The Beta's Justice

Chapter 15

Leon's POV

This was it. We were about to begin my father's trial. I didn't want to be here. This isn't what I signed up for. "You have been accused of trying to separate mates. Disrupting a bond that has been ordained by the Moon Goddess herself. How do you plead?" my mother's voice boomed around the voice. Not a hint of emotion resided in her tone. She was strong and determined.

My father bowed his head in shame before answering. "Guilty," he conceded.

"You understand what pleading guilty means?" My mother questioned.

He nodded. "I do. Excel," he muttered the last word. He didn't want to leave any more than we wanted him to.

"Then it has been decided," she began to declare.

"Just a moment," I quickly stopped him. All eyes shot to me and suddenly I realized I was about to speak in front of all the most important ranked members of the pack. Taking in a calming breath, I continued. "During the war, possibly before, it has come to our attention that the former Alpha had been under the influence of special concoctions courtesy of Ryker. With this information, we have no way of proving when this all began and, therefore, I would like for all the council members and the Luna to be aware of this fact. He may not have been in control of all his actions. Yes, he may have been aware of what was going on around him, but with his mind altered, we cannot say without reasonable doubt that he was acting in accordance with his own desires," I finished and then returned to my seat. At some point, I stood.

My declaration of my father's possible innocence seemed to have sucked the air from the room. I looked down at my father, wishing to see hope in his gaze, but instead, all I saw was exhaustion and shame. He wouldn't even meet my gaze.

"We will take a short break to discuss what an appropriate punishment will be," my mother said as she stood. The other members follow her. They exited the room and then I quickly went after them when I realized I was part of the council now as well.

I entered a smaller room that appeared only accessible through the door I had come in through. There was a table in the center of the room with chairs around it. Everyone had already sat and appeared to be waiting for me. Quickly, I took a seat. "Since Alpha Leon has brought up the possibility of the former Alpha'smind being altered and his actions not truly being his own, I believe we should take exile off the table," my mother spoke first.

Many appeared to agree, but a few appeared apprehensive on the matter. "How can we prove he was ever under the influence? How do we know he isn't lying to save his own skin?"

"You make an excellent point, however, for those who were fighting along with the former Alpha in the battle heard straight from Ryker that he had tampered with his mind," another member jumped in.

"Still, it does not feel possible for someone to have such absolute control over someone," he and a few others nodded in agreement.

I listened intently as everyone voiced their own opinions on the matter. Most appeared to be willing to believe that Ryker would stoop so low. Once everyone had finished, all eyes came to me. "Young Alpha, you have been awfully quiet," a member said to me.

"Yes, I have been. I wanted to allow everyone to voice their opinions before I did so," I tried to sound as Alpha-like as possible. My father had always seemed so put together and so I wanted to emulate that.

"Once you have, we will come to a conclusion," my mother informed me.

"I see. Then, for the sake of time, I will be short. Yes, what was done is horrible. The mate bond should never be abused. However, we can be sure of how in control of his own actions he was at that time. Therefore, I believe exile would be far too harsh a punishment. Instead, I propose that he play a supporting role in the packhouse and out of it. He will not retain his rank but rather become an Omega. I believe that is punishment enough," I concluded.

There were a few murmurs of agreement with my proposal. However, they were followed by a few that disagreed. "Let us vote," my mother prompted everyone. Eventually, I would have to lead these meetings and trials independently. She won't be here forever after all.

Everyone agreed. "Those who agree, please raise your hands," she instructed, and then counted the hands. "And those against."

"As it stands, Alpha Leon's proposal stands. The former Alpha will forfeit his rank but remain within the pack," she concluded.

Most seemed appeased with the punishment, although there were a few who wanted a harsher punishment to be doled out. "He will move out of the packhouse," one finally spoke up.

Before my mother could respond, I did. "He will remain in the packhouse because he is my father and I am the current Alpha. It is a tradition that the Alpha and Luna family members are given the option to reside in the packhouse. Therefore, he will be extended the same courtesy," I stated. Waiting for a moment for someone else to disagree. However, everyone remained silent.

"Good now that we have come to a conclusion, we will go out and make the announcement," my mother said, appearing pleased with the outcome momentarily. She quickly covered her expression to appear stoic and unfazed again.

Everyone stood and left the room, following my mother out. I was the last to leave. I took my seat and the trial resumed. "It has been decided," she began. "Alpha Leon will make the announcement," she declared suddenly.

Startled, I stood rather ungracefully. "Yes," I cleared my throat nervously. For me, it was one thing to speak in front of only the council members, but now I stood before my father and other pack members. I needed to declare that my father was indeed guilty to some degree. "Former Alpha Percival Fang has been declared guilty. However, due to extenuating circumstances, he will not be exiled. Instead, he will be stripped of the Alpha title and be placed as an Omega," I finished. I could barely look at my father. He was devastated. He was proud to be Alpha. Many of the pack members would understand that losing his title would be enough of a punishment for him. I hoped it would be enough.

Silence fell throughout the room. Everyone was waiting for his reaction. I was waiting with them. He didn't respond. What could he say? Instead, he stood and left the room with his shoulders slumped.

***

Nova's POV

I've remained in this house for the last month. I've been cleared to leave, but there is so much outside that I don't remember and whenever someone realizes that I don't remember them, they get a look about them. I had grown tired of that look and so I decided to stay inside a little longer. I asked June to keep people out. It was hard enough to see June and Ben with their expectant expressions. They hoped one day the memories would all just come flooding back. Yet each day they didn't. They both appeared saddened. I can't take that right now from others.

I was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, when a knock came. "Come in," I called, keeping my gaze trained on the odd cracks in my ceiling.

"Morning, sweety," June said as she brought in a tray with eggs, bacon, and toast along with a cup of orange juice. "I hope you're hungry," she smiled at me.

"Not really," I sighed.

I heard her set the tray down and then pull a chair up to my desk. "Don't worry so much about remembering things. The doctor says the more you push yourself to remember, the harder it will be to remember," she tried to comfort me.

I knew she was right, but it was hard. She was being honest and I knew that. However, I also knew she really wanted me to remember. She wanted me to remember her. It was understandable, it really was, but it made it harder on me. I wanted to just move on, but how?

"I know, but it feels like everyone is waiting for me to remember so we can continue living," I sighed.

She was silent for some time. Possibly trying to pick her words carefully before responding. "You're right," she finally agreed. "But we don't want to pressure you," she sighed. "At least we weren't trying to. I'm sorry."

"Can we forget about my remembering? Can we just pretend that maybe I won't ever and move on like that?" I asked, hoping it would help me as well.

"Yes, let's make new memories," she agreed as she took my hands. "Is that why you wouldn't leave your room for the last month?"

I nodded. "Yes," I admitted.

"I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't talk to me about this and that you felt this way," she apologized.

"It's not all you. I should have said something sooner," I told her, trying to make her feel better. I should have said something.

"How about you get showered and dressed? Then we can have breakfast together?" She offered. It was her way of getting me out of the room.

I hadn't really left the room in the month since I had been home. "Okay," I gave her a small smile, trying to ease the tension she appeared to be feeling.

"Good. I will go prepare the table," she said as she put the chair down, grabbed the tray of food she had brought in, and then left the room.

I lay in bed for a few more minutes, before I forced myself out of the comfort of my bed. Grabbing my clothes, I went to the bathroom, showered, and got dressed. I finished getting ready and then went to the kitchen. June pulled out a chair for me and then I noticed it. There was another plate set on the table.

"Is Ben home?" I questioned as I pointed to the extra setting.

"Oh, that..." she paused for a moment. That pause in her speech made me think that I wouldn't be happy about whoever it was. "Well, I got a call. Please don't be mad, but I think it would be good for you to see other people," she sat down next to me nervously.

"Who?" I questioned, although it really wouldn't matter. If it wasn't someone who I'd already met, then I would have no idea who they were.

"Audrey," she told me.

"Who?" I asked again. I hadn't met her yet. Or meet her again.

"Oh, she is the Beta's younger sister. She wanted to come by and see how you are doing," she smiled. However, there was something in her demeanor making it seem as though we did not get along.

"Is she a friend?"

"Well, to some degree now she is," her smile faltered.

"To what degree?"

"New friends, old enemies in a sense," she was being vague in her responses.

"When will she be here?"

"Any moment now," she said, just as there came a knock at the door. "That must be her," she told me as she got up and went to the front door.

She came back with a she-wolf that must be a year or so younger than me. She had long brown hair and big brown eyes. As I studied her, trying to remember who she was, she appeared afraid of me. "Nova, it's good to see you out of bed," she finally said, trying to break the building tension.

"Today is the first day," I told her.

"May I sit?" She questioned. I nodded and she went around and sat at the seat June had prepared. "Thank you for agreeing to see me."

"Was there a reason you wanted to meet?" I decided to get straight to the point.

She appeared thrown by my direct question. It took her a moment to respond. "I never got a chance to apologize to you," she began as she nervously played with her hands. Her gaze was downcast as though looking at me was painful. "Well, I suppose I did apologize, but with the way things are now, I feel I need to do it again. I did so many harmful things to you. I am ashamed I ever thought that my actions were okay. I know you don't remember them now, but they were horrible. I was a terrible wolf. I am so sorry," she finished, appearing close to tears.

"Why apologize to someone who cannot remember?"

"Because I want to start fresh. I would like us to be friends or at least civil with one another," she responded, peering over at me with hope in her gaze.

"I don't see why we can't be?" I told her.

Relief washed over her as she took my words in. "Then I would like to start our friendship by telling you the news from the pack," she told me. I nodded and waited for her to continue. She then proceeded to tell me all about the special wolves and pups that were now in the pack and how she was given the responsibility to train them and then build a new facility for them not only to train in but also to reside in. She seemed overjoyed by this new responsibility, proud even.

We continued to talk over the meal June had prepared. She seemed like a good she-wolf. I couldn't speak about what she was like, but now, she seemed good. The facility was completed while I remained in my room for over a month. The conversation turned from these new wolves to live. "Leon, have you seen him?" She asked suddenly.

"A few times at the hospital," I told her.

She appeared shocked at my response. "He hasn't been by since then?"

"No," I told her honestly.