He reached for Will’s hand with shaking fingers.
Fuck.
When they pulled up outside the council building, Asha was there to meet them as before. Newell greeted her respectfully, so different to his behaviour in the car. If Mark didn’t know better, he’d think Newell was sincere.
This time they didn’t wait for R-pack to arrive, and Asha led them away from the steps instead of inside. Mark wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what was going on.
“Are we not going inside?” Newell asked, drawing alongside Asha.
She smirked as she turned to him. “No. The others are waiting at the clearing.” She said nothing more, and judging by the way she marched ahead, she wasn’t answering any more questions either.
Will nudged Mark in the side. “Did this happen last time?” He mouthed the words, and Mark mouthed back, “Nope.”
They walked into the forest, following a well-worn and fairly wide path. Obviously the place they were heading got a lot of use.
“This is where we train,” Asha remarked as they approached a large circular area, deep in the forest. One side sloped upward, forming a small hill, and two rows of seats had been carved into it, where the alpha council waited.
Alpha Karin Wallace sat in the middle and rose to her feet as they approached. She was just as formidable out here as she had been in that room, and Mark wanted to squirm under her intense gaze. He glanced down at his feet and walked until he was directed to stop, over at the left-hand side of the hill.
“Alpha Newell.” She inclined her head, and Newell offered her a small bow in return.
“Alpha Wallace.”
“The others have just arrived. We will begin proceedings shortly.”
Mark’s head snapped round, gaze now trained on the path they’d just taken, straining to see the approaching pack.
Alec’s scent hit him first, and he closed his eyes, savouring the mix of pine and grass as it wrapped around him. For a moment, he imagined walking straight up to Alec, apologising for ignoring him, and telling him everything. He imagined Alec’s arms around him, holding him close, and whispering that he understood.
For that one second, Mark swore he felt the connection between them.
Then he opened his eyes, saw Cam at the head of the pack, Alec at his side, and everything Mark had done slammed into him. Alec would never trust him again. He quickly averted his gaze before he had to look Alec in the eye. It might be a coward’s move, but Mark wasn’t ready to see the disgust in his expression.
Instead he focused forward, waiting for R-pack to settle themselves and this whole shitshow to begin.
“Alpha Harley.”
“Alpha Wallace.”
They exchanged the formal greetings, and then Alpha Wallace let her gaze linger on Newell and then Harley.
Mark’s palms started to sweat.
“We have concluded our investigation into the accusations made by both packs.” She glanced over her shoulder at Curtis and whispered something so quietly Mark didn’t catch it. “Will the prisoner Felix Martyn please step forward.”
Two of the R-pack shifters led a heavily shackled Felix into the middle of the clearing.
Karin met his gaze, and the tremble in Felix’s hands was easily noticeable. “Felix Martyn, you were part of a rogue shifter pack who attempted to seize all or part of the territories of both the Primrose Hill Pack and that of the Regent’s Park Pack. Is this correct?”
“Yes, Alpha.” Despite his obvious nerves, Felix’s voice came out strong and clear. Mark was impressed.
“You were then captured by members of the Regent’s Park Pack while attacking a member of their pack and taken prisoner. Is this also true?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“As leader of the pack you attacked, Alpha Harley is within his rights to ask for your death as punishment. But instead, in light of your help finding the human girl, he has requested we be lenient.” She paused as though considering her next words carefully.
Mark’s stomach churned waiting for her verdict, so he couldn’t imagine how Felix was handling it so well. Outwardly, at least.
