HIS to CLAIM ALPHA ZEKE

We reached the main level while I headed for my vehicle. The drive back to the hospital gave me time to process everything Layla had confessed. The depths of her delusion and manipulation were staggering while I couldn't believe I'd missed the signs for so long.

But dwelling on that wouldn't help anyone while I needed to focus on the future with Cecelia and Golden instead of the past Layla had poisoned.

The next morning I stood before the

pack council while Layla was brought in wearing restraints. She looked smaller somehow while all her defiance from yesterday was gone. The council members watched her with expressions ranging from disgust to disappointment while many had known her for years.

"Layla Winters, you stand accused of conspiracy to kidnap, child endangerment, and treason against the Alpha's family," the head councilman read from the formal charges. "How do you plead?"

"Guilty," Layla said quietly while not looking at anyone.

Murmurs went through the council while they'd expected her to fight the charges. But confronted with overwhelming evidence Layla had apparently decided to accept responsibility.

"The evidence shows you

orchestrated the kidnapping of the Alpha's three year old son Golden," the councilman continued. "You paid

co-conspirators to abduct the child and attempt extraction of his magical abilities. This extraction resulted in life threatening medical complications. Do you deny these facts?"

"No," Layla said while her voice barely above a whisper.

"You also stand accused of orchestrating the fake death of Cecelia Blackwood three years ago," the councilman said while reading from another document.

"Paying guards to help stage her disappearance in order to separate her from the Alpha. Do you deny this?"

"No," Layla repeated.

The council exchanged glances while the admission of guilt made the proceedings simpler but also more damning. Under pack law, crimes against an Alpha's child were among the most serious offenses possible while punishment could include execution.

"Does anyone wish to speak on the

"No," Layla said while her voice barely above a whisper.

"You also stand accused of orchestrating the fake death of Cecelia Blackwood three years ago," the councilman said while reading from another document. "Paying guards to

help stage her disappearance in order to separate her from the Alpha. Do you deny this?"

"No," Layla repeated.

The council exchanged glances while the admission of guilt made

the proceedings simpler but also more damning. Under pack law, crimes against an Alpha's child were among the most serious offenses possible while punishment could include execution.

"Does anyone wish to speak on the defendant's behalf?" the councilman asked while looking around the room.

Silence while no one moved to defend Layla. Even her closest friends stayed quiet while they couldn't support what she'd done.

"Does the prosecution wish to present testimony?" the councilman asked while looking at me.

"Yes," I said while standing. "I call Cecelia Blackwood to testify."

The doors opened while Cecelia walked in wearing a simple dress with her hair pulled back. She looked composed while I could feel through our bond that she was nervous. But her head stayed high as she moved to stand before the council.

"State your name for the record," the councilman said.

"Cecelia Blackwood, former Luna of this pack," she said clearly.

"Please tell the council about your experiences related to these charges," the councilman prompted.

Cecelia took a breath while organizing her thoughts. "Three years ago I was forced to leave this pack while believing my mate had rejected me. I didn't know at the time that my supposed death had been staged by Layla who paid guards to help me disappear."

She continued while describing her years in hiding, raising Golden

alone while constantly looking over her shoulder. She talked about the fear of being found, the struggle to survive in a

fishing village with no support system besides Fatima who turned out to be another of Layla's paid informants.

"Then my son was taken from me," Cecelia said while her voice broke slightly. "Three years old and scared while these people did terrible things to him trying to steal his magic.

The doctor says Golden will need years of treatment to prevent the premature wolf emergence from killing him. All

because Layla wanted power she thought would make the Alpha love her."

The council listened while several members looked visibly moved by her testimony. Cecelia's pain was obvious while she described searching frantically for Golden, the terror of not knowing if he was alive or dead.

"Layla didn't just hurt me," Cecelia finished. "She hurt an innocent child who never did anything except be born to the wrong parents. That kind of cruelty deserves the harshest punishment possible."

"Thank you," the councilman said while Cecelia returned to sit beside me.

I took her hand while squeezing gently. Through our bond I sent her support and pride while her testimony had been powerful.

"The council will now deliberate on sentencing," the councilman announced. "Given the severity of the crimes, we must consider all options including execution."

"Wait," I said while standing again. "There's the matter of Cameron to consider."

"The child thought to be yours?" another council member asked.

"Yes," I confirmed. "DNA testing proved Cameron is not my biological son. His father is a man named Robert who was kept away from the child by Layla's deception."

"What is your recommendation regarding the child?" the councilman asked.

"Cameron is innocent in all of this," I said while making sure everyone heard. "He shouldn't suffer because of his mother's crimes. I recommend he be placed with his

biological father Robert who has expressed desire to raise him."

"And if the defendant is executed, what then?" another council member asked.

"Then Robert becomes Cameron's sole parent," I said. "The child deserves a chance at a normal life away from all this."

The council deliberated while Layla sat with her head down. After twenty minutes they returned with their decision.

"The council has voted," the head councilman announced. "Given the

testimony and evidence presented, and considering the wellbeing of the minor child Cameron, we sentence Layla Winters to permanent banishment from this pack and all allied territories.

Layla's head snapped up while surprise crossed her face. She'd expected execution while banishment was more merciful than she deserved.

"You will never contact Alpha Zeke, Cecelia Blackwood, or the child Golden," the councilman continued. "Any attempt to do so will result in immediate execution. Cameron will

be released to his biological father Robert's custody following DNA confirmation. You have twenty four hours to gather personal belongings before your banishment begins."

"Thank you," Layla whispered while tears streamed down her face.

"Don't thank us," the councilman said coldly. "Thank the Alpha for arguing against execution because of your innocent son. Now get her out of my sight."

Guards escorted Layla away while she looked back once at me with

something like regret. But I felt nothing while any feelings I'd had for her as a friend had died the moment she threatened my son.

"Now for the matter of Theseus and the Brooke Pack," the councilman said while turning to new business.

A delegation from the Brooke Pack had been waiting outside while they filed in looking nervous. Their head diplomat stepped forward while bowing respectfully.

"Alpha Zeke, the Brooke Pack wishes to express our deepest apologies for Theseus's actions," he

said formally. "We had no knowledge of his involvement in this kidnapping and do not condone his crimes."

"Yet he used pack resources to house the victim and provide support to the kidnappers," I said while keeping my voice level. "That reflects poorly on your pack's oversight."

"We take full responsibility for our Alpha's failures," the

diplomat said. "Which is why we come bearing an offer. Theseus has been stripped of his position and banished from our pack. We are prepared to turn him

over to you for prosecution."

"In exchange for?" I asked while knowing they wanted something.

"Peace between our packs," the diplomat said. "We offer reparations to be paid to Cecelia Blackwood and her son for their trauma. We also propose a formal treaty to prevent future conflicts between our territories."

I looked at Cecelia while she nodded slightly. Through our bond I felt her agreement that this was the best solution.

"How much in reparations?" I

asked.

"Five million dollars," the diplomat said. "To be paid immediately to Cecelia and Golden for their medical expenses and suffering."

"And the treaty terms?" I pressed.

"Free trade between our territories, joint border patrols, and severe penalties for any pack member who commits crimes against the other pack," the diplomat listed. "We want peace Alpha Zeke. What Theseus did was unconscionable while we hope to make amends."

I pretended to consider while I'd

already decided to accept. War between packs was costly and bloody while this solution gave us justice without more death.

"Agreed," I said while the diplomat looked relieved. "Turn over Theseus, pay the reparations, and sign the treaty. Then we'll have peace."

"Thank you Alpha," the diplomat said while bowing again. "Theseus was captured trying to flee to neutral territory. He's being held at our border waiting for your warriors to retrieve him."

"Marcus, send a team immediately," I ordered.

"Already on their way," Marcus confirmed.

The diplomatic negotiations continued for another hour while lawyers worked out the specific treaty language. Cecelia signed where needed while accepting the reparations on

behalf of herself and Golden. The money would be put in trust for Golden's future while ensuring he'd be provided for no matter what happened.

Finally it was done while papers

were signed and hands were shaken. The Brooke Pack delegation left promising the reparations would be transferred within forty eight hours.

"Well handled," the head councilman said to me once the room cleared. "War would have been costly for both sides."

"I'm glad it didn't come to that," I admitted. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my family."

Back at the hospital, I found Cecelia and Golden both napping while she'd climbed into the hospital bed

beside our son. They looked peaceful together while I just stood in the doorway watching them for a minute.