Chapter 19
The first few minutes consist of a welcome address and a
summary of recent laws that have been passed and put into
effect.
After that, comes the new agenda.
The Regional Collective requires dues paid for the tech protocols and contributions to help obtain files from the military-which keep packs updated on technologies and emerging tech that can be a threat to our way of life.
Then come more announcements, blah, blah, blah.
I glance nervously at Aaron.
There are a lot of wolves present tonight. Nearly twice as many as the last Council meeting. Asking for a divorce…it’s going to embarrass him.
“You can do it,” I whisper. “You can say that you want to leave
me.”
I don’t think the who or why really matters, not now. “I just
want to be free.”
2/4
His eyes narrow. He clasps my hand and threads our fingers together. “No.”
His palm is warm and his grip is firm.
It’s like a lifeline, tethering me.
I look at our joined hands. “This is all I ever wanted, you know.”
His hand tightens around mine.
“I wanted you to see me. To care about me.”
I sit here, waiting for the words. For him to give me a sign,
something, anything so I have a reason to stay.
“Leah, I-”
“Alpha Roberts. Rise and approach the main floor.”
Hearing my father’s name called by the Council Leader captures my attention. It breaks the moment between us and I lean forward for a better view of the proceedings.
The main Council members range in age and ethnicity and gender. They are among the most studied and influential beings within our world.
The Elder, Karolina, speaks first. “Evidence has been obtained
from our financial institutions that monies, in the total amount
of seven and a half million dollars, have been siphoned from a Regional Council account to yours. How do you plead?”
My father sputters. He glances around nervously.
That amount. It’s the exact amount that I switched from my
savings to my dad’s.
Oh god.
No.
I turn to Aaron. “You didn’t!?!”
“Additionally,” Karolina says. “We have it on reliable authority
that the district attorney is preparing to levy charges against you for securities fraud. You recently offloaded ten-thousand
shares of stocks, resulting in charges of insider trading. How do you plead to this?”
My stomach rises into my throat. “Aaron. No!”
He stares at me, perfectly calm, while all around us, wolves gossip and whisper and my father is sputtering.
“You bastard!” I shrink away from him. “How could you do
this!?”
Bad Love: An Alpha’s Regret
“I don’t know what the Council is referring to, ma’am,” my
father insists. “The money in my account came from my daughter. The stock advice was hers too.”
Karolina arches a brow. “So you are incriminating yourself and your daughter in these crimes?”
Her reddish brown hair is drawn back in a bun and her
features look severe. She stares down her nose at my father.
And I know she doesn’t like what she sees.
This particular Council member is all about discretion and avoiding human notice. And this mess will be very, very public.
“My wife had nothing to do with the actions taken on behalf
of Pack Roberts,” Aaron says loudly. He stands and stares hard at my dad. “I cannot imagine that Alpha Roberts would
suggest otherwise.”
“I didn’t do it!” my father screams.
His tone does nothing to exonerate me.
