Shifter's laws are almost the same everywhere in the world. Some of our laws are the same as the humans and vampires. Some, like the ones that were made to favor only the men, are not fair to the women, (not that I'm complaining about that though,) and some I simply found cruel and unjust.
For me, I believe sentencing to death families of criminals who are found guilty of treason is barbaric, cruel, and unjust. I don't understand why innocent parents, spouses, and children of these criminals must be executed with them, after all, they would live with the stain of their son, father, or spouse being a traitor for as long as people will remember. Isn't that enough punishment to bear for a crime you didn't commit?
I automatically move to stop the Council policemen from taking Carol and Victoria away but Eric holds my arm, stopping me from doing so.
"What do you think you're doing?" He whispers, giving me the 'Are you out of your mind' look.
"I'm stopping them! Don't tell me you don't find this stupid law of killing the innocent family of a criminal unjust. They're innocent! I can't just watch them die from the sideline. I thought you were Victoria's number one fan."
He chuckles
"I stopped you because you don't always think straight when you're anxious about something. What? You want to stop the police from doing their job after the judge has given his verdict?
You might be an Alpha, but remember that Owen was found guilty of treason and the judge was vested with the power to sentence him according to the law which he has done.
If you're not in support of this particular law because of your personal belief, which I also don't support, mind you. There's a way we can use your influence to make an exception in their case. Openly going against the judge is not the way to do that, you understand?"
"Yes. You're right, thank you. I wasn't thinking straight before." I admit as I watch Victoria and Carol wince and cry in pain as they're being handcuffed with silver.
"I am acquainted with that officer wearing a different uniform from the others.'' He says pointing at one of the officers
"Oh, really?... How can a Council police officer help us?"
"He's not a Council policeman. His name is Neal and he's the chief warder at Council Yard Penitentiary. I'll speak with him to make sure no harm comes to them while in jail, pending the time that we will have this whole mess settled."
"That's great– but how did you come about knowing a prison warden though?" I am curious but he just shrugs and smiles
"You're asking me this when you should be thinking of ways to save the innocent lives at stake!?..."
I roll my eyes
"I was just curious, fool... Anyway, as much as I hate that judge, I think we should speak with him, or rather, we should tell Pops to do it since it seems they're on a first-name basis with each other. Did you hear when Pops addressed him as Ricky?..."
"Alpha, please save our daughter. Please don't let her die this way! Show mercy, please..." I look towards the women to see they're now being led out the door. My eyes met with Victoria's and she quickly averted hers, allowing herself to be led out the door.
After they had left
"What are we going to do about her?" Eric asks, indicating with his head toward where Evelyn is still sitting.
"She's certainly involved in this. I wanted to question her about Owen before but with the way things are right now with Carol and Victoria's situation, we can't afford to waste time with her. We have to see the judge before he leaves his office." I reply and beckons towards one of the new men who just joined us.
"Alpha?" He says
"Get some men and escort them back to their house," I say, pointing toward Evelyn. "I want them placed under house arrest."
"Yes, Alpha" He replies
I walk back to where Justin is still lying unconscious
"Hey, get up!..." I nudged him with my leg to wake him up.
Evelyn the mother hen immediately puffs up her feathers in protection
"Don't you dare hurt him! Get away from him!" She screams as she stands up with a flash, bearing her canine and claws at me.
"Get up, idiot. Time to go home!" I say again, kicking him harder this time. I don't have the time to waste with them but the coward just won't budge
"Wake up your dirtbag of a son, I have something urgent to attend to. I'll summon you when I need you." I said to her,
Her wolf's eyes flash furiously with hate brewing in them before she turns to my dad.
"Even if you've chosen him as your favorite, don't forget Justin is still your son and I am still your mate! How can you just stand by and watch him treat us like we're nothing!?"
"Is he really?..." My dad replies wonderingly with his head cocks aside
"Excuse me?..." Evelyn asks, her angry eyes narrowing. What do you mean by that!?"
Even though she stupidly asked, I can tell she knows quite well what my dad is driving at. She's just too embarrassed to accept the fact that he's laying her bare for every one of us to see
"Is your son really mine?" My dad spat out point blank with disgust. He stands up and starts walking towards her.
"You know, I'm kinda finding it hard to believe and accept that a man as cowardly as him will come from my loins... He's supposed to be Alpha for goodness sake yet he fainted! He didn't even attempt to defend himself! He just fainted like a little girl!"
You called yourself a Denton? Answer this question then... Should an original she-wolf that's mated to an Alpha have such a coward as a son!?..." He asks and pauses for her reply but none come.
"And I've recently been thinking, are you really my mate?"
Evelyn gasps out loud. Not only she, but we are all surprised by that question
"Knox! Have you suddenly gone out of your mind!? What nonsense are you talking about!? How dare you!?" She speaks forcefully, taking care not to raise her voice and looking around to be sure no one else is listening in except me and Alpha Nate
"Wake your shit bag of a son! This conversation is nowhere near over. I'm having a paternity test done as soon as possible. I'm also investigating to find out if you're my real mate. if I find out you've been deceiving me all this while, believe me, even your House Denton will not be able to save you from my wrath!"
Evelyn's usual stern, sterile-like face now has shock and fear written clearly on it as she glares at the old wolf. I won't be surprised if it actually turns out that she became his mate with the aid of sorcery like it was done to me.
While the bitch and my dad stare each other down, I signal to Ivar who is closer to where Justin is lying to wake him up. Ivar bends near his head. I can't see what he's doing since he had his back turned to us. Justin suddenly groans out loud in pain, staggering to his feet.
Evelyn screeches like an owl when she hears Justin's painful cry.
"Get away from him, you barbarian!" She hurries to Justin's side and helps him to his feet. She supports his weight by holding his side as if he's an invalid who can't walk by himself.
"You evil man! You delayed them deliberately didn't you?" Eric says and chuckles beside me as we watch them leave
"He has healed without the collarbone being set. His injured shoulder is now sagging because of that. He's going to be deformed for life."
"Yes, he is. Isn't that wonderful?" I reply nonchalantly as I walk towards my dad
"Pops, how do you know the judge?" I ask him. "I know he has given his judgment already, I'm just wondering if you can maybe speak to him about Carol and Victoria if something can be done to avert the death sentence on them?"
"You want to save them with all they did to you?" He asks in disbelief
"Yes, Dad. All they did to me was good. Carol was the only one who showed up when I called for the elders' meeting while Victoria helped me get the trust of the patrol members, even when she wasn't sure that I didn't kill her father.
I know for a fact that they have nothing to do with what Owen did to us. That is why I'm not going to stand by and watch them get executed for a crime they didn't commit."