The Hearing

Layla

I won’t lie, I was a little scared. This was my first time at a council hearing. The room was filled with alphas, lunas, and coven leaders. It was a smaller group than usual, just the neighboring territories were present to oversee the proceedings. Plus one territory from a distance, uninvolved and neutral.

Axel, on the other hand, was surprisingly composed. He didn’t hold back, speaking his mind freely. He faced every challenge head-on. I could see why he was so intimidating. He never backed down.

He confessed to what he had done and denied what he hadn’t. I could tell that most of them believed him. Even if they didn’t like him. They seemed to find Axel more honest than Nate, who could turn on the charm when it suited him.

Nate was likewise in control of himself, but I could see the anger simmering in him. There was a rage behind his eyes. I saw more of his dark side now than ever before. How could I have been so blind? I had ignored the signs until I found him in bed with Ashley, treating her as if they were already mated.

I was angry at some of the accusations thrown at Axel. He seemed used to it. I wasn’t, but I kept my cool. Some clearly thought my omega status made me weak. Jerks.

What I appreciated was that Axel kept our mental bridge open. I already knew his deepest secrets, so I was glad he trusted me enough to let me into his mind during the hearing.

Halfway through, as we sat answering questions together, I reached under the table and took his hand. I kept my face neutral. I could feel his anger rising and wanted to show him my support, to let him know I was there and that their words wouldn’t change anything.

Axel was getting increasingly upset, especially when they started asking me personal questions. They asked if I felt like I was being used to breed with Axel. That I was just fulfilling a duty and was actually scared of my mate.

Axel could see in my mind that I didn’t believe this for a second. I squeezed his hand hard in solidarity. I was surprised when he squeezed back and took a deep breath. When they asked if my mark was forced without my consent, I couldn’t hold back my anger.

“No, it was not forced!” I nearly yelled. “We are mates. True mates. Why would you even ask that? Do you know how hard it would be to force a mark from another? What kind of question is that! I chose my mate. I am happy, and I am not afraid for my life. Nathan of North Pack was going to BREED me, he said it to my face!” I raised my voice, and several people looked uncomfortable. I was furious, and tears of rage filled my eyes. How dare they! At least a few looked ashamed.

“These are just standard questions, please Luna Layla sit. We are almost done. We can see how this is genuinely upsetting you and your mate. It is part of the process to see if we are being lied to.”

I was shaking, and I felt Axel’s hands on my upper arms as he had stood too.

He whispered in my ear that we were almost done. That their words didn’t matter, I was his. I sat back down and endured the last few ridiculous questions before we were dismissed.

Then it was time for the individual questioning. It went faster than the joint session. My answers were all the same. No, I was not afraid of my mate. Yes, I felt safe in his territory. No, I was not aware of him doing any of the things he was being accused of. After that, they brought in those who were willing to testify on Axel’s behalf about the accusations of kidnapping to grow his pack numbers.

Each one presented their medical evidence of mistreatment by their old packs. Several had actually come from North Pack. They declared their loyalty to Axel as their alpha and their lack of fear of being attacked in their sleep, unlike in other territories.

Their testimonies were powerful. It was nightfall by the time this part of the hearing was over. For the other accusations of theft and such, they were going to conduct a search and inventory of Axel’s territory. He wasn’t happy about it, but he agreed under certain conditions. One of them was that North Pack would also be searched.

“I believe that for the conclusion of today, none on the council feel that Luna Layla nor the other accused victims are in any danger returning home to their current territory. Pending a final assessment and ruling, no intervention is seen necessary at this time.”

I felt a wave of relief hearing the moderator say this. But I also felt a twinge of anxiety about what was to come.

“There is however a challenge issued by Axel of the lycan territories to Nate of the North territory. If this challenge is to be met, then the council sees it as valid by the rules of wolves signed in both territories. All coven territories recognize that a challenge is of wolf and lycan laws and while recognized, it is not of their jurisdiction to interfere.”

“We do,” said the leaders of the other territories not governed by wolves. I glanced at Nate, who had his jaw clenched. Axel had valid reasons to challenge Nate. If Nate didn’t accept the challenge, then automatically, half his territory would go to Axel. That’s how it worked for wolves. The council had just announced that they saw the claim to challenge as valid. Nate spoke up.

“The challenge is accepted, at the acknowledgment of heeling should it be given and not pass it,” Nate said, looking only at the head of the council. The man turned to Axel, who was silent for a moment.

“I will only accept a heel if the one that gives is taken to Boutin for a decade sentence. I do not claim brutality, but I will not have others living in fear of revenge. I believe there is enough evidence to support this,” Axel said. I was watching Nate out of the corner of my eye and noticed a tic in his jaw. He didn’t like that at all.

“The acknowledgment of heeling with a sentence of a decade to the one that loses. Do you both agree?”

They both agreed simultaneously, and Nate spun around and stormed out of the room as the head of the council announced a twenty-minute break before the challenge would begin.

I let out a breath and followed Axel outside. There was a section of woods where the challenge would take place. Others would watch to ensure the rules were followed. Not that there were many rules. Primarily, that the agreed-upon terms were adhered to.

I was nervous about the challenge. I had complete faith in Axel. He was a lycan and had faced multiple challenges before. But I knew Nate, and he could be sneaky. In a fair fight, Axel should win easily, but you never know. Nate had his own strengths.

“I’ve never watched a challenge,” I said to Axel as we walked out of the meeting building toward the small parking lot.

“You’ll be careful, right?” I asked quietly. Axel raised an eyebrow and gave me a half-smile.

“Don’t worry, sweetness. This isn’t my first challenge, and Nate isn’t the strongest opponent I’ve faced,” he said. His confidence was reassuring, but I was still worried.

“Yes, but he’s a bit of a weasel. I don’t think he’ll play fair,” I said, feeling a knot of worry in my stomach. We were walking between some cars, and Axel slowed down to let me go ahead as the space between the cars was narrow.

“Oh, I’m sure. I haven’t met many who play fair in these fights. It’s a matter of life or death, after all,” Axel said. I didn’t find his humor comforting. I turned to look back at him and my eyes widened in shock. Someone was rushing toward Axel from behind, raising a weapon.

Without thinking, I grabbed Axel and pulled him toward me. We fell back onto the hood of a car as a gunshot rang out. I used my mind to pull us back, fear gripping me as I saw the weapon. Axel wasn’t prepared for my sudden move and fell with me.

Nate had appeared from between the cars, holding the weapon. There were shouts as people heard the gunshot. I might have seen it and acted first, but Axel was quick to react too. Still, we were at a disadvantage in the narrow space, with the weapon pointed at us. Neither of us were faster than a bullet.