I watched as the councilman seemed to be thinking or maybe fighting with his thoughts before he spoke.
“I understand. Though I still believe she should be executed. Changing her mind doesn’t excuse the fact that she was there on her own accord in the first place. Meaning everything up to that point was premeditated. Who’s to say she won’t have another change of heart,” Councilman Faulkner said.
I looked at Zira and her family. They all shared the same look of desperation. I racked my brain thinking of some way to help them. Even though these weeks have been hectic, Zira was...is still my friend and a member of this pack. It’s still my job to try to protect her regardless of what she could have done.
“Believe me, Councilman Faulkner, I was thinking the same too but maybe we could think of something less severe. Instead of an execution, we could…,” I hesitated and glanced at Zira.
I'm sorry Zi I linked her. I knew she wasn’t going to like this idea but it was the only thing close to death that wasn’t actually dying.
“We could banish her instead. That way she could live with the fact that she can never be a part of this pack and never see her child again. I feel that may be worse than death itself.”
The room went silent. It was the best I could do at this moment. The only way to keep her alive. Maybe people would disagree and think we’re going easy on her but she still didn't deserve to die. Everyone looked at Councilman Faulkner, waiting for his answer.
He turned to his assistants to have a private conference. They must have been doing something because I couldn’t hear a thing. I looked around the room and noticed everyone else trying to listen in too. I saw the councilman nod his head and turn back to us.
“We have come to an agreement. Zira will have the baby then banished to live as a rogue. Until then Zira is to remain under surveillance at all times. Any mishaps and she will be executed after birth.”
He paused. I guess waiting for someone to disagree but there is nothing but silence.
“Good. Now that is finished, I will be on my way, Alpha Isaiah.”
I let out a breath of relief as they exited the room. My parents walked up to me and my mother gave me a hug.
“If I had known this was all going on, we would’ve come back earlier. Right, Jack?”
“I think you handled that pretty well, Alpha,” my dad smiled. “Making tough decisions like this is part of the job. So get used to it.”
“Leave it up to you to make me feel better, Father. I have to go check on Alaia. She’s been gone too long,” I said, leaving before anyone else stops me to talk.
I made it out of the room in record time. I tried linking Alaia and she didn’t answer. I followed her scent up the steps to her office. I knocked once before slowly opening the door. Not sure if she was in the throwing things mood.
“Alaia, are you…”
She quickly opened the door and blocked the entrance. “I’m fine. How did everything go?”
“Oh, it went well,” I said, walking away towards my office with Alaia straight on my heels.
“Wait, Isaiah. Is that it? What’s going to happen to Zira? What’s going to happen to our baby?”
I walked into my office and sat in my chair. I had a lot of tension and just wanted a moment to relax. Alaia stood in front of my desk, arms crossed and waiting.
“Alaia, we can talk about this later. I have a meeting with…’
“No,” she said, stomping her foot. “Tell me now. I have a right to know if anything happens to my people.”
Sometimes I forget how involved my mate wanted to be with my pa...our pack. She was right. She was Luna so she’s privy to whatever information I find about the pack members. So I gave up and told her everything that happened after she left. She was calm at first until she heard what I offered after the councilman wanted Zira to be executed.
"Are you seriously going to let her get away with what she did,” Alaia yelled. "Isaiah, she tried to kill our baby and now you're treating it like nothing happened?"
“Well technically she stopped…”
“Yeah but do we know why? Who’s to say if she tries this again,” Alaia asked.
Of course I thought about that, but I believe Zira had learned from this. I don't think she would. Though I wouldn't believe she would do it from the jump. I looked as Alaia paced back and forth in the office. I noticed beads of sweat on her forehead and she was whispering something I couldn't hear, even with my wolf hearing.
“Alaia, are you okay? You’re looking a bit ill,” I said, walking to her to check her temperature, but she waved me away. “Alaia…”
“We need to keep an eye on her. Zira needs to remain here so we can keep her safe not only from herself but in case those rogues from the Wormhole come back for round two.”
I know Zira. When things got too rough she always went home. Even though she has a room here she spends most of her time with her family.
“I don't know, Alaia. Maybe she needs this time to be with her family. She's already walking on a thin line. I don’t want anything stressing the baby out,” I countered.
“You’ve said it yourself when you came back from the motel, Isaiah. We don't know who put those thoughts about abortion in her head and now with this decree from the councilman. We don’t want her getting any ideas,” Alaia said before a bang on the door interrupted our conversation. I quickly moved around my desk to place Alaia behind me as Zira burst in the room.
“Zi…”
I could sense she was angry. I haven’t really looked at her since the motel until today. It’s crazy how much her body has changed. The swell of her belly was very noticeable now peeking out through the bottom of her shirt.
“Why,” she yelled. “Why can’t I stay with my family?”
“What are you talking about,” I asked, moving closer to her.
“The Councilman told my mom I had to stay here. Can’t you talk to him.”
“Zi, I don’t have much control…”
“Please. If I’m going to banish the least they could do is let me spend my last days with my family. Please, Alpha.” Zira fell to her knees. I bent down near her, stroking her back as she began to cry. I heard an exacerbated sigh behind me and turned to see Alaia cross her arms, rolling her eyes. I walked over to her.
“Give it a rest, Alaia. Can’t you see she’s going through something right now. Put yourself in her shoes,” I whispered to her.
“I can’t! Because unlike her I wouldn't try to get rid of my baby. I would never put the people I love in this position,” Alaia said back before walking around me to address Zira.
“Look, Zira. Maybe it’s for the best. After everything that has transpired we just want to make sure no one brings harm to you or the baby.”
Zira looked up at Alaia with her tear-stained face and growled a little. “My family wouldn’t hurt me or my baby.”
“I’m not suggesting they would. But who’s to stop them from taking you away from here.”
I placed my hands on Alaia’s shoulders. Be easy, Alaia.
She needs to hear this, Isaiah, and understand the severity of the situation.
“They wouldn’t,” Zira said, standing up. “I wouldn’t.”
“Look at where we are now, Zira. It’s a risk we cannot take,” Alaia stated.
“It’s not your life at risk!”
Zira glared at Alaia, taking a threatening step towards her. I stepped in front with my hands up, trying to calm her.
“Zi, calm down. She’s only saying what everyone’s been thinking. Especially since what happened two weeks ago.”
Zira was still staring through me as if I wasn’t even there before slowly meeting my eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. She ran her hands through her hair before releasing a deep breath.
“Thank you for listening,” she said while turning around and leaving the room.
“Well that wasn’t so hard, now was it,” Alaia said with a smile.
“Were we looking at the same person, Alaia? She looks crushed,” I said, turning to her. I noticed beads of sweat forming on her forehead and her eyes were half opened. “Alaia, are you okay?”
She waved me off as I tried to touch her forehead. “I’m fine, I’m fine. Just a little overwhelmed today. That’s all.
“Then maybe you should rest. I’ll have Doctor Callie chec…”
“No. She’ll just prescribed bed rest or something, and I don’t have time for that. I have two babies to prepare for,” she said, placing a kiss on my lips and walking out the door.
I sat down thinking about the fact that I have two babies on the way. Not quite how I expected to spend my earlier days as Alpha. Now Zira’s having a white wolf. I never thought our family would have a white wolf, let alone the fact that it’s Zira and not my mate having it. I just hope she is strong enough to have the baby and get through this.
Something's not right Devon said.
What do you mean?
Elena. I can barely feel her but what I do feel is sadness Devon said.
Sad, why? Alaia literally just got her way in keeping Zira here I said
No. It's something else. She won't tell me but I know something's holding her back Devon said a bit more worried this time.
I will ask Alaia...
NO! I don't want to upset our mate even more. I will keep pestering Elena. She's bound to give in Devon said in a cocky manner.
I’m sure he had his ways but I hated not being able to help. If Elena was holding back something it only means Alaia had a secret as well, and I was going to find out.