I smiled when Jojo glanced back at me.
"I have met my mate and been claimed by him. As such, I cannot marry your daughter." Jojo gave Elder Clarence a small bow. "My apologies, Elder Clarence. I regret that you were pulled into this situation with my father. Had I been asked, I would have told you and my father that I planned to search for my mate until I found him. I was not asked."
The elder gave Jojo a little nod in response, but didn't say anything.
"As for being the heir to my father's skulk, Tommy is already heir to my late wife's skulk. When the time comes, he will be trained by Myra's father to take over their skulk. My father is at liberty to choose a new heir and train him as he sees fit. It will not be Tommy."
"Thomas was supposed to bring the skulks together and rule them both," Langston said. "He has to be trained properly to lead two skulks."
"There will be no combining of the two skulks," Jojo said. "I have spoken to my father-in-law at great lengths over the years. He understands that it is in Tommy's best interest that he not be placed under my father's control, which is often violent in nature."
"You dare to besmirch my good name?"
I leapt to my feet when Langston took a step toward Jojo.
"Alpha Langston!" Elder McKay shouted. "You will return to your seat at once."
"Elder—"
"Now!"
Alpha Langston shot Jojo a look of pure hatred before resuming his seat.
"Please continue, Joseph."
"As for the threats my father has stated I made, as a member of Alpha Sinclair's pride, my father cannot give me orders. When he came to retrieve me, he not only threatened me in front of witnesses, he hit me in front of those witnesses."
"Do you have proof of this?" Elder McKay asked.
"I do," Sinclair said. "The front of my house is always monitored. Everything that occurred that day was recorded. If you wish to look at the screen…" Sinclair pointed to the large TV screen on the wall.
My jaw dropped when a video of what happened when Langston came to the house played out right in front of us. I smiled when I glanced toward Langston. The man's face was turning red. I couldn't blame him. His entire plan was blowing up in his face.
When it was over, the elders turned back to look at Alpha Langston. "I think I speak for all the elders present here when I state that we are offended by your continued lies, Alpha Langston. We have clear proof that you lied not only to this council, but you have broken nearly every law set down by this council in your bid for what I can only imagine."
The man's frown grew more pronounced when he looked at Jojo. "Is there no chance of a peaceful settlement between you and your father?"
"No, sir. My father is conniving and violent, and he refuses to listen to anyone who doesn't agree with him. I don't want that for my son. In the pride I am in now, we are accepted just as we are now. We're not beaten or forced to do things we don't want to do. Our wants and desires are listened to and taken into consideration when our alpha makes decisions. That's the world I want my son to grow up in. An alpha is supposed to be there for his people, not sue them to get what he wants."
The ringing of a phone stopped Jojo from continuing. I was surprised when Sinclair pulled his cell phone out and listened to whoever was on the other end. After a moment, he set his cell phone down on the table.
"It seems while we were here attending this council meeting, someone attempted to breach my home. They were taken into custody after they had gone through several rooms in my home, searching for their prize."
Sinclair's eyes narrowed as he turned to look at Alpha Langston. "I'm afraid your second in command was injured during the scuffle that took place. When questioned, he stated that he was there to retrieve your grandson on your orders, Alpha Langston."
"He's lying!"
"Is he?"
"Of course, he is. I would never order my second in command to attack another alpha's home."
"You do realize if he is found guilty of planning and carrying out an attack on another alpha's home, he will be executed?"
"That is his own damn fault."
"Is that your last word on the subject?" Sinclair asked. "You're saying this is all on Roger's head?"
"Of course it is."
