Book 1: Chapter 45

Charles pursed his lips. “I mean, assaulting a woman and a police office is a big deal. Especially since backup had to be called and we now have multiple documentations of it. It’s not something I can let slide. He will have to go to court. If Solaris and Mitch don’t press charges, we may be able to wiggle our way out of jail time and into some hours of community service. But that’s a big if. What about you?”

“If he did try to mark her, it’s something I’m technically supposed to report to the Alpha King. He’s supposed to be turned over to them for punishment. They handle it and send him back. It’s rape, attempted or not, in our packs. It’s taken very seriously.”

“Well fuck.”

We sat in silence for a while. Both of us were mulling over our own thoughts.

“How long do you need to hold him?”

“Well, it will have to be until the confirm whether or not to set bail. If they set bail, that will have to be paid and we can release him to you. Or if there isn’t, we can just release him just with the confirmation that he will be back for his court date.”

I nodded. “Is there a chance he would have to stay until his court date?”

Charles shook his head. “We are too small of a station to hold more than 48 hours. You may need to come back though since it’s so early. We will hear back in regards to the court when the decide to get back to us. Sam can at least get the Jeep out of the impound and get that back.”

“Can I see him?”

“Yeah, but I can’t let you inside.You can speak to him through the bars.”

Shaking my head, I leaned back in the chair. “Fuck. This is the last thing…fuck. I need to check on Aelia. She’s been getting weaker lately, which is probably why she didn’t just kick his ass. If Nate knew that too, that’s even more messed up.”

“Text me once you talk to her. Just make sure she is okay. I’ll need to head up there later though. Both to get her statement and see if she wants to press charges against him.”

How had this happened? How did it start out from him wanting to talk to her to him shoving her up against the wall? She managed to get away but now what? We all were navigating what it was like to have her back in our lives but if he just burned the bridge with her. Any and all chance of even being around her for the next few months disappeared out the window. Not to mention that the last thing I wanted to do was to send Nate to the Alpha King. That might actually kill him. Not just assaulting his mate, but his mate who happened to be the Alpha King’s adopted daughter and the First Alpha Prince. 

Groaning, I buried my head in my hands again. This was so bad it trumped anything that had been going on. Everything now was put on hold. Sam would need to take over all of Nate’s duties except for training which I’d have to do. Depending on his level of competency, he would either be confined to the pack house, his room or the dungeon.

“Come on, we can wallow all we want but we have shit to do. I’ll let you see him. Talk about what you need to and figure out a plan from there. If I don’t have a consensus by then, maybe head over to Solaris for a bit. I’ll call you when I hear back. Sound like a plan?”

I nodded and sighed. “Here you are with that level headedness I’m learning to hate.”

Charles chuckled but grabbed my arm as he pulled me up. “Let’s go. We both have shit we need to do.”

He headed out of the room and turned down the hall. We walked together to the very back where there was a row of four cells. From memory, this was the first set, while in the next room there was a group of eight, four against each wall of the room. But it was completely empty save for the one on the furthest left.

Nate was curled up on the metal bench, facing the wall. He didn’t move or make a sound. Charles motioned with his head to the cell and turned back down the hall, most-likely back to his own office. I walked down to the last cell and sat on the wood bench that was placed opposite of it. Listening to his breathing, I knew he wasn’t asleep. Nate couldn’t fake sleep for the life of him. He’d tried when we were younger but it never worked. At least not with Aelia and I.

“Nate, you’re going to have to talk to me at some point.”

He didn’t move, his breath did hitch for a moment, confirming not only that he was awake but also that he heard me.

“I got the account from the officer but I need to know what happened.”

I waited a few minutes and was about to say something else when Nate shifted, sitting up slowly. He turned around and looked at him, eyes completely red. My heart tore in two. Nate looked broken. As though his soul had shattered. I tried to keep my face as passive as I could but he looked so utterly miserable that it was hard.

Part of me knew I should be absolutely livid for what he did. He broke one of the biggest laws we have as wolves. Not to mention putting other people at risk, hurting other people. It was absolutely something I shouldn’t feel sorry for him. But Nate was my brother. Not only did he know he fucked up, but this showed just how much it destroyed him.

“Silas…”

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the brokenness in his tone. “Did you try to mark her, Nate?”

He visibly flinched. “Silas…I…”

I growled, letting some of my Alpha aura out. “Did you try to fucking mark her?”

He now was shaking like a leaf. “Y…yes…”

I reigned in my aura and pinched the bridge of my nose. “What were you thinking? Do you realize what you’ve done? Not just the position you put yourself in but also me?”

“I…I know…it was…I just…at some point…the madness took over. I remember some of the conversation clearly and then…then it’s like a blur. Like I’m seeing it in third person. I didn’t…I didn’t want…I didn’t mean…”

“You know you hurt her, right? You hurt your mate?”

Nate’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t want…I didn’t…”

“Whether or not you wanted it Nate, it happened. You hurt her. Made her bleed. Bruised her. Not to mention you tried to mark her! As she begged you to stop!”

“I know! I know Silas!” He broke down, sliding to the floor and curling up into a ball.

The lump in my throat got larger and I struggled to swallow it. Struggled to keep the emotions down.

“I have to contact the Alpha King. I have to report you.”

Nate turned, eyes filled with fear.

“It isn’t just about almost marking your mate! Aelia is the First Alpha Prince! What do you think he’s going to say? That’s his adopted daughter.”

His head fell between his knees. “I deserve it. All of it. I can see the look on her face. It’s not even clear but it’s clear enough. I deserve every bit of that punishment.”

“I’ll speak to her. See how she wants to proceed. You’re also going to have to go to court here. Assaulting a police officer to the point of him going to the hospital while he was trying to stop you from assaulting a woman. That’s for human courts as well. Charles will work with us for that.”

Nate didn’t raise his head. Moving off the bench, I squatted next to the bars and reached in, putting my hand on his head. He raised his head slightly, the tears from earlier back. “I’m sorry, Silas. I’m so sorry. I can’t…sorry can’t even…”

“I know. We’ll get through this. I have a feeling she’s not going to be as hard on you as you are on yourself. I need you to promise me though that this madness, whatever the fuck is tainting you, needs to be gone. It can’t happen again.”

He gave me a long look before nodding slowly. I gave him a small smile before ruffling his hair.

“I’ll be back. If Charles doesn’t have the information for the bail, I’ll be back later today when he does. We’ll go home and figure it out from there. Alright?”

He nodded again and placed his head back into his knees. I stood up and headed back out into the station. Charles was speaking to a couple other officers as I walked in. He cut off whatever they were speaking about and came over.

“How is he?”

“Not great, but I’d rather have remorseful than anything else. He’ll make it, hopefully. Did you hear back?”

Charles shook his head. “No, not yet.”

“I’m going to head to Aelia’s place. We need to speak. Both as her brother and because we might need to move this further up the chain. I need to see what she thinks. I’ll be back after that.”

“I’ll give you a ring if I find out before then.” I shook his hand but he pulled me in for a hug. “I know this is a lot but you can count on me to help, Silas. As much as I can.”

Smiling, I patted his back. “I appreciate it. I’ll talk to you in a few.”

He let go and lifted the counter again so I could walk out. As I headed outside, Sam was leaning against the front of Nate’s Jeep, waiting. He stood when he saw me.

“How bad?”

I grimaced. “Too bad. Head back to the house. Have Mer make some of Nate’s favorites. Hopefully, I’ll have him back by this evening. We have to wait for bail to be announced.”

“Bail? Is he going to their court?” Sam’s voice rose a bit.

My eyes roamed over his car before finally connecting with Sam’s. “This court and ours, Sam. That’s how bad.”

Sam swore and I chuckled, still finding it hilarious when it was so out of character for him. 

“Head back, Sam. I need to run around some before I come back.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

I was about to chastise him for using my title but he was already around the front and getting in the drivers seat. Heading back to my truck, I pulled out my phone. Staring at it for a moment before putting it down, it wouldn’t do me much good to give them a heads up now. They probably already knew I needed to speak with her. As I drove, I tried to get my thoughts in order of what I wanted to ask her. Did I plead for Nate? Ask her to have mercy on him? Did I just let her decide because he fucking deserved it? Mulling around in my thoughts did nothing to help me decide when I pulled into the bar parking lot.

Staring at the building, I let out a large sigh and unbuckled my seatbelt.