Chapter Forty-Four

We're in the garden when Bertha summons us. She does it kindly, with a smile, but it doesn't convince me. The walk to the meeting's room is long, and we follow her plump figure down various halls until she finally stops in front of a door.

"They're expecting you." She says it with a sinister smile and I gulp.

We push the door open.

There are twelve other Alphas and Lunas sitting around the table. Six packs are being represented here today. Reed and I are by far the youngest couple. Everyone else looks old and exhausted, some could be our grandparents. I didn't think they would be so many. How many are needed to discuss the fate of the Nameless Pack? All of them? It feels exaggerated. Reed senses it, too.

Alpha Romain starts introducing them.

"Thank you for joining us, Reed and Bea." He says. "This is Alpha Trevor and Luna Agatha of BlackFur, Alpha Scott and Luna Maia of SilverCrescent, Alpha James and Luna Christina of WhiteMane, and lastly, Alpha Sullivan and Luna Harriet of SpringMoon."

We exchange pleasantries and take a seat. They're all looking at us with the same curious expression. Then, they exchange looks. It makes me uneasy. I look at Reed and his face is pale. I nudge him with my elbow. What's wrong with him? What's going on here?

"As I said earlier, the matter we have to discuss here is of an urgent matter. We received a complaint from the BlackFur pack two months ago, and the charges against you, Reed of StoneMoon, are very grave indeed."

Charges? Against Reed? I shake my head. "I thought we were going to discuss the fate of the Nameless Pack?"

"That is what I said to draw you in."

"Draw us in?"

Alpha Romain presses his hands together. "You see, Bea, the Moon is our goddess. We follow her rules and most of us still have faith in Her and worship Her on the sacred days." He stops to take a breath and fix Reed a glare. "But, we have rules and regulations of our own. Wolf-made, we call them, and they are supposed to be respected. Our rules are simple, but even so, some choose to break them willingly without expecting to be punished. That is not how things work around here."

My mind is spinning. None of this is making sense. "I don't understand."

"I'll elucidate. Tell me, Bea, when did Reed claim you as his mate?"

"About a month ago."

"Were you in accordance with it?"

I look at him. He isn't looking at me. He's staring at the table and there's a vein throbbing in his temple. I turn back to Alpha Romain. "Yes."

He smiles politely. "You do not have to be afraid, Bea. Perhaps you do not understand how things work in our world. We know he did not. And to prove it, I'll ask you more questions. Did you have a formal mating ceremony?"

I can't lie about that. "No."

"Were there any eyewitnesses?"

I nod. "Yes."

"Did you see them?"

My heart starts beating faster. "No."

"So you see, if you did not see them, then there were none. No eyewitness can hide during of a bonding. It draws them to it. It is impossible."

I look at him. He lied to me? "But I thought the bond wouldn't be effective without eyewitnesses? Reed and I are connected?"

"That is not true. There will be a bond, but it will grow brittle over time. Tell me, are you still drawn to him like you were during the first week after the consummation of your bond?"

I think hard on this. Thinking about Raphas was difficult and painful in the beginning, but it got easier. I didn't think it was easier because our bond was weakening. I look at Reed again.

"There is your answer. Your bond to Reed of StoneMoon is null and void. Now, for the other matter."

My heart sinks. "There's more?"

"Yes. A null bond is not a crime in the eyes of the law, only to the Moon. He will suffer his consequences for that, but not by our hand." He turns to Reed. "Reed of StoneMoon, you have been accused of bonding with a mated female."

I grow cold. "What?"

"You will be dealt with according to the severity of your crime, which in this case, is quite severe. The council has deliberated." He gestures at everyone sitting around the table. They all look merciless and indifferent. Two males come up behind us and grab Reed. The chair topples over and the sharp sound makes me flinch.

"Reed of StoneMoon," Alpha Romain says with a grave expression. "You are under arrest for unlawfully mating with the designated mate of another."

Reed struggles against the bulky males restraining him. "That is a false accusation. When I mated with Bea, she was not bonded to another."

"She was mated to another, there is a difference. She was Marked, not in the traditional way because she was still human at the time, but Marked nonetheless. Do you deny it?"

He meets my gaze. His green eyes are filled with hatred and resentment, but when they meet mine, they grow softer and rounder. He looks so much like Raphas right now. I've never seen him look this defeated. He lowers them. "No, I do not deny it."

I can't believe what I'm hearing.

"Then you will be punished accordingly."

They carry him away, and I go after him, but another male holds me back. I turn to Romain. "I wasn't Marked by anyone! Raphas never Marked me! This must be some kind of mistake."

"It is not Raphas of StoneMoon of whom we speak. We received the complaint from the BlackFur pack."

I frown, "What? Who then? I don't know anyone from that pack." I look at Agatha and Trevor. Their expressions are stone.

"Me, Bea." A voice says behind me. That voice. I would never forget that voice. I heard it every single day for three years. How would I forget? He was the first person who told me he loved me, the first to show me what affection was. The first to betray me without remorse with my best friend. My mind must be playing tricks on me. There's no way he's here. How can he be here? I whirl around and my knees grow weak at the sight of him.

"Gavin?"

He smiles his brilliant smile at me, and black dots blind me momentarily. I grip the male for support. I can't believe what I'm seeing.

"Glad to see me, Bea?"

Before I faint, I scream.