Chapter 15: Chapter Fourteen

Jacques led everyone to the doctor’s house. Without any hesitation he opened the door and walked in. Jacques wasn’t going to wait for Simone to open the door. She could run if she saw them before they could get close enough to talk to her. That wasn’t going to happen.

They found the doctor in her office.

“Where is she?”

“Jacques!” Her hand flew to her throat. “You startled me.”

He just stared at her.

She noticed Max, Patrick and Alicia. The first thing she did was bow.

“Where is she, Simone?”

“Who?”

He gave her a predatory smile. “You know who I’m asking about.”

“My daughter?”

“We know what vehicle struck Catherine’s truck. I also know you have the book the murders were based on.” He pulled out his pad. “The organs removed were done by a professional, so I know you had to have helped your daughter. That makes you an accessory.”

Her façade fell at that point.

“Why, Simone? Why did you cover all of this up?”

“Why?” She gave him an exasperated look. “Jacques, she’s my daughter. I thought I was helping her. By the third person I knew I was in too deep to stop.”

“And the piece of metal in my neck?” He touched his neck as he asked her.

“That was to protect you.”

“Protect me? From what?” He heard the front door open and saw Everett peek around the corner. Jacques signaled him over. “Everett, can you wait outside? We’re having an adult conversation right now.”

“But…” He saw Max and bowed his head. “Okay, but hurry. This is really important.”

Alicia walked to his side. “How about I sit with Everett while you talk?”

Jacques nodded. His focus was on the doctor. “What were you protecting me from? Your daughter?”

“I… she…” She sighed as she closed her eyes. “She never meant to kill your girlfriend. She was aiming at you. I had to do something to keep her from trying to kill you again, so I put that piece of metal in your back to keep you from shifting. I thought it would end there. She has a crush on your brother and fantasized about him being alpha and being his mate.”

“That was never going to happen. My brother barely knows who she is.”

“I know.” Tears filled her eyes. “She’s my child, Jacques. I had hoped to make her realize she was seeing the world differently than the rest of us, but she’s broken. She was broken by my mate.”

“What are you talking about?” He frowned. What she was saying made no sense.

“My mate was abusive. He would cause bodily harm to me. She would cringe in a corner as he beat me. Thank God he never touched her but he still verbally abused her. Even though her scars were invisible they are there.”

“We need to stop her, Simone, before she harms Catherine. Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know or you’re afraid to say?” asked Patrick.

Alicia came back in with Everett. “Gentlemen, Everette has something to say.”

“I know where she is.” His voice was just above a whisper.

With everyone’s sensitive hearing it was like he shouted it.

“You do?” Jacques kneeled in front of Everett.

“Uh, huh. I followed them.”

***

Alicia knew the men would focus on Everett the moment they figured out what he knew. She kept an eye on Simone, expecting the woman to bolt the moment she realized they weren’t paying any attention to her.

The men circled around Everett, each taking a knee so they didn’t intimidate him. The doctor realized they were no longer concerned about her. She took one step then another. She turned to dash out the door, but found it blocked by Alicia.

“Going somewhere?”

“I, ah, no.” She bowed her head in defeat.

“Too bad. I was looking forward to kicking your ass if you tried to run. It’s been a while since I’ve used my martial art training.” Alicia pointed to the desk in front of the bookcase. She saw a book lying on the floor. “Really? You used the plot of this romance to cover the murders?”

“I haven’t read the book.”

“Sure, so you just went along with what your daughter asked? I saw the files on the three girls. Their organs were removed by a professional. Your daughter couldn’t have done it on her own.”

The doctor had no answer.

Max came over to her. “We’re going.”

“Good, bring back my best friend. I’m going to stay with Simone.” She gave the woman a predatory smile. “We have a few things to talk about.”

“I’m not going to say a thing to you.”

Max pressed a kiss against her throat. “We’ll be back as fast as we can.”

She looked up into his eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

“I know.” He gave her one of his heart stopping smiles.

Once the men were gone, she refocused on Simone. The woman had been boxed in by her at one door and the men in front of the other so Alicia didn’t worry about her escaping while she spoke to Max.

“Now, where were we?” Alicia tapped her chin then snapped her fingers. “Right, you helped your daughter murder at least four people.”

“What do you mean by at least?” Fear shone in her eyes.

“The moment your daughter stared at my mate like he was fresh meat I did my research. It took a little digging, but I found your last pack and learned why you left it. Who started the fire? You or your daughter? I’m going to assume it was your daughter after the comment you made about her snapping the day your husband died.”

“He’s dead?” she blurted. “I, when I realized he hadn’t come looking for us right away I figured he was helping put out the fire. I gave my statement, took Isabella and left. I told them that I was taking her to the hospital, but we just kept on going.”

“You didn’t wonder why he never looked for you? You were his mate. You can’t just leave.”

She didn’t respond.

“Fine. Let’s talk about your choices. You realize that when you helped your daughter you signed your own death warrant.”

“No… I…”

“You read this pack’s covenant, haven’t you? Murder of a pack member is death. Accessory to murder is death.”

Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

“There is one other option.”

***

Everett led the men back to where he found Catherine. Pride filled him. This was the first time he could help instead of cause trouble.

The moment they hit the clearing Catherine perked up. “I was wondering when you all would show up. Everett, you did good.”

“Thanks, Miss Catherine.” He pawed at the ground. He didn’t look at her, but she knew he was proud he had done something right.

“Why are you still here?” asked Patrick as he, in his wolf form, sat in front of her.

“Because my captor hasn’t shown up yet, and I have questions.” She looked at the three wolves in front of her. She knew her brother and Max, but not the third. “Who’s your friend?”

“You don’t recognize me, cher?”

“Jacques?” Her mouth hung open for a moment before she closed it and smiled. “You can shift.”

“Stop overstating the obvious,” said Patrick. “I know those bonds can’t hold you. Let’s go.”

“Jacques needs proof that she did these murders.” She shifted her weight so she could lean onto one side. “My phone is in my pocket. Let’s get everything on camera so she can’t try to deny it.”

Patrick shifted one paw back to a hand and pulled out her phone. “She makes one menacing move toward you and we’re going to rip her throat out.”

“I know.” She tilted her head. “I hear someone coming. You guys need to hide.”

Max and Patrick headed to the trees with Everett. Jacques looked at her for a few moments before he stepped up to her and rubbed his head against her cheek. “Please stay safe.”

“Promise.”

He slipped into the woods behind her.

A few moments later Isabella stepped into the clearing. She seemed so sure of herself.

“Took you long enough,” said Catherine.

That caught her off guard. Then she regained her composure. “Why? Do you have some place to go?”

“Actually, I do.” Catherine rolled her shoulders. “But first I have a few questions.”

“You’re not in control here.”

“You keep thinking that.” Catherine pulled one of her hands out of the bonds and pushed a few strands of hair from her face before slipping it back into the bonds. She did it on purpose.

“How… how did you do that?”

“What? Free my hand?” Catherine did it again. “I guess you didn’t know my pack can shift any part of the body. It isn’t all at once. I could have walked away and gone to the authorities, but I want to know why you killed those girls, and why did you drag your mother into this mess?”

“I didn’t kill anyone.” She didn’t look at Catherine.

“Really? Okay then let’s talk about how you rammed your car into my truck then left me in a ditch on the side of the road. Did you hope the collision would make me forget? You weren’t planning on killing me?”

“You are trouble.” That was all Isabella said. The look on her face told Catherine she felt she had said too much.

“Why are you hesitating?” Catherine tilted her head. “Don’t you plan on doing to me what you did to those other girls? If you kill me, who can I tell anything to?”

“See?” She started pacing. “This is why you’re trouble. Jacques had settled into his position as sheriff. He might resent what happened, but he knew his father was right. You come along and the old Jacques starts to surface again. I can’t have that.”

“Why? You think Alfie has the hots for you?” asked Catherine. “Don’t you think you’d be dating him by now?”

“This is why I don’t like you.” She started pacing.

“Because I tell the truth?” Catherine laughed. “You haven’t been in the real world then. Do you know how many times I’ve been ignored because I’m a woman in our society? I worked hard to get where I am and to get people to acknowledge that I am a powerful female. Even if you kill me, you will not take that away from me.”

“We were fine until you showed up.” Isabella acted like Catherine hadn’t spoken. She continued to talk as she walked back and forth. “I had everything going the way I wanted.”

“Because you killed off the competition?”

“I … they flirted with Alfie when they knew he was mine!”

Now the crazy part was coming out. She sure hoped they were getting this. “They had some nerve.”

“I know. I even tried to warn them. I tried to scare them, flat tires, broken windows, things like that but they ignored what I was trying to do.”

“Why use the plot of that romance?” asked Catherine. “That was a popular book.”

“Oh, that was Mom’s idea. I told her about the book, and she thought it would work to hide what I did.”

“So your mom helped you so no one would know you were involved.” Catherine kept her tone friendly. She wanted Isabella to be relaxed so she would spill her guts.

“She was a big help.”

“Did she plan everything you did, or did you maintain control and she just took care of anything that needed to be fixed?”

“I was always in control.” Pride filled her voice. “Mother only did what I asked her to do.”

Catherine nodded. “So what was the deal with Jacques and his girlfriend. I feel there is more to that story than what anyone knows.”

“She was an accident. I wanted Jacques out of the picture. He was in my way, but I wasn’t patient, and she got hurt instead. He was lucky my mom jumped in and placed that metal in his neck.”

“Where did you hide her body? Jacques told me she was never found.” Catherine hoped she’d tell them everything they needed.

“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at her.

“I’m curious. I can see you’re highly intelligent I want to know why you did what you did.”

“She wasn’t supposed to die. I guess I was a little overzealous when I hit her. I was so focused on Jacques I didn’t pay any attention to her.”

“If you were so focused on Jacques why is he still alive?”

“I hurt myself.” She sounded offended. “I had to drag myself home. Mom kept me away from everyone when they brought in Jacques and as time went on no one ever came to me to ask questions. That’s when I realized I got away with it and I still got what I wanted. Alfie was going to be alpha.”

“And the other girls?” Catherine stretched. Keeping her arms behind her was uncomfortable. “Why did you decide to use the book’s plot? You could have just hidden them. Why didn’t you do that?”

“You ask crazy questions. I did what I did. That’s all. I killed them because they caught Alfie’s attention. I needed to be the one he ended up with, not them.”

“Can I ask one more question?”

“What?” She sounded aggravated.

“Did you kill your father as well?” Catherine knew she was pushing it, but she had to try. “I read about his death and there were questions.”

“I’m done with your questions.” She grabbed a bag she had brought with her. “It’s time for you to join the other girls.”

“You know I’m not like the other girls. I can beat your ass.”

“You don’t frighten me.” Isabella pulled out a large kitchen knife.

“Funny.” Catherine shed her bonds and stood. “You don’t frighten me either.”

“You shouldn’t have been able to get out of those bonds.” She stared at Catherine like she was some sort of alien.

“Yeah, I’m kind of surprising at times. Aren’t I?” Catherine looked at the knife and smiled. “That blade doesn’t scare me.”

“It will when I sink it into your heart.”

***

The moment he heard that Jacques wanted to charge in. He took one step and found his way blocked by Patrick.

“My sister has been trained by the best. That slip of a girl will not get the best of her.”

“That is a big ass blade.” He faced off with Patrick once again and wondered if this was how their relationship would be from now on. “And that is the woman I love. I don’t care how well she’s been trained I want her safe.”

“You heard her. She’s worked hard to get where she is. Trust her. If she can’t take control of this in a minute or two then we’ll go in.”

He glared but nodded. Jacques turned his attention back to the two women.

“I can take that knife from you in about two seconds. Would you like me to show you?” asked Catherine.

Jacques wanted to shout yes. He would feel a lot better.

“You should be afraid.” Isabella moved the knife in the air in a figure eight. “I’m the one with a weapon.”

“You don’t frighten me because I am a weapon.” Catherine stood there with her arms crossed. “Now are you going to be smart and let me walk away?”

“What?”

Jacques realized she was putting her off tilt on purpose. Isabella had always been the one in charge. He bet those girls begged for their lives before she killed them, but here was a woman who refused to do that.

“You have two choices here. Either try to kill me, which you’ll quickly find is impossible, or you walk out with me and face the pack for what you have done.”

“The pack has no clue what I’ve done.”

“You could come clean. They might show you leniency.”

“I think not, baby puppy.”

“Cute, quoting the 'Cats and Dogs' movie. You need to work on the Russian accent more.” Catherine gave her a bored look. “Well, come on, make a decision. Time’s a wasting and I don’t have all day.”

“I don’t like you!”

“I don’t care.” Catherine looked at her hands. She checked under her nails before flexing her fingers out in front of her. She tilted her head as she wondered if Isabella was going to make her break a nail while she subdued her.

Isabella growled deep in her throat as she charged at Catherine. Catherine struck the hand holding the knife, knocking it free then she kicked out with a side kick that sent the girl flying.

All it did was make her angrier. She grabbed the blade once again and came at Catherine. “I’m going to cut you into little pieces.”

Catherine didn’t show any fear. She sidestepped Isabella and smacked her on the back of the head as she went by. “I can do this all day.”

Isabella growled louder and charged at her again.

Catherine sighed and held her ground. She used an X block to stop the knife and sent it into the woods, then she punched the girl in the solar plexus, knocking the air out of her. She stumbled back but wasn’t giving up.

Low growls came from behind her. Isabella whipped around to see three wolves moving toward her. Their heads low and their teeth bared.

“Stop toying with her, Catherine.”

“I wasn’t toying, Patrick. I was trying to talk sense into her.”

“Well, we got tired of watching. She doesn’t feel any remorse. Let her face the tribunal and get what she deserves.”

“She is just a child.”

“She is a murderer,” said Patrick.

Isabella took one step then another toward the woods while Catherine and Patrick talked.

“I wouldn’t go anywhere, child,” said Catherine. She was still looking at her brother, but she didn’t miss a thing. “You will be physically dragged back to town if you try.”

“I could rip her throat out and save the tribunal the headache of deliberating,” Jacques drawled.

Isabella froze when she heard his voice. “You – you’re a wolf? My mom – I mean you couldn’t shift before. How is this possible?”

“I had that piece of metal removed.” He took a step toward her. His teeth still bared. “You know, the one your mom put in my back to keep me from shifting? She told me it was there to save my life. Tell, me, Isabella. Would you have killed me if I had survived and still could shift?”

“I, ah–” She held her hands out in front of her. “Look…”

“What can you say that would make this all better?” He took another step toward her, closing the gap between them. “You took years of my life away from me. You forced my brother into a position he didn’t want.”

“What? But I thought…”

“You only saw what you wanted. Alfie was going to go to college and study to become a lawyer.” He was now so close he could sink his teeth into her shoulder if he wanted to. “He wanted to help any werewolf who got in trouble with the law. You took that away from him. Instead, he had to suddenly learn in a few years what I had a lifetime to learn. You didn’t care about anyone but yourself, and the sad thing is my brother isn’t even interested in you.”

“He could be.” Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

“After what you did? You could never be his mate. He’s the next alpha. He’ll be the one who will have to make the decision of what to do with you.” Jacques paused for a moment. “You realize you will be put to death, right?”

Those tears fell down her cheeks. She gave a slight nod. “Can’t… can’t you let me go? I promise to run as far away as I can and never come back.”

“You killed four people in this pack and then there is the question about what happened to your father.”

“My father was an asshole.” Her de meaner changed at the mention of him. “He deserved what he got.”

“So, you killed him too,” said Catherine.

Isabella realized she said the wrong thing. She took off, shifting as she ran. Jacques took off after her. Max went with him.

“You good?” asked Patrick.

“Yes. I’ll catch up.”

He took off after them.

***

Catherine pulled her clothes off, stuffed them into the bag her brother set at her feet when they had come out of their hiding place, shifted and chased after them. She hoped Isabella didn’t do something stupid. If she tried anything the men would corner her and kill her. They knew the law and they would make sure the sentence was carried out.

She heard a scream and Jacques shout no. It made her run faster. What the hell happened? Catherine slid to a stop when she came upon the scene. The bayous and the woods around them looked deceptively flat but stumps, rocks and roots could tangle up the most sure-footed runner. Isabella had run away from them, but slipped and bashed her head against some rocks. Blood poured from the wound.

Her pupils were dilated, and she couldn’t blink. She swallowed a couple of times, but she couldn’t move.

“Come on, help me lift her.” Jacques had shifted and slipped his arms under her. “We can do this.”

“Jacques.” Catherine shifted as well and placed her hand on his arm. “We won’t make it.”

“Yes, we will. Help me.” The look in his eyes showed he didn’t want to believe her.

“Cher, she’s dying.” It was the first time she used his endearment. She hoped it would break through his thoughts.

“No.” He begged her to listen. “We can get her to her mom.”

“Jacques, the damage is too great. Look at her eyes. She can’t blink. Her time is short.”

“No, it can’t end like this.”

“It has to.” She pressed her hand against his. “She is to die anyway. Why do you want to save her just to have her face the tribunal?”

He looked at Isabella and let out a pent-up breath. “I don’t know. After all she had done the pack deserves to see her punished.”

“She has been punished. Jacques, her death is all we need to prove.” Catherine looked at her brother. “You still recording?”

“I am.”

Catherine watched Isabella draw in her last breath. “Then we need to document the moment of her death.”

Patrick quoted the date and the time for the phone then stopped recording. “Do we bring her back now or wait for the pack to retrieve her.”

Jacques scooped her up in his arms. “I’ll carry her to her mother.”

***

Alicia brought Simone to the main hall. Jacques’ mother came to her the moment she saw Alicia. She bowed before she spoke. “Miss Alicia. We didn’t know you were here.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t give you any notice.” Alicia returned the bow. “Catherine was missing and time was of the essence.”

“Is Catherine okay?” She looked at her mate to see if he was aware if this. He held his hands up.

“I hope so.” Alicia kept Simone in her sights as she spoke. “She figured out who killed the girls and came to confront the killer.”

“Oh dear.” She placed her hand on her heart. “Do you know who the killer is as well?”

“I do.” Alicia looked at the doctor. “Isabella is the culprit. Her mother is an accessory. Knowing the sentence for murder is death, I have a few questions.”

“Oh?” She gestured for two of the men to guard Simone as Alicia was guided to an overstuffed chair. “It’s pretty cut and dry.”

“An eye for an eye and all that?” Alicia smiled as she lowered herself into a chair. “I can wait until you restrain her so we can talk.”

“Of course.”

Once Simone was taken care of the two women sat and talked.

“People know about the legend of the Tears but they have never seen it in action. You realize that I was human before I met Max.”

“I had heard.”

“Do you know I am also the white wolf?”

“What?”

“I’m still trying to get to the bottom of the legend of the white wolf, but my theory is because I used the Tears and wasn’t born a werewolf my fur is white. Once I used them the Tears turned white for me, showing they can’t be used again.” Alicia brought the necklace out of her pocket. The white diamonds winked in the hall’s light. She handed the necklace to Jacques’ mother. She sucked in her breath when she watched as the Tears turned red in her hands.

“A lot of people think this is a parlor trick. I want to prove to you that it isn’t.” Alicia stood, removed her clothes and shifted. Whoever had been in the hall stopped what they were doing when they saw a white wolf where Alicia had stood. Murmurs filled the hall.

Jacques’ mother gave her a formal bow. “You are beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Alicia shifted back and climbed back into her clothes. “I did this because what I have to ask could cause a problem.”

“Why?”

“Simone and I have talked, and I explained that I could use the Tears to turn her human. The letter of the law can be open to interpretation. If I use the Tears on her that would mean the death of her wolf. Once this is done, she can’t be switched back.”

“I see and you want to know if her using the Tears will fulfill our law of killing her for her participation in the death of our girls.” At Alicia’s nod she sat back. “I need to speak to my mate and my sons. They have the last say.”

“Thank you. The doctor still wants me to use the Tears no matter what your mate and sons decide. In order to do this, I will need people who will support her in this wish.”

“How many?”

“Since this is the first time I’m doing the reverse I don’t know but the Tears will let us know when we have enough. I believe I’ll need four to eight people. I will count as one, so three to seven more should be enough.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

***

“You made the right decision,” said Max. “I know it doesn’t feel that way right now, but she was going to die, one way or another.”

“It doesn’t feel right.” Jacques led the four of them back to where the bag was as he carried Isabella’s body. Once there they dressed. “I’m going to have to explain this to my father as well as the doctor.”

“They know pack justice. You won’t be seen as a failure. She still got what she deserved.”

Jacques remained quiet as they headed back to town. Jacques stopped by the doctor’s office and placed Isabella on a gurney, then covered her with a sheet. He placed a hand on the gurney to pull it with him as he led his small group to the town hall.

He knew they were right, but it sure didn’t feel that way. Then he had to tell his family that he could shift again. He knew the moment they learned this they would probably want him to be alpha again. He looked at Catherine. Was that what he wanted?

She seemed to sense he was questioning everything. Catherine didn’t say anything but slipped her hand in his free one for silent support. He squeezed her hand in thanks as he thought about how he would explain everything properly.

They walked into the hall and into chaos. He pushed the gurney against the wall and tried to figure out what was going on. The people turned toward him and they saw the gurney. His brother came to him first.

“Is that Isabella?” He pointed to the gurney.

“Yes.”

“Good.” He looked at the covered body for a moment longer then looked at his brother. “Father wants to speak to you.”

“Now?” He gave Catherine a quick kiss before he let go of her hand. “I’ll be right back.”

His father sighed when he saw him. “Where is she?”

“Dead. Her body is over there. She slipped and fell, cracking her head open on a rock. I had hoped to bring her back to face what she did. I’m sorry I couldn’t do that, Father. That was my goal.”

“And Max was with you?” He looked over to where Max stood.

“Yes, sir.”

“So he is your witness?”

“Yes, sir.” Jacques nodded. “So is Patrick.”

His father seemed happy with his answer. “Did she tell you why she did what she did?”

“Yes.” Jacques nodded. “She had this altered reality that made her believe that if she took care of the people she thought were in the way she could mate with Alfie and be the mate of the pack alpha.”

“Was she crazy?” asked Alfie. “I barely knew her.”

“Believe me, I know. It’s one of the reasons I never suspected her. She made it sound like she had total control of her mother and got her to help with the three girls. Have you questioned Simone?”

“No, I was waiting for you to show up. We are the tribunal.” He pointed to his two sons and himself. “I do have a bit of news. The doctor wants to become human.”

“What? Why?”

“She wants to kill the wolf in her. She doesn’t care what we decide as far as if she lives or dies at our hands.” His father looked at both boys. “I need your opinion on this. Years ago it would have been an easy decision, but with human technology I don’t want to bring people here asking questions because the mother and the daughter died on the same day. How do you interpret our law in this case?”

“Our law is quite clear,” said Alfie. “If you kill you will be killed in turn.”

“True, but the doctor is wanting to kill her wolf. That could fulfill the law without actually killing her,” countered Jacques.

“She wouldn’t be able to stay here if we decide that her changing to human is enough to fulfill our laws,” said Alfie.

“I agree,” said Jacques. “She would have to leave the pack and never return. We can make sure she stays away by giving her a distance she has to keep.”

“Do you two feel that turning her to human and banning her is enough?”

“She has been a good doctor, Father,” said Jacques. “She has done a lot of good for our pack.”

“True.” He looked at Alfie. “Do you feel the same way?”

“You taught me to follow the order of the law. Jacques, why are you willing to give her this?”

“I learned things today that makes everything a little grayer to me. The doctor saved my life the day I fell, but she also took my life from me and killed Alfie’s dreams in the process. She’s the reason I couldn’t shift. She put something in my neck that blocked my ability to shift.” Jacques ran his fingers through his hair. “But she did it to keep me alive. She feared her daughter would try to kill me again if she didn’t do something drastic.”

“Are you able to shift again?” asked his father.

“Yes. Today was the first time I tried it after so long and I can shift again.” He looked at his brother. “I think you and I need to talk before anything else is discussed.”