Chapter 251
AARON
It’s been days down in this damp, dim cell with only Axel Sawyer as company across the corridor, apart from the silent, stone–faced Enforcers who bring our meals and won’t answer any of our questions.
Within ten minutes of me being brought back down here after finally seeing Leah, Samsen and Petyr brought a couple of other Councilmembers down to act as witnesses while they questioned me and tried to make me incriminate myself.
But it’s a bit hard to incriminate myself when I haven’t actually done anything wrong.
Still, I’ve got no doubt they’ll find some way to twist things I said to use as ‘evidence‘ of my apparent nefarious plotting to gain a seat on the Council and overthrow the current regime simply because I have the power of three Alphas.
They can’t conceive of me not doing that.
They can’t fathom the idea that I just want to run my packs and live my life quietly with my mate and our son.
Because I know every single power–hungry member of the Council would overthrow their fellow Councilmembers if they had even a fraction of the power I’ve got, so it’s impossible for them to imagine in their tiny selfish brains that someone might not want that.
Despite my initial reluctance, Axel and I have chatted quite a bit back and forth.
It’s the only way to keep my sanity when I’m down here and I don’t know what’s happening with Leah.
I don’t know how Axel has managed to stay sane after spending months here alone.
Of course, he’s not mated and he’s apparently already rogue, so maybe he’s got no sanity left to lose.
However, he’s proven to be pretty smart and level–headed for a rogue wolf.
He told me that the rumors about what he did in Texas weren’t
true, that he was forced into that position, but won’t explain anything else, and when I ask outright if he’s really rogue or not, he refuses to directly answer.
We’ve just finished breakfast on what I’ve calculated is the fifth day when the doors open and a whole contingent of Enforcer wolves march in, led by Samsen.
I get to my feet, both uneasy and hopeful that something is finally going to change.
The problem is, I know that change is probably going to be a
death sentence for me.
“What’s going on?” I ask as Samsen stops in front of my cell.
One of the Enforcer guards steps in and hands me a new suit on a hanger, one of my own that I recognize. I assume I have
James to thank for picking it out.
“Get changed,” Samsen tells me. “Your trial starts in an hour.”
I
Of course, they don’t bother giving me any privacy, so I quickly
changed into the freshly pressed suit and then allow them the illusion of control by clicking cuffs around my wrists–obviously having forgotten what happened last time they put me in
cuffs–before they march me from the cell.
“Good luck, partner,” Axel calls out as I step out into the
corridor.
I send him a confident nod.
The only thing I’m confident about right now is the fact
that the Council wants to get rid of me in a way that looks legitimate so it won’t cause unease or unrest with the other
packs, but will serve as a warning to any other Alpha who ever considers taking on the power of more than one Alpha.
As I’m taken up to the ground floor, I find the Council building packed.
There are Alphas and Lunas and Betas and regular wolves everywhere. It’s like some sort of meeting has been called or election event is taking place.
I’m led to the main hall that’s been set up to more resemble a courtroom, it becomes apparent that everyone is here to watch the trial unfold, because they all start filling all the rows of seats.
The Enforcers sit me down in a specially designed seat inside this kind of open booth. It’s like an open frame of silver around
me so I can see out and everyone can see me like I’m a sideshow attraction, but supposedly it should stop me trying
to escape.
Any other wolf, yes, but that silver isn’t going to slow me down
if I decided I want out.
After a few minutes, Leah is led in and I’m glad to see she’s not
cuffed.
She gets sat in another specially designated seat on the opposite side of the hall, but at least she’s not trapped behind
silver and being treated like a criminal.
She sends me an apprehensive look, and I send her a small smile of reassurance in return. She’ll be okay. She’ll make it home to Ethan.
I’m going to make damn sure of that.
Another fifteen minutes or so goes by, in which the rest of the seats in the hall fill up.
A senior Enforcer wolf steps up to the microphone and orders quiet, before announcing the arrival of the Council.
The hall is silent as the Council pompously file onto stage and take their seats at the long bench.
Samsen, as one of the most senior Elders, picks up a gavel and bangs it down.
“The Council Court will now come to order. The trial of Alpha
Aaron Rathborn for the charge of high treason will now
begin.”
