Saving Aeron

Counsel

Brigh thought: Sanctimonious power w***e.

Neasa had always been shorter than Brigh but in her five-inch black heels, Neasa could look down her nose at her big sister. Her black hair was pulled up into a messy bun, office chic, with a wisps of errant hairs jumping from her scalp. The black suit that hugged her curves, including her growing belly, reminded all of the men of the four packs - Aeron, Gideon, Talsarn, and Verrano, that she was a beautiful woman, but buttons and silky material hiding all of her skin let them think that she was chaste and proper. She outlined her claim on Aeron, and Fergus' claim for Gideon, pointing out that Fergus had been denied access to the marriage bed and being as Brigh was his wife and Luna, she had denied him the privilege of creating an heir to cement their packs' agreement.

As she listened to her sister speak, Brigh tried to manifest within her a sliver of affection, of the love that was once there for her younger sister. She wanted to see the good in Neasa but Brigh couldn't get past the bloodbath that followed in the wake of the tantrum she had.

Neasa lobbed a question Brigh hadn't caught. This would be filed in Neasa's store of slights and wrongs that she would bring out to support whatever she needed.

"I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?" Brigh folded her hands on the walnut table and leaned in, giving her sister her undivided attention.

Rolling her eyes, Neasa glared at Brigh. "I said, do you think anyone here fully understands the weight of what you have done? You have created a war with over two hundred casualties because you don't want to admit that you are wrong. Are you prepared to end this today and restore peace to Aeron and Gideon by stepping down?"

Brigh opened her portfolio and slid a manila envelope onto the shiny table. "I do believe the gravity of your actions has brought us to this point." Slowly opening the manila envelope, Brigh removed a single sheet from the thick stack. "This is a copy of the agreement between the Gideon and Aeron pack. It says that Fergus and I are bound by our wolves, that we must create an Aeron and Gideon heir. However, on our wedding day, Fergus lost his wolf. Without a wolf, that part of the agreement was voided. Here," she slid a few more papers onto the table,"is the hospital report and documentation from the specialists detailing the physical and mental implications of Angus' departure."

"And when this happened, instead of sticking by your man, your legal husband, you denied him any access to you."

"This is where it because he said/she said. I can object but no one else was in our bedroom with us."

"You kept the agreement from being fulfilled."

Brigh closed her eyes and slid more papers out of the folder. "I didn't want to do this." She looked across at Fergus, knowing the implications of her actions. He knew what she was going to do and silently pleaded with her. "These are the subsequent records from Fergus' hospitalizations. When his wolf left, he became sterile. Even if we had consummated our partnership, he would not have been able to produce and heir."

Neasa turned to Fergus and the room burst into loud chatter. She was yelling, he was yelling, the other leaders were dissecting what this meant for the contract and the Gideon Alpha, Aidan, conferred with his counsel. Eternity passed before a red-faced Neasa sat down and looked at Balor.

Aidan stood up. "I can not support this coup. The evidence I was given is proven false by this. I revoke your privileges to Gideon, Neasa and Fergus."

Brigh felt sorry for Balor as confusion wrinkled his forehead and he tried to figure out what evidence had kept them in Gideon's good graces. His blind loyalty to his wife had nearly signed his death warrant.

"Balor," Brigh tried to get him to look at her. "I can help you. If you tell everyone about Neasa's actions, I can help you."

"He would never betray the mother of his child that way." Neasa put her hand on his.

"You told me Fergus was the father of your child." Aidan objected.

"We needed your support, Alpha," Fergus interjected. "Since I lost my wolf, I've been mistreated by the Aeron pack and I knew you'd be a kind and supportive leader." The groveling alone made any illusion of muscle or strength disappear.

"I'm not the father." Balor raised his head and looked at Brigh, despite the fingernails Neasa was digging into his hand. "She conceived while I was away. I've always known." He ripped his hand from her grasp, skin peeling back as he moved away. When he reached the door, he turned to Neasa. "I reject you. I never want to see you again."

"Alpha," Fergus pleaded. "I was bewitched."

"And you will have to find your place in the world without our community. By your actions, you are banished." Fergus had no wolf and no skills. Sending him out was a death sentence. "Gideon does not support a fight against Aeron. Luna, do as you please with your wolves, we are in good standing and the contract is void. I hope we can repair the damage done by these rogues and forge a new alliance."

"Alpha, thank you, unfortunately, their damage is done and the poison they planted is eating at our community like wolfsbane." She motioned to Fynlee and her friend began handing out packets to each of the powerful wolves present. "Neasa, the father of your child isn't a wolf, is he?"

A smirk curled at the corners of her sister's mouth. "No." She stood up. "He's a warlock."

"And the army he commands?"

"Will tear you apart."

Brigh turned to the leaders of the other packs. "She's created an alliance with this warlock. First, she had to destabilize us and then they would come in and eradicate most of us, use the rest for breeding to give the power of the Moon Goddess to the warlocks so they could rule without opposition."

"They will. My child will be the one to bring you to your knees."

"Lunas, Alphas, we need to build our defenses and prepare."