CLAIMED - Fated to Two-Chapter 40: The New Harleigh Hale

The officials of several packs drag Damian in front of me, carrying a piece of paper they obtained from the United Alliance Courts: a court established long ago by multiple packs to ensure fair trials for any werewolf who commits a crime against others - who may or may not be from his or her own pack.

Ironically, I could file my own case there too, so my ruined pack could finally receive justice. But doing so would anger these packs, and that might provoke them to turn against me again.

"We want you to sign this paper so we can legally take Damian Chandler to the United Alliance Prisons while awaiting his trials in the United Alliance Courts," the Alpha of the Ashfall Pack demands.

"Don’t, Harleigh!" Damian pleads, still looking weak and recovering from the poison. "I know you hate me, but don’t do this to me!"

My tears sting my eyes as Torrin’s proud smile flashes through my mind. "After you and Atticus killed Torrin in front of me, you think I’ll save you?"

The crowd gasps at my revelation, exchanging wide-eyed looks. The majority of the Frostveil werewolves are glaring at him with either disbelief or fury, but those who helped him and Atticus kill Torrin look down in fear.

With a steady hand and a determined heart, I sign the papers.

Damian’s tears fall silently as he tries desperately not to sob, his jaw clenched and his trembling fists bound at his sides.

Suddenly,...

Alpha Conrad Sharpe of the Crimsonbane Pack hisses at me, "Atticus shouldn’t have underestimated you. But unlike him, me and any of my allied Alphas, are going to keep an eye on you, coz you remain a danger to all of us."

"If I wanted to ruin all of you at once, I would’ve used my ShadowBind already," I answer, trying to sound confident even though my ShadowBind remains inconsistent and has limitations.

He grunts, and when the other Alphas start glaring at me, I quickly add, "The Shadowfang Pack never showed you wickedness or cruelty. It’s just all of you who grew afraid of our power. But I assure you that I’ve never dreamed of seeking revenge for what you did to my pack. I’ll never be a threat to you, as long as you promise not to be a threat to the Frostveil Pack."

Heads nod in agreement, except the red-haired ones. Naturally, the Crimsonbane werewolves are furious and jealous that Cassandra failed twice to become the Frostveil Pack’s Luna. Now they have no choice but to take her back with them, since she no longer has any place or purpose here.

Still, I’ll give them credit as they stood against Atticus and Damian, regardless whether it’s only to appease the other packs or to show their anger over not being included in the experiment involving my Shadowfang bloodline.

"We’ll come back here to also take the Dunebourne Pack’s first family once we collect evidence against them regarding their involvement with the experiment," the Alpha of the GoldenHills Pack says.

As Damian is dragged toward one of the patrol cars, some Frostveil werewolves attempt to defend him. But even more Frostveil werewolves, including Gamma Eric and Beta Samuel, intervene, pushing them back and holding the line.

When Damian and the officials of the other packs disappear through the towering gates of the Frostveil Pack’s territory, one of Damian and Atticus’ loyalist growls, "What now?! Are you going to let a non-Frostveil werewolf lead us?! I’d prefer Luna Beatrice over her! At least she’s our own kind!"

Another Gamma adds, "But Luna Beatrice isn’t mentally stable. She can’t lead us. Should we vote for a new leader instead?"

Almost half of the crowd roars in agreement.

Beta Samuel steps forward. "Voting isn’t possible when our former real Alpha, Alpha Torrin, has an heir with the right to inherit his title."

I gently caress my belly and smile. "This isn’t Damian’s baby, as he claimed. This is Torrin’s. I will lead your pack on our baby’s behalf. Once my child is born and reaches the proper age, he or she will take over."

Still, some remain hesitant. And those Damian and Atticus’ loyalists continue trying to sway the crowd against me.

So I turn to Eric and order, "It’s time to arrest those who helped Atticus and Damian in their illegal accession to Alpha titles, and those who helped them kill Torrin."

Damian and Atticus’ loyalists wolf out and fight back, but they are outnumbered by Eric and those still faithful to Torrin. Eventually, they fall, defeated, and are dragged away.

I face Beta Samuel next. "Get me a lawyer. I want to make sure the United Alliance Courts never favor Damian’s release."

Within the day, the lawyer arrives at the Alpha mansion’s study room. I recount every one of Damian and Atticus’ lies and crimes, including Torrin’s fake death and his real one, and the physical and mental torture he experienced in ther hands. The lawyer submits everything to both the Frostveil Court and the United Alliance Courts. Now, all I must do is wait for the trial and testify against Damian.

Night falls. As I prepare to lie down, Francheska knocks on my door, giggling. "You have to transfer to the Alpha’s bedroom since you’ll be our new Alpha now. It’s all cleaned now by yours truly."

I smile faintly. "I don’t wanna be your Alpha. I’ll only act as a regent for my child. So there’s no need to transfer there. Besides, I don’t think I can ever set foot in that room. It’ll only remind me of Torrin and everything that could’ve been if he were still alive... and of Atticus and his cruelty."

"However,..."

"I want you to seek Eric and help him free Luna Beatrice. Then prepare her bedroom. If she wants, she can have the Alpha’s bedroom," I add.

Francheska hesitates. "I don’t think freeing her is a good idea. The way she reacted during Alpha Torrin’s funeral was really scary."

"But she can’t be imprisoned forever when she never commits a crime," I reply. "Maybe she’s getting worse because of her environment. Here, she can be cared for, treated normally, and maybe her mental health will improve."

Though still hesitant, Francheska nods and quietly leaves.

As I try to sleep, Alpha Torrin’s face flashes in my mind again. Tears fall from my eyes. But surprisingly, there’s no pain in my heart anymore. And somehow, that makes me feel a little guilty.

Have I already moved on from his death? I should be grateful for the relief, yet it feels too soon.

My wolf howls in agreement; even she doesn’t feel the sharp ache anymore.

Is it because I finally avenged him? Or because before he died, he gave me the most wonderful gift he could ever give me?

I caress my still-flat tummy, my brow stays furrowed.

Something isn’t adding up.

Suddenly,...

My thoughts scatter at the arrival of Luna Beatrice. Out of respect, I hurry downstairs to greet her.

But,...

She stares at me sharply, her jaw clenched. "How dare you think you can lead a pack you don’t belong to?"

My smile drops, but I try to remain calm and polite. "I’m doing this for Alpha Torrin’s heir, your grandchild."

"I will not believe it’s my grandchild until the baby is born and a DNA test is done," she snaps. "And because you can’t prove yet that you’re my son’s heir’s mother, the law says I’m the only one who has the right to lead this pack."

"But the law also says our leaders should be healthy," Francheska blurts out before she can stop herself, making her gasp in regret and fear.

Luna Beatrice lunges at her, but I block her with my body.

"In case your nurses didn’t tell you, Atticus stripped you of your Luna title a few days ago. That makes you and I on equal footing now," I say.

I’m not desperate to lead, but I’m desperate to protect this pack the way Alpha Torrin would if he were alive. And since my child will inherit it, I have even more reason to keep it safe.

Slap!

Luna Beatrice’s hand whips across my cheek.

Still, I force a smile while wiping the blood tricking from my lips with the back of my hand. "It’s nice meeting you again, Lu–... I mean, Beatrice. I’ll head back to sleep now. May you have a goodnight too."

She starts shouting as I walk upstairs, and throws vases and figurines that shatter across the floor. Then the Gammas and Omegas hold her back when she tries to come after me.

Maybe Francheska is right that it’s a mistake to free her. But she’s still Torrin’s mother, and my child’s grandmother. I can’t treat her like trash. Maybe we just need time to adjust and know each other. I can sense she’s not as evil as Atticus. She’s just... broken. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

When I return to my bedroom, my phone rings: It’s Eric.

I pick it up. "Hey. What’s up?"

-["The traitors are now jailed. And their trials will begin in the next few days."]-

Satisfaction warms through me.

But,...

His next words make my heart soar.

-["There’s another thing..."]-

-["My informant told me that Alpha Torrin is still alive. He may have survived and just didn’t know his way back due to his condition."]-

Tears well in my eyes, overwhelming emotions crashing through me. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel the pain of losing him anymore. Maybe the extreme pain I felt was because he was only half-dead from the gunshot wound and the fall?

I steady my emotions and say, "I’ll help the team assigned to find where Alpha Torrin might be."