*****CHAPTER 5

MAE'S POV
 
Our small family gathered around the table, digging into the meal in front of us. Like I suspected, it was pottage and stew, but at least Snow was kinder this time and had made some steaks with the dish. My mother added more of the steaks to my dish and topped some veggies on it.

My father sneered in sarcasm as she did so. His own mouth is full and heavy with food, giving him that lazy and gluttonous look that disgusts me.

"Definitely a mommy's girl." "I wonder how your mother is going to take it after her precious daughter leaves for the army soon." He snickered as he spoke, and I tightened my grip on my knife and fork. I could already imagine shoving the cutlery down his throat and shutting his mouth forever. I blamed the gods for giving me this man for a father.

"When does recruitment start?" Snow's question was directed to no one in particular, and after a short moment of silence, my father answered with full confidence.

"In a month."

Just like my father, Snow was always happy to talk about my recruitment in the army. Sometimes, I wondered if she ever worried about what would happen to me there. Would she care if I never returned home after I left? that the only thing the armies would return to them would be my boots and supplies? All they seemed to care about was the monthly allowance that would be paid to them for providing a family member to the army.

"In a month?" Snow feigned concern and disappointment in her voice. "Oh, poor Mae wouldn't get to attend my wedding when I get married. Would you?"

This time, I laughed and bit into my steak.

"You? Get married?"

"Yes. Why?" She was suddenly on the defensive.

"Never heard of whores dreaming of marriage."

Snow let out a short, shocked gasp at my statement, and Pearl laughed silently.

Snow suddenly rose from her seat and slapped her napkin against the table, her nose flaring with anger.

"How disrespectful!" "I have had enough of this insolent family!" And then she went storming out of the dining room.

.........................


ALCOT'S POV

Two older men were brought to the assembly gathering today for judgment. Both of them were members of the elders' council and had been accused of extortion, fraud, and drug trafficking. Actually, one of them was the culprit, and it was for this reason that they were dragged to the assembly gathering so that the real thief would be fished out and the innocent one let go. As they knelt down side by side in front of my throne, they did their best to avoid my gaze, for all who knew me knew that it was a death sentence to look me in the eye. Funny enough, I had never asked for such a degree of fear from everyone, but my cold countenance had spoken for itself, and no one even saw me as a mere man anymore. The devil incarnate, maybe?
 
Jax, my beta, opened the judgment and began to read from a scroll.
 
"My Lord, the lycan king of all werewolves in the country and the Alpha of our great pack," he began, shifting his eyes to me before turning them back to the scroll again.
 
"And the great, loyal elders of the council." He nodded a polite nod in the direction where the elders were seated before he continued to read from the stroll.
 
"Today, there is a new case that is being presented to the assembly regarding Elder Matthias Fisher and Elder Jacobson Lawrence. These two members of the great elder council have been accused of smuggling drugs and young ladies and lads for trafficking. They have also been accused of extortion, fraud, and trafficking in hard drugs. These crimes are punishable under the laws of the Black Wolf pack, and anyone guilty of such offenses shall be banished from the pack with his entire family and have all their properties permanently seized and confiscated. "There shall be no bail, no plea for mercy."
 
As Jax continued to read, I kept my eyes fixed and observed the two men, who were shivering with fright. Even from a close distance, one would not be able to point the thief out between the two of them.
 
"My Lord, the Alpha and Lycan King." Jax lowered his head in my direction with a small curtsy before turning to the elders and doing the same. "And the great elders of the council." "The hearing and judgment are left for you to observe and make."
 
One of the men, elder Jacobson, burst into tears, and the other man, elder Matthias, followed immediately. I watched as elder Jacobson's cries reduced to sobs as he stared at elder Matthias with so much hatred while elder Matthias looked the other direction, avoiding his gaze.
 
Evidence number one
 
"Elder Matthias Fisher." I decided to start with Matthias first, knowing fully well what I was doing. "Did you, in any way or form, partake in any of the crimes labeled against you?"
 
"No, my Lord." Elder Matthias shook with both fear and tears. He held his hands in plea, his eyes still avoiding meeting mine. "I swear by my mother's grave, I never did any of the crimes that I have been accused of." "I was framed, my Lord."
 
"Do you swear by your life?" I asked again, and Elder Matthias nodded almost immediately.
 
"Yes, my Lord." "I swear by my life that I am telling the truth."
 
I could hear the elders murmur amongst themselves, some in agreement with what Elder Matthias had said and others in doubt of his words.
 
"He is innocent."
 
"He cannot even hurt a fly."
 
"I always knew he was a sneaky little bastard."
 
After the murmurs died down a few seconds later, I shifted my gaze to the Elder Jacobson.
 
"Elder Jacobson Lawrence." I called his name, and he immediately looked up at me, his lips trembling with great fear and tears.
 
"M–my Lo–lord."
 
"You have been accused of terrible crimes that are punishable under the laws of this pack." What is your plea against these accusations? "Are you guilty of these crimes you are accused of?"
 
"No, my Lord." The man said, his eyes locked to mine, filled with so much pleading.
 
"Do you swear by your life?"
 
"I swear by my life."
 
Evidence number two.
 
Just two pieces of evidence was already enough for me to conclude who the thief really was. I would handle this with care the wat I knew how to do best.

I don't care if everyone else would call me the devil Alpha like they always did. Justice must be served and I shall do that fairly.

Someone was about to lose his life today in this gathering.