The Alpha's Surrogate

chapter 2

Vanessa POV

Zia and Rowan were a foot away from me. Zia had this scowl and smirk on her face like she was caught doing something normal, something right. Rowan wore a guilty expression. His head was down and he avoided looking at me, ignoring my obvious stares.

It was not my intention for us to appear before the council for judgment. I love Rowan so much that I don't even want him punished, but my fight with Zia was what attracted the guards. I don't mind her being punished at all, but I fear for the grievous punishment Rowan might suffer. a******y is a serious crime in BloodStone Pack and the punishment varies. One time when a woman had cheated, she was caught off from the general public for a period of three months and was made to do menial jobs and run errands for other villagers. It was terrible watching her suffer that much. I heard the punishment of the men is worse. I turned to glance at Rowan. Sure, he looked grievous but he deserves any punishment that's coming his way. How dare he cheat on me with my best friend? My best friend has shown me she's an enemy.

"Stop here!" One of the guards barked out, and we all stopped walking.

He whispered to another guard beside him, and he went inside the council hall.

It enraged me that I'm the only one in handcuffs. Well, I was caught fighting and even the guards know nothing of the reason for the fight.

The guard that went inside returned and gave the other guard a head signal.

He waved his head, gesturing for us to move in. We all walked in and appeared before the council men. Alpha Sam sat on a large seat, in the middle while the other members sat around him. I could recognise a few but the others were strange faces to me.

"Zia?" Her father seemed surprised to see her. Her face was black and blue, and blood was still seeping from her mouth. "Rowan?" He said also, as Rowan stepped into view. It seemed like a surprise to him for them to be held in a case before the council. I did not surprise him, of course. Vanessa can get into trouble for all he cares about. And from the view, it seemed I was the one that had caused a scene because I was in handcuffs and the others were not.

"Present the case." Alpha Sam said to the head guard with a nod.

"We were passing by, stationing men for their nightly duties when I saw this young lady," he pointed at me, and I sneered. "On top of Zia, beating and hitting her with her fist. I had to pull her off and put the handcuff on her."

Alpha Sam shook his head. He turned to Rowan. "And Rowan?"

"He was standing there helpless, and groaning in pain. It seemed like she got rid of him and got him in that state when he had tried to separate the fight."

"Separate the fight?" Alpha Sam asked in a ridiculous time like the guard was unbelievable. "That wasn't a fight from the look of their conditions. Zia couldn't fight back!" He turned to me and his eyes held disappointment.

He made to speak but held himself back. I could see rage in his eyes. Fury, seeing his beloved daughter in a terrible state.

"Present your case, Zia." He said to her,

Zia stepped forward. The scowl look on her face disappeared, and it was replaced with a look of fright. She glanced at me, and moved a little from where I stood as though I would pounce on her again. My heartbeat increased, and even before she opened her mouth to start speaking, I knew it would utter nothing but lies.

"I was taking a walk..." Her voice broke into sobs. I grimaced and looked away, baffled at her deception.

"Pull yourself together, darling. You're safe, here." Sam said and I almost threw up.

She nodded her head, wiped the tears on her face then continued.

"I was taking a walk in the woods when I met Rowan. It happened that he was taking a walk too and enjoying himself in nature when we crossed paths. As my best friend's mate, I stopped to greet him and we were having small talks when Zia walked in and met us. She saw us laughing and assumed something else. Immediately, she pounced on me and screamed that I was a husband snatcher and wanted to snatch her mate away from her."

"That's a lie!!" I screamed out, unable to believe my ears. "That's not the..."

"Quiet!" Alpha Sam boomed in a loud voice and I held my peace.

"Present your case, Rowan." He said to Rowan who was already sweating profusely.

He stepped forward. "It's the same as Zia's testimony. When the fight began, I tried to separate them but Vanessa kicked me hard, rendering me powerless."

Low whispers filled the hall from amongst the council men. They have all bought Zia's deceitful story. Even Rowan had decided to play along to save his a**.

It was as though I was poured a bucket of iced water. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. At this moment, I've lost it. I can't defend myself and anything I say would hold no meaning but fall on deaf ears.

Sam would do anything to protect his only daughter.

"Vanessa, present your case."

What am I to present? I'm already outnumbered. I don't even have any evidence for what I'm able to say.

"I sent a letter to Zia yesterday stating that I wanted to meet with her for a talk in the woods. After waiting for her for hours this evening to show up, I decided to walk around. It was then I caught Zia and Rowan having sex."

"That's not true." Zia screamed in a horrified tone. "Vanessa, how can you lie about me?"

Sam held up his hands and she got quiet. He turned to me, and signaled I should go on.

"That's all. I caught them having s*x, and out of rage, I pounced on Zia."

"So, you wanted to kill her for that?" He seemed so angry. Where's the look of disappointment in his eyes for what his daughter had done? Is he more concerned that I beat her black and blue or the grievous crime they had both committed?

"That's not even true, dad." Zia said and broke into tears. "It's all a lie. How would I do that to you, Vanessa? How could I?"

"I can't say something I didn't see."

"Apparently, you saw nothing. Rowan, tell her." She said, nudging him. "I think she's blinded with rage because we were talking and laughing and maybe that's because of the situation between Rowan and I in the past."

Sam held his hands up, and she stopped talking.

"Take her inside and treat her wounds. You look tired, daughter." He said it like she was almost at the point of death and then turned to me with a scowl.

"If your husband could testify to what Zia had said, then you're lying." Alpha Sam said and shook his head. Disappointment was etched on his face.

There were mutters of agreement amongst the councilmen and most of them were nodding their heads.

"You almost killed my daughter." His voice grew loud and it was evident he was so angry.

Zia was led away but not before giving me a scowl and smirk. It was easy for her to win. Her father is Alpha and he wouldn't even stand back to watch his precious apple suffer for her crimes.

Alpha Sam kept speaking but I wasn't paying attention to whatever he was saying. I just kept watching as his lips moved fast. I saw my life falling before my very eyes. The last few months were the most exciting period in my life, and just like I feared, everything is already crumbling.

I didn't know what was happening until Rowan fell on his knees and began pleading.

"Temper justice, Alpha Sam."

"She almost killed my daughter." He barks out and that gets Rowan to shut up.

"Cast her away! I never want to see her face again." Sam said and the guards rushed to me and began dragging me away.

"Where are you taking me to? What did he say!?" I screamed and kicked against them.

They laughed. "You've been given a ban for two years away from BloodStone Pack in case you didn't hear well." One of the guards said with a scowl and the rest laughed.

It was as though air was knocked out of my windpipe and I stopped resisting. Rowan was up on his feet, watching as I was led away. I locked my eyes with his, wondering if I was ever going to see him again. Zia has gotten what she wanted