Chapter 91
“Take a deep breath, sweetheart.” Kade chuckled in my ear, but I was not oblivious to the tension in his
own emotions.
We were being escorted down to the second floor, where the meeting would take ce. The entire floor
was heavily guarded, and was much wider and more open than the other floors.
“Do not speak unless you’re called on.” A tan-skinned woman in a pencil skirt warned Kade and I. She
walked effortlessly in her heals, swaying her hips like a runway model. “If they wish for you to speak,
they’ll call on you. That’s your chance. You can also call as many witnesses as you please, so those
you came with are free to speak on your behalf.”
Kade and I had been debriefed as much as possible, but nothing could prepare us for what the
oue might be. Other than Marcus Novak, we hadn’t a clue what the other High Table members
might want.
I adjusted the dress I wore and grimaced as the rigid material rubbed against my b**e leg. The heels I
wore sent little clicks and cks echoing through the hallway. They were miserable to walk in, and
horribly loud. My feet already ached, and we hadn’t even begun.
“These shoes are going to be the d***h of me, if the High Table doesn’t k**l me first.” I huffed under my
breath, ncing at the group of silent body guards that escorted us down the hall.
Kade’s arm was the only thing that kept me from tumbling forward. I had never worn heels before, and
though my legs looked incredible, they were bing a nuisance to walk in.
We entered through a set of wooden doors, which led into a huge room. It was much like what a court
room would look like, only with a few alterations.
The five High Table members sat at the head of the room, with guards cedfortably on either
side. Scattered throughout the room were clusters of families, Alpha’s to other notable packs. Their
personal insignia were emzoned on a bronze que that hung on their respective sections. The
witnesses—I realized, there were so many. They openly talked with one another, and even spoke
across the narrow walkways that lead to the center of the room.
There was a box of my own at the center of the room, twenty feet away from the High Table members.
As our scent flooded the room, and people began to notice us, everyone fell silent. Kade’s hand
ttened against my back when I sucked in a sharp breath. The emotions wereshing out at me,
shing through my mind and body at a rate that was disorienting. My skin crawled from the multitude
of emotions. There was a lot of fear and hatred, but there was also a lot of curiosity. Curiosity could be
a good thing.
Kade nced down at me, conveying what he could with his eyes. We couldn’t speak freely here, and
this wasn’t the time for public disys of affection.
I kept my face neutral, though I really wanted to scream. There were so many ugly emotions battering
me, and I had to constantly shove them back in order to focus.
“Now entering, Alpha Kade Maddox and his mate, Aurora.” A man who stood beside the main doors
spoke loudly to the room. If there had been anyone left talking, they were all silent now.
Kade and I were escorted over to our own personal section, practically at the center of the room. I felt
all eyes on me, a spectacle—an animal in the midst of other animals.
In our section sat Kade, his parents, Tori, Garrett and Julian. Each one met my eyes as Kade and I took
our seats.
Silence engulfed the room, and Marcus Novak stood from his seat at the very head of the room. His
navy suit matched his stormy eyes perfectly, capturing the blue within their depths. He was beautiful in
a smooth and shiny way, free of any blemish that might reveal him as human. His son was much the
same way. In fact, sitting towards the left-hand side, in a space of his own, was Zayne Novak.
Marcus did not acknowledge his son as he stood and took the room’s attention.
“It’s been hundreds of years since we’ve had a gathering asrge as this. There has not been a need
for discussion this urgent in so very long.” Marcus greeted the room, sweeping wide with his arm. “As it
stands, the longevity of our species has been the High Table’s priority. Our kind has been flourishing for
thest fifty years, in ways we haven’t before. No matter the results of these meetings, we are here to
protect our kind, and ensure its sess.
His voice was rich and smooth, perfectly bnce as it stretched to all corners of the room. Even his
emotions were calm and bnced, like perfectly smooth waters. There was nothing about this man that
revealed a monster within.
There were murmurs throughout the room, and I found myself tuned into every emotion that fluttered
my way. To the right of me were a small group of people. In their own section, sat an Alpha and Luna.
Both had a guard with them, but were watching the spectacle with a calm expression. Their hair was
golden, and their eyes a rich shade of caramel. They were both tanned, letting me know they lived
somewhere warm and bright.
I could feel the underlying tension within their emotions, the distaste whenever Marcus Novak spoke. It
was a realization on my part, that my abilities could be used in ways I had never anticipated. I made a
note of them in my mind, perhaps they might be persuaded into changing sides.
“Let the meetingmence.” Marcusmended, taking a seat once more.
“I call Philip Heald to the stand.” Brayton Cliff was the first to speak, much to my surprised.
He eyed me from where he sat, his grey eyes calcting and interested. I was sure he could read the
surprise on my face. I hadn’t a clue who Philip Heald was, much less what he had to do with me.
Philip Heald was many werewolf men looked like. Muscr andrge, even with his greying hair and
patchy beard. He emerged from a section across the room, and began walking towards the middle.
This stranger I had never met before stood at the center of the room, addressing the High Table on a
matter than involved my life. The pieces clicked together momentster when Brayton Cliff began
speaking again.
“You were witness to the rogue a****k that had taken ce on April, 23rd. Correct?” He asked, leaning
forward in his seat.
“Yes—I was witness to that a****k, fought in it myself. Wouldn’t be here if I weren’t worried about my
Alpha’s. They’re—they’re not like their father. This girl, she’s bringing some pretty heavy stuff to my
pack, stuff were not equipped for.” He grunted, clearing his throat.
Kade stiffened from where he stood, and it took me a moment, but I recognized this man’s face. He
was someone I had seen in town a few times, usually emerging from the hardware store. He was
always covered in grease, but I had never given him much thought.
A sharp pain stung my chest at the thought of a pack member speaking against me, but I steeled
myself. Kade was fuming, but I knew he could keep it together for this meeting.
Feeling someone’s emotions makes it hard to be angry, because I understand the reasoning behind
those decisions. Philip was concerned, worried for the twin’s he had watched grow up. No matter how
much it hurt, he thought he was doing the right thing.
“Would you exin the details of that event? More specifically, when Ms. Aurora found herself in
battle.” Brayton rified, all but ignoring what Philip had said.
“Yes—things were going to s**t, there were too many of em’. Biggest battle I’ve seen in my time, but
that’s not saying much. Alpha Alec was wounded, nothing serious. He would’ve recovered if she hadn’t
trounced onto the battle field. The girl nearly got both our Alpha’s k****d. They were too worried about
her to concentrate on the rogues.” He grunted, ncing over towards Kade. He paled significantly, but
still managed to turn and continue. “She got overwhelmed, used that power of hers. She started
howling, nearly split my ears. All them rogues started actin’ strange, fell to the ground like they were in
pain. They were writhin’ and screamin’. Didn’t stop until she quit her howling and copsed.”
“Mm, yes.” Brayton nodded thoughtfully. “That will be all, Mr. Heald. I would like Ms. Aurora toe to
the stand.”
My heart dropped into my stomach, and I instinctively tensed beside Kade. Every instinct I had was
telling me not to stand at the center of the room, that it was much too close to Marcus Novak and his
son. It was telling me that though they were the worst, there were other monsters in this room.
Kade squeezed my hand, and I used his touch to force my limbs to move. I walked rather stiffly to the
stand, trying not to shiver when all of those eyes were ced on my shoulders.
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Marcus Novak regarded me with interest, an almost familiar smile on his face. Desmond Deville
smirked, and looked me up and down like some kind of frat-boy. Brayton Cliff had that calcting look
on his face, as though he were mentally dissecting me. Jaspar Fox had absolutely nothing on his face,
no trace of interest or emotion. He was leaned back in his seat, d in leather pants and a vest. He
was the most unconventional of the bunch. I could feel the hostility that radiated from Sebastian Sable.
Pure disgust and fury whenever he sneered my way.
“Ms. Aurora, can you confirm Philip Heald’s ounts of the rogue a****k on your mate’s pack?”
Brayton Cliff asked in his smooth voice, slicking back his wheat-colored hair. “Did you use your abilities
to harm those rogues?”
“Philip Heald’s ount of the battle was correct, and yes, I did use my abilities on the rogues.” I
nodded firmly, forcing my voice to remain steady. It was hard, speaking this loud without faltering, but I
managed. I couldn’t help but add thisst bit, forcing a bit of sweetness into my voice. “I could feel my
mate’s pain, and I ran to defend. As I’m sure you can tell, their pack is mine, just as much as my two
are theirs.”
I left out the part where I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, and that the power had exploded
from me without any rhyme or reason. It had been pure luck and rage that directed my power onto the
rogues.
“So, it seems she has some semnce of control over her abilities, no matter how slim.” Brayton
mused.
“It proves she can be taught, but to what extent?” Desmond Deville asked, surprising me a bit. “There
is no one to teach the young wolf.”
Desmond Deville was easily around thirty-five, and was currently the oldest unmated male. He was
handsome in a woodsy, rugged way. There were some light lines on his face, but they only added to his
looks. His hair was the color of rust, thick and full on his head. His smile was one of sweet poison,
expectant and alluring.
“Many white wolvese into their abilities naturally. If she already has this shred of control, more will
come in time.” Brayton shed Desmond a disapproving look and continued.
“Maybe it was a fluke.” Sebastian Sable cut in with an oily smile. If I could’ve guessed what a
psychopath felt like, it would’ve been this particr High Table member. Sebastian and Marcus were
two sides of the same coin. Marcus was charm and smile; Sebastian was blood and vengeance.
“Maybe she has no idea what she’s doing. How can we trust her power won’t just emerge again?”
“Despite the understandable concerns of Alpha Sebastian, I do believe in the preservation of life and
extraordinary circumstances.” Marcus Novak chimed in, sounding as though he were actually on my
side.
If I didn’t know how he was, I would’ve fully believed him. He seemed so genuine and sincere as he
smiled down on me. “This ability has not been seen in thousands of years, should we not discover what
Ms. Aurora’s purpose is in this world? How might she better our species, and preserve our longevity?”
“You wish for her to work for the High Table?” Desmond Deville blinked in surprise, which soon
morphed into a coy smile. “I wouldn’t particrly mind that. Her development would be under our
supervision, as well as at our disposal.”
“I’m not some toy you can pass around. My power isn’t at everyone’s disposal.” I blurted without
absolutely any regard.
I could feel Kade’s surprise, but was shocked at the perverse joy that hid beneath. He was enjoying
how I defended myself, how I snarled at these self-absorbed men.
I wouldn’t make myself small and docile for them.