“Please, just answer the question, and let me remind you it is a crime to lie to the council,” the head of the council said.For a moment, it looked like Ryder was about to refuse and I wondered what would happen if he did. Then he spoiled it all by opening his mouth.
“Twenty-five,” he said.
“Twenty-five families? It’s not much, but I thought it would be worse,” the man who had asked commented.
“No. Not twenty-five families, twenty-five individuals,” Ryder corrected him. There was a stunned silence and then a murmur. I could hear comments from a few rows behind me.
“Twenty-five wolves? Is that even a pack?” one Alpha asked.
“I don’t know. No wonder they aren’t having pups. There is no stability in a group of twenty-five. How are they even supposed to protect their borders?” another one answered the first.
“True. I’m guessing not all of them are warriors, so they may have even fewer to cover patrols. Even if we don’t take away his Alpha title and disband the pack, another pack will overrun them within months,” the first one said. I could see how pale Finlay had got.
‘Are you still with me?’ I asked in a mindlink.
‘Yeah, I just… Twenty-five,’ he answered. Sometimes I forgot the Ocean Shore pack wasn’t just Finlay’s brother’s pack. It was the pack Finlay had grown up in and had thought he would spend his life in. It was the pack his family had protected and ruled over for generations. I couldn’t imagine how hurt he must feel knowing the state of it now. I took his hand and put both of my hands around it, keeping it secure. I leaned in and put my head on his shoulder. ‘Are you tired?’ he asked. Always worrying about me.
‘No, I’m just giving you some social cuddling that is appropriate for the occasion,’ I told him.
“Alpha Ryder, you say you would prefer your brother to challenge you?” a woman on the council asked.
“Yes,” he confirmed.
“Is that your way of telling us you wish to step down from your Alpha position?” she followed up.
“What? No! Why would you assume that?” Alpha Ryder asked.
“Because a year ago you met your brother in a one to one combat and you lost. That was when you had marked and mated your true mate and was in your prime while your brother had no Luna. Now he has his Luna and is expecting a pup while you have declined in strength. Do you see such a challenge ending in any other way than his victory?”
“You don’t know… That is not… You are twisting the truth!” Alpha Ryder said, sounding taken off guard.
“Now, now. We are all adults. Let’s keep this civilised,” the head of the council reminded everyone. It wasn’t hard to see things weren’t going Alpha Ryder’s way, and it confused him. “I think we will break here. Let’s have lunch and then we will hear Alpha Ryder’s defence for Alpha Jonas’ accusation, have the Alpha vote and the council’s verdict,” the head of the council said.
“No need. I have the same defence for those accusations,” Alpha Ryder said.
“Are you sure? It would be wise to take the lunch break to think it through.”
“I’m sure,” Ryder insisted, and I sighed. He was an idiot.
“Well, does anyone have a question for Alpha Ryder?” the head of the council asked. No one spoke. “Okay, do you want to take the lunch break to think about how to vote?”
“I think we are ready,” an Alpha said and there was an agreeing murmur.
“Nothing ever goes to plan when you are dealing with Alphas,” the head of the council murmured. “Okay. Alphas, those of you who agree with Alpha Jonas that Alpha Ryder should be stripped of his title please raise your hand now,” he then said. I could see Finlay, Lars and James all raise their hands, I looked backand saw a sea of hands. There was no questioning the outcome. I kissed Finlay’s cheek. “Thank you. And could those of you who don’t agree with Alpha Jonas raise your hand now.” I looked back again and saw a few hands sticking up. It took a moment but then the head of the council stood up. “The voting has concluded. 132 agree with Alpha Jonas, 12 are against him and 3 stand mute,” he told everyone. He stepped around the table and walked up to Finlay’s brother. “Ryder Cadwick, you no longer hold the title of Alpha. You may no longer lead a pack. You no longer have the right to attend this meeting. A short extension will be given so you can join us after lunch to hear the council’s verdict,” he told Finlay’s brother. “Now. Let’s break for lunch.”
For lunch James, Elder, Jonas and Beatrice joined us again. The mood was a kind of shocked silence. We had all hoped for this outcome, but it was still overwhelming to see an Alpha being stripped from his rank.
“I didn’t think it would be that easy,” Alpha Jonas finally said.
“After listening to those horrific testimonies yesterday, the worst possible defence had to be; I can do what I want and you should mind your own business,” Elder said. Then he looked at Finlay. “Sorry,” he added.
“No need. It was a terrible defence for a terrible crime,” Finlay said. I kissed his cheek. Some of his colour had returned and I took it as a good sign.
“I didn’t realise stripping him of his rank would get him banned from the meeting as well. Silly of me, but I didn’t connect the dots,” I told them.
“I think it’s a good thing. It will give him time to run away and lick his wounds,” James said. We all agreed and finished our lunch. No one wanted to be late for the council’s verdict. I wished I could sit on Finlay’s lap and keep some of my dignity, but that wasn’t an option so I sat in my own seat. Finlay put his arm around me and I took his other hand between mine. Thecouncil walked in and got settled. Finlay’s brother stood where he had stood before they went for lunch. He looked smaller and more fragile than he had before. The head of the council stood up.
“I would like to say this was a hard decision, that we struggled with it and its consequences. Revoking a pack's right to be a pack is not something which should be taken lightly. But this decision was easy. We, the council, find enough proof and credence in the evidence presented by Alpha Lars, and in Alpha Ryder’s answers, to disband the Ocean Shore pack. From today, no pack shall use that name. The pack land will be sold by the council and the profits will be split equally amongst the wolves of legal age who were members when it ceased to exist. The members will not be turned rogue, this is of no fault of theirs. They will be considered lone wolves and are free to seek homes in other packs or to roam free. This is the council’s decision. It is final, and it is in effect immediately,” he declared. There was silence. Ryder seemed to sink in on himself. “As this was the final matter for the day, we will end it here. We all could need some time to decompress and grasp what has happened,” the head of the council told us. We all nodded and stood up.
