Chapter 124

Alpha Gabe

The room erupts in a cacophy of voices, questions coming from all around. Finally, Councilman A pushes out his aura and demands silence. The room falls to a quiet murmur. "Beta, do you have proof of this?" he asks.

"I believe I do, or at least I can get it when I get back to my pack. You see, my father in law is the pack doctor. He says that he gave the Alpha some wolfsbane and the next day he asked him for some sedatives. He initially thought he was perhaps using it to torture a prisoner. He came back two days in a row, requesting more sedatives. He asked for something that would keep someone calm and relatively unfeeling but not put them to sleep. He gave him that. It was the next day that the Luna was found." Beta takes a sip of water and then looks around the room at everyones' faces. "Our doctor said that the Luna had wolfsbane in her blood, which would have made it impossible for her to shift or to really fight back when she was attacked. He thought at the time that it was used by her attackers to keep her from getting away."

"So are you saying that you believe Alpha James poisoned his mate with wolfsbane and then killed her himself?" Max asks with a sneer.

"Yes, that's what I'm saying. The Alpha was entirely too calm the day we found her, never even indicated he had felt their bond break. He locked himself in his room for two days afterward. I believe he was sedating himself to get through it. He didn't even allow the Omega's to come into his room to clean or bring him food or water. It's clear now that he was up to no good, and I do believe he tried to cover it all up. I think his son found out and that's why he killed him. I don't know why he killed his mate, maybe she knew what he was doing as well."

The councilmen at the table exchanged glances before Councilman A spoke up again. "Where do you think the proof is?"

"In his office. He had locked filing cabinets and a secret room behind the wall."

"How do you know about this room?" I asked.

Beta Roger froze for a second and then took a deep sigh. "My mate. She found the Luna clawing at the wall, she shredded the wall paper that hung on the wall and when it came door, it was more obvious that there was a panel there. It's hollow when you tap on it, but she didn't have time to look for a switch. She said the Luna was hysterical, crying and saying that she knew the secrets were behind the wall. It would appear that she found something out as well," Beta Roger shrugged. "If it would be okay, I'd like to get back there and try to figure out what's going on and get the pack under control. I can find a way to open the panel."

"Give us a few minutes," Councilman A said and pointed to the door. Roger nodded, stood and walked out.

"Wow," I exhaled. "Now what?"

"We will ask you and Max to leave for a few minutes too. We need to make a decision and it's going to be confidential in nature, what we discuss. Come back in a half hour please."

I understand their need for privacy in this matter, so I don't bother trying to stay in the room. I nod to Max and we get up and leave as requested. "Let's get some lunch," I say as we walk down the hall to find Beta Roger leaning against the wall with his head back and eyes closed. Roger opens his eyes and looks at me before nodding and following behind us to the dining room.

We enjoy a quick lunch of rotisserie chicken, sauteed vegetables and fluffy warm rolls. Jenna comes in with a huge tray of cookies and sets them before us with a smile. "I think cookies make everything better," she says with a smile. "How's it going in there? You are all tense."

"Hard to say, Beta Roger just dropped a bomb on them about Alpha James and their pack business. We will know in another ten minutes how they have chosen to proceed," I say. I grab Jenna's wrist and pull her to my lap. She smiles and places a gentle kiss on my mouth. "Thank you," I whisper to her. She smiles and stands up.

"I will let you get back to work. I've made sure your prisoner has been fed, although he's very angry down there. Some kind of temper," she wrinkles her nose. "The guards said he told them he was going to kill all their children if they didn't let him out."

"Sounds like he's not a very nice man," Max chimes in between bites of an enormous chocolate chip cookie. "Maybe he needs a cookie."

"Funny son," I say. "Well you stay away from him," I say turning to Jenna. "Let the warriors handle his meal delivery. He doesn't deserve to look upon you."

With that, we head back to the meeting chamber and take our seats. The council wastes no more time, immediately Councilman A states, "We are sending you back to your pack," he holds up his index finger, "these conditions follow. First, you will have one of us return with you, along with our guardian. We will assist you in the search for information. Because this makes our numbers even, we will need to call another to come here for our quorum. That phone call has been made, but it delays further information gathering until he arrives. This means we will leave Alpha James in the dungeon and not interrogate him until our seventh arrives."

The council all nod in agreement. "He should be here day after tomorrow, then we resume. I hope that's going to be okay Alpha Gabe?" He turns to me, his face questioning.

"Of course, whatever is needed," I reply.

"Great," he continues. "Now as I generally run the meetings, it cannot be me who accompanies you. Although don't get me wrong, I very much would like to be the one to see into this hidden room," he shakes his head in disbelief. "We voted and Councilman D will accompany you, you will leave immediately. Flights will be booked as soon as we adjourn and if you don't mind Alpha Gabe," he turns to me again, "your Beta can drive them to the airport?"

"Yes, of course," I reply.

"It's decided then, we are adjourned." The council stands and files out before anything more can be said. I sit blinking for a moment as I stare at Beta Roger.

"This is insane," I finally say. "How did you not know any of this was happening Roger?"

Roger goes rigid in his chair, staring back at me. "I didn't know, I suspected things. I wasn't going to confront him and end up dead too, nor was I putting my family in harms way. Certainly you can understand that?" I mull this over in my head. His reasoning is solid, but why not tell someone who could intervene, why not report it to the council?

Cody sits across from me with one eyebrow raised, as if he's waiting for me to say anything. I tilt my head toward him and wait for him to say something. Cody clears his throat. "I don't think you can blame him Alpha, he wasn't even privy to finances. I believe he was not involved in any of this." I close my eyes and exhale. Of course Cody is right, I know he is. I can't help but be shocked that it took this long for things to start coming out. I think about Shawna and Michael and how hard it's been for Michael to stand by his contract to guard Alpha James. The first thing I will request when the council is in session, is that they release him from his obligations. That's the right thing to do.