Celia spoke again. “Sara Gallen is not the focus of this meeting, although it has been necessary to talk to her as part of her enquiries.”
Fuck.He’s going to be so mad.
“And I assume you’re aware that lying to the council is punishable by any means we see fit, up to and including death,” Celia added, voice neutral, as though she had no personal interest in Sara’s well-being. It sent a chill down Sara’s spine, and claw tips pressed into her palm where her hands had curled into fists.
“Yes, I’m aware of the laws,” he replied, tone unreadable.
“According to your daughter, when you visited Alpha Tregarrak of the Penwith pack, you told him that a bond between Sara and Rachel Tregarrak was unacceptable and would not be permitted by you. When he challenged your decision, you told him that Rachel was banned from setting foot on your property. And that should either Rachel or Sara try to contact each other, then you would attack his pack and that the council would automatically be on your side because of your connection to me. Is this what you said? Or is your daughter lying?”
“I’m entitled to refuse a bond where it concerns a member of my own pack.”
“Sadly, that’s true.” Alpha Wallace sighed, and Sara didn’t have to see her to hear the dislike in it. “But your outdated and frankly disappointing viewpoints aren’t what we’re investigating. Your implication that the alpha council is biased towards family members is. So we’ll ask you one more time, Alpha Gallen. Did you threaten Alpha Tregarrak by implying you had sway with the council, or was your daughter lying?”
What if he denied it? What if he threw her under the bus and said she’d lied? Would she be punished?Fucking hell. Sara had never considered that as a possible outcome. Surely her own father wouldn’t—
“She’s not lying. I did threaten Tregarrak, and I did use my familial connection to Alpha Cornell to imply the council would turn a blind eye to my attack.” He sounded resigned, defeated, and Sara’s chest constricted because it was her fault he was in there.
But he had said those things. That part wasn’t on Sara.
Ugh, she hated feeling so conflicted.
The heavy sigh came from Alpha Wallace. “Alpha Gallen, I acknowledge you have a right to run your pack as you see fit, but there is a difference between doing what you believe to be in their best interest and forcing your views and beliefs upon them. I would suggest you take a long, hard look at the decisions you make, and the reasoning behind them.”
Is she referring to me?
The council couldn’t interfere officially, but that sounded like they meant Sara, in the vaguest way possible.
“Yes, Alpha.” He cleared his throat, and from the soft noises, Sara imagined him shuffling around in his seat. “What happens now?”
“I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn you’re not the first to try and use their council connections as leverage. Nor I doubt will you be the last. We’ll need to confer with our fellow council members before a decision is reached. I’ll make it a priority, but the earliest we’ll have an answer for you will be tomorrow morning. I suggest you make plans to stay the night to save you another trip up here.”
“I have a room in the pub down the road from here.”
“Good. Be back here for nine o’clock tomorrow morning.” Multiple chairs scraped across the floor, signalling the meeting was over, and Sara scrambled to her feet.
She needed to move.
Planning to go back the way she’d come, Sara darted along the side of the building, heading for the path back to the clearing. As she rounded the corner, she collided with a solid warm body. Strong hands grasped her shoulders, preventing her from falling backwards, and she glanced up into the amused eyes of Alpha Asha Atwood.
“Sorry! I was just—”
“Eavesdropping. I know.”
Sara’s mouth fell open, but words failed her.Shit.
Asha rolled her eyes. “Oh please. Like I didn’t know you were there the whole time. My job is security, Sara. What sort of alpha would I be if I didn’t notice someone creeping around our building? Hmm?”
“But—”
“Why didn’t I stop you?”
Sara nodded.
“Because if it was my dad in there, I’d want to listen in.” She let her claws flick out then back in again, which wasn’t the least bit intimidating. Jeez. “And also, Celia told me to keep an eye out for you and make sure you didn’t get yourself into trouble.”
“Oh.” Good old Grandma.
“I’d hurry back if I were you. As long as they don’t see you, then no one has to acknowledge you were ever here.”
