Last time on Blind Hope

Shocking everyone in attendance, Dorian jumped to his feet and placed his hands over Hope's ears. "JEFFERY! IF YOU KEEPING TALKING THROUGH THE COURT PROCEEDINGS I'M GOING TO THROW YOU IN THE DUNGEOUS UNTIL EVEN YOUR BONES ROT!" While Jeffery figured it was a bluff, he knew enough about Dorian to know not to push the threat.

"Yep, sorry. Will be quiet." Dorian cleared his throat and sunk into his chair wearily.

"Continue, Councilman." Hope pulled away from Dorian, still giggling quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Councilman cleared this throat, perturbed by the threats his King was shouting across the courtroom, meanwhile holding his Queen very tightly to his chest, his hands clasping her ears. No one knew what to say, and the threat of bones rotting in a dungeons was enough to keep any thoughts quiet.

"Lunar Drake, can you explain what you mean about 'people coming with evidence'?"

"Not really. They'll be here when they'll be here."

"I see. And are you aware that I thoroughly investigated this case? Is your information enough to insist the jurors give a different consensus?" Drake hesitated, suddenly aware of his predicament. If his testimony went badly or his people didn't arrive with the information... He'd be on the chopping block with his mate.

"I... believe so, yes." Murmurs struck through the crowd, and the Councilman narrowed his eyes in annoyance. He had already concluded his case, and now this? It was making his job harder than it needed to be. All investigations and analysis of behavior pointed to guilty, even Drake said so himself. While the Councilman hadn't heard this confession himself, all remarks Drake made were reported back to the Councilman for later use. Drake, addressing Victoria, had said:

"I know why you did what you did, and I have some people bringing evidence. I can't say I agree with your actions..."

The Councilman nodded slowly, accepting the turn of events. "I see. Please shed light on this very confusing case." Drake swallowed hard, and looked at Bruce with nothing short of anger.

"It all started with Bruce."

~~~~~~~~~~

Bruce was a great Alpha and father. He was a family man at heart, and always accepted, acknowledge, and reacted accordingly when he made a mistake. This is what Emily loved about him. But all this came after Bruce met Emily. It's true when they say mates bring out the best in the other. There was a stretch of time between Victoria finding her mate and Emily - a two year gap. Those two years were pure chaos for Bruce.

He had expected to find his mate shortly after Victoria found hers. He had been elated, excited. However, that hadn't happened and he grew desperate. The desperation affected his leadership and caused him to make a horrible life-choice.

He began drinking. Alcohol was banned in werewolf territories because of the already violent nature the creatures tend to have. So Bruce would sneak out into neutral or human territories and visit taverns, bars, inns - it didn't matter. If they had alcohol, he was there.

It just so happened that a week before Bruce met Emily, he went out drinking. It would be his last time, and the biggest mistake of his life.

While in a drunken stupor, he angered the mafia boss of the Castiglione Family. The two of them had "taken it out back" where Bruce revealed his true nature to the mafia human. While this was a critical mistake, what was even more critical is that Bruce allowed him to live. The mafia family quickly left the mafia business and became known as the Castiglione Hunters.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Councilman nearly fell over his shock was so great. "Are you telling me that Alpha Bruce is single handedly responsible for group of Were Hunters that has been tormenting territories for nearly eighteen years!?"

"...Yes." Drake watched the floor as if it was the most beautiful thing in the world. The Councilman's hand flew to his forehead as a massive headache began to form.

"Please... continue."

Drake swallowed, collected this thoughts, and began his story once more. "The Hunters didn't know how many werewolves there were at the time."

~~~~~~~~~~

The Castigliones went for Bruce's pack time and time again. However, lack of information and fighting power pushed the new group of Hunters back time and time again. Straight attacks weren't working and assassination attempts were failing. The Castigliones were failing at being Hunters. They took to new strategies - planting spies, finding weaknesses. If an Alpha went down, so did the pack.

The Castigliones paid off two wolves in the Kindred pack and received information about werewolves that way. By having the wolves in Bruce's pack, the Castigliones also learned about Hope. They learned about Emily. They found out about the brood.

And they went for them.

And failed. Time and time again, they failed. They were mere humans. No one even though much about the strange attacks because of how pathetic they were. The Castigliones were resourceful, however, and found a new strategy. They hired out rogues and sent them into packlands to attack under the banner of the Castiglione Hunters.

This worked. This worked very well, and their fame spread. They grew stronger because of the success. They used old mafia connections to start producing special weapons that would target werewolves. They started evading territories and taking pack after pack. What the mafia didn't know is that if the heart of a pack stands, then the pack will continue.

The heart of a packs happens to be the Alpha family.

The Castigliones were particularly after Bruce. They wanted to send a message. To threatened and confuse Bruce beyond all measure. So they sent in a few week attacks lead by rogues. Some of the rogues were caught and interrogated, revealing the Castigliones' threat.

Bruce ran his fingers through his hair in his office. It was becoming absurd. He looked at his Beta with stubborn confusion. "Nothing? They won't reveal anything? No hints even?"

"No." He thought carefully. "They do want to talk to you though. They're very insistent about that." Bruce ground his teeth together, not wanting to give in; however, this pack was under attack and distress. He stood aburptable, and his Beta looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll go alone." A growl escaped him. "If it's me they want, then it's me they'll get." He marched down to the dungeons, sending the guards away. The dungeons smelt of filth and rogue. It took everything not to vomit on the spot. Bruce came to a stop in front of the rogue's cells and growled. "What?"

"I've a message for ya." The rogue coughed, blood spitting onto the floor. Bruce's nose wrinkled in disgust. "The Castigliones are comin'. Comin' for ya heart and," he coughed once more, "ya Hope." The rogue popped the 'p,' and Bruce's heart sunk.

He couldn't tell if it was literal or metaphorical. And it was too late to ask. The rogue died, as if finally released from living, his mission accomplished. Bruce did nothing to react. He watched Hope carefully, and sending her back to Victoria, gave John and Tammy strict orders not to leave her. The Castigliones were furious at his obvious lack of care. Yet, they bide their time. After a while, there was another rogue attack.

Alpha! A warrior mind-linked. Rog- Bruce knew exactly what that meant. A rogue had killed one of his warriors. He didn't even think twice before rushing to the border. More and more wolves began mind-linking him after telling their families and friends to hide until further notice. That was the Kindred Pack's way of handling things. As soon as a rogue was spotted, mind-links would travel through the pack as fast as fire. The system had saved many lives.

Bruce made it to where the rogues were coming in under the Castiglione banner flew. His heart sank as he recognized the man holding the flag. He rushed the man, shifting back into a human at the last second, a snarl escaping him. "What do you want!?"

"I want your baby girl. The heir to two packs." It took everything in Bruce not to kill the man. He needed answers. "I want to destroy the werewolves! Why not take out the two strongest where it hurts, eh?" He laughed and leaned down. "I have a preposition for you."

"Speak."

"Oh, I will Alpha." The Castiglione leader looked around at the bloodshed. His rogues were losing quickly, so he needed to speak just as fast. "If you get rid of that girl on your own, I'll leave both the Heart and Kindred Pack alone." The man shoved a piece of paper into Bruce's hands. "Call me in one week or I go for the heart." Bruce lunged at the man, furious beyond reason, but his next words stopped him in his tracks. "How's the wife?" Bruce didn't hesitate a second longer. He ran as fast as his body could carry him towards his home, and a few wolves around who had heard the threat joined in on the chase.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Councilman stopped Drake in his story. "I see. This explains Luna Emily's testimony a bit. You're saying that Alpha Bruce was threatened. Two packs safety for one pack?" Drake nodded slowly, still not looking at anyone.

"Yeah. A two for one deal." He laughed weakly.