“Your Honor, I call Dutchess Melanie to the Stand,” declared Ms. Dagastino.
I slowly walked to the witness stand. I dreaded sitting in that chair and seeing everyone watching me. When I reached the witness stand, I was sworn in before I sat down. Then, as I sat down, every eye in the courtroom was on me. Talk about nerve wracking. Someone must have said something to Ms. Dagastino because she stood directly in front of me blocking out most of the people. Thank you.
“Thank you, Dutchess Melanie for being here today. Dutchess Melanie we heard from both Alpha Kings today that you were assisting them in avoiding a war between our two countries by helping them solve the problem of then Prince Michael rejecting then Princess Sophia. We know you were in the process of leaving the conference room when then Prince Michael barged into the conference room knocking you down and then kicking you in the abdomen. Can you tell us what happened after that?” questioned Ms. Dagastino.
“Yes, I can. I called for my father and Alpha Richard in our pack link. I told them that I had been injured in the conference room and to come quickly,” I replied to her.
“Did you tell them who hurt you?” inquired Ms. Dagastino.
“No, I did not,” I replied truthfully.
“What happened after that?” questioned Ms. Dagastino.
“I remember Alpha King Matthew saying something to the effect of ‘Do you know what you have just done?’ to then Prince Michael before there was a knock on the conference room door. Then my father and Alpha Richard came in. It was then that my father asked what happened to me. Then, Alpha King Friedrich explained what then Prince Michael did to me. Then my father yelled out about me being pregnant with twins and then a whole lot of yelling after that,” I replied honestly.
“Did you hear the conversation in the room after that Dutchess Melanie?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“Not really. I was in a lot of pain at that point. I was focused on my babies at that point in time-not what was happening in the room. Because next thing I know my father is carrying me to the pack hospital,” I answered her.
“I see. What happened when you arrived at the pack hospital?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“Dr. Adams met us at the entrance and took us into an exam room. He began his examination. Before he touched the abdomen wound, they took a picture of it. Before they started to touch the wound, Dr. Adams wanted to do an ultrasound to check on my twins. That was when they noticed the blood … and he said he had to … he had to finish the ultrasound to see how many babies I lost,” I answered her. After I answered her, I took a deep breath and slowly released it. She gave me a few seconds to regain my composure.
“So, they knew you lost at least one baby at that point but they didn’t know if you lost both of them. Is that correct?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“Y … Yes, that is correct. When he confirmed that I only lost one baby, he did what he could to ensure I did not lose the other one,” I answered her.
“So, he put you on bedrest or lite duties, had you carefully watched for the next couple of days, is that correct?” inquired Ms. Dagastino.
“Yes, that is correct,” I replied.
“Now, during this time of bedrest, it was made known to everyone your status of Dutchess within the European Royal Family. Then Prince Michael became a fugitive when the U. S. Council decided to move him from the Brookwood Pack’s dungeons to the Royal Pack’s dungeons and he never made it. Also, Alpha Kings put out a press release to all packs stating then Prince Michael’s offense of assault, feticide, and his escape from the transport. After the press release, you started receiving text messages stating that they have seen him or had contact with then Prince Michael. Is that correct?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“Yes, that is correct,” I replied.
“Who was the pack Alpha who was first to reach out to you?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“It was Alpha Dean of the Black Water Pack,” I replied to her.
“What did he tell you in his text message?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“He stated that he had seem then Prince Michael just yesterday when he stopped by to receive assistance for a journey into Canada. He was told not to ask questions because he was told to ‘seek’ a safe place to hide from a terrorist. No one was to know where he was hidden for security reasons,” I replied.
“What did you do when you read that text?” inquired Ms. Dagastino.
“I didn’t hesitate, I hit the call button on my phone. I called him and put him on speaker phone. When he answered, I told him that he was on speaker phone and that well, a lot of people were in the room listening including Alpha King Friedrich and Alpha King Matthew was on his way. I needed him to text me information for a teleconference information so I could relocate to my home office. He did and we ended the call,” I answered her.
“Who all was present for this teleconference about then Prince Michael?” inquired Ms. Dagastino.
“We had both Alpha Kings present, both Councils present, Duke Vladimir, then Princess Sophia, myself, Alpha Richard, Betas Walsh and Yared, and Delta Anthony (my mate),” I answered her.
“What was discussed in this teleconference Dutchess Melanie?” inquired Ms. Dagastino.
“Alpha King Matthew asked Alpha Dean what happened yesterday when then Prince Michael came calling at his pack house. Alpha Dean explained that then Prince Michael showed up around 9:45 AM. Saying that he needed some assistance because he was on the run from a terrorist. He had an associate try to reach out to the Alpha King while he was helping the Prince Michael but no one at the Palace could verify his story so they went with it until they could verify his story. They arranged documents for him and his party. Told him to come back in two days and they would be ready. Meanwhile, Alpha King Matthew had arranged a trap for then Prince Michael when he returned to collect his documents,” I replied.
“I see. Did he go to Alpha Dean to collect his documents?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“No, he did not,” I answered her.
“What did Michael Halstead do instead?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“He orchestrated the gas attack on the Brookwood Pack and kidnapped me from my home,” I replied.
“Did he personally kidnap you or did he have others kidnap you?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“I was unconscious at the time but I was told it was someone else. Also, I saw the surveillance tapes, it was four other individuals,” I answered her.
“How do you know it was Michael Halstead who planned your kidnapping?” asked Ms. Dagastino.
“He told me so and three of the four individuals who kidnapped me where his closest friends,” I answered her.
“Thank you, Dutchess Melanie for being here today. I have no more questions at this time. I reserve the right to cross examine at a later time,” Ms. Dagastino advised.
“Very well. Mr. Franklin, your witness,” declared Judge D’Amato.
“Dutchess Melanie, thank you for being here today. Dutchess Melanie, how well do you know my client, Michael Halstead?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“I know him vaguely,” I answered him.
“Vaguely. Come on now Dutchess, you know him better than that. You had regular interactions with him while you were growing up. Isn’t that correct?” inquired Mr. Franklin.
“I saw him from time to time. It wasn’t every week or every month. I saw him maybe once every other year or so. We were not friends. We were acquaintances,” I answered him.
“But you knew him, yes?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“I knew him vaguely. I knew him better as a child. As we grew older, I knew him less. He changed as we got older. When he got his wolf, his views changed,” I answered him.
“What do you mean, his views changed?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“He believed that males were inherently better qualified to lead than females. I was always born to be the Delta of my pack. I was destined to succeed my father. Everyone knew and accepted this. When he got his wolf, he started putting me down with snide remarks and comments about how I am just a female replacement,” I answered him.
“Surely you are just making that up. But lets move on. You don’t hold any ill feelings toward Michael?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“No, why would I?” I replied.
“Because he didn’t choose you as his chosen mate instead he chose Wendy,” questioned Mr. Franklin.
“Mr. Franklin, I respect the mate bond. Always have. I never dated in high school because I was waiting for my fated mate. It was a well-known fact. You can ask anyone from my pack or high school. I had all my firsts with my second chance mate, Anthony. I would not be jealous of Michael choosing a chosen mate. I hardly knew him. Growing up, especially after he got his wolf, he became entitled and arrogant. He was someone I did not want to be around,” I answered him.
“So, you were secretly in love with Michael. Weren’t you Dutchess Melanie?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“No, I was not,” I answered him.
“Objection Your Honor! Where is this line of questioning going? This has nothing to do with the facts of the case against Michael Halstead,” argued Ms. Dagastino.
“Your Honor, it has everything to do with the case,” argued Mr. Franklin.
“Over-ruled. Get back to the facts of the case. NOW Mr. Franklin,” commanded Judge D’Amato.
“Yes, Your Honor. Dutchess Melanie. You claim that Michael raped you, but did he really? You consented to him having sex with you did you not? You just said he raped you so you could cover yourself with your mate. Isn’t that right?” inquired Mr. Franklin.
“No, that is not correct,” I answered him.
“Really, if it wasn’t consensual then how do you know you were raped?” asked Mr. Franklin.
“When I woke up in the room, I was sore in the vaginal area. I wasn’t sure why. After I was throwing up and they sent for a doctor to treat me. I found out that I had some recent tearing down there. The doctor told me that it was recent and he stitched it up for me. That is how I know,” I answered him.
“No more questions for this witness,” declared Mr. Franklin.
“Ms. Dagastino, do you wish to cross?” asked Judge D’Amato.
“No, Your Honor not at this time,” replied Ms. Dagastino.
“Thank you, Dutchess Melanie, you may step down,” declared Judge D’Amato.
I got up and walked back to my seat next to Anthony who quickly wrapped his arm around my shoulder to comfort me. I needed his comfort right now.
“This court stands in recess for lunch. We will resume at 2 PM,” commanded Judge D’Amato.
They escorted Michael swiftly out of the courtroom. As soon as he was gone, Anthony quickly wrapped me up in a bear hug. Oh, how I needed his touch.