Last time on Blind Hope

It was unheard of for a wolf to deny their child to such an extent, or really, at all. "That's absurd!" Victoria shouted, forgetting herself.

"And yet," the Councilman spun around, "all the evidence is there, isn't it?" He dismissed Vivian from the witness stand and faced the jury. "Let's review, shall we?"

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The courtroom was silent and the jurors were tense. It was here. It was happening. The investigation was coming to a close. The Councilman took advantage of the prolonged silence and paused in the center of the room, appearing to think carefully.

"From Luna Emily," the Councilman said at length. "We learned that Alpha Bruce had been acting strange for a prolonged period, saying things such as 'no one will understand,' and 'stay with me.' These are not the words of an innocent man." Emily stood angerly, hating hearing her words used against her. The Councilman ignored her, and continued. "On the contrary, these words indicate that Alpha Bruce knew exactly what he was doing, and that he knew it was wrong. Not only this," the Councilman was just warming up, "he assaulted his child, Queen Hope, and seemingly, left her to suffer. We found out from Luna Vivian's testimony that he gave her an Alpha command after a fit a rage. While Alpha commands can be used, there is a proper place and time. This was not that time. This was an abuse of power that divided his daughter from her Protector. From Alpha Gramm, we learned that Alpha Bruce was present at the time Alpha Victoria gave the order to have Warriors John and Tammy killed. It can be assumed that he was in agreeance with the order." The Councilman let the charges sit heavy on the audiences heart.

"The reason?" The Councilman said. No one responded. "Luna Vivian said it herself. Alpha Bruce was trying to kill Queen Hope."

"I did not say that!" Vivian shouted, hastily rising. Bruce's head snapped up in shock.

"What!?" The Councilman continued as if nothing had happened.

"Alpha Bruce an Luna Emily were preparing their eldest child for Alphaship - this is a fact. However, Alpha Bruce has a problem. Hope is technically heir, so in order to make this legitimate child heir," the Councilman slams his hands down on the table in front of Bruce, "he devises a scheme with Alpha Victoria!"

"NO!" Bruce shouts.

"You pre-planned to kill your first born after the rogue attack, didn't you?"

"No!"

"How can a blind person defend a pack, is that it?"

"No! Please..."

"Luna Vivian was a thorn in your side, wasn't she? You needed to get rid of her too, didn't you? Her parents were the natural next step, weren't they?"

"NO! I swear!"

"So you and Alpha Victoria ordered those people to be killed on half-baked, flimsy charges at best, didn't you!?"

"Yes! We did! But-" Cries of dismay went around the courtroom. No one had wanted to believe it. Bruce's words were lost in the chaos that ensued. Hope wept in Dorian's arms at the admission and Vivian in Blake's. The High Elder demanded silence and the trial continued.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I bring forth the charges pressed against Alpha Bruce: child endangerment, unlawful use of authority, and assist to murder. But we're not done are we?" The Councilman turned to Victoria.

"Don't you dare-" she growled. The Councilman ignored her.

"We learned from various testimonies that Alpha Victoria had become irritable, sporadic, and on edge. These are all the symptoms of a wolf taking control. She even ruined a relationship with her mate in her desperation to be rid of Queen Hope. After all, you were in on the whole thing weren't you? Was it your idea?"

"How dare-"

"You insulted your child. You didn't care that she was hospitalized. You were the one who kicked her out first."

"I never-"

"You were the one who pushed her onto Alpha Bruce the day he arrived."

"That was-"

"You were the one who ordered Warriors John and Tammy's death."

"I-I..."

"Admit it, Alpha. You killed two very innocent people who were just trying to do there jobs!"

"No! I loved Tammy!"

"There was no way around it, was there? Queen Hope was in the way. You didn't want her ruining your pack and merging with Alpha Bruce's, did you? Confess, Alpha! It's over!"

"Fine! I had Tammy and John killed! Is that what you want!?" Victoria dropped her head, and refused to say another word. Dorian soothed Hope as best he could, but it was all just too much.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present the charges against Alpha Victoria: child endangerment, unlawful use of authority, and murder." No one could say anything.

There was nothing to say.

The High Elder stepped forward, clearing his throat. "The case has been presented. Will the jurors please confer?" His voice was quiet, but everyone heard. The jurors were lead into a small room just off the courtroom.

Vivian left Blake's arms and went to where Dorian and Bruce sat above most everyone, watching the proceedings. Guards tried to stop her, but she easily avoided them and leapt into the Royal seats. Dorian shewed the shocked guards away. "Hey, girl." She rubbed Hope's back, and Hope turned towards her, wrapping her arms around Vivian's waist.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The two rocked back and forth in each other's arms, crying. Dorian gave them their space, and the crowd had the decency to look away.

Some time passed, and the jurors came out one by the one. The eldest of all them, a retired Alpha of nearly three decades, stepped forward. "With heavy heart, we've reached a verdict and have a suggestion for punishment." Dorian nodded, standing up. The High Elder went to his side.

"Speak," Dorian commanded, his hard voice cutting to Victoria and Bruce's souls.

"We deem Alpha Victoria of the Heart Pack and Alpha Bruce of the Kindred Pack guilty-" Emily broke down into sobs, falling into the arms of the Luna next to her, "on all accounts of child endangerment, unlawful use of authority, and murder." No one was shocked by the outcome, but everyone mourned it. The two Alphas had been well liked and popular. "For punishment, we propose that-"

The doors to the courtroom were thrown open and Drake came running inside. His hair was a brown messy mop of grime, dirt, and blood. His clothes were rumbled and torn, as dirt as his face and hair. His hand covered a dark stain on his shirt where an obvious wound lay. Victoria leapt from her seat in shock and terror, but was instantly restrained by the guards.

"Drake!" Her crack and desperation in her voice nearly broke everyone in the room.

"Stop this trial!" Drake swayed on his feet. "They're not guilty." He made direct eye contact with Emily and smiled. "They're not guilty." He collapsed in a heap, and Victoria sprang out of her chair, sending the guards flying away. She ran straight to Drake and fell to her knees beside him.

"Drake!" She began to panic. Gramm was at her side in an instant, just as paralyzed as Victoria looked. "No, no, no! Drake! Please!" She pulled him to her and openly wept.

"Don't stand around like idiots!" Dorian commanded. "Take that man to the infirmary! And his mate can go with him."

"Your Majesty! That is preposterous!" The Councilman resisted. He got no further as Dorian's hand wrapped around his throat.

"Are you challenging my rule?"

"N-no." Dorian dropped the Councilman to the floor and picked Hope up so she didn't step on him.

"The trial is suspended until further notice." He left, Hope in hand, to follow Drake and Victoria to the infirmary.

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