Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Gabi

I was surprised at the admissions of Roman. I had always just taken him for such a hard ass and soulless wonder. But looking at how he looks at Levi and Lucy I could understand. He wasn’t soulless, just extremely hardened. He had been hurt one too many times to trust that when something good came into his life that it was his to prosper from. He was always just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I felt sorry for him. It was no real way to live.

Having left the cells with Sam and the large family at our back I was starting to understand the pack life. They were essentially just a very large family. Sam, his beta, and gamma were not born of the same mother and father but having grown up close to one another they were more than just pack mates, or friends they were as close as I was with my brothers. If not closer in some weird and bromancing type of way.

Heading towards the conference room the guys stand to the back joking with one another and talking about times in their past and the mischief they used to cause. Meanwhile Lucy had saddled up to my side and walked contently with me.

“Lucy, I just want to say that what happened..” I started to say but was cut off.

“No offense Princess. But I don’t want to hear anymore people's condolences or apologies. It has nothing to do with you. I am just tired of feeling like the weakest person in the place.” She said glumly.

“You think you are weak?” I asked her.

“Well I am the one that has caused my mate to lose his marbles. I have disrupted your meetings more than once. How is that not a weakness?”

“Are you kidding me right now? Nobody and I do mean nobody deserves the treatment you deserve and you have by all rights to disturb my meetings to bring justice for those still enduring that hell. And what I wassss going to say…” I said trailing off waiting to see if she would interject, when she remained silent still walking beside me I continued. “What has happened to you has inspired action. Action that I assure you you will have justice for. AND you will have your revenge if I have any say over it. Whatever your pretty heart desires is yours. Do not think for one second that anyone in those meetings finds you weak. We are in awe of you but at the same time we see red. We see rage for the horrors that you and those like you have had to endure for years. Once they are free you and them will have your revenge. For that I promise you. Everyone that is associated will come before you. Those that were abused may determine their punishments. And I promise you, we will find them all, if it is the very last thing that we do.” I tell her wrapping her in my arms.

I didn’t know exactly when, but the entourage behind us had stopped their joking and had moved in closer to us to listen. Once I had finished talking Roman came up to the opposite side of her wrapping her into a tight embrace with Levi coming between us to take the side I had once held. Both enclosing her and offering her up the comfort that she needed.

“We swear to you Lucy, you will have your justice.” Samuel said coming up to the opposite side of Levi.

“You will not be alone in this. You will never be alone again Luce.” Levi said, looking at her.

“We will have our revenge for you and our daughter. You two have us now. You have our family to shield you, protect you, and avenge you.” Roman said.

“You hulking men, boys. She doesn’t want you to avenge her. She wants to avenge herself. This is for her. She needs to see that justice is done to those who hurt her and her daughter. Damn men always think us damn women cannot handle our damn selves. Don’t worry girlie, I gots you.” I said, holding out my fist for her to pound. Which she does laughing as the men all start to grumble.

“My little avenging warrior queen just doesn’t know how to share in the fun.” Samuel joked nuzzling my neck and laughing.

Before too long we were all joking and teasing one another. As we made our way back to the office building.

“It is time to begin. All those that are not currently in the conference room please make your way here now.” I commanded. With Celeste standing beside me she helps to coach me on just how much force is needed to send out such a command to all those that are within reach.

‘Miha, we really need to start swearing everyone in. It is almost close to the full moon. On the night of the full moon we need to declare ourselves. We have to do this to the Mother Goddess.’ Lupe informs me.

After everyone has filed into the room I begin.

“Lupe has just informed me that I must soon make the announcement and declare myself as queen. But she is asking for me to begin to swear everyone in. I do not fully understand this, so I will relinquish the floor to Celeste and her mate Prince Adrik.”

“Thank you, Gabi. What your wolf is telling you is that for the members sitting before you our positions are sealed with blood. We are bound to you. Being bound by blood serves to remind us of our positions and titles. It also serves as punishment. For those that go against the tribunal, once bound they will feel immense pain and even in some cases death.” Celeste explains before Adrik takes over.

“For those of us that serve as leaders of a group, we are also binding our coven, pack, or faction to you. They too are to be bound to you and your rule. Those that go against that, will too feel the pain of betrayal. It is something that no woman or man should ever go into lightly. But many of us that are here, know that being here we were to support this union and rule.” He states before sitting down.

“Okay so exactly how does the swearing in exactly go? Do we just swear to her?” Samuel’s father asked, looking to Sam and I.

“Not exactly. Typically the best time to do this would be the night of the full moon. This way you are not only swearing to Gabi and her rule but you are also swearing to the Mother Goddess herself that you are going to protect her choice, her daughter.” Celeste responds before continuing. “But seeing as Gabi will need her council by her side the night of her declaration she will need to swear everyone in as soon as possible. I would say within the next three days. The ritual is rather simple but does require time to gather the needed supplies. It will also cause a slight bit of pain, as you are bounding your souls to that of a mortal body.”

“I stand with my sister. I do not care about the pain that I endure. Bring it on.” Said Antony standing up and giving me a nod and wink. I couldn’t help but smile at him.

“I too will stand with my sister.” Cain, Abel, Levi, and Alec say in almost perfect unison. Causing us all to chuckle.

“Seriously Marcus? You're really going to sit there and not stand for your sister. I know that you are the eldest and the biggest dick but what the hell?” Antony said, looking over at a sitting Marcus before quickly looking at Adrik. “Sorry Prince Adrik. I mean no disrespect.”

“Dear nephew, never feel sorry for saying hell in a negative context. It is hell. And to my family I am simply Adrik.” Adrik said, nodding to Antony, leaning back and placing his left arm on the back of Celeste’s chair.”

“Antony, I get that you are angry. And Gabi I mean you no disrespect or offense, but I am still just gathering all the information here.” He said, taking in a deep breath he continued. “Antony, I have a family to think about. A wife, kids. I cannot just make this decision for them. I will not jepordize my mate just to sign on to this mission. I am sorry if this irritates or upsets anyone but it is what it is.” He says.

I feel hurt at his statement, not that I fully cared about him standing up right this second and declaring his loyalty to me. He was my big brother, I loved him and looked up to him.

“Fuck you Marc. You are an utter prick like Antony here hasn’t been scouring under every known nook and cranny trying to find his mate. Fuck, the man was built to be a father, Long before you even found Mari. Look at our twin brothers, without any hesitation they signed on for this battle and they have two mates. The same goes for Levi. He has a mate that should never feel an ounce of pain again and another mate that has his own allegiance and can guarantee you will feel this pain twice as hard as he will be bound by the mate bond AND his allegiance to the pack. You sit there on your little pedestal and let your wife make the call. Pretend that you cannot make that determination for your family to support your sister.” Alec yelled, standing up and slapping the table down in front of him staring daggers into Marcus’s eyes.

“I agree with Alec, your a fucking douche. Alec not only has a mate that too will most likely feel the pain twice, but he too has a damn kid. You don’t get to sit there and think that you are better than anyone else here at this table cause you ran off at your first chance and had a bunch of fucking kids. We all love Mari and the kids. We would never want any harm to come to them but this is the price to pay for our family Marcus.”

The utter surprise that spread over Savenia’s face, told us all that she was unaware of the little secret that Alec had yet to tell her. But she was able to mask her curiosity before standing up next to her mate. “I too pledge allegiance to the queen.” Savenia said, taking Alec’s hand in solidarity.

“BOYS! This is not the time to be having a pissing contest.” My father boomed out. “Cain, Abel, Alec, Antony, and Levi, thank you for your blind support to your sister. I am sure she appreciates it. Marcus, though I am slightly disappointed in you, I understand your position. Your mate is more than welcome in these delegations as I am sure that she too will be offering up guidance as well. So please, it is imperative that if you feel unable to speak on her behalf that she also attend the meetings. There is wonderful child care here, your brother Levi has ensured this. Please take full advantage of this opportunity as it will help support us and you. Now, I understand that we are here to discuss the swearing in, but Celeste has stated that it will take some time to gather the required elements. Let us all take this time to talk this over with our respective parties.” My father stated in a matter of fact tone.

Everyone at the table had stopped the arguing and glaring to sit back into their seats and nod their heads. I loved my father but even I felt a stab of pain when he said he was disappointed. My father never got mad or angry at his children. He got ‘disappointed’, everytime he had told us children this growing up we had felt like we had let him down. I could only imagine the guilt and pain that my brother had been feeling. And by looking at his face I could tell that he felt the same.

“Respectively Gabi, the floor is yours once again.” He said, taking his seat once again giving me a wink.

‘Aye, Mami. So much tension for such an easy task. Aye, I cannot take all this stress. Wake me when things get good’ Lupe said walking back towards the back corner of my mind.

“Thank you. I do not ask you all to enter into this oath blindly. We will discuss this more tomorrow. Celeste, will you please come tomorrow prepared to explain the ritual in full detail so that we may all make better judgements?” I asked Celeste, looking to her for approval.

“Yes, my child. I will pull my Book of Shadows and familiarize myself with the ritual and bring them all tomorrow.” She said in her sweet singing voice.

“Okay that order of business is complete. Moving forward. I believe that we need to discuss positions and titles. I would like us to work within three branches. I would like to reinstate the Elder council to provide guidance and support. We will need to make this selection very critically as I do not want any part of this area touched by corruption. Young and old leaders alike will look to this council for guidance and support. They need to be untouched by negative influences. But if we are to clearly take the role of Royalty to the supernatural world then we need to take in several elders from each species. I do not know exactly how we will make this happen but I would like to nominate Alpha Raymond and my Father Gabriel to lead this council.” I said looking to the two that looked to one another than to me with tears in their eyes.

“We accept.” My father and Sam’s father said.

“I can help ensure the councils are not influenced to a point with complete background checks.” Antony said, volunteering his technical skills up.

“Thank you all.” I said continuing. “I would also like to start up a judicial branch. The judicial branch will be in charge of courts for crimes committed. I would like for this branch to travel to the different packs, covens, factions, and what not to stand trial for their criminals. They will also hold each species to nominate 3 to serve. Here too needs to be untouched by corruption. I do not want to hear that we sent an innocent man to the gallows.” I state and see everyone snicker at my use of sending a man to his death. I am sure at this time many of these people think I am joking but I am not. Certain crimes will not be allowed in my reign, such as trafficking of live souls. Sex trafficking, Crimes against children. These are all things if I have to, I will trump.

“For this position I would like to nominate Savenia, Roman and Lucy to oversee. I believe that you three will be best to judge and rule over the other magistrates. You three will not necessarily judge or provide judgment but will oversee the council following the Thrones laws.” I say and see them all eye one another.

“I am down.” Savenia said with a smirk that said that she would be there. “Come on, sista. Let's show these damn boys the true meaning of justice.” She said offering her hand to Lucy, who just smiled and grabbed her hand not even looking to her mate for approval.

“I am with her. Let's take these assholes down.” Lucy stated. I was happy to hear the strength and courage come back into her voice. She was taking back her life and did not care who she took down in her aftermath.

“If you two are teaming up, I am in, granted my Alpha will approve.” Roman states before looking to his Alphas, Samuel and Raymond. Neither one said anything but nodded in approval.

“Okay, I think that concludes this part of today's agenda. Now, the enormous elephant sitting in the room. What are we going to do about the Breeder Dens?”