The Hunting
Chapter 23

"Are we ready to leave?" Clayton asked as he loaded the bags into his Jeep.

"Yeah, I think we've got everything." Tobias said, looking back at Kia with a smile.

Alpha Henry was already inside the Jeep, patiently waiting to leave. Clayton got in the driver's seat with Tobias and Kia climbing in the back.

It was about a two hour drive from Riverdale to St. Aims where the Council meeting hall was. The whole ride was spent in silence with Kia holding onto Tobias' hand tightly, her nerves eating her up.

"Ah, finally." Henry said as they pulled up to the old building. It was massive, resembling a manor more than just a normal building.

"Alpha Henry, Beta Clayton, guests." a man in a black suit said as he approached the Jeep. "The Council is waiting for you in the grand hall." he said as he lead the group in the right direction.

Kia admired the building as they walked, it was beautifully built with high arching ceilings, chandeliers, rich wood furnishings and dozens of paintings of all the important people in the werewolf community.

A large door opened up, revealing a large open room with a round table in the middle. The twelve members of the council sat around the table discussing various things until the group entered. They stood up and acknowledged their guests. Kia swallowed her nervousness and glanced between the Council members. She was surprised to see that the few human council members they had were present as well. She knew they didn't like being in werewolf territory, since it was basically illegal to do so, but the werewolves must have thought this an important meeting if they invited them.

"Alpha Henry." A tall, slender man with greying hair greeted.

"Council." Henry said, bowing his head slightly.

"Allow me to introduce everyone. I am Council Leader Daniel. This is Rupert, Jonathan, Maria, Ricon, Robert, Eliza, Greyson, Dominic, Damian, Lucy and Evangeline." Daniel said, introducing everyone around the table in a clockwise manner.

Tobias went ridget when the name Evangeline was mentioned, probably thinking of the little girl that died because she was helping him, Kia gave him a gentle smile to ease his heartache.

"Please, sit." Council man Dominic said as he motioned to chairs that were open around the table.

Everyone got their seats. "Right, please excuse my bluntness, but let's just get this over with." Henry said, folding his hands.

A few of the council members laughed, "Ah, my dear Henry. Still much the same I see." Daniel said, nodding for him to proceed.

"We're here to sort out some pack business. Since Alpha Morris and both his eldest sons are dead, the Blood Moon pack rightfully belongs to Tobias." he explained, pointing to Tobias. "But he doesn't want the pack, he wants me to merge it with my own. But obviously we need Council permission for that."

Everything was deadly silent, the council's facial expressions unreadable.

"Alpha Henry. Kindly explain how it is that you know of their deaths? We have no knowledge of this." Council woman Eliza said, eying him suspiciously.

Henry sighed. "We know because we killed them."

A few gasps were heard, among shouts of disapproval. "Excuse me?" Daniel asked, his face deadly.

"My daughter is Alpha Morris' son Tobias' mate." Clayton began explaining. "As it turns out, Morris' brother, Michael had an eye on my other daughter Layana. He went after her in the Hunting and ended up killing her, Kia responded in the attack and killed Michael." he shook his head. "Alpha Morris found out that Kia had killed him and decided to take matters into his own hands. He kidnapped Kia and his sons, Thomas and Darion, tortured her for almost two weeks before we finally found her. Thomas got killed on the spot by Tobias because he was busy going at Kia with a hammer, Darion and Morris were taken into custody."

"We interrogated both men, trying to understand why they had taken Kia." Alpha Henry said, "When the truth came out of their reasons, I ordered Clayton to execute them."

The council was silent once again.

"You weren't there.." Tobias burst out. "The things they did to her, it was unnatural, it was cruel. You might not see it, but underneath all of these tattoos lies scars that were caused by unimaginable things."

The council all turned their attention to Kia. "Tell us, Kia. What did they do to you?" Councilman Damian asked.

"They tied me to a wall with silver chains, removed my clothes, left me freezing for two days. They starved me, beat me..." Kia said her voice quivering. "with hammers, breaking every bone they could find. Darion liked knives, he cut me and stabbed me and left me bleeding out in such a manner that my wolf had to over-exert herself to heal me in time for me not to die. She was so weak by the time my family saved us, that I nearly lost her. The pain I went through is something that none of you will ever understand, it's not even possible for you to imagine, but it was real and they all deserved to die."

"Come here, please." Daniel said and Kia got up and walked to him. He examined her body, looking closely at the scars hidden beneath the ink on her skin. He lifted her shirt following a scar on her shoulder and gasped when he noticed the name on her stomach." Is that...? "he asked pointing to it.

"Thomas's name. Yes, he carved it into me with a knife." Kia said her jaw tight.

Daniel nodded and continued examining her scars, finally he let her go and she sat down again.

"Well from what I can see, the story is very much the truth." Daniel said, wincing slightly when he looked at Kia.

"Can you give us a moment to deliberate the matter." Councilwoman Lucy said turning her eyes to Alpha Henry.

"Of course." Henry said and as he got up the rest followed.

They stood outside the grand hall, waiting to hear their fates. The butlers brought them all something to drink and told them one of the guards will call them once the meeting was over.

"This is ridiculous." Alpha Henry growled. "What is there to discuss? What we did wasn't wrong."

"Yes, given the circumstances at the time, it wasn't. But we did break several laws and I'm not sure they can overlook that, justified or not." Clayton said, rubbing his face.

Kia could see the worry in his eyes, he suddenly looked much older.

"Let's just not think about this, okay?" Kia suggested. "I'm sure everything will work out fine."

"They council is ready for you." a guard said as he opened the door again.

Everyone walked back into the room, this time they were only greeted by cold eyes and blank faces.

"It is the decision of the council that Alpha Henry will not be taking over the Blood Moom pack," Daniel started explaining. "Tobias, you will step up and become Alpha of your home-pack, effective immediately."

"Furthermore," Dominic continued. "Since the two of you have not yet been mated, we the council have decided that you are no longer permitted to do so. Your mating is forbidden and you will both take new mates of our choosing."

Tobias growled loudly, moving towards the council. Kia grabbed his arm and held him back.

"Alpha Henry, one of our own will be joining your pack. It is obvious that we need to keep a close eye on you and what you do." Councilwoman Lucy said, eying Henry.

"Beta Clayton, we hereby strip you of your title, the Councilman joining the pack will choose a new Beta for you, Henry." Daniel said. "And the final matter of our decision, is that Kia will remain here. We will be training her for a spot on the council."

"No!" Clayton and Tobias said together.

"I don't want to be on the council." Kia said, backing away.

"It is decided." Dominic said, glaring at Kia. He made her feel very uncomfortable.

"Guards, escort the rest of them out. Greyson, pack your things and head to Riverdale." Daniel said and the guards moved to carry out their orders.

Both Tobias and Clayton had to be forcefully removed, neither wanting to leave Kia. Henry simply walked out, his wolf growling the whole way. Kia stood frozen staring at the doors.

"You'll find council life isn't all that bad my dear." Councilwoman Lucy said as she squeezed Kia's shoulder.

I don't want to find out. I don't want to be here. I want Tobias, I want my home, I want to be Beta of Riverdale.

Sᴇarch the FindNovel.net website on G𝘰𝘰gle to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.