Chris Hemsworth as Alpha Salim Taylor

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Georgiana is almost as loud, if not louder than Silvermane, when angry. She walks up to Freddy and sits on her other side holding that arm. Freddy is between her mother and her mate, each holding tightly to one arm. The picture of the three of them gives me the feeling that Freddy will be smacked dab in the middle between her mother and her mate for life. Sun god help her!

"Georgiana let's think about this for a minute. If we don't take Freddy to the Ruling Council to answer to whatever the charges may be, they will forcibly take her, and things will get worse. Let's assume the charges are theft, excuse me, burgling, they must hold her accountable. There's no way around it. I don't know what they have, but what we can do is hope for a bearable sentence."

"Cal's right, Georgie. I blame myself for not insisting harder that she stops this nonsense. When we take Freddy and Summer to the council, their sentence may be reduced for our cooperation." Rafe consoles her.

"But Summer has nothing to do with this, guys! I can't have Summer punished for what I did," Freddy cries.

"Cherie, don't worry, we will sort all of this out. But you must be prepared for the consequences of your actions," Raul tells her. "We should've done more to stop you. I should've done more. But that's all secondary now. What we need to do is face the council and ask for leniency."

"Raul, we can't turn our little girl over to the council, we can't," Georgiana cries.

"Mi Amore, we either stand together with her now or send her on the run and never see her again. And eventually, they will find her and then what?"

"Listen, guys. Freddy had one redeeming point." Darric says.

"What?" Asks Georgiana.

"She kept none of the proceeds for herself. Esme, you know everything and everyone, right?"

"Yes, so?"

"Do you know a few of the folks that Freddy helped? Can they be witnesses for her?"

"NO!!! Leave them alone, they have nothing to do with this. I helped them anonymously. Bringing them to testify for me will defeat the purpose," Freddy says.

"Okay, no witnesses."

"Mother, Father, I am ready to face the council. But you must make sure they do not punish Summer. You all know that she's not a part of my activities."

"It's okay Freddy, we are together in this no matter what," Summer pats her hand.

"But you have nothing to do with it, why are you being arrested?"

"My question exactly. Something is off about all of this," Alpha Salim says.

"Listen, we're all speculating at this point. Why don't we just see what the charges are and go from there?" Esme joins in.

"Georgiana, Raul, I give you my solemn word that I will do everything within my power to make sure Freddy is okay. Trust me, please."

"Yes, trust us, we will be there with her every step of the way," Esme tells them.

"What if you fail? Can you promise here and now that you'll bring my baby back to me?" Georgiana whispers.

Why did we promise Georgiana that we'll bring Freddy back? What will I do if I can't keep the promise? Another round with the Ruling Council will be exhausting. I think going head to head with the council will probably be our lot in this lifetime; Esme's and I that is.

We all arrive at the council lobby and are immediately surrounded by the guards. Alpha Salim, Georgiana, Raul, Rafe, Darric, Esme, Freddy, Summer, and Jeffery. After our last run-in with the council, Esme and I have made it a priority to always have our protective aura on, in and out of the ruling council reach. Like I'm repeating to myself every time: with power must come wisdom.

"Halloweth be. My name is Callum Yorke, this is High Priestess Esme Wood, and we're here with Fredericka Klyne-Winters and Summer Taylor to meet with the Ruling Council," I tell the guards.

"Wait here. Watcher," and they bow to Jeffery. I still don't understand the reverence they have for Jeffery.

"Okay, in case we all can't go in, Esme and I will go with them and do the best we can for them," I try to reassure myself and the family.

"Cal, I have never ever asked you for anything. Please help my daughter," Georgiana tells me.

"Sit down, mi amore, you must be exhausted," Raul cajoles his wife.

"How can I relax when I don't know what they will do to our daughter, um Raul, tell me!"

"Georgiana, how about this? Wherever you are waiting for us, I will open my mind link so Rafe and Darric can tell you exactly what's going on, okay? Will that ease your mind?"

"You can't do that! You'll be in the Ruling Council chambers and it's sealed off with their powers."

"Remember the powers given to us from the Ancient One? I can, we can."

"Then that means you can stop all of this, right? Obviously, you're more powerful than the lot of them, so fix this whole mess, and let's go home," Georgiana rushes on.

"I can't interfere with their job, Georgiana. They are within their powers to arrest and punish Freddy. What I told you I can do is hopefully minimize the pain."

"Sun god, please help us!" Georgiana starts to pray.

The guards return with El Dargon?

"El Dargon, sir," we all bow to him.

"Mate!" Alpha Salim turns towards El Dargon.

"Not now, cat!" He cautions Alpha Salim. "Esme, what are you doing here? This summons is for those two, not you."

"Cal and I are here to help them. They are good friends of mine and Cal's family, so we thought we might come to help the Ruling Council with their decision. You guys tend to be overly aggressive sometimes."

El Dargon smiles, then gestures towards the chamber doors for the four of us. "Take the rest of them to the waiting room," he tells the guards.

"Salim is mated to an Elemental?" Summer whispers to Freddy.

"Looks like it. I feel bad for your brother. Their mating will not be easy," Freddy whispers back.

I smile inwardly at their quiet conversation. If only they know the half of it. But that's on the back burner for now.

We enter the chambers, and I get a feeling of déjà vu. The fourteen members sit in their chairs in a semi-circle. We were here not too long ago and looks like we might go another round from the looks on their faces. El Dargon walks over and takes his seat.

Suddenly, the semi-circle shape of the seats with the members' moves and six seats with the three Originals and three werecat Elders move in front and the remaining nine members fall behind them. Since the accused are a vampire and a werecat, the six rulers of both camps are front and center.

They lead Freddy and Summer to two chairs up front. Esme and I stand behind them and I cover all four of us in a protective aura. Even with my powers, I apply wisdom. We all bow to the council members and the accused take their seats.

"Fredericka Klyne-Winters we have charged you with burglary and..."

"At least he said it right," Freddy whispers.

"Freddy!" I caution her.

"Sorry."

"... pack disruption," Original Drago bellows.

"Summer Taylor, we have charged you with aiding in the distributing stolen goods," Elder Alexi bellows his charges, too.

"Before we render your sentence, do you have anything to say in your defense?" Original Drago continues.

"Sirs, shouldn't they be allowed to face their accusers and defend their actions before you sentence them?" I ask.

"Not our usual way, pup! We review the charges brought by the pack leader and their evidence and render our sentence. Facing their accusers is not warranted." Elder Conan says.

"I told you these kooks have been too ingrained in the old ways," Esme mind links me.

"I see that. The word of a leader no matter what against an accused? That is so arsenal."

"Planning another change in the making to the status quo, your highness." Esme teases.

"Yes, your bitchiness," I tease back.

"Face the accuser, lesson 101 ready to go. They'll fight it, you know."

"I know, I know. Is fighting the council going to be on our daily menu for Sun god's sake?"

"Not daily, more like monthly," she cackles.

"Esme you are enjoying this constant battle with the ruling council too much for my taste."

"Oh, come on, kicking these guys in the ass and seeing how high that'll jump? Oh yeah, sign me up."

"Whatever. May I continue with our defense, please? And that's if we have any at this point."

"Please do, I don't have the time to kowtow to their demented ways."

"Sirs, justice without adequate defense is vigilantism. This is not fair to the defenseless in your individual races." I tell them.

"There is a reason our races have the leaders in place. To guide their people and when their offense cross races, we are brought in to deliver justice," Original Lucien replies defensively.

"As Lucien said, we must have confidence in the leaders we sanctioned to rule our races. We must believe in their fair and just treatment of their people," Elder Sheng says.

"And if we don't, we leave the room open for anarchy in the groups and disrespect for the leaders we have approved to rule you all," Original Vlad concludes.

"So, no matter the charges brought to you, you automatically believe the leaders?" Esme asks.

"Not so black and white, Esme," El Dargon jumps in.

"Excuse me, Father! But what I'm hearing is that no matter what, the word of your 'sanctioned' leaders is considered the truth. And what about the defenseless ones they rule over? They are all automatically liars?"

"So, correct me if I'm wrong. As an Omega, I have no standing in front of you? If I am accused, whatever I say is mute because my leader has your perceived 'superiority' over me? THAT IS A LOT OF BULLSHIT, SIRS!"

"Whoa, Cal! Welcome to the 'rude' side, we've been expecting you," Esme smirks.

"Shut up, Esme." I turn back to the council members, "Do you know, or do you even care how many crazy, delusional, mean, evil, son of bitches' leaders you have 'sanctioned' and oversee your people? People are suffering; They're being abused, raped, beaten, exiled for no good reason."

"They just don't care, Cal. I mean take your goddess for example, isn't that why you denounced her? And even the Sun god, look at how he punished your mate? This indifference must be ingrained in all; the goddess, god and the council."

"WELL, IT STOPS NOW!" I tell everyone.

"AND WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US HOW TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE," Original Drago yells.

"A previous recipient of unmentionable abuse from your 'sanctioned' leaders, that's who," I whisper.

"We don't condone any abuse..."

"You could've fooled me," Esme smirks.

"... when we find them, we put an end to them." Elder Alexi says.

"Respectfully sirs, you have done a lousy job so far. And that's why I must insist that Fredericka Klyne-Winters and Summer Taylor face their accuser and present their defense," I tell them.

"Are we to constantly have our ways challenged by the two of you from now on?" Elder Conan asks.

"Looks like it, sir. Your ways have not worked well for all your people. It's time we all rewrite the rules and regulations, so we all live in peace with justice for all. Isn't that what a ruling council should be all about?"

"Don't be a smart-alecky, pup." Original Vlad reprimands me.

"Apologies sir, but I must insist that these two be allowed to defend themselves against these charges."

"Fine. Bring in their accuser," Original Drago tells the guard.

I pat Freddy and Summer on their shoulders as we wait for their accuser.

"What's Freddy's defense, Esme? She's guilty," I mind link Esme.

"What we can work with is a lenient punishment and hope that the folks she has helped will ease whatever they aim to dish out."

"What about Summer? I'm still puzzled why she's included. Freddy says she was not involved in this whole debacle."

"That I don't know, we'll just wait to see what the accuser has to say."

"Here he is your honors," guard returns.

Beside him is a man whose aura screams evil incarnate. He is about six feet tall, about two hundred pounds. His olive skin is smooth with silky black hair. He marches forward in commanding strides with a hint of arrogance in his steps. As he gets closer, he glances at us, smirks, and his red lips curl condescendingly. His eyes are hazel and cold. He is handsome.

"Sirs," he bows to the ruling council.

"Shit, shit, shit," Freddy says.

"Shit," says Summer.

"Dammit to hell," Esme says.

"Who is he, Freddy?" I ask.

"Alpha Conan Herrick! He was my last job with the biggest loot. I sort of saved him for last, you know the worst leader for last. One burglary I thoroughly enjoyed because this asshole is a grade-A son of a bitch."

"Alpha Conan Herrick, welcome. You have accused Fredericka Klyne-Winters and Summer Taylor of burglary and more heinously, pack disruption. The accused have elected to face you and defend themselves against your charges."

"But sirs, if I'm not mistaken, that is not the norm, is it?" says Alpha Conan in a differential tone.

"No, it isn't," Elder Sheng replies. "We have decided that we should allow the accused to defend themselves. So, Alpha Conan, what evidence do you have that Fredericka Klyne-Winters and Summer Taylor stole from you and disrupted your pack?"

"If I may sirs, I have a recording that will support my accusations."

He hands over a jump drive to the guard. He turns to Esme, and me and tilts his head at Esme and greets her, "High Priestess."

"Alpha Herrick" she returns his greeting, grudgingly.

I read his mind, and I almost gagged from the way he got his information. How sadistic and cruel.

"Freddy, who is Oleg?" I mind link her.

"Why are you asking?"

"I just peeked into Alpha Conan's mind and he killed him to get information about you."

"Noooo. Oleg is, was my pawnbroker. How did he kill him, did he suffer?"

"Unfortunately, yes, he tortured him. Esme, take a peek at what I'm reading."

"He is known for his sadistic ways, so I'm not surprised," Esme growls.

"Oleg never gave your name though. His security camera, unfortunately, had you on it. That maybe Alpha Conan's evidence."

"Poor Oleg, what about Lubov? Did that son of a bitch hurt her?"

"I don't read that. Who is she?"

"His daughter. She's fifteen."

"At least now we know what he has on you. But why Summer?"

"We have to wait to find out," Esme says.

"Now let's see what Alpha Conan has to show us," Original Drago says.

The guard returns with a flat-screen tv and takes a few minutes to hook the jump drive to the television and we all turn to view his evidence.

"Shit, shit, shit," I yell.

"What is it?" Georgiana asks. "From what I'm hearing Cal is handling things well so far so what's the problem."

They sequester us in a nice, large, furnished suite. The room has all that you may need or want. I've never been in their holding room. As Alpha, I go about my business and leave this mausoleum as fast as possible, so this is new for me.

"Alpha Conan Herrick is the Alpha of Silver Eclipse pack in Lyonsville, North Dakota. A werecat, a tiger. He is an ambitious and ruthless son of a bitch. His one goal is to have the biggest werecat pack in the world and gaining or for better word 'stealing' packs is one of his more humane ways of expanding," I tell her.

"Why is he still an Alpha? Why hasn't anyone done anything about him?" Georgiana asks.

"He comes from a long line of evil, ruthless genes. His father shrewdly named him after Elder Conan, to secure favor with at least one member of the ruling council. Some say he is into a lot of illegal activities, but no one has proved anything," Rafe says.

"I know for a fact that my pack has always been on his radar for takeover," I tell them.

"I have never had the displeasure of meeting him," Darric says.

"I think I know why he included Summer. A way to get a foot in my pack."

"What do you mean," Raul asks.

"One punishment that the council can render against Freddy and Summer is to exile them to Conan's pack, and he punishes them which way he deems fit."

"Salim's right," Rafe says.

"And that will not happen because I will burn down Silver Eclipse pack to the ground before I let Summer go anywhere near Conan. This I swear on my life," Salim roars.

What a pickle Freddy's in. How will this play out?

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