28. Trial

As they walked in, she kept her eyes focused on the three elders, not on the dozens of people that were in there with them. Emmalyn stayed facing forward, keeping in line with her mates.

The interior of the council hut was huge. The outer walls had dozens of mid-ranked wolves standing, seated, and even sprawled out watching the central area. High-ranking wolves, the Alphas, and their mates made a wide circle around the low fire burning inside the stone fire circle. At the far side were the three elders; two elder Betas and the elder Alpha.

As the three approached, the hushed conversations dropped into silence. All the wolves rose to their feet when the elders stood. The Elder Alpha spoke, speaking in an odd, complex guttural language for a long while, then stopped as the younger wolves responded, as a unit with one line. When it was over the Elder Betas sat down, signaling the others to do the same while the Elder Alpha remained on his feet facing the trio from the opposite side of the fire.

“Three days have passed to allow the healer to recover. Are you prepared to face us tonight, Emmalyn?” Mikael asked, his voice clear and strong within the confines of the hut.

When he addressed her, it surprised Emmalyn that he called her by name. She thought for a moment about her answer. Caleb had spoken to her on how to reply to the Elders when they addressed her.

“I am as ready as I can be, Mikael.” She said, not feeling comfortable using his name, though she was told she needed to.

The Elder Alpha nodded his understanding and gave a faint smile in response to her honesty. The other two Elders regarded her differently. Toren seemed impassive, watching her like a hawk. But his gaze was far warmer than the one Ghor fastened on her. The intensity of his gaze could have very well devoured her.

“We have deliberated your situation, little one,” Mikael said gently, speaking to her as if there was not a formal gathering around them. “While you live, our enemies will always want you, so your death would be a simple choice. But not a wise choice. Your mates are important to our pack and many of us believe you will be just as important in time. We have discussed banishing all of you to keep the danger from coming to our very gates. But Peratuth wolves do not cower under any adversary.”

To this statement, the entire hut, including those lingering outside, let up sounds of agreement, howls, idle words thrown about, threatening the vampires to come with all they had. Mikael held up his hand and silence fell again.

“We have decided on two options. As the dominator of your union, you must decide which path to take.”

This statement, marking her as ‘dominator’, was no doubt a surprise. Not only to her, but to those listening. She was a small, frail human between two incredibly powerful males. And she was the dominant one. Emmalyn felt the blood drain from her face as he spoke to her. She felt the room spin a bit, but it was the strength of her mates that helped her stay standing and strong. She did not understand why they thought she was the dominant one, but they did when they gave her the choice.

“A year of banishment. You must take up the life of nomads outside of the ancient forest and outside of the Lycan territory. A year to prove that your mates can defend you against our enemies. If they can, the rest of us will do the same.”

There was a slight murmuring running through the crowd, but Mikael pressed on as if he didn’t notice.

“Or you can make the payment for your place with us. An elder of your choosing will sire your first pup.”

She felt the weight of the decision crushing her. Emmalyn wanted so badly to ask to speak to her mates, but she didn’t really think the wish would be granted. They gave her the choice, so the choice would have to be made by her with no influence from the men next to her. She tried so hard to feel anything from them, but they must have known that she would hope for that. Caleb provided calm support for her and Farrel gave a numb sensation. It was not a simple decision at all. She took a deep breath and hoped that her voice would not fail her.

“I have made my decision, Mikael.” She said as she kept her eyes on him. She did not look at the other two elders, so she might have lost her nerve by Ghor’s glare. “I cannot ask you to lose two more of your hunters after so many have already lost their lives to bring me here. I cannot have them leave their home for a year.”

Emmalyn took another deep breath.

“I will bear the child of an elder.” She said, her voice staying true and strong until the end. She gave each of their hands a squeeze, hoping she didn’t let them down.

Hearing her decision had a loud murmur erupted in a wave through the hut and outside to those listening. Caleb squeezed her hand, as did Farrel. Her Alpha even stole a glance down at her and his worry and gratitude interlaced in that one look. Putting her in danger would have surely destroyed them all, physically and emotionally. Farrel did not doubt his prowess against the blood drinkers, but being so exposed to so many was an impossible task. Neither of them could bear the loss.

She felt Farrel’s eyes on her and turned her face to look at him. Emmalyn felt relieved at seeing what was there in his eyes. She understood the dangers the three of them would face on their own and couldn’t do that to them. She couldn’t tear them from their home because of her. They had lost so much already. She turned and gave Caleb a look as well. He was still looking ahead, but she could feel him there with her.

It was clear by the soft, reassuring smile on Mikael’s face that he approved of her logic. She thought of the pack before she was even a part of it. A good sign for them all. To his right, the hard-faced Toren even smiled faintly. Ghor’s nostrils flared and his breathing increased with the choice still hanging in the air, undecided.

“Which elder?” Mikael urged, gesturing towards the men seated at his flanks.

She looked forward again when he asked her to pick an elder. She honestly did not know which one to choose.

“I must ask, Mikael,” she said, her voice steady. “That since I am not familiar with you all, that you each give me your reasons you should be the father of the child I will bear.” She said, feeling that she was almost out of line, being so brazen. But it was a chance she needed to take.

Around them, the Alphas, Betas, and their mates chuckled softly. Emmalyn looked around when she heard the soft murmuring of the crowd. She was afraid that she had said something wrong, but the looks she got from them showed her she was right. She had not been out of line, wanting to know what was best for the child she would have.

The Elders shared a glance with one another. Then Mikael nodded, settling back into his seat between the other two. Ghor’s eagerness had him speaking first.

“If you want your pup to have strength, you’ll choose me, Emmalyn,” he said; voice deep and rich but there was an ill-disguised hunger lurking there. “Strength, power, stamina. I can be a generous lover.”

The first elder frightened her. There was something in the undertone of his voice that spoke to her more than his words did. She gave her mates’ hands a gentle squeeze, letting them know she had not let them wander from her mind during this ordeal.

As Ghor’s words faded off, all eyes swiveled to the silent Toren. He seemed to study the human for a long moment before he finally opened his mouth. His voice, like his brothers, was strong and charismatic, though he was more subtly powerful. He spoke calmly, letting his Alpha power draw attention to him without having to emphasize it.

“There is more to gain than strength. Wisdom and patience. I’ll be gentle with you, little human.”

The second elder had a kind voice. She couldn’t help but smile just a little when he spoke. She knew he was correct with what he offered her, but it was not what she was seeking.

The silence lengthened as Toren left the floor open. All eyes swiveled to Mikael, who merely met Emmalyn’s gaze with a curiously unreadable stare. When he spoke, the depth of his words left many a wolf in slack-jawed amazement. Clearly, the other two elders had misunderstood the human’s question.

“I would provide for our pup. Both with my care and yours, of course, Emmalyn. It’s been a long while since I’ve been a father, but I have not forgotten. While I cannot be your mate, I will be your companion and be around for you and the pup.”

She looked at Mikael as he looked at her. His words rang clear and true to her. Where the other two did not understand her, he did. Perhaps he understood humans more than the others. That was what she was waiting and hoping for. Though it broke her heart to think that her first child would not be of her mates, there was an obvious choice made before her.

“Mikael,” she whispered, her authentic voice carried as though she had spoken as loudly as before. “I choose you to be the father of the child.”