Chapter 70

Jade

Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. The words were on repeat in my mind. I couldn't process them. How could he do this? How could he stand there and just let them do this after everything? He wasn't even going to fight? I just didn't understand. I know he had done things in his past that he regretted but he picked a fine time to let his conscious take control.

"I'm glad your making this easy on yourself. It'll make this trial go a lot faster. You were smart enough to realize that the evidence is overwhelming. So let's begin with the reason we're here. You attacked one of the strongest packs in the country. Why?" asked Xander.

"Because it belongs to me. I am the rightful alpha and it's taken me years to become strong enough to fight for it. My parents were killed by Phoenix's parents and I refused to stand by while another wolf ruled over my domain."

"Yes the records show that a conquering did occur. You have to realize that pack law states that once a pack is taken a shift of power occurs."

"Only because I was too young at the time to do anything about it!" Hunter screamed.

"Be that as it may. You don't expect us to just take an alpha's territory because you feel that you have been wronged?"

"No but I want a chance to claim it. I want a chance to take control properly as should have been done years ago."

"I see. This was an attack to discover who the strongest and most dominate wolf was?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you notify the Council in the begining so that this battle could be overseen?"

"I have no response to that. It simply wasn't done."

"Alright. We will decide once we hear from Phoenix. Now on to more pressing matters. Bring up his mate."

I was grabbed and taken to a stand.

"Let her go. She's not on trial," Hunter said. Venom in his tone.

"I beg to differ. I find her to be quite curious. I have discussed this with others and they seem to agree. We have some questions that must be answered."

I could do this. I could get us out of this. I had to.

"Your name is Jade correct?"

"Yes"

"Your parents are Constance and Jacob Grayson?

"Yes"

"I have information that you were present during the attack?"

"Yes"

"In your words, what happened?"

"I tried to convince Hunter not to go through with it but he was determined so I supported him. Things got out of control and I did what I could to make sure that he was safe."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"I attacked who I needed to and made sure he wasn't blindsided to give him his best chance."

"I see. So you simply used your werewolf strength and ability to help out?"

"Exactly. What else is there?" I tried to act puzzled and confused. I only hoped it was working

"What else indeed. How did the battle end?"

"Hunter and Phoenix were thrown apart by strong winds or something. I only saw them hit the ground."

This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

"So you weren't close by when this happened?"

"Not exactly no."

"The she wolves with you, were they close by?"

"It happened so fast. I wasn't really paying attention. I was preoccupied trying to save my mate."

"Alright then. I guess it won't be a problem to interrogate you all separately. Just to make sure your stories align of course."

The sinister look on his face almost made me break into a panic. We needed more time.

"Take all of them to individual holding cells. We will hear the evidence from the witnesses I have mentioned and see how this unfolds."

Jewels

I knew this wouldn't be easy. But I didn't expect this to go so wrong this quickly. Xander was on a mission. He was determined to oust us. It would be a miracle if we all got through this. Our only hope of talking to Julie was gone. This had become what I had feared most, a hunt.

Sapphire has been right to be afraid. Xander wanted them separated from their mates. He may have even done something to keep them from Headquarters.

There was only one option, and there was no turning back. If we wanted to make it out alive it would take all the powers of the others combined to bring this place down. Once it was done we would be fugitives with every werewolf after us. There would be no place to hide and no one to trust. We'd be exposed and considered dangerous.

The irony of it wasn't lost on me. We were trying to save what we were being accused of trying to destroy. The Moon Goddess must have had strong faith in us because this was way more than any of us had anticipated. I needed to find my mate now more than ever so that our full strength could be realized. We would need them once we became outlaws.

"Sapphire? Can you hear me?"

"Yes. Just barely" she answered.

"You and the others have to use your powers if it comes to it. We have to survive this," I told her.

"I know. But you realize what will happen if we do?"

"Yes. But it may be the only way. When the time comes. You take the lead. The others hopefully will understand and follow suit. It will give us time to escape and we'll figure out the rest," I told her. I couldn't communicate with them all but maybe they would get the message once Sapphire began using her power.

"Agreed. But we still haven't mastered them yet. What if something else goes wrong?"

"It's a chance we'll have to take."

That was the last I heard from her as the minutes turned into hours. I didnt know which one of us was being interrogated or if the Council was convinced. All I could do was wait my turn as the feeling of dread overtook me.

Right when I was about to try Sapphire again my cell door was opened.

"You're up," said the guard. I followed him hoping this wouldn't be as bad as it seemed. That we wouldn't have to expose ourselves just to survive.

All hope I had was lost as all the members of the Council stared at me knowingly.

"Jewel is it?"said Xander.

"Yes."

"You seem to be the only one not mated out of your little group. Is that correct?"

"Yes," I said, trying to be offended.

"So why don't you just tell us what they are. Clearly you have some insight and can shed some light on the situation."

"I have nothing to tell. They haven't done anything and neither have I. This trial was supposed to be about settling a pack dispute not some natural phenomenons," I was outraged by all of this. It should have been a simple trial to decide the rightful owner of a pack.

"Some things are more important," he said gravely.

"We are not a threat to our kind. We haven't harmed anyone."

"But you could and that's enough. If we don't act and whatever you turn out to be leads to the extinction of our kind it would be worse than death to me."

I understood his fear. But that didn't make it right.

"We are innocent and you're willing to risk our lives, the life of your mate, on a maybe?"

If he would just see reason this could all be over. The other members looked at him curiously. Maybe they thought he had gone too far.

"There is something wrong. The experiments Phoenix was performing on Ruby proves it. Yes, I know about them."

She hadn't even spoken about her time there. I was definitely shocked he knew.

"That proves nothing. Only that Phoenix is twisted."

"Twisted maybe. But not stupid. He's one of the smartest men I know and if he felt the need to experiment on his mate he had a reason. I for one want to know what that reason was."

"I don't know."

"The hell you don't! Everything that any one the others have said has been useless. I know what you all are trying to do and it won't work."

So they had managed to keep things together.

"There is nothing going on here. It's just you being paranoid."

"I dare you call me paranoid. Take her back into the cell. Tomorrow we'll finish what Phoenix started. Either we get answers or we kill them trying. It doesn't matter anymore. This ends here."

He was right. It would end here.

"Sapphire. It's time," I mindlinked.

I transformed and lunged at Xander. I may not have had powers but I was skilled in combat. I wouldn't kill him for Diamond's sake but I could buy the rest of them some time.

He was shocked but recovered quickly. Before I knew it the rest of the Council had transformed as well to protect their leader. He threw me off and I recovered as I dodged several attacks. Before I could begin to think this wasn't such a good idea the ground began to shake. It wasn't long before flames began to appear and strong winds emerged to feed them. Everyone began to run and take cover as the building crumbled. The rush of water was the last thing anyone heard before it collapsed.