Last time on Blind Hope

The Councilman proceeded to ask a series of question, clarifying different parts of the story. Once he was finished, he nodded and looked at the High Elder. "No more questions." Hope went back to Dorian, and squeezed his hand as tightly as she could.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You did wonderful," Dorian whispered, leaning down so his nose was barely an inch away from Hope's ear. His warm breath tickled her, and she smiled leaning back to look at him directly.

"Thank you." She stretched up to kiss him, and Dorian quickly position himself so her kiss would be on the lips. It was light as a feather, and his whole face flushed in pride knowing the Alphas and Lunas had witnessed it.

The Councilman consulted his notes, pretending he didn't see the King kissing a major witness for the trial. "I call Alpha Gramm to the stand." The High Elder stepped forward as Gramm approached the stand. He held out the lawbook of the Council, and Gramm placed is hand on it. The High Elder cleared his throat.

"Alpha Gramm, do you swear to tell the truth to the best of your ability? And admit when you do not know an answer?"

"I do." The High Elder went back to his seat, and the Councilman stepped forward.

"You are the youngest Alpha on record. Are you aware of this?"

"I am." Gramm refused to look at his mother. He knew that something was afoot, but to kill two very innocent people was inexcusable.

"Will you explain how this came to be?" Gramm sighed, his eyes clouding over. Despite his hesitation, the seventeen year old Alpha nodded.

"I knew something was wrong the day Mom, eh Victoria, told me she was going to accelerate my training. It just felt... off."

~~~~~~~~~~

Gramm was training with the Beta's eldest son. Like Vivian and Hope, the two of them were constantly together - training, playing around, hitting on all the hot werewolves. It seemed as if the two of them very took anything seriously, but if something happened - a rogue attach, a death of a pack member, an injury during training - the two of them were the first ones on the scene making sure everything was handled properly.

They started their Alpha and Beta training when they were sixteen. This was the normal age for training because most wolves would also shift around that time. Gramm had received his wolf nearly a year prior, but his future Beta Kyle was still waiting.

Gramm and Kyle were playing basketball when Gramm received a mind-link from Victoria.

Gramm, come to my office quickly. He had left immediately, leaving Kyle trying to make a backwards shot on one leg and with one arm.

What's wrong?

I just have something to tell you. He didn't believe his mother that something wasn't wrong and ran all the way to her office. He entered without knocking, out of breath and very worried.

"Mom! What's up!?" His eyes fell on Drake, standing in the corner looking agitated.

"I said it wasn't anything severe. Sit down." She stood and looked out of the window, fidgeting with a pen. Gramm sat, nodding at his father. "Drake and I are going to accelerate your training."

"Ac-accelerate?" Gramm looked between Victoria and Drake, but neither one would look at him or each other. "What's going on, really? Did you two fight again?"

"It's nothing. We just think you can handle it." While it was meant to be assuring, Victoria's words felt hollow. She continued to fidget by the window. Gramm, tired of her sporadic behavior, shook his head.

"What does it even mean to accelerate training?"

"You'll be shadowing Drake and I alternatively for the next several months. You'll be required to attend all meetings, and you'll begin giving input into any situations that arise." Gramm shook his head again. He couldn't understand it.

"I don't understand. What of Kyle?" No one answered. "I said, what of Kyle?"

"Don't speak to your mother that way," Drake said quickly as he moved forward, his hand squeezing Gramm's shoulder. "Kyle will continue to train and will be by your side when deemed ready."

Gramm had left in a fury. Not angry that his parents thought he could handle Alphaship already. Not angry that his parents were only accelerating his training. He was angry because they had done so without consulting him. Did he want to be Alpha so young? Did he want to shoulder that responsibility? Did it really matter what he wanted?

~~~~~~~~~~

The Councilman interrupted Gramm, intrigued. "You pointed out Alpha Victoria's 'sporadic behavior' was annoying you. What does that mean?" Gramm thought for a moment, pondering over those first few months of accelerated training.

"Lately, she's had mood swings, but back then, nearly a year ago, she became sporadic. She would just do things. I don't really know how to explain it..."

"I see." The Councilman paced in front of the jury. He began to speak aloud, more to them that Gramm. "Alpha Victoria's sudden behavior change can be traced back almost a year, less than a year, ago. Luna Emily noted that Alpha Bruce began acting strange months before ever leaving to see Queen Hope." He paused, letting his information sink in. "So it's safe to say that the two of them began acting strangely around the same time. The murder of two innocent lives... Were they months in the making? Was it a 'sporadic,' snap decision? I can't help but feel Lunar Drake would shine light on the issue, but he has yet to arrive."

"It wasn't months in the making." Gramm said. He nailed the Councilman in the eyes. "It wasn't."

"Then you must have been there when John and Tammy Brown were murdered?" Dorian growled a warning.

"He may be an Alpha, but he is still a youth. Watch yourself, Councilman." The Councilman winced at the threatening tone and bowed towards Dorian.

"My apologies, Majesty." Gramm swallowed hard, looking down at the floor. His eyes burned with unshed tears.

"Yes."

"Come again?" The Councilman turned toward Gramm, his step faltering. That wasn't the answer he had expected.

"I was there... when Mom ordered Mr. John and Ms. Tammy's death."

~~~~~~~~~~

Kyle, having finally shifted for the first time, shook out his fur. He was in the woods around the guesthouse celebrating.

Gramm! He mind-linked, excited to tell the great news.

Yeah?

Guess wha- His reply was cut off as he noticed John and Tammy rush into the guest house.

Kyle? I'm actually kinda busy right now with paperwork, so... Kyle watched in disbelief as John rushed back out of the house carrying Hope. He could smell the blood with his newly awakened senses.

GRAMM! I THINK YOUR SISTER IS DYING!?!? Gramm, previously enjoying a nice cup of earl grey tea, spit it all out on the nearest surface. Unfortunately, that happened to be his paperwork.

"Oh, crap." Wait! He mind-linked Kyle in a panic. What evidence? What happened? What? Where are you?!

I don't know, man! John just left Alpha Bruce's place carrying Hope, and there was a lot of blood...

Okay. I'm on it. Stay hidden for now. Don't let anyone know you saw.

Alright, man. But I don't like this. Gramm darted from his office and across the hallway into Victoria's.

"Mom! Hope's hurt!" He looked around for Drake, the two of them were never far apart. He wasn't there, but his scent was. Victoria was crying.

"I know. Bruce told me." She didn't bother to wipe her tears away. She didn't bother to move or worry.

"What? Shouldn't we do something!? That's messed up! Do you know hurt she'll be? And I don't mean physical." Victoria stood abruptly, the tears falling ever fast.

"That was the point."

"I don't understand." Gramm moved forward to sit on the couch, his head dropping to his hands. "I don't..." He looked up, his eyes narrowing. "What is going on with you?"

"Nothing that can be fixed reasonably."

"That doesn't even make-" He stopped talking, and watched his mother. She continued to remain very still. Bruce made his way into the office, and Gramm growled angrily.

"Watch it brat." Bruce snarled. John and Tammy barging into the office.

"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" Tammy shouted, slamming the door closed behind her. "Because I know you didn't just throw my Hope into a glass table! And I know you didn't just scar by baby!"

"You hurt Vivian too!?" Gramm shouted, leaping to his feet.

"We're only doing what had to be done." Bruce said evenly, crossing his arms. Drake burst into the office.

"Hope and Vivian are gone! I went to check on them in the hospital, and-"

"Shut up, Drake." Victoria snapped. She growled, her fist slamming into her desk and shattering it to pieces. Her fist bled, but she ignored it. "John, Tammy, Hope is no longer your concern."

"She was never a concern to start with!" John's claws popped out, and he half-way shifted. Victoria closed her eyes and turned her head away.

"Tammy, John, you're both under arrest for threatening two Alphas and will be killed." She mind-linked guards, and they came in, taking Tammy and John with much difficulty. Using her Alpha command, Victoria ordered her guards to take Drake and Gramm away.

~~~~~~~~~~

"It took many guards, but they eventually dragged us away. We tried not to hurt them, and it hindered fighting back." Gramm laughed weakly. "That was the last I saw of John and Tammy."

"I see," the Councilman said. "So you didn't actually see them killed?" Gramm nodded, and again, the Councilman began pacing in front of the jury. "A few days later, His Majesty showed up. According to testimonies by the Royal Guards, neither Victoria nor Bruce put up much of fight when being arrested. Don't you think that's strange?"