“Among others.” What would the rest of their unit think? Their pack? Well, the ones that weren’t working with Wes. But Alec…. He’d sent two more texts and phoned twice. Mark had ignored them all. He couldn’t tell him the truth, but he refused to lie. “He’s going to hate me.” Will’s fingers curled around his. “We could have bonded, even though he liked to deny he’d ever want something like that, but I felt it, Will. The connection was there, waiting for us to accept it and… and now I’ve fucking thrown all that away. Alec will think I’m a liar, and whatever trust was building between us is gone.” A sob tore at his throat, and he closed his eyes, struggling to swallow it down. “Fucking Newell, fucking Wes. If they didn’t have Harry, I’d—”
“I know.” Will shushed him and pulled him into a hug. He didn’t offer any words of comfort. They both knew there weren’t any. “The council might not find him guilty this time, but he’s not going to stop. Sooner or later he’ll make a mistake that he can’t cover up.”
Mark shuddered. “But at what cost?”
Silence settled between them, the thought of the upcoming meeting sitting like lead in Mark’s belly. A glance at his phone showed him they had an hour before they needed to be downstairs. It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he gently disentangled himself from Will’s arm. “Come on. We need to get ready. I’m going to go back to my flat, but I’ll come get you. We can go down together?”
Will’s laugh was bitter. “Safety in numbers?”
“Something like that.”
“See you in a bit.” He saw Mark to the door, a heaviness to his shoulders. Mark felt much the same; like they were waiting for sentencing, not Newell.
At eight fifteen, he was back at Will’s door. It opened before he could knock, and Will greeted him with a grim smile. “Ready?”
Mark shook his head. “Nope.”
“Me neither.” He stepped out and locked up, slipping his keys into his jeans pocket. “Let’s get this over with. With any luck, Newell will do something to piss off the council and they’ll be forced to kill him this afternoon. And Wes too, for interfering.”
Nudging him in the side, Mark said. “I admire your optimism.”
“I need something to hope for. This day is going to be so shit.”
“Yeah, it is.”
As if to emphasise that statement, Wes stood waiting for them at the bottom of the stairwell, two of his unit a few paces behind him. He eyed them both with thinly veiled disgust. “You’ll be in the front car with me and Steven.” He turned and addressed the two waiting behind him. “Third car.” They nodded in acknowledgement and left. Were they involved too?
Mark didn’t want to believe it. Harry was part of their unit. Would they have turned on him? He looked around the otherwise empty foyer of their building. “Where’s Paul?” With Jason gone and no apparent replacement, surely Newell would take his two remaining betas?
“He’s outside in his car.”
Mark caught Will looking at him out of the corner of his eye, his expression easy to read. Can we trust Paul? He wanted to think so, but who the fuck knew? He gave what he hoped was a very slight but definite shrug. No idea. He hesitated, wondering for the hundredth time if they were doing the right thing. Shit, what if Will was right, what if Harry and Jen were already dead?
Wes moved close enough to whisper. “In case you get any ideas….” He then held up his phone for both Mark and Will to see, one finger pressed to his lips. The FaceTime connection went through and both Harry and Jen came into view, sat on chairs facing the camera.
Neither of them was bound, but each had a hand at their throat, claws extended enough to press into the skin. The perpetrators stood out of view, unfortunately. A solitary trickle of blood ran down Harry’s neck, and Mark watched, transfixed, a low growl bubbling its way out.
“I’ll call back after the meeting. Let me know immediately if they give you any trouble.” He ended the call without waiting for an answer but waved the phone in Mark’s face. “One call.” He mouthed, then drew a finger across his throat like a cartoon villain.
Mark bit his tongue, fighting the urge to tell Wes what a pathetic, vile excuse for a beta he was. Harry’s scared face burnt into his memory, stopped him from saying anything.
If nothing happened to Newell, how would anything go back to normal for any of them?
“Come on, we’ve not got all fucking day.” Wes bared his teeth and ushered them towards the door.
The journey to the alpha council’s estate seemed to fly by. Mark and Will sat silently in the back of the car, with Newell in the passenger seat and Wes driving. Both alpha and beta chatted as though they were alone in the car, discussing the council’s likely decision and R-pack’s reaction in far greater detail than Mark expected.
Did he and Will not matter anymore? Their word probably counted for nothing now, anyway. Who would trust anything they said without proof?
Will glanced up from his phone and looked at Mark with a “what the fuck?” expression.
Mark’s thoughts exactly.
“Wankers.” Mark mouthed back. What guarantee did they have that Harry and Jen would go free after this? If any of them would be free?
With a scowl, Will set his phone on the seat and turned to stare out the window.
In the front of the car, Wes asked, “Do you think the council believed the shit Felix told them?”
Newell laughed, the sound grating on Mark’s nerves. “He was part of a rogue shifter pack that attacked us and then tried to kill members of Harley’s pack. Of course he’d tell them what they wanted to hear when faced with death. I doubt they’ll believe a fucking thing he has to say. Even if every word of it is true.”
Wes growled, and Mark felt it vibrate around the interior of the car. “I never liked him anyway. Always questioning my fucking orders. I hope they rip his throat out.” He caught Mark’s eye in the rear-view mirror and smirked. “Thanks to you two, there’s nothing to corroborate his story.”
Newell laughed and turned around in his seat to face them. “Yes. How good of you to lie to the council.”
Mark spoke without thinking. “You kidnapped our fucking family, what choice did we have?”
Like lightning, Newell reached over the back seat and grabbed Mark by the throat, his alpha roar deafening in the confined space.
Five claws pressed into Mark’s skin, and his heart thumped wildly, fear setting every nerve on edge. Shit shit shit.
Newell tightened his grip, the sudden sharp pain making Mark gasp. “If you hadn’t blabbed to that fucking newly-turned shifter, we wouldn’t have had to do any of this. I take no delight in threatening members of my own pack.” Mark wisely held in his scoff of disbelief. “You forced my hand, and unfortunately your cousin and Will’s sister are collateral damage.”
“And Jason?” Mark whispered, unable to stop himself because he needed to know for sure.
For a second Newell actually looked regretful. “Jason was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He let go of Mark’s throat and sat back in his seat. “I don’t want to hear another word out of either of you unless you’re spoken to by the council. And then you better stick to what I told you or your families will be one less in number. Understood?”
Both Mark and Will nodded.
“Good.”
Newell faced the front, and Mark let out a shuddery breath, heart pounding with the adrenaline flooding his system.
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.
&nb
sp; 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.
“I cannot grant you your freedom. Your pack’s actions go against everything this council was set up to prevent. However. You were not the alpha or beta of that pack, and in light of your eventual assistance to Alpha Harley, I am willing to spare your life.” Felix’s shoulders sagged a little, and Mark let out a sigh in relief.
Not that he had any vested interest in Felix’s life. He’d fought at that warehouse with the rest of his pack, but that was over, done with. He wasn’t keen on seeing anyone sentenced to death.
Karin signalled to Anna and Asha, and they quickly moved to replace the two R-pack shifters holding Felix. “Felix Martyn. You are hereby banished from London and all the pack territories within its boundaries. If you ignore this ban, it will be your death. I have arranged for you to join the Penwith Pack, based near Penzance.” Mark winced. Fuck, that was like the backend of nowhere. “You will be on two years’ probation, and the alpha there will have full authority to deal with any transgression as they see fit, up to and including death.” She gestured to Anna and Asha. “Take him away.”
Felix went willingly enough.
I guess anything is better than death. Even a strange pack out in the sticks.
Mark hadn’t missed the fact that Alpha Wallace made no mention of all the information Felix must have given R-Pack about Newell.
Bollocks.
That didn’t bode well for them at all.
He shuffled closer to Will, needing to feel his warmth. Clearly feeling the same way, Will found his hand and gave it a quick squeeze before letting go.
Alpha Karin Wallace looked from Newell to Harley, then drew herself up to her full height. Mark’s mouth went dry and his heart set off at a gallop.
This was it.
“Alpha Newell. Your accusations against Alpha Harley, while found to be true, were deemed not relevant by the council. The matter was dealt with efficiently, and more importantly without involving the human authorities. The human in question is now happily bonded and part of the Regent’s Park pack, and all the necessary paperwork is in place. There is no evidence that anything illegal ever occurred, and the council are satisfied that this situation has been successfully dealt with.”
Mark’s gaze shot to his alpha, expecting him to be seething at the news. But Newell appeared calm and nonplussed.
She turned to Harley, and Mark held his breath. “Alpha Harley. Your accusations against Alpha Steven Newell were more complex. Alpha Newell denies that he, or any member of his pack, were in collaboration with the remaining rogue shifters that attacked your new pack member. His beta corroborates this. Those rogue shifters are now dead, as are the ones who kidnapped the human, and while Felix Martyn provided a great deal of evidence to support your claims, without the physical proof you initially submitted, we cannot, in good conscience, take the word of a now-banished rogue shifter against that of an alpha. Especially one who was involved in the attacks in the first place.”
Fuck.
Mark knew his lies would be damaging, but hearing it laid out by the council leader let it properly sink in. He felt sick. The need to look at Alec, to try and show him how fucking sorry he was, almost overwhelmed him. He clenched his fists and kept his gaze on the council leader.
With a sigh, she carried on. “Which essentially leaves us with your word against that of Alpha Newell.”
The smug expression on Newell’s face made Mark’s stomach turn. This was what he’d obviously been hoping for. Mark wasn’t all that well versed with alpha law or pack law, whichever this came under, and he had no idea what happened now. Is that it? They just leave and go about their business as usual?
Alpha Wallace stepped down to the ground level, her expression serious. “As leader of the council, I have the authority to remove you both from your positions as alpha. But law dictates I must treat you both equally, and so I choose not to take that course of action.” She glanced at Alpha Harley and gave him the barest of nods.
Mark worked hard to suppress his smile at her subtle show of favouritism. The fact that the leader of the council disliked Newell was the one highlight out of this whole fucking mess. She might be bound by the laws to treat Newell fairly, but now everyone knew what she personally thought of him.
When he turned to look at Newell, Mark almost laughed at the sour expression on his face. The effort not to react must’ve been killing him.
“The council, as a whole, feel the animosity between y
our two packs has reached an unacceptable level and will only be resolved by the removal of one of you. That leaves us with one option to settle this.” She gestured to the clearing. “And that is why we chose to have the meeting here instead of inside.”
Oh shit.
“The old laws are still relevant for a pack dispute such as this. Alpha Newell, Alpha Harley, you will fight to earn the right to keep your position as alpha. You may fight to the death or offer leniency if the loser submits. The loser will then relinquish their pack and their title and relocate to another pack that both they and the council agree upon.” She glanced between them. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
She nodded. “Very well. Please have your pack move to the edges of the clearing. Any interference from pack members will mean an instant forfeit.”
Mark started to turn away, but Newell’s voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Alpha Wallace, if I may speak?”
She raised an eyebrow but nodded. “You may.”
“If I’m correct in my understanding of this particular law, it also states that the alpha’s chosen beta may stand in for him.”
Karin eyed him, judgement apparent in her expression. “You are correct, although it is an option rarely executed.”
In other words, she thinks you’re a coward.
Newell waved a hand around, encompassing everyone there. “This whole experience has affected me greatly. I fear I’m not in the right state of mind to properly represent my pack. So I’d like to take the option of using my beta.”
The council members’ murmured words were unintelligible, but the Mark got the gist.
Either Newell was oblivious to their disapproving looks, or he didn’t give a fuck.
Mark was inclined to believe the latter.
Karin heaved a great sigh. “As is your right, Alpha Newell.” She turned to Alpha Harley. “The law also states that the combatants must be of equal standing. Alpha Harley, you must also choose a beta to represent you.”
Bitten By Desire (Regent's Park Pack Book 3) Page 20