Chapter 58 Traces
Elara's lawyer stood and addressed the council with practiced confidence, presenting documents tracing Whitmore lineage back seven generations and property deeds showing continuous family ownership until thirty years ago.
"The Whitmore family held these territories for over a century," he said. "With clear legal documentation of ownership and development, my client is the sole surviving heir of that bloodline."
"Objection," Derek Blackwood's lawyer stood. "The territories in question were abandoned over twenty years past the legal claiming period."
"Abandoned implies choice," Elara's lawyer countered. "Ms. Whitmore was exiled under false pretenses, preventing her from claiming her inheritance."
"Exile that was legally executed by Silvercrest Alpha authority," Derek's lawyer said.
"Exile based on fabricated evidence," Elara's lawyer said. "Evidence that Alpha Kai Silvercrest has publicly confessed to falsifying."
The council members murmured and looked at Kai who stood.
"I confess to orchestrating Elara Whitmore's exile two years ago," Kai said clearly. "Using false evidence and abuse of Alpha authority, this exile has been formally reversed and Ms. Whitmore's pack status fully restored."
"Which still doesn't address the twenty-year abandonment period," Derek's lawyer argued.
"It addresses the fact that abandonment requires intent," Elara's lawyer said. "Ms. Whitmore had no intent to abandon her family's territories, she was forcibly removed and prevented from claiming them."
"By her own admission she didn't know about the territories until recently," Derek's lawyer said. "How can she claim something she didn't know existed?"
"Ignorance imposed by circumstances beyond her control," Elara's lawyer said. "Her parents were murdered when she was a child, preventing them from teaching her about her heritage."
"Alleged murders," Derek's lawyer said. "Not proven."
"Actually they are proven," the head councilor interrupted. "We received federal documentation this morning confirming that both of Elara Whitmore's parents were murdered by Darius Silvercrest."
The chamber erupted in shocked whispers and Derek's lawyer looked blindsided.
"This council was not informed of such evidence," he protested.
"This council was provided evidence as soon as it became available," the head councilor said. "Dr. Richard Foster's testimony and medical records conclusively prove thallium poisoning in the case of Elara's father, and witness testimony places Darius Silvercrest at the scene of her mother's death."
"This changes the entire context of the claim," another council member said. "If Darius murdered the Whitmore family to prevent them from maintaining their territories—"
"Then he can't benefit from those murders by claiming the territories were abandoned," a third council member finished.
"My client isn't claiming they were abandoned," Derek's lawyer said quickly. "He's claiming ancestral rights based on Blackwood family treaties from seventy years ago."
"Treaties that were superseded by Whitmore ownership," Elara's lawyer said. "Which predates Blackwood claims by thirty years."
The council deliberated quietly for several minutes before the head councilor spoke again.
"This council finds that Elara Whitmore has legitimate bloodline claim to the disputed territories based on unbroken family lineage and the fact that her inability to claim was due to criminal actions against her family."
Elara felt relief flood through her but the head councilor wasn't finished.
"However, we must also address Derek Blackwood's claim that certain territories were promised to Blackwood pack through agreements with Darius Silvercrest."
"Those agreements were made by a criminal," Kai stood again. "They have no legal standing."
"Nevertheless they exist," the head councilor said. "And must be considered."
"Considered how?" Elara's lawyer asked. "You just ruled in favor of my client's bloodline claim."
"We ruled that she has legitimate claim," the head councilor corrected. "We haven't ruled on the extent of that claim or whether it supersedes all other considerations."
Elara realized with sinking dread that the council was trying to split the difference, give her something while also appeasing Derek.
"This is politics," she whispered to her lawyer.
"This is always politics," he whispered back.
Derek's lawyer presented documents showing payments from Darius and verbal agreements about territorial transfers.
"These agreements may have been made by a criminal but they were made in his capacity as Silvercrest Alpha," Derek's lawyer argued. "Which gives them official standing."
"Official standing that should be voided given his criminal status," Elara's lawyer countered.
The debate continued for two hours with council members asking questions and reviewing documents until finally the head councilor called for a vote.
"All in favor of granting Elara Whitmore full bloodline claim to all disputed territories, raise your hand."
Four hands went up.
"All in favor of splitting the territories between Whitmore and Blackwood claims, raise your hand."
Five hands went up.
"The motion passes," the head councilor announced. "The council rules that territories will be divided as follows: northern forest and eastern farmlands revert to Whitmore control, river basin territories revert to Blackwood control as partial fulfillment of agreements made by Darius Silvercrest."
"This is unacceptable," Elara's lawyer protested. "My client has full bloodline claim to all three territories."
"And Derek Blackwood has documented agreements regarding specific territories," the head councilor said. "This ruling balances both claims fairly."
"This ruling rewards criminal behavior," Elara said, standing despite her lawyer's attempt to stop her. "Darius murdered my family to steal our lands and now you're giving some of those lands to his co-conspirator."
"This council's decision is final," the head councilor said. "Unless you wish to appeal to the supreme pack authority, which could take years."
Elara looked at Kai who shook his head slightly—appealing would be expensive and uncertain.
"Fine," she said. "I accept the ruling."
"Then this matter is concluded," the head councilor said. "Territories will be formally transferred within thirty days."
The council adjourned and Elara felt numb because she'd won but it felt like losing.
"Two out of three territories is still significant," her lawyer said. "You control more land than most pack families."
"I should control all of it," Elara said. "It was stolen from my family."
"Politics doesn't care about should," her lawyer said. "It cares about compromise and maintaining relationships between packs."
Derek approached with a smug expression. "Congratulations on your partial victory."
"Don't," Kai warned, moving between them.
"I'm just being gracious," Derek said. "After all, we're going to be neighbors now."
"You're going to be a criminal's neighbor," Elara said. "Once Darius is convicted, everyone will know you were working with him."
"Alleged work," Derek corrected. "Hard to prove when Darius is claiming he acted alone."
"Dr. Foster's testimony links you directly," Kai said.
"Dr. Foster is a dying man desperate for redemption," Derek said. "His testimony is questionable at best."
"We'll see what the federal prosecutors think," Kai said.
Derek smiled coldly. "Enjoy your territories while you have them, politics change and alliances shift, you never know when you might lose everything."
He walked away and Elara felt rage building because Derek had helped murder attempt her and Adrian and was getting rewarded with land.
"We need to go," Reese appeared beside them. "I've identified suspicious activity in the parking structure."
They moved quickly toward the exit but Elara noticed people staring at her with expressions ranging from sympathy to calculation.
Word would spread fast that she now controlled significant territory, making her even more valuable as target or ally.
They reached the parking structure and Reese positioned herself between Elara and potential threats while scanning the area.
"Vehicle is clear," Reese said after checking. "Get in quickly."
Elara climbed into the back seat with Kai while Reese drove and two security vehicles flanked them.
"That went better than expected," Kai said.
"I lost a third of my family's land," Elara said.
"You reclaimed two thirds," Kai corrected. "Which is more than you had yesterday."
"Derek shouldn't have gotten anything," Elara said.
"Derek has connections on the council," Kai said. "This was probably the best outcome we could hope for."
"I hate politics," Elara muttered.
"Join the club," Kai said.