A Duet of Wolves and Sparrows

Chapter Eighteen

When Hazel woke up the next day, she felt refreshed and light-hearted. Despite the heaviness of her parents dropping in at some point in the background of her mind, she found that she was no longer as worried about it as she had been before.

No matter what her parents said, she had people by her side now who would stand up for her and look out for her. Hazel felt much more ready to stand up for herself too. She wasn't going to back down and she wasn't going to allow her mother and father to walk all over anymore. She wasn't going to let them dictate her life or have any control over her. She was free and she was going to stay free whether they liked it or not.

She found that she felt a lot more confident about being able to face the obstacles that lay ahead. It just so happened that one of those obstacles was coming that day: the town meeting. It was less for her and more for her friends, but because of its nature, it brought the entire town into the mix.

"How are you feeling?" Luna asked as she got ready to head down to the barn to tend the horses.

"I'm feeling a lot better this morning. I think, with you and the others by my side, I'll be able to manage whatever happens and stand my ground." Hazel replied with a soft smile. It was amazing what some genuine friendships and bonds could do to her confidence and assurance. 

"I'm really proud of you, Hazel. I know that all of this takes a lot of courage. I think you're one of the bravest people I know." Luna beamed back at Hazel, who chuckled happily.

"I think Sovereign might have me beat on bravery, but thank you. Hearing that really means a lot to me." Hazel said.

"I have to go to work now, but I'll be back well before the town meeting. Shall I meet you here?" Luna asked.

"I think I'll come and meet you at the stables and we can walk to the hall together, with Alex and Sovereign too, though they might go there earlier with Mrs Blackwood." Hazel replied.

"Alright, sounds good to me. I look forward to seeing you later then. I have to go now, but I should be done at three o'clock today for the meeting." Luna said as she finished lacing up her boots.

With that said, the both of them made their way down to the kitchen, where Sovereign was sitting at the counter with a mug of hot tea and a plate full of marmalade-covered toast. The air smelled so distinctively of warm bread and sweet oranges, it was something utterly delightful. 

Hazel grabbed a couple of slices of bread and popped them into the toaster while Luna, being in a little bit of a hurry to leave, simply reached around Sovereign to steal a piece of his, popping it into her mouth and heading out of the door before he had time to protest. 

"How rude." He grumbled and shook his head with mild amusement. 

"You'll just have to nick some of her food next time." Hazel joked as she waited for her bread to toast.

"I'll definitely be remembering to do that." He said with a little bit of a pout.

"Want me to put another slice in for you?" Hazel asked with a teasing lilt to her tone.

"Nah, it's fine." Sovereign waved her off. "It's just one slice of toast."

"Are you nervous about the meeting later?" Hazel asked as her toast popped and she began to butter it.

"A little bit, but I'll have all of you with me, to defend and look out for me. It makes me feel a lot more confident, especially knowing that Aiysha believes us and our side of the story. I'd say I can't believe that those wolves would lie like that, but I really can and it's easy to believe that they would lie. Scum like that don't care whose lives they endanger, they only care about saving face." Sovereign said.

"Yeah... it's a shame there are so many in this world who care so little about those around them, or the wellbeing of others. Some people are so low and self-serving that it makes me sick to my stomach." Hazel replied, thinking of her parents' disregard for anyone but themselves. At least they had never tried to kill her, she thought bitterly.

"It's a little easier to get past with people like you, Alex, Luna and Mrs Blackwood there. It the first time in my life where I've felt that I have a family, you know?" Sovereign responded before taking a bite of his toast and following it with a sip of tea.

"Yeah. I definitely understand that. My own parents were so controlling, to the point that they are still trying to track me down and force me to do their bidding. You guys are the first people that I have considered to be true family. I think that title, that place, needs to be earned through mutual trust and support and companionship rather than blood ties." Hazel agreed, taking a seat next to him.

"Force you to do their bidding? They sound more like super villains than parents. I guess we really do have a lot in common. I think... It's taking me a while to get used to everything here. After being on my own for so long, being on the run, it's strange being surrounded by people who don't have any ulterior motives." Sovereign said.

"That's understandable. It's not the same, but, I get not being able to trust others that easily. I spent most of my life around my parents' business associates and high-end parties. None of them were friends, everyone was just using each other to get some kind of benefit or advantage. Nothing, no interaction was ever genuine or sincere... it was exhausting. I can only imagine what it was like for you though, constantly looking over your shoulder, not knowing who was going to attack." Hazel empathised.

"It really seems like we're two sides of the same coin, Hazel." Sovereign mused, finishing off his breakfast before turning to her. "I'm glad that I met you... I feel like out of everyone, you can understand me the most. Although from different worlds, different circumstances... you know what it's like, you can understand what I've gone through and it means the world to have someone like that."

"I feel the same way when it comes to you, too. I don't think I've ever met anyone who could understand my experience like you can and I'm grateful to have you as a friend. I'm really happy that you're with us now, that you have a place here." Hazel smiled warmly. 

It really was good to have Sovereign around. Hazel even felt that he had become her closest confidant, other than Luna of course. They were one and the same, really, like Sovereign had said, they were like two sides of the same coin. If soulmates was what she had with Luna, a true romantic partnership and bond, then what she and Sovereign was akin to a platonic version of that. They were like kindred spirits. It seemed the only apt way to describe them.

She hoped that she was just as much of a supportive and comforting presence for him as he was for her. It certainly seemed as though the feeling was mutual and Hazel was more than glad of that.

Soon enough, the town meeting was upon them. Hazel and Luna made their way there together, hand in hand, with Floss walking slightly ahead of them. It was late in the afternoon, but still too early for the sun to be going down yet for the time of year. 

The air was thick with tension, both of them knowing that although Aiysha had believed them, this meeting could still go awry at any moment. Neither of them wanted to think of the worst case scenarios, but it didn't hurt to be mentally prepared should things go wrong. If push came to shove, they would do everything in their power to defend and protect Sovereign from danger. They had already threatened his life. 

As they approached, they could see that there were already people waiting outside of the building, looking curious and concerned as the members of the neighbouring pack filtered inside first. They all had varying expressions of anger, frustration and seriousness across their faces. 

Hazel could imagine that there must have been quite a fair amount of internal conflict over the attack that happened between the two packs. Especially after their pack leaders found out that the story that they were originally fed was nothing more than exaggerations and lies, a twisting up of what had actually occurred. 

She was angry though, more than she was sympathetic to their conflict. She was angry on Sovereign's behalf, angry about what he had been forced to endure, all of that which he had been through and she was angry about the lies that had been told abut him, about the way his attackers had twisted events to frame themselves as the victims when the opposite was true.

Nothing, nothing at all infuriated Hazel more than villains, cruel, violent and abusive people trying to manipulate people into believing they were the victims. People like that, who would say and do the most horrible, abhorrent things and then attempt to turn it around and make it the real victim's fault. It was truly deplorable.

It reminded her of the way her parents would try to control her every move and if she did anything they didn't sanction they would guilt her and complain about her being disobedient. They would restrict her even further and patronise her and then tell her that if she had just done everything they said then they wouldn't have had to punish her. It was manipulative, it was abusive and she was tired of seeing people just get away with it.

She wanted to see Sovereign's attackers be brought to justice in front of the two packs, the two towns and communities. She knew that it would be cathartic in some way, so see these liars exposed for what they really were, even if it was unlikely that she would get the same opportunity for justice in her own personal situation. 

Once they were inside, they could see Mrs Blackwood up by the stage where they would be speaking from. It wasn't a particularly tall stage, just a slightly elevated platform that could have curtains drawn over the front when needed. 

The curtains were pulled back tightly to the walls and the hall was buzzing with curious chatter, side glances and hushed speculations. It made sense that people were whispering to each other, seeing as none of them knew that they would be deciding the fates of more than one person that evening, all they knew was that the two packs were being called together as a matter of urgency.

Hazel and Luna hurried their way to the backstage area, which was behind a simple green door off to the left of the room. It wasn't a particularly big building, so they had to politely nudge past a few people with Floss, not entirely sure how well two packs would be able to squish themselves into the hall. They would most likely spend the evening feeling something akin to a can of sardines. 

Immediately, Floss was running up to Mrs Blackwood, tail wagging lightly as she peered up at one of her favourite humans. She had such a sweet look on her fluffy face that Mrs Blackwood visibly lost some of the tension that she had been holding.

"Hello girls. I'm glad you're here, we're just about to start. The leader of the neighbouring pack is waiting with the guys who attacked Sovereign over the other side of the backstage." Mrs Blackwood said, gesturing to the other end of the room with a nod of her head.

Hazel and Luna looked over, seeing Aiysha and a few other Moon Wolves that looked to be her bodyguards, or maybe just some type of security detail to keep Sovereign's attackers from escaping or doing anything dangerous.

"Where's Sovereign and Alex?" Luna asked from beside Hazel.

"They're in the back room. Sovereign is a little nervous about having to face his attackers again. It's completely understandable. I don't think I would even be able to make myself enter the same building or even the same town as those people if I was ever put in a situation like his. I can't imagine the struggle he's going through. He's such a brave boy and I'm so proud of Alex for being there for his partner as much as he has been. It makes me feel like I've done a good job raising him. I'm just so glad that he never adopted any of his father's prejudices." Mrs Blackwood said, looking both proud and saddened at the same time. 

Neither Hazel nor Luna could imagine what it must have been like for her, learning the extent of what her own husband was capable of doing. The fact that he had injured a man who had already been so close to dying, going out of his way to cause more conflict and pain... it was unthinkable. 

Mrs Blackwood seemed like a true hero to Hazel, as she stood there, with such a resolution to do right by her son despite the inner turmoil and emotional pain she must be experiencing. She was going against her own mated partner to protect her child and his moon, protecting them from the one person that should have been protecting them alongside her. 

Hazel hadn't lived there long but, even to her, Mr Blackwood's actions and the things he had said seemed to have come out of left field. It had been such a sudden change in behaviour after he had seemed to nice. It was like a flip had switched and she didn't know whether it was because Sovereign was a man, because he was a rogue or simply because he and Alex were both alphas. None of the options made sense to Hazel, none of them were good enough to justify his behaviour. Not even a little bit.

They had been fated to each other and that didn't happen to people who weren't supposed to be together. Of all the forces to choose to attempt a fight with, fate was a big one, but to fight against love was a sure-fire exercise in futility. 

"Come it's starting." Mrs Blackwood said as the last of the town filtered into the hall and Aiysha took the stage.

Hazel and Luna walked up to the side of the stage where they had a good view of what was happening. Mrs Blackwood joined Aiysha at the podium while Mr Blackwood stood off to the side, glaring and looking like he was waiting for a moment where he could start spouting his nonsense. Sovereign and Alex approached from behind them, hand in hand as they stepped out in front of the two packs that they would have to appease. 

"Some of you may be curious as to why we have been gathered here today and some of you may already know, or have an idea." Mrs Blackwood started, taking a deep breath to steady herself before continuing. "As some of you know, we have gained new additions to our town in the past weeks, one of whom is a Sparrow and one of whom... is my son's fated Moon."

She looked over to Alex and Sovereign and Sovereign was gripping his Sol's hand like it was a lifeline. 

"We are here because of a conflict that occurred when Sovereign was passing through to out territory. He was attacked by a small group of people from our neighbouring pack. Alex, hearing what was happening and sensing his mate, charged in to protect his Moon, injuring Sovereign's attackers in the process." She explained.

"We must now decide as a whole, what is to be done with the members of my pack who have transgressed against yours. We usually would have handled this matter of a rogue being attacked internally, but given the lies that were told by our own and the involvement of members of this pack, we have decided to put it to our combined decision." Aiysha said and a murmuring arose from the crowd as the three from her pack were brought forward by the security she had brought. 

"Our first thought for a suitable punishment for these three was originally a sanction. However, they continued attacking after learning that the rogue was the fated mate of Mrs Blackwood's son. An un-bonded rogue trespassing on our territory is one thing, but chasing him to this town's borders and almost killing him before his soulmate is another matter entirely.

Thus, we have come to the conclusion that their punishment should be more serious and that it should be decided by all those that this matter concerns, meaning that it must be settled by us all and not internally within my pack alone." she continued.

"This is ridiculous!" Mr Blackwood's voice cut through angrily. "This mutt should never have come here! He should be the one punished! He trespassed on our neighbour's territory and got all of us into a dangerous position! He should be banished!" He pointed furiously at Sovereign as he yelled, the veins on his neck popping out with the strain of his voice.

The crowd of people that were packed together were silent as they took in what they were hearing. They were speechless until one of the other pack members stood up.

"How dare you?" He yelled back at Mr Blackwood, which riled up the rest of the crowd.

"Yeah! How could you say that? He's the victim!" A woman shouted.

Alex squeezed Sovereign's hand as the crowd rose up in their defence. Alex was almost starting to tear up, moved by the support that he had been so scared that they wouldn't have. The men who had attacked them were shying away from sight, ducking their heads down in regret despite the resentment that lingered in their eyes. 

"Victim? He's a trespasser! An outsider! He should be shunned!" Mr Blackwood screamed, but it fell on ears unwilling to listen.

"Monster!" Someone called out, aghast. 

"Please everyone! Calm down" Aiysha commanded, causing the whole hall to fall quiet once more. "We are not here to debate fault, Mr Blackwood. We are here to decide upon a just punishment for my pack members who hurt yours. It astounds me that you would turn on your own this way."

"What did you say? He's not one of my own! He's a dirty rogue that infiltrated my family and ruined everything!" Mr Blackwood demanded, gobsmacked and seething.

"You should be ashamed." Aiysha said, unforgivingly before turning to the crowd. "Our choices are to go ahead with the sanction, which frankly seems far too lenient now. Or, we will punish them with isolation and community service, including an apology to the victims. Or, to tech them the difficulties of the life of a rogue, we would have them banished."

Mr Blackwood had backed off towards the rear end of the stage, shocked and fuming over being shut down. He was humiliated.

As Hazel and Luna watched from the side-lines, the people in the hall called for the decision of the punishment to go to the victim, to go to Sovereign himself. After a discussion, they all decided that the person most harmed by the situation should get to choose. 

It was pretty much unanimous, and so Aiysha turned to Sovereign and asked him what he wanted to do. Sovereign, with his Sol at his right hand, moved to the front where Mrs Blackwood and Aiysha were standing and he took a deep breath.

"I would like an apology. I want them to apologise to my face and I want them to apologise to Alex and to his mother for the harm and emotional hurt they caused on top of the physical harm they dealt to me. I want them to get the community service. Let their punishment for hurting someone be to help others instead. On top of that, I request that they be forbidden to step onto this territory, into this town, ever again, and that they should be stripped of their duties of patrolling the borders, since they are so prone to attack peaceful travellers." Sovereign said, voice not wavering despite his nerves.

"I have heard your decision and your requests and I believe them to be more than reasonable." Aiysha agreed. "The three members of my pack who are at fault will face the consequences that you have set out for them. I would also like to extend my own apology for the pain that you have been through on account of my pack members."

"Thank you." Sovereign replied, a little less tense at the confirmation. 

"Damn it! We should be getting rid of this intruder! Not accommodating him!" Mr Blackwood yelled again, surging forward only to be blocked by his own son.

"Don't you lay a finger on him. You'll have to g through me first and I have no intention of making it easy." Alex said, coldly.

"Enough!" Mrs Blackwood shouted. "We will settle this now."

"Settle it how?" Mr Blackwood spat in question.

"It's simple." Mrs Blackwood turned to the hall of people once more. "What say you, the people of this town? Should we throw this man out or do we accept him as one of our own, officially?" she asked. "All in favour of kicking him out raise your hands now."

In response, not a single hand raised to agree with Mr Blackwood's wishes. Not a single person throughout the hall even stirred.

"That settles it then. Sovereign is now a part of our pack, officially and will be treated as such." She finalised. 

Sovereign felt like crying. He was so grateful for his new family and their support and it was dawning on him that he really wasn't alone anymore. He didn't just have Alex, Mrs Blackwood, Hazel and Luna either, he also had the whole rest of the pack and town backing him up and accepting him readily as one of their own. It was something that he had never experienced before and it was overwhelming. 

On top of it, he could rest easy knowing that everyone knew the truth of his attackers and that he was not at fault. He felt an immense relief in knowing that after that evening, he would never have to worry about them again, never have to see them.

Hazel found herself emotional too. It felt so good to be accepted and cared about and loved in such a way, to feel protected and secure for once. She knew because in moving to Fernwood, she had felt it too. She had gone from being harassed, manipulated and controlled to being free and loved in the same way that Sovereign had come to those better things. Sovereign deserved to be free of his concerns and fears, free of his lack of safety or security. Hazel couldn't think of anyone more deserving of love, compassion and care. 

The fact that Mr Blackwood had been shown the reality of the town's feelings and the feelings of the neighbouring pack, the fact that he had been thoroughly put in his place after all the harm he had caused his family and Sovereign was almost cathartic.

This was truly justice being done. 

That night, after the promised apologies had been given and the visiting pack had left, and the townsfolk had made their way from the hall, Hazel, Luna, Alex and Sovereign made their way, along with Mrs Blackwood, back to Hazel's house. 

They all settled into the living room, blankets and pillows spread out to accommodate everyone and together, they let go, their physical and emotional exhaustion and their collective relief catching up to them. Mrs Blackwood fell asleep in the armchair with a blanket draped over her, while the rest of them cuddled together on the large sofa, wrapped up in each other as they fell into a relaxed slumber.