ELENA
“Has his dental records, blood type, and mating ceremony documentation filed with this council as of forty-five minutes ago,” Sage says pleasantly, opening a folder.
“Along with sworn affidavits from three witnesses who attended his mating ceremony and can confirm identity.
Elder Rowena, shall we proceed?”
Elder Rowena folds her hands.
“Ms.
Cole, you represent Ms.
Elena Grey?”
“I do.”
“And Mr.
Ashford is here voluntarily?”
Dominic steps forward.
“He is.”
“Very well.” The elder’s gaze moves to Catherine like a searchlight, “Luna Ashford.
You were given ample opportunity to review the charges submitted against you.
You declined to respond in writing.
I trust you are prepared to respond now.”
“These charges are fabricated by a disgraced Omega seeking revenge.”
“The charges,” Elder Rowena says, with the particular precision of someone who has not raised her voice in forty years because she has never needed to, “were submitted by the inter-pack governance council following an eleven-month independent investigation.
Ms.
Grey’s name does not appear anywhere on the filing.
Only yours.”
“I recommend,” the elder continues, “that you consult with your attorneys before speaking again.”
It takes four hours.
Four hours of testimony, financial forensics, documented evidence, and witness statements including Vivian’s, delivered by video link from Damien’s estate where she and Mira remain under guard.
I testified for forty minutes.
Alexander testifies for two hours.
Dominic testifies last.
He stands in the centre of the floor Alpha still, despite everything and he tells the truth.
All of it.
About his mother’s operation.
About the documents he found.
About the threat she made against me.
About staging his own death because it was the only path he could see to getting evidence before the council before Catherine could destroy it.
He doesn’t spare himself.
When the questioning turns to his marriage, his treatment of me, the three years of distance and deliberate deceit, he answers without deflection.
“Did you love your former mate?” the council advocate asks.
A pause.
“I respected her more than I understood at the time.” His voice is quiet.
“I failed to love her the way she deserved.
That is entirely my fault, not hers, and I take full responsibility for it.”
“And your feelings for Vivian Ashford?”
“Were real, were never acted upon, and were used against me by my mother to keep me compliant.” He exhales.
“I am not proud of them.
But I am being honest about them because Ms.
Grey’s attorney has correctly pointed out that complete honesty is the only thing that might actually be useful at this point.”
From beside me, Sage whispers, “He’s getting better at this.”
“Don’t,” I whisper back.
“I’m just saying.”
“Sage?” I looked at her with a questioned face.
“Right!
I’ll focus now.”
Elder Rowena does not make them wait for a verdict.
When the testimony concludes, she looks at her council members, exchanges the kind of silent communication that belongs only to people who have trusted each other for decades, and then turns back to the floor.
“Luna Catherine Ashford.
Please stand.”
Catherine rises.
For the first time in three days, she looks like someone who is not in control of what happens next.
It does not suit her.
It is also, in the privacy of my own mind, deeply satisfying.
“By the authority of the Inter-Pack Council, you are hereby removed from your position as Luna of the Ashford Pack, pending criminal investigation and trial.
Your assets are frozen pending audit.
Your pack standing is suspended until further notice.”
“You cannot!”
“I can,” Elder Rowena says.
“And I will.” She lifts one hand, and two council enforcers move forward from the sides of the room.
“Your attorneys will receive the formal charges by close of business.”
Catherine looks at Dominic.
Then in a move I genuinely did not anticipate she looks at me.
“You think you’ve won,” she says.
“I think justice is being served,” I say.
“That’s not the same thing as winning.”
“It will unravel very soon and make sure you watch your damn back.” She spoke with so much threat in her voice.
“Catherine.” Elder Rowena’s voice came from behind, “Stop talking.”
The enforcers take her out.
The hall erupts.
Beside me, Sage exhales a breath she’s clearly been holding for approximately an hour.
“You know what?
I should have become a pack attorney twenty years ago.”
“You’re incredible,” I tell her.
“I am.” She clicks her briefcase shut.
“And you owe me the biggest dinner of my career.”
“Name the place.”
“Somewhere with a wine list that makes me cry.”
“Done.”