CHAPTER 26 – CONFRONTATION

CHAPTER 26 – CONFRONTATION
Nathan P.O.V

I’m worried and my wolf feels restless. Sloane hasn’t contacted me in at least three days, and Daniel is not picking up his damn phone.
As soon as I’m done with this meeting, I’m going to Moonshine pack’s border and pretend to see their Alpha. This is just bullshit!
I enter the packhouse, putting on a mask of indifference, although inside I’m burning to get out of here and go hunt for my mate. I just know it, something isn’t right.
Our head warrior has called me to report on what happened the night of the ball; I’m accused of treason and mutiny, and also of kidnapping. It makes me want to laugh. But I’m not afraid, they can show me all the camera recordings and bring as many people as they want to testify, I have proof too, and I’m really curious to see how our beloved Alpha will get out of this one.
I was once a loyal warrior, loyal to both my pack and my Alpha, but after what I’ve discovered and what I’ve witnessed first-hand, I can’t accept this man as my Alpha anymore, he’s not even worthy of cleaning my shoes. 
I knock on the office door, and I am immediately granted permission to enter. Inside, waiting for me, are our head warrior, Beta Sanders and that piece of shit Axel.
“Take a seat,” Thomas, our Head Warrior says, pointing at a chair positioned in the middle of the room. Good, they want to play law and order, that’s fine by me.
“Nathan,” he continues, his tone serious but kind; he’s known me since I was a small kid, he was with me when I first shifted, and he’s kind of a fatherly figure for me, someone I look up to, “you already know why you have been summoned, so I won’t waste time listing out again all the charges against you. Today you are here to give us an explanation for your misbehavior, and to accept your punishment with honor.”
Meaning, without making a fuss, not happening.
I remain impassive, waiting for them to go on, and seeing how I remain mum, Thomas goes on.
“You are accused of treason, for harming your Alpha; what do you say in your defense?”
“Guilty, although there are mitigating circumstances. This man,” I say indicating Axel, “was going to rape an innocent woman, and I wouldn’t have that happen under this roof.”
Everybody stares at me in disbelief and Thomas’ complexion turns a shade lighter. Axel’s murderous gaze is practically trying to burn me alive, pity he doesn’t have that kind of super-power; at the end of the day he’s just a common werewolf, just like everyone else.
“What bullshit are you spouting?” Axel shouts outraged, trying to intimidate me, but I’m not a small kid who gets scared if someone raises his voice.
“It’s not bullshit; it’s the truth. You can all ask Alpha Sloane Moore if you don’t believe me, the word of another Alpha should be at least equal to our Alpha’s.”
Thomas clears his throat awkwardly, while Axel throws daggers at me.
“Your accusations are severe and should be addressed to the right court supported by valid and concrete evidence. In this meeting, we’ll only address your case and your charges. Your second charge is mutiny against your fellow warriors. You attacked and knocked unconscious six warriors at the packhouse’s south gate, with the help of your fellow warrior Evelyn Bailey. What do you say?”
“Again, guilty. I needed to take Alpha Sloane to safety, before Alpha came back to his senses and finished what he started.” 
Again, everyone stares at me, more precisely at my audacity. I have no qualms stating the facts as they are.
“And I want to add that Evelyn was just following my orders, she’s not to blame for what happened.”
“She’s your equal, you have no authority over her, thus everything she did she did willingly and aware of the consequences,” Thomas interjects.  
“Actually, that’s not true, I can command her if I want to, I could probably command you too,” I reply, a little cockily, making Thomas draw his thick eyebrow into a frown.
“Bullshit!” Axel comments, waving his hand in the air, like he’s trying to chase a fly away.
“Try me,” I say simply, shrugging my shoulders.
“Ok!” Beta Sanders exclaims, accepting the challenge, and taking a few steps toward me. He stops and looks at me expectantly, obviously waiting for me to fail, as only Alpha’s have the power to command others lower in rank. Sometimes, if the Alpha’s wolf is strong, he can succeed in commanding other weaker Alphas too.
I don’t waste any time, I bring my wolf forward with me, feeling his power merge with mine, like the other night, when I commanded Sloane to stay in her spot, and then I order, 
“Act like a money,” I know, it’s a low blow, but this entitled dick kind of deserved it.
Immediately, Beta Sanders’ takes the posture of a monkey, with his back slightly arched and his legs bent at his knees, and starts “Uh uh uh-ing” and jumping around just like a real monkey.
I don’t know if the circus-show Sanders is playing for us, or the stunned expressions of Thomas and Axel are more hilarious; it is clear that they can’t believe their eyes, but they can’t even deny the truth in front of their own eyes.
“Beta Sanders, stop behaving like a monkey,” I order, still using my wolf’s influence, and he immediately stops what he was doing, then he turns toward me with a furious expression and charges at me, 
“Son of a bitch!” he yells, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt.
I don’t make a move, not wanting to give them the opportunity of adding more charges to my already long list.
“Beta Sanders, I suggest you calm down and remove your hands from Mr. Anderson’s persona. He just did what you asked him to do, no need to get riled up,” Head Warrior Thomas says calmly, but with authority, and a bit of ill-concealed mirth.
“But…” Sanders goes to protest, but he’s immediately silenced by Axel, who motions for him to go back to his spot beside him.
Begrudgingly, he follows Axel orders, but not before he’s given me a murderous stare which promises payback for later. I can’t wait, that guy is a douche, I don’t even know how he made it to the Beta position.
“So, I don’t know how you are in possess of this peculiar ability, but I suggest that from now on you don’t make use of it anymore. Only Alphas have the rightful power to command, and they use their ability only in extreme cases. We should not meddle with people’s free will,” Thomas says seriously.  
“Third and last, you’re accused of kidnapping Alpha Sloane Moore.”
“I did not kidnap her, I took her to safety, and then her Beta came pick her up the following day and took her back to the Moon Shine Pack. As far as I know, she’s now home, safe and sound.”
“Why should we believe you? You could have been the one who drugged and attempted raping Alpha Sloane, it would also explain why you had to knock out the gate’s guards. When you knocked me out, I was actually taking her to her old room to rest; I noticed she was behaving funny and thought she needed to be somewhere quiet away from the public eye,” Axel shamelessly points out with a small smirk on his face.
Witty bastard full of shit! He’s trying to pin this on me, but he’ll have another thing coming.
“Really?” I comment, crossing my arms over my chest, “Then, please, explain this.”
I take out my mobile and play out the video confession of the waiter who spiked Sloane’s wine, where he clearly says he did it on Axel’s orders.
“This counts for nothing. You could have commanded him to say that,” Axel says without missing a bit. Fuck, he got me there, he used my own power against me.
“So, what other proof do you have under your sleeve, Anderson?” Axel mocks, smiling victoriously.
As much as I don’t want to divulge this information, especially to that prick, I think I have no other choice. Anyway, now that we have decided to accept our bond, this piece of news will come out soon anyway, it’s just a matter of time.
So, I bite the bullet, and say, “I’d never hurt Alpha Sloane Moore, because she is my fated mate.”