\[William’s POV\]
The world fades in and out. I can hear a conversation happening somewhere nearby, but due to the damned ringing in my ears, I can’t make out what is being said.
Groaning, I attempt to move only to find that I’m being confined, and when I move, the metal that presses against my skin burns.
“Shit.” I hiss, blinking a few times in an attempt to clear my hazy vision. “What the…”
“He’s coming to.” A voice murmurs.
“About time.” My father huffs. “I know you said that drug would pack a punch, but it exceeded even my expectations.”
Frowning, I blink a few more times, and when my vision finally comes into view, I find that I’m in a cathedral.
Standing to one side of me is my father, and the other is a woman that I’ve never seen before. She is dressed in a fluffy white wedding dress, and her face holds a smile that screams excitement.
“What is this?” I demand, looking down and finding that I’m in a suit. “What the hell are you doing?”
“It’s your wedding.” My father responds, grinning. “Since you wouldn’t willingly go along with it, we decided to take matters into our own hands.”
“We.” I repeat, looking from him to the woman again. “Have you lost your mind? I’m not going to marry any- damn -body!”
Although I knew that my father was going crazy with power since it was announced I would be taking the place of Alpha due to Rosco’s leaving the pack, I didn’t expect him to go as far as doing something as insane as this.
“How do you plan on making this valid with an unwilling participant?” I push. “You need two signatures to verify a wedding, and I won’t…”
“I knew you would say that.” My father chuckles, snapping his fingers.
Growing quiet, he waits as a man who is dressed in a suit and carrying a manilla folder makes his way toward us.
“This,” he announces, taking the folder from the man. “Why don’t you take a look.”
As he speaks, he opens the folder and holds a single sheet of paper in front of me.
For a moment, I don’t quite understand what it is that he wants me to see until I find Elise’s name at the top of the whole thing.
“This,” I growl, beginning to scan the document. “A list of crimes, but she didn’t...”
I was well aware that Elise would have to stand trial once we settled things, but the crimes she was being tried for weren’t bad enough to lead her to the death penalty. However, if they were to use the file that my father was holding in front of me, then she could.
Murder.
Larceny.
Conspiracy.
Terrorism.
The list goes on and on, guaranteeing that Elise would be sent straight to the execution ring.
“But you don’t have proof.” I manage through gritted teeth.
Right. There was no way that she could be found guilty of all of that without absolute proof.
“Do you want to try me?” My father asks. “It just takes a little bit of trickery, and you can make anything come to life.”
Fuck. He was serious. The man definitely went off the deep end, and should I actually be surprised? Charlie said he was certain that my father was conspiring to get rid of Rosco, so why would I put something like this past him? But I couldn’t let him force me into this matrimonial scam.
“I won’t let you do this.” I say slowly. “If you want to try to trick the world into believing Elise is such a bad person, I’ll fight tooth and nail to prove she isn’t.”
“You could try.” My father agrees, handing the file back to the man he got it from. “But you won’t be around to do so.”
Not around? What the hell was he getting at this time?
Frowning, I wait as my father looks at me proudly.
“You have two choices, my son.” He says now. “You either obey your father’s command and get married or...”
“JAXON!”
The voice rings out around us, drawing everyone’s attention to the back of the cathedral, where Uncle Hamilton stands with a look of rage on his face.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Storming forward, he lets his aura explode from his body, demanding that not only me but even my father listen to what it is he is about to say.
“Stop this madness right now!” He continues, reaching. “Have you lost your mind?”
“Big brother,” my father responds easily. “So glad you’ve made the time to come to your nephew's wedding.”
“Wedding?” Uncle Hamilton repeats, his face filling with disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I’m not.” My father responds. “This benefits our pack. Once William is married, we will finally become the strongest pack in the United States. This is what you were always wanting, and I’m simply achieving your dream.”
“Stop this foolishness.” Uncle Hamilton snaps.
Moving forward, he attempts to help unchain me, but stops as my father grabs him and pulls him away.
“I can’t let you do that, Hamilton.” He says slowly, hanging on to Uncle Hamilton’s shoulder. “This is for the best, and one day you’ll...”
“I won’t.” Uncle Hamilton snaps, shaking my father off and standing in front of me protectively. “I won’t allow...”
“Then you’re just a hindrance.”
In one swift motion, my father moves, pulling a blade from his pocket and then attacking, slashing it at Uncle Hamilton, who barely manages to move out of the way.
“Have you lost your mind?” Uncle Hamilton growls, his eyes flashing with rage. “You’ve let your need for power go straight to your head. How can…”
“Shut up!” My father spits, moving after him. “You’re the one who let power get to your head!”
As he speaks, he attacks again as Uncle Hamilton continues to dodge. Together, the two men continue to fight, until my father lets out a loud howl.
Instantly, the doors around the area burst open, and wolves rushed toward Uncle Hamilton. Cursing, I begin to fight against my bindings as they surround him, doing their best to overpower him as she shifts into his wolf form.
Letting a snarl rip from him, he fights, grabbing whoever is closest and flinging them off, but there are too many, and it doesn’t take long for him to lose his fight.
“You should have minded your own business.” My father chuckles while Uncle Hamilton continues to fight. “Then you wouldn’t have to die.”
I watch in horror as a deranged smile spreads across my father’s face, and while I watch on helplessly, he brings it down, cleanly slicing Uncle Hamilton’s throat.