Twenty two

I was in my living room, engrossed in a late-night movie, when my phone rang. Although I didn't recognize the number, I answered it nonetheless.

"Hello?"

"Tyler, it's one of your men. The council has called for an emergency meeting tomorrow morning."

"Thank you for informing me," I responded, an uneasy feeling already settling in. "Do you have any idea what it's about?"

"No, sir. I haven't received any details yet."

I hung up the phone and reclined in my seat, contemplating why the council would convene so abruptly. Could it possibly be related to Ruby? No, that seemed implausible. We had taken every precaution to ensure her safety, and there was no evidence linking her to any illicit activities.

The following morning, I arrived at the council chambers to find Lucian already present. We exchanged curt nods, refraining from uttering a word.

As the council members filed in, a sense of foreboding gripped me. What if they possessed information that we were unaware of?

The meeting commenced, confirming my fears. The council had received an anonymous tip regarding Ruby, and they sought answers.

Outrage surged within me. We had gone to great lengths to protect her, and now we were being accused of wrongdoing? It was preposterous.

However, matters took a turn for the worse when an elder accused both Lucian and me of bribing the guard overseeing the investigation.

"What?" I exclaimed, rising to my feet. "That's absurd!"

Murmurs rippled through the council members, and their disappointment was palpable.

Lucian glared at me, his eyes brimming with anger. "I never bribed anyone," he seethed. "I am as innocent as you."

My fists clenched as anger surged through me. I knew I hadn't resorted to bribery, and I had confidence that Lucian hadn't either.

But how could we prove our innocence?

The meeting dragged on, with the council members scrutinizing every aspect of our involvement with Ruby, intensifying my frustration. It felt like hours had passed before the meeting finally concluded, leaving Lucian and me alone in the chambers.

"I can't believe this is happening," I vented, my voice trembling with anger. "Who would orchestrate such a setup?"

Lucian shook his head, mirroring my disbelief. "I don't know, but we must uncover the truth. We cannot allow them to succeed."

Nodding in agreement, I felt a resolute determination wash over me. I would do whatever it took to vindicate our names and safeguard Ruby. However, our immediate priority was to identify the culprit behind this false accusation.

Gazing at Lucian, seated across from me, I discerned the same bewildered expression mirrored in his eyes. We exchanged a fleeting glance, understanding that we shared the same pressing question: Who could have influenced the guard through bribery?

The elder's speech continued, resounding throughout the room. "This is a grave transgression that shall not be taken lightly. The council shall launch a thorough investigation to ascertain the individual responsible for this breach of trust."

As the elder spoke, my mind raced. Although I knew neither Lucian nor I had bribed the guard, who had? And why? Furthermore, if we were being accused of this offense, what else were we being implicated in?

The other council members nodded in agreement, and the weight of their disappointment settled heavily upon my shoulders. We were meant to be the protectors of our pack, the ones who would defend them no matter the circumstances. Yet, we found ourselves accused of corrupting a guard through bribery.

Standing up, overcome by anger and frustration, I asserted firmly, "Elder, I assure

you that neither Lucian nor I bribed anyone. We had no motive to do so."

The elder met my gaze sternly. "We shall see, Tyler. Until this matter is resolved, both you and Lucian shall be suspended from your leadership roles within the pack."

Rage coursed through my veins at his words. How could they accuse us without any evidence? Moreover, to suspend us from our duties when the pack needed our guidance the most was utterly ludicrous.

Lucian rose beside me, his features contorted with anger. "This is preposterous," he spat. "You possess no proof of our wrongdoing."

The elder turned to face him, narrowing his eyes. "We possess sufficient evidence to warrant a suspension, Lucian. If you and Tyler are truly innocent, the investigation shall reveal it."

With that, the meeting concluded, and Lucian and I stormed out of the room, consumed by fury. Our footsteps echoed down the hallway as we made our way.

"I can't believe this is happening," Lucian muttered, disbelief lacing his words. "We're being punished for a crime we never committed."

"I know," I responded, my fists clenched tightly. "But we mustn't lose hope. We are aware of our innocence, and we shall prove it."

Lucian nodded, a determined gleam in his eyes. "Absolutely. And whoever orchestrated this will face the consequences."

As we parted ways, an uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. This investigation would be arduous and protracted, and I couldn't be certain that we would emerge unscathed. However, one thing remained certain: I would exhaust every avenue to vindicate my name and safeguard the pack that relied on me.