Chapter 38: Chapter 38

When Sam had come back and I was sure Medow was okay, I talked to Megan’s father and sister. They didn’t have any requests for the funeral. I stayed for a while and talked about Megan. They joined me on the walk back to the pack house. Most of the pack was heading there for dinner and then for the meeting. I watched as other pack members made sure Megan’s family wasn’t alone as I headed for the table where Finlay and Matilda already sat. They both looked tired. I knew Finlay hadn’t slept for two days, I hadn’t either. We had a couple of more hours of work before we could think about going to bed. Medow and Sam joined us and we ate our dinner in silence. The rest of the room was mostly silent as well. There was the sound of pups playing and a muted conversation here and there. But it was a vast difference from how a pack dinner usually sounded. When everyone was done and the dishes were put away, everyone looked towards Finlay. He stood up.

“We all know why we are here. Have you made a decision as a pack?” he asked. Jake stood up.

“Yes, Alpha, we have,” he confirmed. Finlay nodded and asked them to tell him of their decision.

***

An hour later, we had all gathered in the new school gym. Finlay had arranged for video conference equipment to be set up and the screen switched on and showed a conference table with thirteen men and women sitting around it.

“Council, thank you for joining us,” Finlay said.

“Alpha Finlay, under the circumstances we felt it necessary,” said the man at the head of the table. Finlay nodded.

“I can confirm that Alpha Jackson has paid his debt,” Finlay told the council and I could see them nod. “We are here to determine the punishment for the rest of the Rolling Hills pack. Bring the representatives forward,” he continued. The same two wolves stepped forward from the group of prisoners.

“Alpha,” they both said and bowed.

“The Blue Mountain pack has made the decision. As punishment for attacking our pack we won’t claim a blood debt,”

Finlay told them and I could see the surprise in the representatives’ eyes. They had counted on not leaving the building alive. “But there will be no rebuilding of the Rolling Hills pack, no new Alpha is to be chosen. The remaining members will be allowed to go home one last time to collect their belongings. But twenty-four hours later, they need to leave the old pack land. From then they will be lone wolves. Families may stay together but otherwise they should not have contact with each other. If other packs are willing to accept them into their pack, we will not hold any resentment towards that pack. The pack land should be sold and the money should be handed over to the relief fund controlled by the council so it can help wolves in need,” Finlay ended his sentencing. I smiled. The pack had found a way to erase the Rolling Hills pack from the map without bloodshed. I had never doubted them.

“That was an odd way of dealing with it,” the head of the council said.

“But surprisingly likeable,” another councilman said. His statement was met by humming and nodding from the other members.

“The council will uphold this sentence. We will send our warriors to escort the remaining prisoners to their former pack land and deal with the rest. Alpha Finlay, members of the Blue Mountain pack, you have done a good job and shown mercy. You are a strong and I think this will deter other packs from doing the same,” the head of the council said.

“We thank you,” Finlay told him and did a half bow.

“Next game will be interesting. We might see some rearrangement at the top,” a woman in the council said. I felt pride bloom inside me. We had a good pack. Finlay was concluding the call with the council.

“Beta Amie?” I almost didn’t react to my new title. It would take getting used to.

“Yes, Cade,” I said, turning towards Cadence.

“How is your shoulder?” he half whispered. I smiled at him.

“It’s much better, almost healed. Thank you for asking. How are you feeling?” I asked him.

“Oh, I’m fine. My mom fusses over me and even Mari is nice to me. It’s a bit weird,” he told me. I chuckled and messed his hair up. As Finlay was done and turned off the equipment, I told Cadence I had to go. I was walking towards Finlay, Sam and Medow.

“Beta? Excuse me, Beta?” I turned around at the unknown voice and saw the older woman from the Rolling Hills pack trying to get my attention. Two of our warriors made sure she couldn’t go past the area we had dedicated to the prisoners. I walked up to her, but kept my distance. I nodded to the warriors and they stood to the side.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Regarding the sentence. Can you ask the Alpha to change it? We know the pack land we have isn’t much. But it kept the pack alive until our latest Alpha started spending money as if we could grow them. We can’t lose the land our pack has lived on for generations,” she begged me. I looked at her, she must have called me over because she thought it would be easier to sell me a sob story.

“No. I know your Alpha didn’t listen to you, but in this pack, when the pack speaks, the Alpha listens. And it’s not your pack land anymore, you don’t have a pack. You lost that privilege when you attacked my pack. We may be peaceful and we don’t like to be cruel. But we aren’t weak. You tried to take us over. For that, your pack will be erased from the surface of this world,” I told her.

“Please, show mercy. We didn’t want to attack your pack. We had no choice,” she said.

“You had a choice. You could have warned us, you could have told the council that your Alpha was forcing you. There were several things you could have done.”

“It would have been to betray the pack,” she objected.

“No. It would have been to honour your pack, but betray your Alpha. You made your choice. Now you have to live with the consequences of that decision. I feel my pack has been more than generous in how they decided to handle you. Be happy you are walking out of here and can reunite with your families. Not many packs will be willing to take you in, but at least you have a chance to find a new pack. Be grateful.” I turned my back on her and walked away.

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‘Are you okay, red?’ Finlay mindlinked me as I joined him, Sam and Medow.

‘Fine. If one of the prisoners happens to die during the night, would that be bad?’ I answered. He grinned and shook his head.

“I think it’s time we all head to bed,” he said out loud. “Some of us are starting to get grumpy.” Medow nodded and yawned.

“I will carry you,” Sam offered his mate.

“I can walk,” she objected. He sighed, but nodded. The pack was splitting up as well, everyone heading for their home except the one who would relieve the warriors on duty. I waved as Medow and Sam split from us to head to their house.

“You will be okay?” Finlay asked again as we paused outside the pack house. I was gong inside and he was heading to his house.

“I will be. I’m tired enough to fall asleep the second I will hit the bed. How about you?”

“I will be happy if I can hold out until I get upstairs to the bedroom. It’s a fifty-fifty chance I won’t make it past the couch,” he told me.

“Suck it up, Alpha. You need a good night’s sleep. Sleep in your bed,” I told him.

“Aye, aye, Beta Amie,” he joked. I shook my head as we parted. I wanted to follow him back to his place. What I would do if I did, I didn’t know. I forced my feet to take me into the pack house. It was the safer option.