“Release her!” Misha demanded, and looked as if she might make a move to free her mate herself, but after that slight twitch of muscles, she remained where she stood.
Giselle pushed herself up to stand, fighting against the protests of her angry wound. “She was named by Derek as the one who ordered the attack on me. If Misha is innocent of this, then toss Brianna into the arena and let her prove her innocence through trial by combat.”
“That is not our way,” Misha snarled.
Her posturing only gave strength to Giselle’s defiant tone. She met the eyes of her enemy, with her wolf begging to be called into the fight. “And cowardly attacking me when my back is turned is?”
Words chosen carefully had the most power, and though Giselle’s words had been rashly thrown out in anger, they were scooped up by the surrounding crowd. Rumbles of anger toward Misha combined with outrage at someone attacking a pup began to rise up. And when they hit the ears of the Alphas, the anger in Misha’s eyes faded into fear. Brianna would be sentenced to fight in the arena by the will of the packs, not the Alphas, and she knew it.
Brianna stood silent, her eyes darting between Giselle and her beloved Misha.
For the briefest of moments Giselle felt pity for her. Brianna didn’t look like a formidable wolf; her posture alone screamed beta. She might have been guilty of the crime of ordering Giselle’s death, but by all appearances, it had been done on the command of her love and leader.
“An Alpha must set an example. Fight for their honor. Or else they are not an Alpha worth following.” Aiden rose and spoke to the crowd. “Someone must be held accountable. Either Misha or Brianna should face the arena.”
Fallon nodded, and so did Tito from the southern territory.
Misha looked as if she’d been betrayed by her people. Shock widened her eyes so much that even her wolf peeking out from behind them cowered against the might of the packs’ will. Slowly inching backwards as if to make an escape, she scooted from her seat, but Brady came up behind her like a ghost. He grabbed hold of her arms and forced her forward toward the arena.
“Make your choice. Either the woman you claim to love, or yourself. One of you will enter that arena.” Brady, the great big teddy bear of a wolf, was anything but at that moment. A second son to be proud of, he had the strength of muscle and might working in his favor, and as he pushed Misha toward the arena, it was clear she was no match for him.
Misha looked back to Charles, as if he were supposed to help her, but the Alpha who’d been her ally sat back down and turned his head away.
Giselle found her strength, pressing her hand against the wound in her side to stem the flow of blood, and started to walk toward the arena herself.
Vivian tried to protest, but Giselle would not be stopped. She walked proudly toward her father and adoptive mother. She might be injured, but as her father had taught her, she’d not let anyone see. Exuding strength and determination, she walked, gritting her teeth against the pain while keeping her mouth a hard line and her eyes locked with deadly intent on Misha.
Misha screamed insults and tried to struggle free of Brady’s grip, but he held her firm. Before he walked her to the arena, he stopped in front of Jay. Her verbal assault ended the moment she came face to face with Brianna.
The lesser wolf whimpered, “I’m sorry,” and reached a shaking hand up to gently kiss the cheek of her love.
Anger broke into tears as Misha took hold of her mate’s hand. She pulled it forward and held it to her beating heart. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I absolve you of my crimes.” Misha looked to Brady, and her resolve came back for a fraction of an instant. “Let her go,” Misha pleaded.
Brady’s hard jaw tightened. “Only after justice has been done.”
Misha gave one last squeeze to Brianna’s hand before letting it drop.
Whether she had accepted her fate or not was uncertain. She might have held power, but it was gone the moment the packs unified against her and her mate. Even more telling, Misha put up little resistance, despite her struggling against Brady. How had she risen to power when she was clearly not a fighter?
Giselle was certain of Misha’s weakness as she met Martina and Orion at the gate to the Arena. And the knowledge that this would not be a true battle gave her the strength she needed to end the fighting.
“Father,” she said calmly, and took his hand. “Let Martina do this.”
Orion looked angry at her for suggesting someone other than he finish this, but after the moment passed, he saw that her injuries had gone beyond the wound at her side. “Is this what you want?” he asked.
“It’s what needs to happen.” Giselle struggled to find the right words to explain why but came up short. “You and I cannot fight anymore battles.” Her free hand rose to the soft pouch at her neck, and she clutched the stone inside. “I struck a bargain to bring you back. I do not regret it at all, but we both have to step aside and allow others to take the lead now.”
The look on Orion’s face shifted between confusion and understanding, and once he grasped the gravity of what she’d said, the stony mask of his Alpha took over.
“Martina is to be your champion, then,” he said, with a heavy breath.
Giselle looked at Martina. “You have more cause than most to tear down this false Alpha, after all the trouble she’s put us through.”
Martina smiled at her. “You honor me with this gesture, but I know it won’t be the end of all troubles.”
“I have to keep life interesting,” Giselle grinned. A small part of her wanted to ask if Martina was sure she could do this. Her father’s life had been a risk she was forced to take because of his stubbornness, but Martina’s was not. Of course, asking her that would have been an insult. And the look on her adoptive mother’s face said quite clearly that she was ready for battle.
Momma wolf had her claws sharpened and ready as she entered the arena with Misha and prepared to fight.
Orion walked back to the seat with Giselle. “I won’t ask, because I understand all too well how magical contracts work, but I will say this: I wish you had warned me before I went into the arena to begin with.”
“Would it have really stopped you?” Giselle asked.
Orion did not justify her question with an answer, but his grin confirmed it without words. Silverman wolves were a special kind of stubborn.
Richard walked up, with Ace safely behind him. “We’re all here, then?” Richard asked.
“I’m not really sure what’s going on,” Ace said, looking confused and in shock at what had gone down in the last few minutes. “Are you okay, Giselle?”
“I am now. That’s all you need to know,” she responded.
Ace looked past her to his mother, standing on the sidelines as if awaiting judgment. “And my mother?”
Orion cleared his throat. “We’ll discuss her later. For now we need to stay here and keep our eyes open for any other trouble.”
In the arena, Martina shifted down and stood before Misha, awaiting her opponent’s shift.
Brady backed away but did not leave the arena. He nodded to the gate, and the wolf on guard shut it. “Will you not shift and fight?” Brady asked Misha.
The defeated Alpha turned back one last time to look at the Council of Alphas. No one stood for her. No one made a sound. Her eyes shifted to Jay holding Brianna by the arm. She too stood silent; her eyes, though, told a story of sadness and loss. For all her plotting and deception, she’d found no one to absolve her. She hung her head low, the final confirmation of her guilt.
“Your answer, please, Misha,” Brady said again.
“Just do it,” Misha whispered, as she closed her eyes, ready for death.
Martina struck quickly.
Giselle turned away, not wanting to see more bloodshed.
The crowds surrounding the arena, rather than cheer as they had done for previous battles, fell silent.
Chapter 42
The only sound to pierce the quiet tha
t had fallen in the arena was the soft crunch of feet in the desert sand as Martina donned her fallen clothes and walked slowly to the gate.
Orion patted her knee before standing to address the crowd. “Are we done with this spectacle?” he called out.
All eyes fell on the Alphas, waiting for one to deliver judgment. That had been Misha’s responsibility, but in her absence, it appeared that no one wanted to be the voice on the Council.
Orion walked to the gate and opened it, allowing Martina to walk out, and took her place in the center.
“Who denies my family’s claim now?”
Charles stood; he’d been the other dissenting member who’d swayed the vote. Giselle knew what he’d say, and she dreaded any continuation of useless bloodshed.
“Your claim is denied based on your abdication of the position, Orion,” he started, and Giselle felt the anger rising up within her. “However, we will honor your family’s claim to the title.”
Giselle hadn’t expected that, and if not for the wound at her side, she would have jumped up with joy upon hearing it.
Orion looked to Giselle. His expression hardened for the briefest of moments before he blinked and turned his eyes to Ace, who was standing beside her.
Giselle whispered to Ace, “You think you can handle it?”
Confusion spread across his face. “Don’t you want to claim your right?”
If she rolled her eyes any harder, they’d have popped out and hit the dirt. “I’m not cut out for this. We both know it. I’m too wild.” Giselle had said it from the beginning: the position demanded more of her than she was willing and able to give. And especially now, with her precarious tie to her father, she could afford no battles in the future that might put either of their lives on the line.
“You’d have made things interesting, that’s for sure.” Ace winked at her. “But as a Silverman, you deserve a place in our pack, should you ever want it.”
She might not have known her cousin very long, but Giselle got the feeling he’d be a good leader. He’d do right by the territories and maybe even breathe some fresh air into all the stuffy wolf politics. “I’ll remember that when you have me up on charges of mischief in the future,” Giselle laughed.
“Already planning to test my leniency?” Ace glared at her menacingly, though it was no more intimidating than his smile.
“You know how I operate.” Giselle winked.
“You’re a Silverman, no doubt about that,” Ace said.
Giselle nudged him forward. “Then get in there and claim your title.”
Ace walked into the arena and joined Orion’s side.
Vivian whispered, “Thank you,” to Giselle, but she had no desire to acknowledge it. Vivian had done all she could to make Giselle look bad. For what reason, she could not begin to fathom, but the fact she’d done it had ruined her reputation forever. Her only saving grace was that she was family. For that reason alone, Giselle would not seek retribution.
Orion took Ace’s hand and held it up. “I name Aeson, son of my brother David Silverman, former Alpha of the Long Teeth and holder of the Regency over the Pacific territories, as my rightful heir to the title. Will you all honor this choice?”
Giselle, along with every other wolf in attendance, looked to the Council of Alphas for their response.
Fallon met Giselle’s eyes with sadness. She hated to disappoint her new friend, and hoped it wouldn’t ruin the relationship they’d just begun. Besides, being free of the Regency meant she’d be able to travel, and might someday get to meet Alyssa and the vampires that Fallon was friends with.
Aiden stood and voiced his vote, confirming Aeson as Alpha.
The rest slowly came to agreement, standing in unison to proclaim him the new Alpha and end the trials.
Chapter 43
“I am Aeson Silverman, eldest son of the Alpha David Silverman, and I claim the Pacific territories as my father did before me. If anyone would bring challenge to my right, let him do so now.”
Silence answered his question as one by one, wolves in attendance took a knee, an awe-inspiring sight that brought tears to Giselle’s eyes as she too bent a knee to her new Regional Alpha.
He had been bred for this. He had the knowledge and understanding of their ways, as well as the backing of the proud Silverman name to bolster his reign. There was no doubt in her mind she’d done the right thing in passing the role to her cousin.
She’d made out better in the deal, anyway.
Her father slowly exited the arena, allowing Ace his time in the spotlight, and came to stand next to Giselle.
“Don’t think for a second that this is over,” he laughed.
“For me it is.” Giselle’s chest relaxed as she breathed out the tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding onto. She stood, wincing a little with strain. She’d need to give herself time to heal completely, but at least she had that time.
“You’re a Silverman. Part of a powerful family. You’ll be an Alpha someday, of that I have no doubt, but even beyond that, you’ll have a duty to act for your family’s interest.”
“I won’t have to move north, will I?” Giselle asked.
“No. But you are like royalty. Even if you’re not the king, you still have to put on a good face and play your part for the good of the family.” Orion cast a sideways glance at her, as if expecting the fit she wanted to throw.
“Can’t I just be a normal wolf?” Giselle whined.
“Nope. You’re my little wolf.” Orion hugged her a little too tight, and when she whimpered again, he released her quickly. “How much can you tell me about this?” He pointed to the small velvet pouch around her neck.
“Just that we appear to be linked. So I feel your pain,” Giselle said.
“That could be problematic in ways you probably haven’t considered yet,” Orion said.
“Why?” Giselle asked nervously.
“Wolves are crafty. For example, someone wanted to take down the entire Silverman family. They placed spies in Vivian’s home; they made sure to discredit you and Ace. Why is that, do you think?”
“They didn’t want us in power,” Giselle answered quickly.
“Because?” Orion asked.
“Well, we’ve been in power a long time,” Giselle said hesitantly.
“Right, and they would have brought in new and untested leadership if they’d succeeded. Leaders that might be more malleable.”
“So Misha could swoop in and take control?” Giselle offered.
“Our territory is too big to be held by one other Regional leader. And Misha was too obvious in her dissent against our family.”
“Charles, then?” Giselle asked.
“No. I believe his reasons were true. He wasn’t comfortable with you as a leader. And his pack is too far away from our borders to benefit from encroaching on our territory.”
“You think someone else was silently plotting against us, and let Misha take the fall?” Giselle asked.
“That’s certainly what I aim to find out; but if our condition places both our lives on the line, I may have to enlist some help,” Orion said
“Just when I was starting to relax,” Giselle sighed.
“Nothing dangerous will happen right now. I doubt anyone would make a move here and now, but I don’t want you to let your guard down. And I’ll make sure someone keeps an eye on you when I’m gone.”
“Gone? Where are you going?” Giselle’s heart began to pound. “I just got you back.”
“I’m just forewarning you. If there’s a threat remaining out there to our family, I will ferret it out. And that will require some movement on my part.”
“But what about Cassandra?” Giselle hoped the mention of his wife would snap him out of this crazy talk of leaving to hunt down rogue wolves.
Orion stood thoughtfully before responding. “I hope she’ll come with me. Now that we can be together, I hope we can build a new family together.”
As long as he doesn’t go get anyon
e killed with all his traveling. She’d dreamt of coming home after school to her father and mother, telling them about her day over supper, and fighting with them over curfews and boys. Even now, those dreams seemed so far-fetched. She looked to Martina and the picture skewed a bit. She had a home now. A family. A mother and a father who loved and cared for her. Pretending after all this time that a nuclear family with her birth father was anything more than a dream was laughable. They were family in love and blood, but her ties of home and hearth would always be with Martina and Gavin.
She reached out and took hold of Martina’s hand. “You don’t have to worry about me, Father, I have the best protection money cannot buy – the love of a mother.” She looked to her mother, knowing she was grounded for life for all she’d done over the last few weeks, but also confident in the fact that the bond of love they’d developed over the last year was solid. She was to Martina a daughter, blood or not. And now that she knew her blood relations, she felt the strength of her bond to Martina just as powerfully.
Tears welled in her mother’s eyes as she looked to Giselle. “If I’d have known what I was getting into when I adopted you...” She sniffled. “I’d have done it a hundred times over.”
Giselle’s eyes stung with fresh tears too.
Martina sniffled again. “But don’t for a second think that you’re getting out of trouble for all of this.” She waved a hand out at the arena. “Because let me tell you, sweetie, your ass is mine until your eighteenth birthday, and you will be working off all the trouble you’ve caused.”
“Fair enough.” Giselle attempted to look bashful and hide the smile creeping across her face.
“And while we’re on the subject...” Martina’s eyes narrowed. “Where is my phone?”
Giselle almost wished she were the Alpha now, under the gaze of the dangerous momma wolf. “Sorry.”
Orion snickered. “I have no doubt you’ll be in the best of care with Martina.”
“Oh, she’ll be lucky if she sees the light of day when I’m through with her,” Martina responded.
“Good! We Silverman wolves need a firm hand.” Orion met Giselle’s eyes. “As for us, little wolf... I know you want us to be a family. And we will be. But part of being in a family is looking out for each other. I think you understand that concept well; I’m proof of that. But it also means looking out for the pack. And Aeson will need that at the start.” His eyes darted quickly to Vivian and back. “There are too many question marks hanging around.”
Fearless Little Werewolf Page 26
