4 son as 1 walked out of the cave, I saw that my pack members had increased. Tarian had called more of them and I could sense a total of five Imanfred wolves from my pack. And they had surrounded the entire High Council


    My


    heart swelled with a warm feeling. They were all not only loyal to me, but they showed their loyalty to their Luna. And 1 knew that it was mostly because they had seen a D in centuries. Even Elder Ryna and Shaman were here.


    I opened my mind link to all of them and instructed them to stay quiet, and not vandalize or attack anyone unless I signal them. Yes, this was what I was going to do. Fight the entire High Council and their fucking witches with muge in order to get my Luna back. They didn''t know who they were


    Bemus was the mightiest wolf in the nonth. And he wanted blood. How could they take away his mate?


    When Than said that Bram hade here andid his im on Auren as his mate, all I wanted to do was rip him into


    to pieces.


    "How dare he growled as my ws slipped from my fingers. "Does he have a death wish?" I started to walk out of the cave to fucking kill the bastard.


    Tarian stopped me "Alpha Lucien, don''t make the mistake of killing him at this time. He has dered that Auren is his mate, which means that he knows thew. The High Council is going to spare Auren''s life in exchange for signed documents that will prohibit her from going anywhere"


    ou saying. Tarian?"


    I don''t fucking understand"" I retorted. "What are you say


    Tarian clenched his jaw, inclining his neck as my alpha aura slipped out in rage


    "Alpha Lurien, calm down. We have to go about it intelligently, he breathed. "With Bram dering Luna Auren as his mate, the High Council will spure her life. But the repercussions are that she will have to go back with him. The Council will ask her to sign papers ording to which she won''t be allowed to leave the Crimson Howl pack. Do you realize the extent of nning!"


    My face contorted with so much rage that I punched a wall, cracking it at the point of impact. "So am I supposed to sit here and watch them? Besides, he was marrying Maris. What happened to that? He rejected Auren. I am her second chance mute. How can be even im her like this?"


    Tarian gritted his teeth. "You haven''t marked her. No one knows about it. How can you prove that you are her second chance mare? As for Maris, I am surprised that she hasn''t apanied him. So obviously, their rtionship is not going well"


    "I haven''t marked her because she is too fragile!" I retomed. "Can''t you understand that it''s an everyday struggle for me not to mark her? By marking her. I will sign her death warrant. Of all the people, you should be knowing it!"


    Tarian shook his head. "There''s more to it that meets the eye. Anyway, we have to do this cautiously, okay. Right now, let''s watch them. At the end of the day, if the High Council gives au untoward judgment, we will attack them, consequences be damned!"


    I wasn''t sure why.


    but I strode to


    eto Tarian and pulled him into a firm hug. "Thank you," I murmured, needing


    Taran also embraced me back like a friend. "I''m always with you. Lucien” form of support


    A few minutester, I went to the High Council grounds along with Tarian, Elder Ryna, our Shaman and a few gammas.


    bram was there with his Beta. He looked at me and smirked, like he had the situation under control. I felt like punching him, but I clenched my tist to calm myself and my wolf


    From the left, I saw Aurening out with four guards around her. Our gazes met. Her eyes filled with tears as if trying to convey something to me. I gulped the ball of emotions in my throat. She mouthed sorry and nced at Bram. I frowned as to what she meant. Did she know that Bram had dereds im on her? My heart raced wildly. What was she going to do! Ominous feeling seuled on my shoulders. Was she going to ept tum? Remus let out a growl in my head, pacing restlessly inside me. Fuck! I looked at Bram who confidently walked imade the main trial room.


    I didn''t know what would happen, but one thing was sure-Brain had all the cards up his sleeve. And from where I stood, it seemed like he would


    With a heavy heart. I entered the main hall. I saw Auren timing in the dock. My emotions were all over the ce. Tarian grabbed my shoulder from techiel "May calm." he murmured.


    The High Council Elders entered the hall. We all bowed to them before unting in our seats. I was right behind Auren. My eyesnded on Elder


    Peter. He seemed rullra


    Trawas Elder Vincent who presided over the trial. He looked at Auren and said, "You are used of killing Sable Brown and four other wolves in the codd in broad ylight. How do you plead-guilty or not guilty""


    "Not guilty," the replied with betonens


    High our bond, I could feel her fe


    ther fear, but she was braving it.


    Elder Vincent raised his eyebrow. "Okay, then how would you like to proceed! Do you have someone who will argu


    3/13 PM


    She lowered her face and chuckled. "One-eighth of the Shadowfang pack is here for me, but I will pick their leader, Alpha Lucien?


    How did she know! Pride swelled in my chest. She picked me. Not Elder Ryna, not Shaman, not Tarian. She wanted me to defend her. And that''s what I would do. I stood up and bowed to Elder Vincent.


    "Step forward." Vincent said. "You may start."


    I didn''t waste time and started. "Auren is wrongly used of murdering Sable Brown. In fact, it was Sable who attacked her with ten other wolves. I am a witness to it. She wanted to kill Auren. And this wasn''t the first time. She attacked Auren once before as well"


    "Do you have any proof?" he asked. "Because from what I know, Auren defeated Sable and injured her badly in that fight."


    My eyes widened. How did he know! I snapped my gaze at Elder Peter. He looked away instantly. It meant that Rizy had already prepared him for the trial. This was longing to me.


    "Yes, Elder Vincent," I replied. "Auren used her agility and presence of mind to save herself."


    "You threw Sable into dungeons for attacking Auren andter you expelled her!"


    "Yes. Sable couldn''t handle her defeat and so she lured Auren into an ambush.


    "But Auren killed wolves there also," he pointed.


    "No, it was the who killed those wolves," I snapped. "It ismon in the packs to kill all those who attack their Alphas and Lunas." I looked at Auren, my Adam''s apple bobbing. "She is not a trained warrior. How could she defend herself against ten trained wolves? When I came to defend her, Sable ran away along with four other wolves."


    "Do you have a witness?"


    "Yes, Julie. The girl


    rl who lured Auren into the ambush