Chapter 45 - Consequences
1096 Words
The office fell silent after Marina's answer. She still didn't seem to understand the severity of her actions. The longer the silence stretched, the heavier the tension became. Anger surged through the bond, and Elara glanced at Thorne. He looked composed, every bit the Alpha his pack expected him to be. The emotions she felt through the bond painted a very different picture.
"And that gave you the right to make decisions for this pack?"
Marina blinked.
"What?"
"You contacted the council."
His voice had gone dangerously calm.
"You discussed matters that should have remained inside this territory."
"I was trying to help."
"You keep saying that."
Marina flinched.
"I was."
Thorne stepped around the desk.
"You decided you knew what was best for Draegon."
"I care about Draegon."
"So does every wolf in this room."
Marina opened her mouth before stopping herself.
Frustration flashed across her face.
"You don't understand."
Her fingers twisted together.
"I watched this pack struggle."
She looked toward Marder.
"I watched my father work himself to exhaustion."
Then Rowan.
"I watched leadership stretch every resource we had."
Her gaze settled on Thorne.
"And I watched you carry all of it."
Elara shifted slightly in her chair.
Marina believed every word she was saying.
That conviction sat at the center of the entire disaster.
"I couldn't stand by and do nothing."
A bitter laugh escaped Thorne.
"You should have come to me."
Marina frowned.
"I was trying to help you."
"I never asked for your help."
She recoiled.
"You went behind my back."
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
"You spoke to outsiders about pack matters."
The tension in the office tightened.
"And every piece of information you handed over gave the council another way to manipulate Draegon."
Marina's expression changed.
The certainty she had carried into the room began to c***k.
"I didn't know."
"Exactly."
Thorne's jaw tightened.
"You didn't know."
Marina lowered her eyes.
The argument she had defended since entering the office suddenly seemed much weaker.
"That's what makes this worse."
Thorne turned his attention to Marder.
The Head Warrior met his Alpha's gaze.
"You didn't know she was speaking to the council about pack matters."
It wasn't a question.
Marder shook his head.
"No."
"If I had known, I would have stopped it."
Thorne studied him for several seconds.
"But she learned that information somewhere."
Marina wasn't part of leadership.
She didn't attend meetings.
She wasn't responsible for reports, resources, or territory planning.
Yet she knew enough to answer questions that should never have left Draegon.
Enough for the council to understand exactly what was happening inside the territory.
Marder rubbed a hand across his face.
"I should have been more careful."
The admission sounded rough.
"I should have realized how much she knew."
Marina stared at him.
"Dad—"
Marder shook his head.
"I am Head Warrior."
His shoulders seemed heavier than before.
"I should have protected pack information."
"Dad?"
Tears filled Marina's eyes.
Marder remained silent.
The answer was written plainly across his face.
Thorne broke the silence.
"Rafe."
The Delta straightened.
"Call a challenge."
Marina froze.
For a heartbeat she looked as though she hadn't understood.
"Dad?"
Marder kept his attention on Thorne.
"If you wish to keep your position, you may enter."
Thorne folded his arms.
"Otherwise, you will step down and continue serving Draegon as a warrior."
Understanding hit Marina all at once.
Her face lost what little color remained.
Marder stood motionless.
Several seconds passed before he nodded.
"I understand, Alpha."
"No."
The protest slipped from Marina before she could stop it.
Marder didn't look at her.
"Dad."
Her voice cracked.
When he remained silent, she turned toward Thorne.
"No."
The word came out stronger.
"You can't do this."
Thorne didn't respond.
Panic crept into her expression.
"Thorne—"
"Alpha."
Kaia's voice sliced through the room.
Marina froze.
The Beta's gaze never wavered.
"He is your Alpha."
Marina looked away first.
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"Alpha," she whispered.
The correction seemed to cost her.
"Please."
She wiped at her face.
"This isn't his fault."
No one spoke.
"He didn't know."
Her voice trembled.
"He never knew what I was saying."
Marder closed his eyes.
"Dad, tell them."
He said nothing.
Marina's shoulders shook.
"This was me."
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"I called them."
A shaky breath escaped her.
"I asked the questions."
Her gaze returned to Thorne.
"Punish me."
The plea hung between them.
"Don't do this to him."
Thorne's expression remained unchanged.
"If Marder had known, he would have stopped you."
Marina lowered her head.
"Yes."
"But he was Head Warrior."
His voice remained steady.
"He was responsible for protecting information that belonged to this pack."
A sob escaped her.
"You cannot carry this punishment for him."
Marina covered her mouth.
Thorne waited until she looked at him again.
"As for you."
Her eyes widened.
"You will have no further contact with the council."
Marina swallowed hard.
"If the council contacts you, you will report it immediately."
She nodded.
"You will not seek information regarding leadership matters."
Another nod.
"You will not involve yourself in territory affairs beyond your station."
Each order seemed harder for her to hear than the last.
"You violated pack rules."
Marina closed her eyes.
"Your intentions do not excuse your actions."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"You will be monitored closely."
She lowered her head.
"If you involve yourself in leadership matters again..."
Thorne paused.
"If you contact the council again..."
His gaze hardened.
"If you knowingly disregard pack authority again..."
Marina lifted her head.
"You will be removed from Draegon."
The office went still.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, Alpha."
The answer barely carried across the room.
Marder rose to his feet.
Every eye followed him.
His gaze settled briefly on Marina.
The disappointment was gone.
Sadness remained.
"You'll have my decision before sunset, Alpha."
Thorne nodded once.
Marder turned toward the door.
"Dad."
Marina's voice broke completely.
He paused.
Elara found herself watching the doorway.
Part of her expected him to turn around.
He didn't.
The door closed behind him.
Marina continued staring at it long after he disappeared down the hallway.
She made no effort to wipe away the tears running down her face.
Elara shifted in her chair.
Until today, Marina had been a source of frustration, conflict, and endless tension.
Now she looked like a daughter trying to understand how everything had unraveled.
She had wanted to help.
Instead, she had given the council exactly what they needed.
And her father was paying the price.
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