Chapter 221 How Much Had He Hidden From Me?
Chapter 221 How Much Had He Hidden From Me?
Isabella's POV
The council chamber felt like it was spinning around me. My hands trembled in my lap as I listened to the confessions from the council members. One after another, they admitted to purchasing women from Victoria, being blackmailed by her, and following her instructions to avoid prosecution.
I'd known Victoria had blackmailed Richard and me. That's how she'd kept her power over us for years. But trafficking women? Blackmailing council members? This went so far beyond what she'd done to Richard and me that my mind struggled to process it.
Victoria... my best friend... how could she do these things?
Part of me wanted to believe it wasn't true. When they mentioned Victoria communicating by phone to avoid Alpha commands, I briefly wondered if someone had been impersonating her. Perhaps Sophia or Airina? It had to be someone else. Not Victoria.
But then Noah stepped forward with recordings from recent conversations. My heart shattered completely as I listened. There was no mistaking Victoria's voice, her particular way of speaking. The recordings even mentioned details about Airina and Sophia that no one else could possibly know.
Tears streamed endlessly down my face. I couldn't understand how my best friend, the Beta female of our pack, could traffic women, blackmail people, conspire, and even suggest her own son whom she knew wasn't gay and had a fated mate should have sex with Owen and be recorded doing it.
The world felt like it was collapsing around me. I turned to Richard, seeking comfort, needing to feel anchored. His face was red as a blood tomato, his rage beyond anything I'd ever witnessed before. I reached out a hand to console him but then pulled back when I realized his fury-filled eyes weren't directed at the council members or even Victoria.
They were fixed on Damian and Lya.
The realization made me start to dry heave. One of the guards quickly brought me a bucket, but Richard was so consumed by his rage he didn't even notice. I wondered if I truly knew anyone anymore, not just my best friend, but even my fated mate seemed like a stranger to me.
When the new council members were announced, I managed to pull myself together. I was the only one from either box who applauded. Richard shot me a look I'd never seen before. It was the first time he'd looked at me since the council's misconduct had been revealed. His glare only made me clap louder.
"And now," Lya's clear voice cut through my thoughts, "we'll begin the public meeting regarding the alleged misconduct of the Shadow Moon Valley Pack."
Damian and Lya took seats positioned among the other council members. Before sitting, Damian looked at Richard.
"Father, during our earlier meeting today, I commanded you not to reveal our conversation or attempt to interfere with tonight's plans," Damian said. "I release you from those commands. You should be able to fully participate in the discussion and investigation of your leadership, as is only right."
Was that why Richard was so angry at Damian and Lya? Because Damian had used an Alpha command on him? I wondered, my mind racing to understand Richard's fury.
"There's no need for an investigation," Richard suddenly stood and addressed Damian and Lya. "I officially renounce my title as Alpha of Shadow Moon Valley Pack and name you, Damian Sterling, as my successor."
"Thank you for making this part of the process easier, Father," Damian replied. "I accept the position of Alpha of Shadow Moon Valley Pack."
As the words left his mouth, something subtle shifted in the air. Every werewolf in the hall could feel the power transferring from Richard to Damian. My heart swelled with conflicted emotions—part of me felt proud that Damian and Lya could now officially be called "Alpha Damian" and "Luna Lya," even as another part of me struggled with everything else happening around us.
Once the energy wave settled, Damian spoke again. "Unfortunately, Father, your chance for a peaceful transition ended when you ordered me to leave earlier today. There are wolves who have been waiting to speak against you and others on this stage. They also have questions that deserve answers. If you had been willing to take responsibility earlier, to acknowledge your role in the horrors that have happened in this pack, I might have asked those waiting wolves to focus their grievances and questions on the others on this stage. At this point, however, your concession is a bit too late."
Damian turned to Lya. "Darling?"
"Alpha Bryan, you may now read the list of charges," Lya said, then sat down.
Alpha Bryan walked back onto the stage. "Thank you, Luna Lya and esteemed members of the Supernatural Council. I hereby charge the Shadow Moon Valley Pack and its former leadership with the following crimes: —Abuse of females, pups, elders, and other vulnerable groups; —Misuse of the mate bond and deliberate use of said bond as a tool of torture; —Unjustified and inhumane punishment of pack members for minor infractions without due process; —Conspiracy to kidnap, rape, blackmail, and traffic humans. I charge every person in both boxes with all of these crimes."
Wait, what? My internal voice screamed in confusion.
The human trafficking had been confirmed as connected to Victoria. There had been mentions at Sophia's mating ceremony about what Airina and Sophia had done to Noah's mate bond. But was Alpha Bryan suggesting more had happened? And that all of us knew?
The hall fell silent as the gravity of the accusations settled over everyone present.
I stared at Alpha Bryan in stunned disbelief, then looked at Richard, whose face remained furious but completely unsurprised. The sickening feeling in my stomach intensified. How much had my husband known? How much had he hidden from me?
Or perhaps even worse—how much had I chosen not to see?