P, page 17
Raphael pulls out his phone and points at me with it then walks off to get a hold of Phillip and Nichlos. Sebastian heads toward his office and I go to follow him when I feel Prayer’s hand on my back. I turn around to face her and I know my smile is huge when I see her holding a plate of sandwiches in one hand and a tall iced tea in the other. I take a kiss while her hands are too busy to swat me, then the plate, another kiss, the drink and then another kiss. Prayer is laughing and the sound still echoes in my ears when she disappears off to who knows where.
I am elated that she has not only accepted who and what she is, to the extent of our knowledge of what she is, but that she actually seems to enjoy using her powers now. I hope there is no hidden battery life because I'm pretty sure her porting around has become her new favorite mode of transportation. I still have a whole lot of questions in that department as I am sure she does as well. At the top of my list is if she was able to teleport me, which was very strange but also very awesome, because we are linked together or because her power has grown.
I enter Sebastian's office and he waves his hand for me to look at something. The computer monitor has the faces of Benard and Leander both. I nod my head in thanks to Sebastian who leans his head slightly and we both pull up a chair in front of the screen. I apologize in advance for my voracious appetite and within a few minutes I have devoured the sandwiches and the tea. I contemplate waiting for the others because I don't know what Sebastian has told anyone yet when Leander makes an odd coughing sound getting my attention.
"I hear congratulations are in order , Avalon. The community has a new Princess huh? I didn't expect that news ever, at all. Like never. Who is she?" He asks and I turn my head to Sebastian because surely he would have…
"There wasn't a lot of time." He says, shrugging.
"She is one of the women that we were looking into. Her name is Prayer and there is a lot you will need to know about her. She definitely proves the legends are based on facts. The most important fact though is that although I was not searching for a mate, she is in fact mine." I tell Leander, watching his facial expressions.
"Congratulations regardless," Benard says. "A mate no matter how you find them is a wonderful gift. Or at least, so I've been told.”
“Thank you. I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised when you meet her. She has,” I look at Sebastian who just shrugs again, “skills. She has very useful skills.” As I am talking, Nichlos and Phillip link into the call and Raphael enters the office. A moment later Cato and Damon are also linked in and I notice Damon looking particularly worn down,
“You look like shit, Damon.” Leander says, always willing to provoke Damon.
“Which is still better than you Leo, so at least that’s in my favor.” Damon replied in more of a reflexive way than any real irritation.
“Gentleman, I need to know how much you all know about the situation going on here at Black River.” I say taking control of the conversation.
“I know that the shit going on here in Rhode Island or the shit that Damon is dealing with in Maine is nowhere near critical enough to cause drama in Nebraska.” Cato states crossly.
“None of what we know matters right now, Avalon.. What we need is for someone to bring this Harley out for questioning. We need to hear what he believes to be true because we need to know what he has been telling others. You are the one who was worried about dissent and uprisings in the community so you should agree getting this out in the open and cleared up is the priority. His punishment would be secondary.” Leander declares, almost challenging.
“Of course I want a speedy end to this Leander. However, bringing that man out and allowing him to spew whatever garbage is in his head concerns me. I don’t even want to publicly acknowledge his theories.It’s also only been a few days even if it feels longer and I feel like we may be rushing things going public with accusations and sentencing which we haven’t even discussed.” I explain.
“If you don’t make it all public you will give credence to his rants. That we are hiding things and dealing with issues unfairly. We cannot banish him and any other form of punishment is going to look rash if reasons are not made clear. No matter what his claims are, we can't refute them if we don’t allow him to speak.” Benard points out.
“Is this how you all feel about the situation? You want him brought in with an audience and what amounts to a trial? You are all willing to take the risk that this appears to be nothing more than justifying our own actions against him?” I ask. That uneasy feeling welling up inside me. Each man in turn agreed and the plan was set.
“As leaders Avalon, you know better than anyone that sometimes you do have to justify your actions to the masses. Everyone knows the fox pup is still suffering from her attack. True it has only been a few days but this is a child and it’s not just her parents that are raging over it. Some may have looked at it as an accident had the pup wandered from the territory, She was instead on her own home lands when she was shot by hunters, Harley’s accusations against us saying that we are unable to protect our people are going to fester with the ones who are already angry and looking to blame us for not being able to attack the humans. We have no choice.” Sebastian says very seriously and the men all agree with nods and some grunts of approval.
“Very well. Raphael, you and Jasper bring Harley to the great hall. Roman, make an announcement that anyone who wishes to do so can observe the proceedings from there and we will set up video calls for the other territories should they decide to observe as well.” I cannot get rid of the edgy and strained feeling inside me.
Roman leaves the room to give the message to a few people to spread the word through the house and to begin making calls. Raphael goes to join Jasper who has been overseeing the guarding of Harley and help him be escorted to the great hall. The largest room in the mansion, it is positioned on the ground floor directly in the center accessible from the main foyer, the kitchen and dining areas, the entertainment rooms and the sporting areas and even a small door that opens directly to the library.
There is a long table up against one wall which Sebastian and I drag forward. Several dozens of folding chairs line the walls always ready to be set up should the needs arise. We don’t bother setting up more than we need for Roman, Sebastian and I as Raphael and Jasper will remain standing with Harley. In front of our seats at the table we place the monitor where we will be able to see our fellow Alphas and behind us up on the wall a large screen carries the same image for the room's viewing. In their own locations they will have images of the same type, Alphas on one screen and the view of the audience on the other.
The Alphas have an excess of attitude and pride, they are quick to flare and almost never back down, they can appear uninterested and set apart from everything else, high handed and perhaps unfeeling, It is the exact opposite that leads their actions, no matter how they appear. They are cautious and wary of everything because they are so concerned about the welfare of their people. They are determined and strong because it is their shoulders that for good or bad the weight of decision and action falls on. Including when to send another of our kind into action that may be dangerous and for that they must appear separate and not allow it to affect their judgment. The very reasons they appear so callous is the deep love they carry and protectiveness they feel for all of our people, not just the ones in their own territories. I know this particular chore weighs heavily on them.
Different families who live on and around the grounds begin showing up and I can hear them outside. I rub my ear to clear it because as I have stated, my hearing is more advanced than a human with good hearing but nowhere near as good as a shifter’s. No, I can plainly hear them coming up the steps and even some arriving in their animal forms and shifting to human outside. Not outside the room, not in the hall, outside of the house. My mind races and I tune my ears to listen for the sounds of Prayer. I can hear her, she is talking with one of the women, no a group of women. They are talking about their husbands and I suddenly want very much to listen in on that conversation but my eyes catch hold of Jasper and Raphael entering with a calm but clearly pissed off Harley. I push away the desire to talk to Prayer about my enhanced hearing and focus on the room.
“You have things you wish to say to us, Harley. Now will be your chance to air your grievances before any sentencing is passed down on you for your attack on two princes, an alpha as well as his beta and enforcer. You will also answer for the men who you led down a destructive path and then tried to abandon to their fate.” I say to him as I walk around the table and stand with Sebastian and Roman on my left.
I look around and the room is filling with whole families, as well as individuals and I realize that Sebastian was right. There are many who are obviously concerned about the safety of their young and what’s being done about it. I can feel that ball of tension growing tighter in my stomach. These proceedings will not have the answers these people are looking for. This could very well go as badly as I feared or perhaps worse. The truth of the matter is that besides strengthening our defenses and legally protesting any trespassing or encroachment on our lands there isn’t much we can do about the actions the humans have taken. From a human legal standpoint a few disrespectful or simply unmindful hunters strayed onto private property and attempted to kill a wild fox pup. The punishment that the shifters would seek would in no way befit the crime that the humans would see. Trespassing and poaching would most likely receive a monetary fine. Perhaps even a steep one, but there would be no imprisonment over a fox, no blood shed or banishment over a wild animal on private property of a small community.
“I want only for the truth to come to light and the people to be able to see for themselves that their mighty leaders who they revere so highly are nothing more than figureheads from the dark ages. That we live in a modern world now. Humans have already acknowledged their beliefs publicly and even make television shows and documentaries about their belief in our presence. You leaders think to keep us hidden and in the dark, unable to protect ourselves so we can rely only on you for protection and justice.” Harley looks around the room and inside I feel the unease spread through my entire body as the dissension and discord I feared starts to take shape in my mind. This is what Harley wanted. This was his goal. He wanted a platform from which to speak so that anyone with even a halfhearted feeling of betrayal could listen and latch on and we handed it to him. Worse yet, it was no longer possible to stop this without giving him the proof they would all be watching for.
"Except that we aren’t actually safe and there is no real justice. Is there Avalon? Damon couldn’t stop the hunters from coming onto the lands in his territory. Our people were angry and in need of answers but they got Cato sent to them to ‘help keep order’ instead. The Wyatt family themselves deserved answers and justice for their child who is so traumatized by the event she cannot even shift back into her human form. A child locked inside her fox. You sent that family to Leander’s territory, specifically in the care of Nichlos. The prince who carries your blood, Avalon. Do you honestly expect that we all believe this is done for the protection of our people? It seems much more likely to me and many others of us across the territories that you and the other Alphas are covering up the deeds and handling matters in a way to keep us under your rule. To prevent us from being natural citizens in this world.” I felt the tension grow into trepidation as he was speaking and mumbles and sounds began coming from the audience in the room.
The faces of the other Alphas gave nothing away as they listened but I could sense the tension in them. I knew without a doubt that there was something more Harley was holding on to. Some key point he had yet to make and as much as I wanted to put an end to any more of his rantings I knew at this juncture I had to let him finish. Nothing more could be done to fix this blunder until he had gotten his message out. My impatience and irritation as well as that damn anxiety keeps building and I feel on the verge of exploding.
I curse silently to myself for not being able to control my internal emotions better as I feel the static and instantly sense the presence of Prayer just behind and off to my right. The faces on the monitor all register a moment of shock before they pull themselves together and hide all expression once again. None of the men even acknowledge Prayer’s entrance or look her way. Harley however locks his eyes onto her and they narrow in what could only be a menacing way.
I glance at her momentarily, unable to stop myself and I see that her eyes are still that deep brown color that I love to stare into. She is in complete control of herself and had come to my side at her choosing and although I am not sure about the timing, I feel a lightening in my heart and a slight sense of relief. Something only she is able to bring me. That is until I hear Harley’s next words.
“The new bride of Prince Avalon. The woman who Avalon himself brought against our people. The witch who was able to force me to surrender my wolf and who then, just to show her power, forced me back into it. The witch who was able to overpower and throw me across the room at one point and then held me in the air preventing my escape from harm at the hands of these men who then held me prisoner until being brought forward for this sham of a trial.” He says pointing at Prayer at times, shaking his head, portraying the victim of some violent attack at her hands.
The lies were actually starting to get outrageous but because he had planted them with the very deceptive and twisted seeds of truth they were easier for the people in the room to believe. When you take into consideration the entrance into the room prayer had made and the fact that she appeared right by my side it lends more credit to his accusations. At this very moment, I wasn’t sure there was much we could say that would clear any of the allegations against us to the satisfaction of the people.
“Excuse me, my Lord Avalon.” I hear my mate’s voice speak calmly but powerfully so as to be heard by all. “Is anyone permitted to speak in this hearing or only the ones standing accused of wrongdoing by the Alphas?”
“What could you possibly have to say witch?” Harley practically bellows at her, causing my temper to boil up. Prayer lays her hand across my arm but addresses the men on the monitors.
“Is it permitted that I answer him, with what I have to say?” She asks them and also looks at Sebastian. She is making sure that anything she says is not simply because her mate allows it but that the Alphas have allowed it as well.
“Harley himself seems to be interested in what it is you have to say, Prayer. Please feel free to express whatever it is that is on your mind.” Leander says and waits for the others to agree or disagree.
In their usual way when they agree, they all nod into the cameras. The only thing I could do now was wait as Prayer removed her hand from my arm and stepped forward to address Harley and the room as a whole.
Chapter 15
Prayer
I originally had no intentions of getting involved or even joining Avalon in his meeting with the Alphas. I had worked my way around the main rooms of the mansion finding people to introduce myself and even chatting with some women I had found in the dining area. I learned that many of the men who worked around the mansion as guards, groundskeepers, mechanics and other serviceable jobs either lived in the mansion or on the property with their families if they had one.
At first it had been difficult to get more than a few polite greetings or comments about the weather and I had to fight the feeling of being put off or unwanted. I then thought about it and realized they had no idea who I was or why I was here in their home. I explained that I was the mate to Avalon and in that moment the walls came down. I learned of the more than fifty shifter families who lived on the mansion's property and at least another fifty households on the surrounding property.
Many households were composed of groups of single men or women who hadn’t yet found their mate or spouse. I wondered about and so asked the difference in the culture between a mate and a spouse. I knew that I had referred to Avalon as my mate, as in a pair, the other part of a matching set. I had referred to his claiming me in the bedroom as mating for more carnal reasons. I had not known however what to call him until I had heard Sebastian ask about mates only. I wanted to know and understand the difference if there is one.
According to the women, some supernaturals know almost immediately that they are mated to the person they meet. A sort of instant attraction that they cannot ignore or fight. That sounded like exactly what happened with Avalon so I can accept that yes, Avalon is my mate. There are also those that meet someone outside of their genetic line, like a bear shifter meets a raccoon shifter, and they spend time together and fall in love the old fashioned way. They choose to spend their lives together and have a ceremony so the whole community can acknowledge their choice. It’s a beautiful sentiment to know that when there is such a thing as a mate that is chosen for you somewhere out in the world, you can choose to live and love as you see fit.
I enjoy getting to hear some stories about their husband and mates but as time passed I started to feel on edge and anxious. A few minutes later a man had entered the doorway and said that anyone who was interested could come to the hearing regarding Harley’s actions and detainment. I still was willing to let it go but the women had gotten up and went to collect their families apparently very interested in the goings on in that matter. I don’t blame them but I continue to control myself as Avalon needs to be able to control the situation. That is until I feel the anxiety and pressure building in him until I think he may do physical damage to either Harley or someone else. Either way his pressure point is at an all time high and I can no longer deny my need to go to him. He needs to know that I am here for him, it’s what a mate is. You don’t wear a single sock, you don’t set a salt shaker down without a pepper and you don’t make Avalon suffer without Prayer. So I go to him,
