.
“As per charges, our current Alpha has decided on punishment,” my father said.
I could never understand how my father could hold the pack’s attention for so long. He was a born leader, and addressing the pack came naturally to him.
“It is because of your mother,” Ghost mused. He always admired my mother. She was a perfect Luna, with a sweet but stern aura surrounding her. “Once we have marked Emily, you will have the same confidence.”
“Warrior Michael is hereby stripped of his rank and sentenced to death!” My father announced.
A woman’s hysterical cry echoed through the stunned pack, and I rose to my feet, seeing an elderly she-wolf crying with someone trying to comfort her.
“It must be his mother,” Ghost said.
“Seems so,” I said, taking the flight of steps down to the arena.
“Your current Alpha will be doing the execution!” I heard my father’s voice echo over the PA system.
My gaze moved to my father, and he gave me a nod of the head.
Was he approving of my decision?
I silently walked toward the center of the arena, where Michael was tied up.
Anger was already filling my insides, and I wanted to get this over and done with as quickly as possible.
I came to a stop just a couple of feet from him, my gaze following the lines of his once huge, proud body. The once-proud and cocky warrior now looked pathetic, vulnerable, and scared.
Luke had given him some wolfsbane the night before to ensure he wouldn’t try to escape again. I guess the guards and warriors were confused about why Michael was locked up, and because he had such a fun and warm personality and was friends with most of them, the wolves trusted him blindly.
“Please, Alpha,” Michael whispered with a slur. “Don’t do this, I beg of you. I didn’t mean to touch your mate. I didn’t know! Think of my family and what it would do to them. It will break my mother’s heart if she sees her son killed like this. My mate would be left without her mate.”
I hesitated. I wasn’t planning to make my thoughts known.
Did this make me look like a weak Alpha?
“Don’t you think you have hurt enough people around you already?” Emily’s voice filled the air, and my gaze snapped to where she stood.
My jaw dropped to the floor seeing Emily dressed in a black warrior’s suit and her long chocolate brown hair tied up into a high ponytail.
“She looks yummy,” Ghost howled in my mind. “I wouldn’t mind having a taste of that!”
“S-s-she sure does!” I stuttered like an idiot.
“This is not only because of me,” Emily continued. “But because of all the other she-wolves, you hurt!”
Emily came closer and searched my gaze.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“You were right,” she said. “And I am sorry for doubting your decision.”
That took me by surprise.
“But-”
Emily shook her head, cutting me off.
“Luke showed me the files, and I have read the reports,” she said. “I have informed King Alpha Xavier, and he agrees.”
It took me a moment to understand what Emily was saying, and the second I realized what it meant, Ghost grabbed control, extended his claws, and ripped Michael’s throat out.
If only we knew that this action was the beginning of uncovering more decay in the pack.
****