84. Informing The People

84. Informing The People
Cindy

I thanked him and accepted the cup. Cerberus sat beside me. He brought it to his lips and slurped some of the tea. I followed his lead.

It didn't have much sugar but I appreciated the acidity. 

"If you want to beat them up, Reiss should be done with them," Cerberus said.

I looked down at my cup. Half of it was gone. It settled in my stomach, warming it.

"Colt will decide what to do with them. I just... can't look them in the eyes."

"You surprised me."

I looked at him, one eyebrow raised. "I do? I can't see anything about me that's surprising."

"Before you came I thought you were gonna be some whiney human that would try and get information out of us to relay back to your pack."

I averted my gaze. Should I tell him that that's what Colt told me to do? Since I didn't do it, let's just keep that a secret.

"Uh, thanks?"

He chuckled. "You're welcome."

"Do you still think I'm like that?"

"Not really." He took another sip. 

"Sooo are you going to tell me what you think of me now?"

"I think I'll keep that to myself." Cerberus winked and smirked.

I rolled my eyes. I tilted the cup to my mouth and drained the whole thing. 

"Then let me ask you another question." I placed the cup beside, careful so it wouldn't fall and smash on the paved stones.

"Shoot. I might as well hear it."

"Is it true that you and Allister were mates?"

He spat so forcefully that the tea sprayed over a yard away. Cerberus stared with wide eyes, wiping his mouth with his shirt sleeve. "Where did you hear something so ridiculous?"

"I didn't. Allister mentioned that he couldn't be with someone he wanted to when he drove me to Endom and you're the only one he avoids looking at when he enters a room. You avoid looking at him too but you stare down everyone else. That's why I asked to see your reaction. Is there a story behind that or are you two just fuc-"

He hurried to cover my mouth. "I get it, you don't need to continue."

After releasing my mouth, he slumped with his head tilted towards the sky.

"Where do I even begin? We're not screwing or anything like that. It's complicated."

"Huh. Doesn't it hurt to see him? Be near him all the time?"

"We are wolves and this is our job. No matter how I feel, the pack comes before all else."

"I can't imagine how that feels." I dragged my knees closer to my chest. 

"Just be glad that you don't have to experience it."

That night

Night fell and we had filed outside the packhouse. Now was the time. 

Reiss jumped onto one of the picnic benches. Glen had his guys behind Reiss, a small distance away to show that they mean not harm while also presenting solidarity. 

"Is everyone here?!" Reiss yelled.

His thunderous voice forced everyone's attention away from the visitors and onto him. Some of them mumbled "yes".

"Beloved members of the Highland pack. I asked 'is everyone here?!"

That gained a more enthusiastic response. Reiss continued. 

"We were supposed to gather here yesterday, but as you all know, something came up. I thank you all for taking the time out to come here a second time. I won't lie to you, things are looking bleak. The Council has no interest in giving us a second chance."

Angry groans came from the audience. I folded my arms, thinking about how they would react once he was finished.

"But it doesn't matter what the Council says. We have been tricked! Roger Bryce and his goons had taken it upon themselves to sow doubt between our two packs in order to benefit from it. We have captured three of the people working for him, so I have no doubts that the information we had gathered is correct."

Silence. It took a while before even a whisper was uttered. Someone raised their hand. "None of the goons were from our side, right? No one in their right mind would think they could pull the wool over our eyes."

As if on clue, Allister and Emery came forward. The crowd parted, giving way as they passed by dragging Elijah by the ropes holding his wrists together.

"Summer told me what you did," Reiss growled. "She remembers everything."

They forced Elijah onto his knees, facing their Alpha. Elijah didn't show a hint of remorse. Only annoyance. But when he raised his head, I saw it. Anger. Not anger at himself, but anger pointed at Reiss. 

"How do you know the little bitch wasn't lying?" Were the first words that came out of his mouth.

Allister slapped the back of his head. Elijah chuckled as he didn't receive a slap hard enough to make him bow down.

"Let me think. There is a young girl who has never gotten in trouble and had gone through something so traumatic that she locked away her own memories. Then there is you, who disobeyed my orders and went behind my back time and time again. Not to mention that one of your comrades came to your rescue. Tell me, between the two of you, who is more reliable?"

Elijah released a growl of his own. Instead of addressing the alpha in front of him, he turned to the crowd.

"Don't look at me as if you can read my mind. None of you know me! You can keep your damn judgements to yourselves. Except you, Emery. We argue sometimes but you know as arrogant as I am, I would never betray you. There's no way I would do all those things. Reiss can't be trusted. He'll take advantage of anyone in his way. When have I ever caused trouble? He's just trying to get rid of me, you know he is."

Emery glanced down at him, but it wasn't as if she was looking at a person she knew. Her face twisted into a scowl.

"You and I know you're capable of much more than you give yourself credit for."