Last time on Blind Hope

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.

~~~~~~~~~~

Emily's eyes were wide as saucers, and the kind Luna who had been with her through the whole trial patted her arm. "Oh, sweetie." Larry's hands clenched in anger. Dorian wrapped his arm around Hope. While Hope was showing no outer emotion, he could feel her distress. This whole trial had her at the center in a strange, strange way.

The Councilman reviewed his notes and investigations. While nothing he had lead to something so dramatic, the evidence was there. "Lunar Drake, I apologize for the pause. This is... something unexpected."

"Take your time. You're handling it much better than I did." Drake's jaw clenched. "I've barely started." Victoria flinched at his tone. Dorian leaned down and waved the Councilman over. He approached, although somewhat confused.

"Majesty?"

"Do you need a recess?" Dorian kept his voice low so no one could hear, but the mocking undertone remained. "Is it really too much?" The Councilman laughed in disbelief, waving Dorian away. Hope pinched Dorian's arm.

"That was rude. What are you doing?" He shrugged before realizing how fruitless that was.

"I don't like him." He whispered back, an amused smile playing at his lips. Hope raised her brows in disapproval, and Dorian suddenly felt uncomfortable. The Councilman interrupted them.

"Please continue with your story." Drake sighed and nodded.

"Bruce called." Drake dropped his head, as if reliving the moment was to much. "That idiot called Victoria. I answered the phone. He was upset. He wanted Victoria. I thought it was strange, but I gave her the phone. Gah! I'm so stupid!"

~~~~~~~~~

Bruce called Victoria as soon as he assured himself and his wolf that Emily and his children were safe and sound. "Victoria? Victoria?"

"No, this is Drake. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn't call out my mates name like that!" There was mumbling on the other end of the line, and Bruce quickly grew agitated.

"I'm still here."

"Right, yes. Here's MY MATE." Drake handed the phone over to Victoria and promptly left, still bothered that the two communicated even if it was via phone. Victoria waited until Drake closed the door.

"You've got him worked in a lather. Do you know what it takes to un-lather him?"

"I can only imagine. If it's what Emily-" Bruce cleared his throat, taking the awkward tension out of the air. "I-no, we. We have a problem."

"Oh, really? Because last time I checked we have our own packs to run." Bruce laughed, wiping the silent tears away.

"You're as snarky as ever, but really. My pack was attacked by Castiglione."

"Is everyone safe?" Victoria straightened in her chair, suddenly worried. Despite being across the country, they had a common tie.

"Yes. Few injured, none fatal." Bruce paused, his voice dropping. "I met Castiglione. He threatened our packs."

"Our packs?"

"With Hope." Victoria's heart began to flutter, panic clouding her vision. Her voice cracked,

"What? I don't understand..."

"He wants to take all werewolves down, starting with the strongest."

"Strategically, that doesn't even make sense."

"Victoria, focus. That's not the issue." They both drifted into silence, the heaviness weighing between them. Bruce cleared his throat. "He is going to attack our families if we don't give him an answer in a week."

"An... an answer? Has there even been a question?"

"Let me start over. Castiglione is going to attack both of our packs and attack our families if we don't hand over Hope."

"Well. That's... Are we sure he used to be Mafia? I thought they were smart. For humans."

"Victoria. Do you know what the Castigliones have done in just the last year?" Victoria paused. She stayed in her pack. Protected her pack. Handled her pack. She was dedicated to her pack, and sometimes that meant not knowing what exactly went on in other packs. "I'll take that as a no... Viki, they destroyed the Green, Moonlick, and NightWalker Packs." Victoria gasped.

"Even NightWalker?!"

"Yes. Those packs have been rebuilding for years now. The villages were burnt down. They sowed salt in fields. They took... They took the omegas." The color drained from Victoria's face.

"Drake..."

"Viki, they found a few of the weres who were taken. Some of them the Alpha family."

"Found...?"

"I don't want to say what happened. You understand?" A whimper escaped Victoria, and she sat back in her chair. "Victoria," Bruce moaned, putting his head in his hands. "I don't think my pack can withstand an attack. The rogues have been piling up. Warriors are wounded ... Castiglione is brutal. They have weapons we can't recover from."

"Are you telling me that you want to give Hope up? OUR DAUGHTER!?"

"I'm saying we negotiate."

"With our daughter's life!?"

"Victoria, listen to me." Bruce's voice was gentle as he gradually approached the issue.

Bruce proposed that they call Castiglione together and established a different deal.

~~~~~~~~~~

"A different deal?" The Councilman had sat down some time ago as Drake slowly worked his way through the story. "Explain. My word, explain." Dorian opened his mouth to tease the Councilman, but as if Hope expected him to, she pinched his arm.

"Well, the deal was that they, Bruce and Victoria, would do away with Hope if Castiglione would leave their packs alone." The Councilman stood up abruptly.

"THAT DOESN'T EVEN-"

"Councilman." Dorian's hard voice warned him, even as Dorian's eyes were elsewhere. The Councilman ran his fingers through his hair in aggravation.

"Lunar Drake, do you honestly expect me to believe that Alpha Victoria and Alpha Bruce would sacrifice their own daughter for this? I mean," He looked over at the Alphas in question. "Didn't you ever think of ganging up or asking for help?"

"Councilman," Dorian warned again, "your job is to find answers, nothing else."

"I request a recess."

Dorian nodded. "Granted." The High Elder stood, looking down at his watch.

"I propose we resume tomorrow, Majesty. It is late evening and I can imagine this taking a bit longer." Dorian nodded, squeezing Hope's hand. He stood up and dismissed everyone.

"We shall continue tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp." Everyone slowly filtered out of the room. Drake hopped out of his chair and went to Victoria.

"You haven't said a word," he whispered hoarsely. "Not a single word against what I'm saying. Tell me I'm wrong, please." He looked into her eyes, begging. "Tell me you didn't agree with this stupid plan?" A single tear ran down Victoria's face.

"Drake... Baby..." Dorian cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry." It came out as if he was talking to Hope, and everyone's heads snapped to Dorian. "I can't allow you two to talk." Drake clenched his fists and locked eyes with Jeffery standing by the entrance. He gave a wave before tucking his fists into his pockets.

"Whatever." Drake gave Hope a side hug before following Jeffery for a sedated sleep. Hope, Victoria, Bruce, and Dorian stood alone in the large courtroom. Vivian had wanted to say, but Blake had dragged her away. He didn't want her to become more upset and angry than she already was.

"This isn't how I wanted to meet my mate's family." Dorian looked down at Victoria an Hope. "This case better have one heck of a conclusion."

"Dorian," Hope said sternly. "One person for the protection of hundreds isn't a bad deal."

"Except for the fact," Dorian said, struggling to keep his voice calm for his mate's sake, "that you are a person. You are a werewolf. You are not something to be traded about."

"It was for a good-"

"We're not arguing about this." Dorian's voice was final, and Hope looked away in a huff.

"Then don't be expecting any."

"Wh-what?" His face flushed. Dorian couldn't believe Hope said that in front of her parents. She marched away, and Dorian watched in amazement. "How you to produced that angel is beyond me."