Chapter 43 Help me
The pack council deliberated for eighteen hours before summoning everyone back to the main hall for their decision.
Elara sat in the front row with Adrian who kept asking when they could go play, and she watched Kai stand before the council looking like he'd accepted whatever judgment was coming.
Elder Thomas stood to deliver the verdict. "Alpha Kai Silvercrest, this council has reviewed your confession and the evidence presented, we find that while your actions two years ago were reprehensible, your recent efforts to make amends and your willingness to confess publicly demonstrate growth and remorse."
Elara felt her chest tighten because she couldn't tell from his tone whether this was leading to removal or reinstatement.
"However," Elder Thomas continued, "we cannot ignore that you were complicit in planning harm against a pack member and her child, therefore we are implementing the following conditions: you will remain as Alpha under probationary status for six months, during which time your decisions will be reviewed by this council, you will undergo mandatory counseling regarding abuse of power, and you will make public restitution to Elara Whitmore for the harm you caused."
"I accept these terms," Kai said immediately.
"Furthermore," Elder Sarah added, "if at any point during this probationary period you demonstrate the same manipulative or harmful behavior, you will be removed as Alpha and exiled from this pack."
"I understand," Kai said.
The council dismissed and pack members filed out arguing amongst themselves, some satisfied with the decision and others calling it too lenient.
Elara was gathering Adrian's things when a man she didn't recognize approached Kai at the front of the hall.
"That was quite the confession," the man said. "Very moving."
"Who are you?" Kai asked.
"Derek Blackwood," the man said. "Alpha of Blackwood pack, we share borders with Silvercrest."
"What do you want?" Kai asked.
"To offer you my condolences," Derek said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Because your confession just made you vulnerable and I'm here to exploit that."
"Explain," Kai said, his voice dropping to Alpha command.
"Blackwood pack has ancestral claims to three territories currently held by Silvercrest," Derek said. "Claims that were disputed fifty years ago and never properly resolved, I'm here to formally challenge your right to those territories."
"Those disputes were settled by inter-pack treaty," Kai said.
"Treaties signed by your grandfather who's dead and your father who's facing federal charges," Derek said. "Which means they're open to renegotiation."
"This isn't the time," Kai said.
"On the contrary, this is the perfect time," Derek said. "You're on probation with diminished authority, your pack is divided about your leadership, and you just admitted to crimes that call your judgment into question, if there was ever a moment to challenge Silvercrest's territorial claims, it's now."
"The council won't support a territorial challenge during leadership transition," Kai said.
"The regional council will if I present proper documentation," Derek said. "Which I have."
He pulled a folder from his jacket and handed it to Kai. "Ancestral land grants from 1973, dispute records from the inter-pack tribunal, and testimony from three witnesses who were present during the original territorial negotiations."
Kai opened the folder and his jaw tightened as he read. "These territories include the northern forest and the river basin."
"And the eastern farmlands," Derek added. "Approximately thirty percent of your current territory, along with the resources those lands provide."
"You can't seriously expect the regional council to rule in your favor," Kai said.
"I expect them to follow pack law," Derek said. "Which states that territorial disputes can be reopened if the Alpha who signed the treaty is no longer in power and the new Alpha's authority is questioned, you meet both criteria."
"This is opportunistic garbage," Kai said.
"This is politics," Derek corrected. "And you just handed me the perfect opportunity by confessing your crimes publicly, thank you for that by the way."
He turned to leave but paused. "You have thirty days to prepare your defense, the regional council meets on the first of next month, see you there Alpha Kai."
Derek walked out and Kai stood there gripping the folder so tight the edges crumpled.
Elara approached with Adrian. "What was that about?"
"Territorial challenge," Kai said. "Blackwood pack is trying to take a third of our lands."
"Can they do that?" Elara asked.
"If the regional council rules in their favor, yes," Kai said. "And my confession just gave them ammunition to argue I'm unfit to hold those territories."
"What happens if you lose?" Elara asked.
"We lose critical resources, pack members who live on those lands get displaced, and Silvercrest becomes vulnerable to more challenges from other packs who smell weakness," Kai said.
"So you fight it," Elara said.
"With what?" Kai asked. "I'm on probation, half the pack doesn't trust me, and I just admitted to crimes that prove Derek's point about my judgment being questionable."
"Then you prove them wrong," Elara said. "You show the regional council that you're not the same person who made those mistakes."
"How?" Kai asked.
"By being the Alpha this pack needs," Elara said. "By defending our territory and our people."
"Our territory?" Kai repeated. "You're staying?"
"I haven't decided yet," Elara admitted. "But if I do stay, I'm not letting some opportunistic Alpha take lands that belong to Adrian's birthright."
Kai looked at her with something like hope in his eyes. "I could use your help with this."
"I'm not a lawyer or a politician," Elara said.
"No, but you're smart and you understand pack law better than most people give you credit for," Kai said. "And you have something I don't."
"What's that?" Elara asked.
"Credibility," Kai said. "The regional council might not trust me but they have no reason to doubt you."
Before Elara could respond, Adrian tugged on her hand. "Mama, I need to go potty."
"Okay baby," Elara said and started to take him to the bathroom but a pack member approached.
"I'll take him," the woman offered. "You look like you need to talk."
Elara hesitated but recognized the woman as one of the teachers from the pack school. "Okay, thank you."
The woman took Adrian's hand and led him away while Elara turned back to Kai.
"What exactly are you asking me to do?" she said.
"Help me prepare the defense for the territorial challenge," Kai said. "Research the history, find loopholes, build arguments that prove Silvercrest has legitimate claim to those lands."
"That'll take weeks," Elara said.
"We have thirty days," Kai said. "And I can't do it alone. Help me."