Chapter 137

Alpha Gabe POV

The moment has finally come to put an end to all of this distress upon me and my pack. I'm still baffled at how I'd become so involved in these proceedings. My Luna, my mate sat next to me, her fingers wrapped in mine. This calmed me. Calmed my wolf. I looked over at Jenna and squeezed her hand, all the while wondering how anyone could kill their own mate. This was one act committed by Alpha James that absolutely had me in utter shock. I just could not understand it, could not fathom what would possess him to do such a thing. And shortly, he'd be brought into this room to give his own account of his crimes, of which I was certain would be lies spewing forth.

When the door opens, I'm not sure what to expect, but the man that comes through the doors is not what I expected. I hadn't seen Alpha James since we captured him in the woods. I had foregone visiting him, for fear I would want to hurt him for all the horrible things I now knew he did. The guards drag Alpha James into the room, his wrists and ankles shackled in silver cuffs. He looked thin, his skin looked grey and his eyes looked haunted as he slowly moved his eyes around the room. It was clear that he was weak, much weaker than I would have expected for the minimal time he'd been in my dungeon. We fed him, and then left him in his cell with water. He should not look as bad as he does, it doesn't make sense to me. And then it does.

I watch as the Luna of the Idaho Falls Pack stands in the back row of the spectator pews. Her glare is filled with nothing but hatred and venom. It's like Alpha James feels her glare, because his head turns in her direction and I watch as his eyes widen. His lips part as if he is about to say something, but nothing comes out except a low mewling sound. He swallows and turns away, looking at the row of council members at the front of the room. The guards drag him to the table up front, sit him in the chair and chain him to the eyelet hooks that are seated into the floor. You can hear low murmurs throughout the room, and its clear that everyone is talking about he looks ill. As the councilmen are about to call order to the room, the Luna yells from the back of the room. "You asshole, I hope you rot! You ruined my life," her voice breaks on the last word. I see the guardian who we now know is her mate, he walks to the back of the room and grabs her hand and whispers softly to her. She relaxes and nods, then sits and he sits next to her, keeping his hand in hers.

The council calls the room to order. The room becomes quiet and then the head council member reads off the list of crimes that they are charging Alpha James with. He doesn't even look up, his head bent and his eyes closed. When the lengthy list is complete, Alpha James is afforded the opportunity to speak. I watch as he carefully raises his head and takes a deep breath. "I am guilty," he replies to the council, much to everyone's surprise. The room erupts in conversations and gasps. The gavel is pounded again, the room taking much longer to quiet down than previously.

"If you all cannot remain quiet and calm, we will have to close these proceedings," the council looks to Alpha James again, "Please continue Alpha James."

I watch as he nods and speaks again. "I am guilty of many things, though perhaps it has not been considered that I clearly did not act alone in all of this. If I offer my assistance in identifying the rest of the responsible parties, will there be a leniency in my punishment?"

Murmurs amongst the council is all we can hear and those words are not identifiable even with my excellent werewolf hearing. I look around at the angry and astounded faces of everyone that is gathered in the room. I notice the Kennedy's sitting towards the back, looking particularly upset. There are dozens of people in this room who would gladly kill Alpha James themselves, if the opportunity were to arrise. I don't see how the council could possibly show leniency.

"Alpha James, we do not see how we can be lenient in these circumstances. While we would appreciate the assistance, albeit a bit late for that, you have committed some very serious crimes. There are many victims in this very room, victims of crimes against our very kind, victims family members who would just as soon kill you themselves as await for us to do it for them," one of the more quiet councilmen states very heavily. "Do you not see what you have done, how sick and twisted your actions were, how you have literally ruined lives, destroyed lives, and least of all, murdered your own mate and your son?"

"I had my reasons," Alpha James tips his chin up as if daring them to say anything against him. "Reasons that are none of your business! My son betrayed me, and as for my mate, she was killed by rogue wolves."

"No Alpha James, your mate was murdered by you. We have proof of that, so no point in lying about it any longer. As for your son, evidence points to murder at your hand, though we cannot necessarily prove your motive since he is not here to say otherwise," he shuffles some notes on his desk as the councilman next to him whispers in his ear and he raises his head to stare at Alpha James. "It appears there is proof, or witnesses rather, that I was unaware of. Warriors of your own pack have come forward with testimony. It's unfortunate we cannot hear them in person, but my colleague here has sealed letters with their testimony that were obtained on our recent visit to your pack."

Alpha James seems confused by this, "You visited my pack?"

"Indeed. One of our councilmen has recently returned from there, with plenty of evidence against you, and Beta Roger is here to testify if need be, to his own findings," he sits taller and looks to Alpha James. "You are aware of Mariah Kennedy, are you not?"

Alpha James does not reply, just stares blank faced at the council. When he says nothing, the councilmember continues. "She is here, recently saved from a village pack in South America I believe. Your current mate," he pauses, "I apologize, I think you felt the breaking of your bond two days ago so you are now aware that the Luna is no longer mated to you," with that Alpha James lets out a growl.

"If that cheating whore is no longer mated to me, then she is no longer the Luna!" he seeths.

"Alpha James," there is a deep collective sigh. "Perhaps I should not call you that any longer, as we have determined you are no longer the Alpha of the Idaho Falls pack, however she is still the Luna. Further more, she has bonded with her true mate and if the council chooses, he will now be Alpha of the pack," the room erupts in whispers and the gavel smacks down again.

"Over my dead body," Alpha James growls out.

"That can be arranged," is growled from the back of the room before utter chaos erupts once again. The flash from the back of the room is all I see, as one very pissed off man shifts into his wolf form and hurls himself forward.