The five councilmen exchanged grim looks with one another because they had never faced a situation like this before.
"It's against the rules to kill an alpha!" Councilman Marcus made the adamant statement.
"Yes, my brother, but we can't just let him go with some penalties because he conspired with the rogues and tried to steal another alpha's mate. We can't do that. It makes up a serious crime," Ruben replied.
"But the law... we may not breach the law!" Marcus was adamant about it. He adhered to the guidelines religiously and almost never deviated from them.
Their attention was broken as Sebastian Andersen stormed in, furious and ready to seek justice for his daughter. He slammed the door behind him as he entered the room. He uttered an angry growl as he looked at the members of the council.
"I need his blood! He has hurt my daughter. Disgraced her in front of his pack!"
To his amazing shock, Grace followed him in, fell on her knees, and looked up at her father and whispered, "Please, Dad, please forgive him."
"Grace? How can you ask me to forgive him? Don't tell me you are still in love with him," Sebastian asked, as he, too, fell on his knees and cradled his daughter's chin.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she listened. "I am his mate; I do not have a choice; I would rather not disgrace you any longer... Vance died because of me."
"My daughter, do not blame yourself for Vance's death. It's not your fault."
"Then why... why did you send me away?" she croaked.
Sebastian's eyes filled with regret as he reached out to wipe away her tears. "I thought it was for your own good, but I see now that I was wrong." He whispered, his voice breaking with emotion.
Sebastian finally admitted it. "When Alex told me what..." he paused, "what he did to you... I was horrified. My poor daughter... I'm sorry."
Grace gave a slight nod in response. She mumbled in a hushed tone, "The fates have already decided my future."
"No! You will not stay with that... that... scoundrel," Sebastian shouted.
"I am bound to him, dad; I have no choice!" she said desperately.
A cough interrupted their conversation. Both the father and the daughter turned their heads to look at Ruben, the councillor, who had coughed in order to get their attention.
"If I may interject for a moment, the relationship between mates is not forever. They can be severed when the conditions are right." Ruben stated.
Grace appeared to be taken aback. Sebastian let forth a rumbling groan.
"Then break it! I don't want him anywhere near my daughter."
"Patience! Sebastian, let me speak to your daughter first." He looked at Grace and asked her to come to him.
Grace got to her feet and approached the five councilmen who were seated in high chairs.
"Child! We know what you have been through. What do you want? Do you want to stay with your mate or leave him?" Ruben asked gently.
Grace bit her lips. She loved Chris initially. But he had hurt her and disrespected her in every way. She could live without love, but how could she live with a man who never respected her?
Grace took a deep breath and looked Ruben in the eyes. "I want to leave him," she said firmly, feeling a sense of empowerment wash over her. The councilmen nodded in understanding, their expressions filled with compassion and support for her decision.
"Very well, then. You don't have to live with him. As for the bond, it will shatter once you have mated with someone else." Ruben smiled.
"What about the punishment? I want him dead, and so does Alpha Alex." Sebastian said it impatiently.
"We are still thinking over it," Ruben replied thoughtfully.
*********************
Rosalie was tucked under the duvet in her old bedroom. Alex decided to stay in the silver moon until Chris was punished and things were sorted out. Rosalie would also have time to stay with her parents. She had recovered from her ordeal but was still a bit shaken. Alex knew that Rosalie needed time to heal and process everything that had happened.
A loud protesting sound in the corridor woke her up, and she walked out of her bedroom into the corridor.
"What's going on?" She asked one of the passing omegas.
"Martin has challenged Chris for the Alpha position; we are going to see the fight." The omega replied.
"What!" Rosalie blurted it out. Why would Martin challenge Chris? What was going on?
She proceeded with the crowd and spotted Alex and her parents walking towards them. She ran towards Alex as he caught her in his arms.
"What are you doing here, Love? Shouldn't you be resting?" He asked.
"What's going on? Martin had challenged Chris. How can I rest?" She turned towards her parents. Her mother looked as anxious as she was. Her, while her dad had an amused smile.
"Dad? What's happening?" She asked. When Alex didn't reply, he continued, giving her a cryptic smile.
"Honey! Martin has challenged Chris for the Alpha position. The council has approved his challenge, and now they are going to fight...to death." Scott explained this to his daughter.
"But dad. Martin is a beta. Chris would tear him apart in no time. You must stop him," Rosalie said, worried about her foster brother's safety.
Scott laughed. "You'd be surprised. Martin had been training while Chris was busy plotting his revenge. Also, very few people know that Martin's mother had alpha blood. She was the third daughter of Alpha Bruno of the Rockwood Pack. Come on, let's cheer for your brother."
Both Rosalie and her mother looked bewildered, wondering why the men were acting in such a casual manner about it. What will the consequence be for Chris?
Alex grabbed hold of her waist and steered her towards the front door.
" Love, let me fill you in on exactly what happened."
She followed this lead while he explained how Martin and Grace had an affair while Chris was busy humping omegas. Martin was in love with Grace and wanted to become an Alpha so that he could claim her. Rosalie was so shocked by these details that she couldn't respond for several minutes.
"Martin and Grace? Are you serious?" She gasped in disbelief, not to mention she wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of Grace becoming her sister-in-law.
Alex grinned, sensing her thoughts.
"I know what you are thinking about, love, but Grace has changed. She is not a bad person; she is just a victim of circumstances."
Rosalie gaped at him as if Alex had sprouted horns.
"Come on now; judge for yourself." He Laughed. She followed the crowd, which was slowly assembling around the sacred circle.
A very pale Grace was clutching Martin's arm as if she could protect him. He was talking to her softly, as if soothing her. Rosalie observed Grace's behaviour with a mix of confusion and concern. They looked like lovers !
"Oh my God ! You are right !" She gasped.