Chapter 39 Matters Arising
Elara woke to shouting outside her window and found a group of pack members gathered on the lawn holding signs that read "Exile the Omega" and "Protect Our Bloodline."
"What's happening?" Adrian asked, climbing into her bed.
"Nothing baby," Elara lied and closed the curtains. "Let's get breakfast."
They went downstairs where Kai was already dealing with the protesters, his voice carrying through the open front door.
"This is my decision as Alpha and it's final," he said firmly. "Elara Whitmore and her son are under pack protection."
"She was exiled for lying about paternity," a woman shouted back. "That exile should stand."
"The exile was based on false evidence my father fabricated," Kai said. "It's been officially reversed by pack council."
"Only because you pressured them," another voice called. "We demand a vote."
"There won't be a vote," Kai said. "Now disperse before I have security remove you."
The crowd grumbled but slowly dispersed, and Kai came back inside looking exhausted.
"How long has that been going on?" Elara asked.
"Since dawn," Kai said. "Apparently word spread fast that you're living here."
"Maybe Adrian and I should stay somewhere else," Elara suggested.
"Absolutely not," Kai said. "This is your home and anyone who has a problem with that can leave the pack."
"You can't exile everyone who disagrees with you," Elara said.
"Watch me," Kai muttered and went to make coffee.
Margaret appeared with breakfast and gave Elara a sympathetic look. "Don't mind them, change is always hard for traditionalists."
"How many are against us?" Elara asked quietly.
"Maybe thirty percent," Margaret said. "The rest are either supportive or don't care, but the ones who are against you are very vocal."
Adrian tugged on Elara's sleeve. "Mama, can I go play with the other kids?"
"Maybe later baby," Elara said because she wasn't sure if the other pack children would be welcoming.
"There's a playgroup that meets in the community center every morning," Margaret said. "I can take him if you'd like."
"I don't know," Elara hesitated.
"He'll be safe," Margaret promised. "I won't let anyone bully him."
Elara looked at Adrian's hopeful face and made a decision. "Okay, but you stay close to Margaret the whole time."
"I will mama," Adrian promised and took Margaret's hand.
After they left, Elara sat with Kai at the breakfast table.
"This isn't going to work," she said. "The pack doesn't want me here."
"Some of them don't," Kai corrected. "Others are fine with it."
"The ones who aren't fine with it might hurt Adrian to get at me," Elara said.
"Not while I'm Alpha," Kai said firmly. "I've already assigned extra security around the community center and the school."
"You can't protect him every second," Elara said.
"Then we make sure everyone knows the consequences of touching him," Kai said.
His phone rang and he answered with a curt "What?"
His expression darkened as he listened. "When? And the media knows? Damn it, okay, I'll handle it."
He ended the call. "Darius's trial date has been set and his lawyers are holding a press conference this afternoon claiming he's innocent and being framed by federal authorities."
"Can they do that?" Elara asked.
"Freedom of speech," Kai said. "They can claim whatever they want, doesn't mean anyone will believe them."
"Some people will," Elara said. "Especially pack members who are loyal to your father."
"Let them believe what they want," Kai said. "The evidence against him is solid."
"What if it's not?" Elara asked. "What if his lawyers find loopholes?"
"Then we deal with it," Kai said.
A knock on the door interrupted them and one of Kai's guards entered. "Alpha, there's a lawyer here to see Elara Whitmore, says it's urgent."
"What lawyer?" Elara asked.
"Representing Mandivus Swathi," the guard said.
Elara's blood went cold. "I'm not talking to anyone connected to Mandivus."
"He says it's about information relevant to your case against Darius Silvercrest," the guard continued. "Says Mandivus wants to make a deal."
"Absolutely not," Kai said. "Tell him to leave."
"Wait," Elara said. "What kind of deal?"
"Elara, no," Kai said. "Mandivus is trying to manipulate you."
"Or he has information we need," Elara countered. "What if he knows something about your father that could strengthen the case?"
"Or what if it's a trap?" Kai said.
"Then we find out," Elara said. "Let the lawyer in."
Kai looked like he wanted to argue but gestured for the guard to allow it.
The lawyer who entered was a sharp-looking woman in an expensive suit carrying a briefcase. "Thank you for seeing me, I'm Attorney Jessica Vance representing Mandivus Swathi."
"What does he want?" Elara asked.
"My client is willing to testify against Darius Silvercrest in exchange for a reduced sentence," Jessica said. "He has detailed knowledge of their business arrangement including documentation of payments and correspondence."
"The feds already have that," Kai said.
"They have financial records," Jessica corrected. "My client has recordings of actual conversations where Darius explicitly ordered actions against Ms. Whitmore and others."
Elara felt her pulse quicken. "What kind of actions?"
"Orders to have you killed if you returned to Crescent Falls," Jessica said. "Orders to eliminate your child if paternity was proven, orders to falsify evidence and bribe officials."
"Why would Mandivus give us this?" Elara asked.
"Because right now he's facing life in prison," Jessica said. "With this testimony he could reduce his sentence to twenty years with possibility of parole."
"That's still getting away with murder," Kai said.
"Better than never paying at all," Jessica said. "And it guarantees Darius Silvercrest goes to prison for the rest of his life."
"We need to hear the recordings first," Elara said.
Jessica pulled out a small device and played a clip—Darius's voice clear and unmistakable saying "The omega and her bastard need to disappear permanently, I don't care how you do it."