I don't know how long my father held me but he seemingly restored a part of me that had been broken since I was a pup. I knew I would never be able to forget what he did and what he didn't do but I did forgive him. Out of all my family he was the one who was less abusive, but it didn't mean his actions hurt any less.
My father pulled me back and looked at me, memorising every crease on my face. It was like he was trying to capture the moment in his mind so he could never forget it. It was a monumental moment for us, I forgave a part of my family. For me, my father was the only one in my family who had reacted like a parent. Whereas my mother is another story, I don't think I can bring myself to forgive her, it's not like she was sorry anyway.
My father let out a huge sigh and his eyes were twinkling with a happiness I hadn't seen in years. I looked at him and gave him a small smile in return. Both of our eyes were red rimmed from crying, our cheeks were wet from the tears. "Dad what are you going to do about mother? I saw your reaction to her, your pulling away from her?" I whispered.
A big grin covers his face, his cheeks rise when he hears my sentence. "Dad... I haven't heard you call me that in years." He chuckles. I push my elbow in his side playfully and can't help my smile that responds to his. In this moment I have forgotten everything terrible that has happened and all I can do is look at him and feel lightened by the burden that was heavy on my chest.
"You didn't answer my question old man." I chuckle as I shake my head.
My father lets out a sigh and his hand runs through his face. "Honestly Lou, I have no idea what to do about your mother. Don't get me wrong she's my mate and she birthed me two children but it's complicated. The human and wolf in me are both ashamed and betrayed by what your mother has done. I don't think we can forgive her, she added fuel to a flame that was already burning when she could have extinguished it years ago."
"I don't think I can forgive her like I do you, she isn't sorry and she had a bigger hand in play for what she did. She could have stopped Leanne years ago and yet she punished me regardless. I still have nightmares from that night." I shiver.
"You and me both kiddo. You have no idea how much that night haunts me." He closes his eyes. "Come on, we have been here long enough, the elders will be back soon with their judgement." He says with a sad smile. "Give your father a hand up will you?"
I stand to my feet and brush my legs off and I grab his hand and pull him up. As soon as he is on his feet he grasps his cane. I link my arm through his and we both make our way back to the pack assembly hall. Both of us have cleared the air and their is a blanket of silence that covers us as we walk through the pack grounds, although little was said between the two of us, both of us satisfied that we have taken a step in the right direction to building a relationship.
It isn't before long that we reach the hall, there are no longer any pack members loitering out the front. I give my father a reassuring smile, knowing that everyone will be sitting in the hall and all eyes will be on me. I take a deep breath and walk up the steps helping the father who refused to help me when everyone looks in our direction. I hold my head high making sure that I don't show any weakness. Benji looks at me and I can see that his mouth is hanging open, shocked by the fact that I am even touching the father that abandoned me.
I look over at Lewis and Tyler who are guarding my sister, who is laid on the floor in a fetal position. Her soft whimpers and muttering are echoing through the hall. Lewis gives me an encouraging smile as he sees me and my father together. My father walks me to my seat and gives me a soft kiss on the forehead. It's then that he whispers to me. "No matter what happens, I love you and I am so proud of the woman you have become." I return his kiss with a peck on the cheek. It's then he looks down at Benji and gives him a small bow. "Thank you for looking after my daughter."
Benji's mouth starts gaping like a fish out of water. I know he wasn't expecting this but he quickly snaps out of it and stands and reaches out to shake his hand. "I wouldn't have it any other way, she is the sister I have always wanted."
My father gives him a tight nod but there is a genuine smile on his face. "Thank you for being the family she deserves." My father releases Benji's hand and returns to his seat which is next to my mother. Her face is pale and her eyes have widened at my father's actions. I can see my father's shoulders hitch as he sees my mother. As he takes his seat she tries to pry his hand but he shakes her off like she is a rotten disease.
My mother's gaze falls on me and her expression is still the same, cold and hardened. There was no regret or sorrow for what she had done to me, which only emphasised to me that she was not worthy of my forgiveness. Where my father admitted his faults, she simply gave excuses. Her gaze was interrupted by the hollow and heavy steps of the Elders. Both make their way to the front of the hall, taking the same position as what they did when they first began the trial.
"Thank you for your patience members of the Redbridge pack. Both myself and Elder Roberts have deliberated about the sins that have been committed by the higher officials of this pack." Elder Reece begins.
"Before we begin with our verdict, we have a few words that we would like to share." Elder Robert begins to bellow through the crowd. "Never in our existence has there been such a systematic failing against an innocent she-wolf. Your rightful Luna has suffered at the hands of family, friends, pack members and even her own mate. From what we have heard there have been many opportunities for the truth to be revealed. By that, we do not just mean since Louise White more commonly known as Loretta Romano left the pack eight years ago but there were opportunities when she was a teenager. She was failed by not only her parents who were Beta's but the Alpha Family. Equally she was failed by pack members who did not speak up but just spread rumours rather than officially report them."
"With that being said, firstly we would like to have Leanne come forward." Both Tyler and Lewis lift her up from her foetal position on the ground. She starts kicking her legs, trying to stop them from facing the crowd. Her kicks and hits are futile, her body is weak and her mind appears to have wilted away. The drop her in front of the Elder's who both hold a face filled with contempt and hate for the woman on her knees in front of them.
"Leanne White, before we provide your charges and sentencing do you have any final words?" Elder Reece commands.
Leanne was whimpering, her frantic gaze searched the room for people to turn their face in the opposite direction, no one wanted to look at the person who was responsible for causing so much pain to the pack. She had instigated a war which had resulted in many wolves losing their lives. Some of those were friends and family to those who were present in the hall. When I listened carefully I could hear her heartbeat thump against her chest but she simply pursed her lips and said nothing. Both Elder's let out a sigh of disappointment, I could sense that they hoped she would show something redeemable but even my sister knew that her words of apologies would only be lies. She was never apologetic for what she had done and I don't think she ever would be.
"Very well. Sometimes silence is louder than a thousand words." Elder Reece states in a clipped tone. "Leanne White of the charges for interfering with a mate bond we have found you guilty. For being involved in child and pup kidnapping and associating with rouges we found you guilty. For instigating and encouraging an illegal war we also find you guilty." Elder Reece's voice bellows through the hall, each word bounces off the wall and other than his deep and somber voice silence befalls upon the pack that you could hear a pin drop.
"Leanne, even your wolf left you because of your terrible actions. You have gone against everything a wolf believes in, you betrayed not only your pack but your family. Your sister has been at the brunt of your actions and you take no responsibility. Just because you are human now does not exclude you from being punished. You will be taken to the Elder compound where you will spend the rest of your life in a prison cell for your crimes against a Luna." Elder Robert interjects.
"Truly we thought about killing you but you should live whatever is left of your human life behind bars. Should you cause any problems within the prison you will be killed without notice. You will have no visitors, no family, you will be kept in isolation to die alone." Elder Reece finishes. He looks to Beta Lewis and Gamma Tyler. "Will you both please prepare the prisoner for transport?" Both men bow and make their way out the pack hall. Lewis gives both me and Benji a quick nod as he leaves. Benji grasps my hand as we continue to hear what the Elder's have to say.
"Retired Beta Margaret White and John White will you please step forward?" Elder Reece commands. My father walks forward with his head hung low while my mother simply lifts her head high. I shake my head in disgust at the audacity of my mother.
"Do you have anything you wish to say before we provide your charges and sentencing?" Elder Reece questions further.
"No." My mother replies in a clipped tone as she folds her arms.
"John, do you have anything you wish to say?" Elder Reece questions as he gives my mother a look that caused her confidence to waver as she dropped her head and gaze to the floor.
"Yes. I will accept whatever punishment is deemed appropriate. I may not have known my wife and mates deception but it was my responsibility to know. I am ashamed of me and my family. I am ashamed of how I have treated my daughter and allowed my other daughter to be spoiled. The only thing I can say is that Louise has turned out to be a fine woman and she would have been the best Luna this pack would have ever seen. I am thankful that I have made peace with the daughter that I pushed away. I am very proud of her." My father says with tears in his eyes. I simply give him a tight nod and smile in response knowing that whatever happens I have made peace with my farther at least.
"Very well. Thank you for your words. We appreciate that you have accepted your fault and we have taken that in consideration. As for you Margaret White, I can't help but tell you how disappointed we are in your actions." Elder Robert says with a shake of the head.
"Mr John White we have charged you with aiding and abetting with child abuse against an innocent pup. You have also been charged with failing to investigate concerns raised in relation to a pack member being involved with dangerous rouges. For that you will be sentenced to a year in the pack prison where you will remain to reflect on your decisions. Following this you will no longer hold any links to the Beta title but will remain as an Omega." Elder Reece announces.
"Our punishment may seem light but during the trial we have seen your remorse and regret for your actions." Elder Reece finishes. My father gives him a nod and takes a step back, leaving my mother to stand on her own.
"Margaret White we have charged you with child abuse against an innocent. You have also been charged with failing to report concerns and the outcome of an investigation to a pack member. We are also charging you with aiding and abetting Leanne White with interfering with a mate bond. The mate bond which was not only your daughter but your rightful Luna. We have also charged you with contempt of court for trying to hide evidence against Leanne White." Elder Robert commands.
"As a mother you had a duty to show both your children love and care, unfortunately you neglected one and spoiled the other. The daughter that you put above your pack, above your duty as a Beta, above your duty as a parent, had caused significant harm. You had many opportunities to come clean not only to your Alpha but to your mate and pack. Your audacity in trying to conceal your daughter's actions led to a unnecessary war breaking out as well as the failings in your pack. As a mother you should be ashamed and the fact that you show no remorse is what will be the reason for your sentencing." Elder Roberts shakes his head in disgust and disappointment.
"Margaret White you will be given a silver collar which will cause your wolf to weaken until she dies, you will then be sentenced to ten years in the Elder's prison in solitary. You will then spend another ten years in community service. You will make amends with those you have caused harm." Elder Reece states. My mother lets out a large sob and falls to the ground. "Warrior will you please take Margaret White to the Beta and Gamma please?" He gestures to one of the guards who was standing idly at the side.
"WAIT!" My father shouts.
Elder Reece holds his hand up at the guard and gestures at my father for him to say his peace. For both my parents are elderly, it is unclear whether they will ever see each other for both will spend their retrospective time in separate prisons. My father looks down at my mother, his face is passive but as she raises her eyes to meet his. He takes a deep breath.
"Marge, I don't know what happened to you, what caused you to act the way you do but I can't forgive you. My wolf can't forgive you, for because of your actions we caused our pup harm and we can't accept that. We can't accept that you aren't sorry for what you done to Louise. With that being said, I will no longer recognise you as my mate." My mother breaks out in hysterical sobs and tries to reach for my father but he takes a step back. "I am unable to reject you because I know our bodies are old and unable to survive a rejection. We don't deserve the easy way out, should you ever return here, do not seek me out, do not speak to me, for you are not my mate." He says with reverence and without fear. He gives the elders a tight nod and the warrior makes his way to my mother and lifts her up from the ground why she continues to cry.
During that whole time she does not lift her gaze, she does not speak a word to me or any pack member. Although a part of me feels guilty for what my father said to my mother, he was generous in his words by simply saying he does not recognise her as his mate rather than rejecting her. He was right with what he said, both of them deserved to be punished and they didn't deserve the easy way out. As mother leaves the pack hall it is then that the Elders both come closer together and give out the final punishment.
"Alpha Jacob Warner could you please step forward?" Elder Reece commands.