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Alpha Kinnon Youngshaper from the Night Prowler Pack rose to his feet and roared from where he sat at.

“Mr. Gregor Gravecrown, the attacks were done to harm my heir and me. My son Ralph was barely four years old at the time of the attack. I demand justice!”

Emboldened by Kinnon’s action, Alpha Annalynne from the Silent Walkers Pack too rose again from her seat and shouted, “I was also attacked at the same time Alpha Kinnon was attacked! Mr. Gravecrown, I demand a full explanation from Lucrethia Woodland!”

By this time, Gregor was having a huge headache.

At first, he thought that he was only trying an ex-priest who confessed his crime on all accounts. It was supposed to be an easy one.

Enter Ronan Silverback who came with a bunch of questions and a theory that involved Lucrethia Woodland. He even managed to get the current Alpha of the Ironclad Claws Pack to side with him.

Kieran Locksworth’s testimony dragged two more packs into the trial, adding more mess to the already very messy affair.

Dane Silverback stood up, straightened his coat, and approached his distressed colleague.

.....

They exchanged a few words, then Gregor Gravecrown grabbed a gavel and hit the sound block a few times to call for attention.

“Alpha Kieran Locksworth’s testimony has changed the nature of the trial. The trial is thus adjourned until the next morning. All relevant pack Alphas, Betas, and Elders, come with me for a private hearing.”

Elijah Summertide cast a helpless look at Lucrethia Woodland at last before he was taken back to his cell. The elderly shot Kieran Locksworth a poisonous look. If she did not know better, she might be tempted to try and rip the former Beta’s head off his shoulders.

The hearing chamber had never been so cramped before. Inside were the four pack leaders, their representative elders, the suspect Lucrethia Woodland, and the two council members Gregor Gravecrown and Dane Silverback.

“Honestly, in my many years of being in the council, I have never experienced a messier circumstance than this one,” Gregor said with a certain degree of exasperation. “Alpha Kieran Locksworth, are you aware that you practically act as an accessory to the crime if you know what’s going on but did not bother to report it to the council???”

“That is not a fair reproach, Mr. Gravecrown,” Kieran growled in defiance. “Which Beta goes around to air out the pack’s dirty laundry??? That is an absolute betrayal!”

Lucrethia sneered.

“I assume that you consider yourself to be a righteous person right now, ‘Alpha’ Kieran. I never knew how hypocrisy smells like until you come along.”

Kieran’s face darkened visibly.

“Quit the verbal jabs, both of you,” Gregor barked. “Elder Kragen, do you have nothing to say?”

Said elder threw Gregor a helpless look. What was he supposed to say? The new Alpha of the pack testified against the mother of the previous Alpha who abandoned his position. Elder Kragen did not know what to say let alone what to do.

“Honestly, Mr. Gravecrown, I am conflicted. Elders are supposed to meddle in disputes between packs, not within packs.”

Gregor threw his hands in the air.

“You know what? Maybe the Ironclad Claws Pack needs to sort out its internal affair first before we even conduct this hearing.”

“Good idea, but I do not want to be lynched by the entire Woodland family members just because I stepped up to be the Alpha when no one else wanted to,” Kieran snapped.

Lucrethia cackled at Kieran’s temper. Conrad had no backbone and Vera was a coward, but she did not think that Kieran had what it took to be a good Alpha either.

“You already have the Alpha position. Feel free to keep it.”

“Wonderful, then Alpha Kieran remains the Alpha. What do you have to say about the matter concerning your pack member, Madam Lucrethia Woodland?”

“Oho!” Lucrethia exclaimed in amusement. “Yes, ‘Alpha’ Kieran, what do you have to say about me, a mere pack member?”

Lucrethia’s verbal jabs did not make Kieran more talkative. On the contrary, he clammed up immediately.

“You were saying about the two attacks at my pack house,” Kinnon helped to bring Kieran back on track.

“Yes,” Kieran said, visibly distracted.

“I, uh...”

He stole a glance at Ronan, who raised an eyebrow at him.

“Alpha Kieran, do you have any evidence that can support your claim?” Gregor asked.

“That... Yes, yes, I do. Um...” Kieran took a deep breath. “Is the council acquainted with a person named Silas Goldfinger?”

Other than Annalynne and Kendra who had not been in position for a long time, everyone reacted to the name with various degrees of displeasure mixed with annoyance.

Silas Goldfinger was a rogue werewolf who recruited fellow rogue werewolves and offered them to packs to do some freelance jobs. The nature of these freelance jobs was mostly illegal. A lot of the desperate, poor rogue werewolves were asked to do jobs that no proper werewolf wanted to be caught dead at.

“What about him?” Dane asked.

“A young woman came by our pack house once, and she demanded to meet with the Madam. She refused to tell her name and also her origin. Naturally, the guards kicked her out and barred her entry. At that time, so they reported, the young woman said that she was sent by a certain Silas Goldfinger.”

“That was how I found out that Madam engaged in Silas Goldfinger’s service from time to time.”

“One day, this young woman was received by the Alpha and suddenly she became something like an on-and-off servant to the Woodland household.”

“I later found out that her name was Shayla Plainheart. Allegedly, she was punished for stealing, but I know for sure that the Madam killed her in an outburst of rage.”