The Council Part One - Kendric's POV
Part of me says I probably should have stayed in the pack where Valeria is. Anything would be better than being here.
“What details from the abused woman’s situation prompted your continued investigation, Kendric? We need further details about the event to ensure the alphas are properly punished.”
My throat goes dry as my jaw clenches. My nails dig into the underside of the table. The wolf beneath my skin shifts, ready to defend her, even if the world won’t.
The alpha and his family must answer for their actions.
“When we arrived at their home, the woman was standing at the back of the kitchen against the cabinet. She kept her head down as if she feared looking up. The alpha’s mate allowed me to escort her to town, and she was extra nice about it, almost too nice. From the interactions alone, it was clear that Valeria felt confused and uncertain. It was like it was all for show, instead of a genuine reaction. A little later, her hair moved aside, and I noticed a scar running along the top of the collar of her shirt.”
“Did you confirm there was more?”
A deep sigh escapes me. “No, I did not look anywhere else because that would be violating her privacy.”
“We need to confirm how many scars on her on her body from being abused,” Tom says, scanning the faces of the other council members.
“While I agree that it would have been great to know the extent of the damage, do you really expect me to ask her to strip in front of anyone? We don’t know what else they have done to her and that could be traumatic. We have enough evidence because other wolves have stepped forward. During visits, other alphas observed it, prompting our entry,” I say as a growl rumbles in my chest before I can stop it. “I will not be disrespectful to a female and there were no other females around I could ask to help with it, either.”
The wolf snaps beneath the surface, furious at the thought of her being treated like an object.
Thomas leans back in his seat when no one else speaks up on the matter.
“Now, what else does the council need for judgment?” I ask, when no one else speaks.
As I expected, the challenge doesn’t go unanswered. Leaning forward on his elbows, Micah looks around the table before his gaze locks with mine. “Okay, so we can agree they have been abusing their pack members and this one particular female received the worst of it. This much has been confirmed with other alphas and now you. What are their other crimes? Because I can guarantee they will claim it was from fighting.”
“The beta refused to speak on the matter,” Barrett whispers. “No one wants to come forward.
“So, we have random reports of scars on other pack members and all the alphas reported the girl in the home. Sadly, this may prove difficult to judge,” Micah says as he leans back in his chair. “Look, if more had come forward and admitted what he did, then I could have pushed this, but right now, it looks like they got scars from fighting. As for the girl, she lived in their home and she is his adoptive daughter, at least by his claims. He also denied scarring her and so did his wife.”
The chair scrapes back slightly as I rise from the table, my pulse beating loudly in my ears. “You can’t be serious. They’ve hurt her since she was twelve.” My hands shake, not with fear, but with the fury I keep barely leashed.
Barrett reaches out, touching my shoulder lightly as he shakes his head. He’s telling me not to push this any further, but how can I not? This isn’t right.
“Who is going to take over as the alpha of their pack? You?” Micah asks, mocking me.
He isn’t aware of the monster lurking beneath my skin, but sometimes I wonder.
My fangs threaten to descend as I shoot to my feet. “Are you telling me he’s going back? That he’s taking over again?” The wolf within me roars, ready to rip through the chains of decorum. “He’ll just abuse her worse and probably the rest of the pack, because he will believe he can get away with it. Is that the example that you want to set? We are the council and our word is law. More packs might abuse their members.”
Micah rises from his chair, the legs scraping sharply against the floor. The air becomes suffocating around us, like the pressure before a storm breaks. “That is enough! You will be silent. You are nothing but a pup. Though you are on the council, you are our newest member and your weight in this matter does not mean as much as those who have been here for longer.”
Barrett stands, clearly ready to defend me. “He may be the newest member, but you have forgotten your place. I am the eldest member here and have been here the longest. That girl has been done wrong. That family will suffer the consequences of their actions and you will go through with it. For a moment there, I thought you had been bought off.”
Micah’s eyes widen at the mention of being paid. “Bought off? You are sorely mistaken. I’m only doing what I must for all packs. There’s not enough proof. Activity: Some groups gather regularly to engage in friendly combat, finding joy in the adrenaline-fueled clashes. We are both aware of this. Not all members of the pack with scars have experienced mistreatment.”
“Kendric is right, Micah. If you allow them to go unpunished, then other alphas may treat their packs the same and get away with it as well. Is that what you want? Total anarchy? That is where we are headed if you don’t do something,” Barrett says as his hands land on the table. “Is this truly what you wish to happen?”