159 Penalty
Caiden did nothing but watch as Nate carried Kamara off. They had a lot on their minds, but Caiden had other things on his mind that needed to be addressed, and one of them was in front of him.
"Did the Alpha stay to hear my final word?" Enzo gave him a sad, indifferent look. He had clearly been confronted by Kamara's statements.
He said, "You are banished from the Moon Howlers pack," but Enzo wasn't shocked. "And I'll make sure no pack on the planet welcomes you into their ranks if, by some chance, you ever manage to escape from prison."
While Jessie whimpered once again, unable to even protect herself, Enzo swallowed hard. Matt was waiting for this moment with great anticipation when he emerged from the prison area.
He leaned against the car and watched Caiden do the same, saying, "What occured in there was a tough one. Your town's residents don't seem to think good of me."
"Your scent draws them in. Besides, the pack is not accustomed to human visitors, and none of them know you as well as I do," he remarked, noting that Matt was still getting acclimated to this new reality.
Matt was astonished, and he couldn't hide it.
"Caiden, thank you for your thoughtfulness." For a minute, he ran out of things to say. "I apologize; I'm still having trouble understanding the concept of werewolves, packs, and alphas. I am aware that you deserve some respect."
"It doesn't offend me that you don't address me as sir or alpha." He gave him a smile. "Matt, you have my sincere gratitude for assisting me in saving my kids and discovering the truth."
"You do realize that Nate accomplished all of that on his own, right?" He cast a downward glance.
"But without your help, he couldn't have done it so quickly."
For a short while, Matt was silent; something had been nagging him all the time.
"Caiden, there's something really crucial I should know." He looked right at him and stated, clearly upset. "How am I going to confine two werewolves in the middle of a group of people? You already know that I'll be held responsible for this turning into a bloodbath."
"Matt, don't worry about that." He stated. "Wolves lose their bond with their pack when they are split off from them; it's as though the wolf goes to sleep inside of us, and we become regular individuals just like you. Thus, Enzo and Jessie won't be a threat."
"Am I correct in thinking that this 'sleeping wolf' thing takes some time?"
"Yeah," he said, "but I have also considered that. Court judges in werewolf disguise will keep Jessie and Enzo apart until it's appropriate. Nate will assist you with that and provide you with all the names.".
Matt was utterly dumbfounded. Considering how long he'd worked with Nate without realizing that Nate was also a werewolf, he shouldn't be all that shocked.
"To protect you, my hunters will go with you to the city." said Caiden. "Make sure Enzo and Jessie pay for the crimes they've committed. That's all I'm asking of you."
"You shouldn't be concerned about it." He grinned. "They will both receive life sentences without a doubt."
This moment has to come about after a lot of work. Enzo and Jessie settled down as regular folks. They were accused of kidnapping and murder when their documents were changed. Kamara finally exhaled when the convoy carrying the two of them left the pack's territory and vanished into the jungle. Embracing her children, she sensed the start of a fresh existence. A new beginning.
"I'm so happy you were able to apprehend those who were responsible for kidnapping your kids."
Oscar realized the significance of that moment when he stopped next to Caiden and looked at the spot where the cars had crossed.
Oscar wasn't looking at Caiden when he responded, "Thank you for saving Nate's life, Oscar. As you are aware, Louis is in my care and will remain here."
"Alpha, I am well aware of it." He glanced in his direction, tears welling up in his eyes. "You were brave enough to serve justice. This punishment is rightfully due to my father."
He threw his arm around the boy's shoulder and said, "You can visit him whenever you want. You're welcome to stay with the pack if that's your preference. I must have good people around me. I need hunters with experience to work with me."
He beamed at him and said, "Thank you, Alpha," but his eyes were sad. "However, I don't think Louis will want to meet me because I brought him this upon him."
"He alone has responsibility for his own actions." Caiden answered. "Oscar, don't bear a weight that isn't yours."
"You're a good Alpha, Caiden," he said as he gave Caiden a surprise embrace. "My family is no longer with me. Louis had no desire to be my dad."
Oscar withdrew, and Caiden responded, "I'm very sorry. But you're aware that you'll have a family here and feel very much at home."
"Alpha, I swear I'll give it some thought." He dried his eyes and turned to leave. "I'll be close by until then, just in case."
Caiden grinned at Oscar's boldness and bravery. He questioned how someone with Oscar's noble heart could have been born by a wolf like Louis.
Jessie's wolf howled a deep lament for that instant as she felt her body rock back and forth in the van on the road that led to the human city. Jessie didn't know when she would wake up from her impending nap. The two arrived at the police station under a significant police presence, their hands and feet cuffed. Before long, the two of them were the only werewolves present in that city.
They were placed in separate solitary confinements by the police, where they were kept in complete darkness for several months.
Caiden had come up with the ideal penalty. It felt like they were in a cage, exactly like they had made the children feel.
They were placed in cells with humans once they ceased to feel the agitation of their wolves within them. For Enzo, this was an agony he didn't think he could handle. For the kidnapping of the children and the murder of Catherine Jones, they received life sentences in jail. Justice was done to Kamara when the court cleared her.