59

Nade’s pov

My beast growled inside me knowing that there was no way out with all of them surrounding me. My cars twitched as the sound of the heavy paws hit the earth beneath them.

The rustle of leaves and twigs snapping free closer and from my peripheral vision the shadow of them as they move through the trees move closer. They found me faster than I thought they would. Getting a head start on the council didn’t hel

ld

ed to a halt as their shadows move closer and closer until I

ad see the glow of their predatory eyes. No point

ing away

0 not

or fighting them when I am not only outnumbered ba enough to fight any of the council members on my own since the wolfsbane is still in my system.

One by one they emerged out of the darkness of the trees, and I held my ground and didn’t bow. I am an alpha wolf, I have dignity.

Each of the wolves smeared off their power as they snarled and shook their fur. At the forefront is one of the wolves I recognize. The one who always visits my father.

Peter.

He shifts into his human form, his dark hair longer than it had been at few months ago, his blue eyes icier than they had been too. “Xade,” his voice is firm, not as friendly as it had been when he came to visit my father. “I’ve heard you stirred up quite a disturbance.”

The rest of the council members which were only five of them, circled

100

TO 08

and closed in on me until there would be no way of me escaping now.

“Shift” He commanded. And though my beast didn’t like to be commanded. I do. Standing before him, I face him without a tilt in my chin.

“I was protecting my-

I searched for why I could call her without giving away what she really meant to me. I didn’t want the council to meddle in our business. Not when they had a reputation for making things far worse.

“My best friend.”

Curiosity flickered in Peter’s eyes and I saw him glance around him at the other council members before setting his stone hard eyes back on

me.

Peter a

“Do you understand how serious what you’ve done his voice a low rumble of power and coldness. If I had been any other wolf, I would be on my knees, bones buckling to kneel. “The weight of what you’ve done, is very grand, Xade.”

“I had no choice,” I remained calm, although my claws bit into my palms. I am sure they could take the stench of my blood.

Peter took a step forward, his head shaking in disappointment and disapproval.” You have endangered our kind by such reckless behavior. Exposing yourself has put us all in danger. Do you not see what you have done to us all?”

My jaw set firmly and I looked away. “Like I said, I had no choice. It was either let him hurt her or stop the b*stard. I chose to protect her and I’d do it again.”

Peter’s eyes flickered with more curiosity. “This girl, I can see that you’re attached to her,” his head tilt as he peered at me. “How far has

BUSIN

“TU DA

11

she clouded your judgment to have risked exposing our kind to their world?”

I listed my hands more. “I couldn’t just stand there and let him hurt. her!” I snapped, unable to keep the fury out of my voice this time. “If you saw how he was with her. The slimy b*stard-

“You’ve potentially jeopardized everything we have worked hard to maintain by helping this girl. The secrecy of our people, our kind, you may have risk

this, do you not understand? This is why the laws exist Xade,” he shook his head, his eyes clouding with pity for a second before it went back cold.

“And by doing so, you should know what happens now,” he mumbled. I don’t say a word and he nods stiffly. “You will be brought to the council cells and await to be judged by the head.”

I nodded. “Can I-can I tell her goodbye?” My heart have time to tell Avery anything.

ns. I did-t

Peter shook his head. “It’s best you don’t involve yourself with this human until you’re judged. Your father has also been informed of this and will meet you there. Be warned that even if he is there, you will be in our custody and he won’t be able to help you.”

Peter looks around the other members and sighs before looking back at me in pity. “The head is not easily persuaded. And you should know that the punishments are never lightweight.”

“What’s the worst that can happen, Peter?” I asked boldly. “What’s the worst punishment the head can give to someone who had done what I did?”

Peter’s eyes swam with sympathy as he utters. “Death.”

65781