Chapter 122

Alpha Gabe POV

If anyone thought that detaining Alpha James would go off with no resistance, they were sorely mistaken. We had the element of surprise obviously and his personal guard, Michael, on our side. Without that, I'm certain the death toll and the detention of Alpha James would have gone differently. As it was, he killed one of my men as soon as the put his hand on him to attemp to restrain him. He was so quick, that I didn't even see it until it was finished. Alpha James had reached out his hand, claws extended and literally ripped the throat out of my guards neck.

The mayhem that ensued for the next thirty seconds was enough to convince me that Alpha James was absolutely guilty of every single thing we thought he was involved in and probably some we didn't even know about. As my pack member fell to the ground, eyes staring lifelessly at the ceiling and blood gushing from his neck, four more stepped forward to secure the Alpha. Michael is ultimately the one who took him down, with minimal effort. He stepped up behind him, and in three rapid moves, had him on the ground pinned and hands in silver cuffs. He did this without a scratch to himself. The way he hissed in Alpha James ear was enough to make even my hair stand up on end. "You will pay for what you did to Shawna, and I will enjoy partaking in that justice."

When Alpha James attempted to speak, Michael slammed his fist into the side of his face and a loud crack could be heard as his jaw snapped. It would likely heal up by tomorrow but in the meantime, he was effectively rendered speechless. Michael and two of my men, drug Alpha James to the basement of the packhouse, where my dungeon cells were, and tossed him into an empty cold room that held nothing but a thin mat on the floor and a toilet in the corner. It may be a dungeon but my guards shouldn't have to smell the excrement of our prisoners.

Now we are setting up for a meeting in the meeting room and Cody is brining Beta Roger in to speak to the council. Jenna walks in with several staff trailing behind her, trays of beverages and snacks. "What can I do?" she asks me, setting herself into my lap. She traces my jaw with a finger and I smile. How anyone could kill their mate is beyond me. The pain I would feel at the loss of her makes my heart squeeze with just the thought of it.

"You are doing all I need right now," I tell her as I snuggle my face into her neck and sniff. "Thank you for the snacks and your dedication to our pack." Jenna lifts a brow and smiles, then places a soft kiss on my mouth.

"Anything for my Alpha," she whispers. "Our son would like to attend today," she motions towards the council members filing in. "He wants to be part of this so he can see his father in action, to try and fill those very large shoes of yours."

"Is that right?" I ask, proud that my son is leaning into his Alpha responsibilities. We waited years for him to return home from his training and now that he is here, I've been showing him little bits here and there, but I really should start giving him more responsibility. Jenna nods. "Okay," I say. "He can be here."

Jenna smiles and excuses herself as she rises and leaves the room. A moment later, my son Max walks into the room and takes his rightful seat next to mine. "Father," he says with a nod. "Thank you."

"This is going to be a long day Max, and probably an even longer week." I slide him over the preliminary report that Jenna typed up early this morning, explaining the implications of Alpha James in the atrocities that took place in the dungeon's of the Godsend pack. It gives only a brief mention of other potentially daming information. These are things we will be looking into together, entering names into the secret data base to see who else was involved in the aforementioned trafficking and crimes against the werewolf community.

Max stiffens next to me as he reads and finally turns his head towards me. "Alpha James?" he asks quietly. "He killed Ryerson?"

"He killed him, yes. We already knew that, but now with additional information, it appears it was murder. Beta Roger will give us more information today and then we will do some research. That's not even the half of it though, finish reading the brief son." I nod at the paper sitting in front of him and he turns back to continue reading.

The councilmen file into the room and take their seats. A few minutes after that, Cody walks in with Beta Roger. "Alpha," he inclines his head. "Are you ready to begin?" Cody asks.

I look around the room and every council member nods. The seat usually belonging to Alpha James is empty, but no one mentions it. Everyone here is fully aware that Alpha James is sitting in the dungeon. "Please take a seat," I tell Cody and Beta Roger.

Councilman A from the Western Region called the session to order. "Beta Roger, thank you for coming to speak with us today. I am not sure if you are aware but there are some very serious charges against your Alpha and may be more to come." Beta Roger nods.

"I understand that there are some further concerns regarding his actions and his secrecy with pack matters in Idaho Falls. Is this an accurate statement?" Councilman A continues.

"I'm not sure exactly. Or I can't be certain, just things that I feel are not on the up and up," Roger replies. "For example, it's been brought to my attention on more than one occassion that as Beta, I should be fully involved in the packs finances. I have never had that privieledge. It was mentioned a few years ago by Alpha Ryerson, but then he was killed and Alpha James took power again. Beta Cody had asked me about it as well, but I have not had any responsibilities regarding finances."

"That is concerning," Councilman A replies. "You mentioned that Alpha Ryerson was killed. I was actually involved in that investigation. You were questioned then, were you not?"

"I was." Beta Roger fidgets in his seat uncomfortably. "I don't think I was completely forthcoming with my thoughts at the time. I did witness Alpha James kill his son, but Ryerson never was given a chance to verbally defend what his father accused. He tore his heart from his chest without giving him any chance to defend his actions."

"And what was your thoughts at the time?" Councilmen G now asks. He's from Eastern Canada and his slightly french accent comes through.

"Honeslty, I don't know. I was concerned. Ryerson had been questioning me about pack finances. I didn't have answers for him, I told him I wasn't involved in the finances. He was pretty upset about it. The next thing I know, I'm watching as Alpha James rips out his heart and calls him a traitor. I was speechless." Beta Roger admits. "But now, I think Alpha James was covering up something. Who could kill their own son like that? Ryerson never raised a hand to his father in defense."