Chapter 198

Cedric POV

I can barely stand being away from Constance. My wolf is angrier than ever, and it has made my focus next to nothing. I presently stand next to the council member that I'm close to leaving in the lurch.

"Cedric," he says quietly. I look over at him, and he winces. Apparently, my anger is more present than I realized. "Get your wolf under control," he says.

"Sir," I reply and nod.

"Two days, that's all I ask," he says. "We need to wrap up this investigation, and then you can be released. The council has asked you to testify today regarding the sworn statement from Lynn. Can you do that?"

"I can," I state. "But her name must remain anonymous. She's worried that the Alpha will punish her brother or parents over this."

"They will not be implicated, and her name will not be mentioned. No one even knows who you went after or where you have been."

"Fine," I say, and he opens the door into the conference room. In the room sit six council members and the Alpha of this little pack in Wyoming. The pack where Lynn and Shawna are from. I grew attached to those two in the weeks I was in Georgia. I want to protect them both. I will not be coerced into mentioning names. I will answer questions with the information Lynn provided, nothing more.

"Guardian Cedric, please sit."

I do as instructed. "Please tell us about your findings," they prompt.

"I was instructed to follow," I pause. "I was instructed to question a member of this pack, and over the course of several weeks, I was able to extract information. The pack member disclosed that they overheard a conversation that concerned them, regarding the Alpha here and some matter he was involved in."

"What mattered was that?"

"He purchased women, brought them into the pack. My understanding is that those women were then married to pack members," I state.

"How many women were purchased?" they ask.

"Two."

"We have questioned those women. They refused to testify, though they admitted they were brought here at a young age, abducted from their packs. Little can be done at this point. Why did this pack member choose to disclose this information?"

"Initially, they were not going to. However, the Alpha sent other members to retrieve this one individual when they chose to leave the pack. He also threatened to kill their mate," I added in. "I could not condone such an action taking place; therefore, I protected them. I took them to a safe place. They will no longer be a member of this pack," I added.

The Alpha growls at my words and glares at me. The council members all turn and look at him. "What do you have to say for yourself, Alpha?"

"It's a lie. I would never force anyone to remain in this pack if they chose to leave."

"Actually," I interrupt. "I have proof." I pull my phone from my pocket and open my recording app. I press play on the recorded admission from his own pack members, the pack members I had returned here with another guardian. The recording plays out through the room, and the Alpha's face turns red, but he says nothing more.

I was asked a few more questions and then dismissed. My council member follows me outside the room, shutting the door quietly behind us. "You did well," he says. "Now go run off some of this anger," he says. "But before you do, care to tell me why you're behaving this way? Or your wolf, rather? He's constantly on the surface."

"My mate," I say.

"Yes, she's dead. We know this already, Cedric."

"No, I say. In Georgia, I found my second chance mate. She's a pack doctor there. I've now been away from her for nearly three months. It's getting hard."

"Oh. Well, that is a surprise," he replies, rubbing his chin. "Let me see what I can do about getting you out of here," he says. I nod my thanks and start to walk away. He grabs my elbow. "Cedric, I'm happy for you."

"Thank you," I say, and then dash out the door and head to the woods, tearing my clothes off so I can take my wolf for a run. We both need this, and some days I think I need it more than he does.

Shawna POV

Hours later, Constance comes out to the waiting room. She tears a scrub cap from her head and tosses it into the trash. "Well, she's here, your niece has arrived. She is nearly perfect, but I'm afraid I've got to keep Lynn overnight. She bled a lot more than I anticipated. It's best to keep an eye on her and then send her home tomorrow." We all nod.

"Can we see them?" I ask, my anxiety buzzing in my head. "My sister and the baby?"

"Yes, of course," she leads us to a room in the back of the hospital. We walk in to Lynn's beaming smile. Clint sits on the edge of the bed, gazing adoringly at his mate and their little girl, who is nestled against Lynn's breast. I admit, Lynn looks a bit pale and dark circles ring her eyes. Clint brushes hair back from her face and pecks her lips, before turning towards us and standing.

"Hey ya'll," he greets us. "Come meet Ella May," he says.

"Ella May?" I ask.

"Yes," Lynn says, smiling. "After Grandma." Ella May was our grandmother's name. She died before we were born, apparently killed by hunters. There are, however, conspiracies on that theory. We never discussed it much; it always upset our mother.

"Does Mom know?" I asked. "I mean both about the baby and the name?"

"Yes, we called her a few minutes before you came in. She cried but said she was happy for us. Then went into some story about Ben and his daughter and how she's spending a lot of time with them," Lynn shrugs. "I'm just happy for her. Maybe she will not bother us if she's absorbed with Ben and his family."

"True, "I reply. Lynn offers to let me hold Ella, and of course, I do. Michael declines, looking nervous about it.

Doctor Constance clears her throat. "Well, I'm about to head home," she says. "The nurses will keep an eye on you tonight, Lynn. You can go home tomorrow if you look well enough. I suggest you go home, shower, put on something comfortable, and crash on that couch over there, if you want to stay. I need to go have a phone call with my mate before I put myself to bed," she turns towards me. "You'd best get some rest, or you will go into labor early."

I rub my hand on my own swollen stomach. "I have three weeks," I say.

"I'm not so sure about that," she replies. "You've dropped. I think a week at best." She waves at us and walks out of the room.

"You heard the doctor," Lynn teases. "Go home, I will be dragging my tired self back to your house tomorrow."

"Oh, that reminds me," Michael says as he tugs me towards the door. "They will have your house done in another week," he says with a smile. "Congratulations on your sweet pup. See you both later." Michael drags me out to the truck and drives us home in silence.

"Are you alright?" I ask him when we get home.

"Honestly, I'm scared to death. Did you see how tiny Ella is? We're going to have one of those very soon." I laugh.

"Big bad Alpha is scared of a baby?" I say with a smile. "That's sweet, babe, really." He swings me up into his arms and carries me up to our bedroom, kissing my neck the whole way.

"Guess you will have to make me forget all about it," he winks at me as he lays me down on the bed and removes my shoes. "Right after I get my fill of you."