Chapter 48

Claudia’s POV
“What’s happening, Mandy?” “I’ll bring Chelsea and Tim over. Give me a minute” she answers as I look at Danny. “That’s weird” I tell him. “What’s weird?” “Mandy. For as long as I have known her; she never hesitates” I answer him.
He looks towards Mandy; “Jesse, do you know what’s going on?” he asks. Jesse comes up to Danny and places his head on his lap; “Something has happened at the River Pack” he informs us. “What has happened? Is Tim, ok?” I ask, thinking the worst.
“I’m fine” he calls out, coming over and sitting on the mound of grass next to us. “What’s go..” “You need to wait; I will need to bring a few others over” Amanda interrupts me; as Dad, Simon, Jason, Rick, Cynthia and Chelsea come into the Sanctuary and Grandma Nelly and Mum walk over from the edge.
“Tim; what’s happened?” Danny asks, narrowing his eyes at him. “I will explain” Selene answers; coming over, dragging a screaming James in chains as Jesse, Parker and Kingsley start growling.
We all look towards Goddess Selene; “Michael didn’t like James’ explanation on why he had the opportunity to have Danny onside and never took it. He is here for final judgement” she tells us. I look at Danny, then at James. There is fear on James’ face.
“Goddess; you judge this poor excuse for a werewolf, how you see fit” Danny spits, standing up, turning his back to him. I stand up and place my arms around his waist. “I agree with Danny, Goddess” I tell her, looking back over my shoulder. “I have something to add” Mum says, walking over to James as Danny and I turn to face them again.
James smiles at her; “my precious mate, I knew you will be on my side” he says. Mum makes a fist and punches James in the stomach. “How dare you? Danny wasn’t to blame. You are nothing but a selfish piece of shit. And you dragged Todd into it; you deserve everything Goddess Selene is going to do to you” she screams and Simon grabs hold of Mum; holding her back.
James smirks at Simon; “I would wipe that smirk off your face. I asked you on more than one occasion to let Danny go and you didn’t. I have to live with the guilt and remorse of consulting you in the first place, when Janelle died; thinking you may have changed your attitude toward him. Send him to the underworld” Simon shouts; the fear creeping back on James’ face.
“Goddess; why are…” Dad begins to ask; and Selene puts her hand up, stopping him. “My chosen wolves; you all have a say in the final judgement of James. Is there anyone here who is willing to stand in his defence?” she asks us as though she was a judge seeking council for a hardened criminal. I look at Danny fuming beside me; he was glaring at James.
I release my arms from around his waist and move toward Goddess Selene. “I am not volunteering to stand at his defence. I don’t believe anyone here is willing to defend him. I however, have a few questions for him to answer before his judgement is passed. Danny needs closure and James needs to give it” I voice to her. “You may ask” Selene answers me.
“James; Why did you treat Danny, the way you did; knowing full well it was your actions that caused Luna Rachael to succumb to the loss of blood from the placenta previa?” I ask him. He shuffles on the spot and looks down at his feet.
“You have been asked a question” Danny spits at him; forcing James to jump. “I-I… H-How… B-But…” he stammers, looking at all of us.
“Are you saying, you didn’t stop me from going to the hospital for two hours; when I was clearly in labour because it didn’t fit in with your plans; or Craig’s for that matter?” Mum asks him. “I-I” he stammers again. I knew about her revelation. She told me when I spoke with her about getting Danny, Dad and Jason back. From the shocked expressions on everyone else; they did not.
Simon drops to his knees; “Why did you order me not to feed Danny, and drag him to places where Todd and others could torture him? I would have happily given up my life by refusing; if I knew what they were really going to do and not taken him” Simon whispers.
James doesn’t say anything; he shuffles on the spot, looking at his feet. “Do you feel any kind of remorse or guilt for what you have done?” I finally ask him. James lifts his head and glares at Danny, he has no remorse or guilt in his eyes. Just anger towards him. “We have our answer” Dad exclaims, walking over to James and punching him in the jaw. I have never seen him this angry.
“I have something to ask” Danny snarls at him. “What is Michael up to? Answer that and I will leave here without another word and let Goddess Selene deliver your punishment. May she have mercy on you” Danny injects.
“Why would I tell you?” he snarls at Danny. “You won’t; but I will” a voice comes from the edge of the sanctuary. “Shut your fucking mouth; Quinton” James exclaims. “What are you going to do? Kill me? Wanker. You’re about to go to the underworld and like hell, I’m joining you” a tan wolf says, walking over to Mum and sits by her.
“Michael is under the impression, he will rule werewolves, not just the Diamond Moon Pack; with the help of Callum. Callum and he have joined forces; trying to create an army of both vampires and werewolves to take over from King Oliver. When Callum becomes King of the vampires, Michael will become Alpha of all werewolves” Quinton answers Danny’s question.
“I should introduce you to Quinton, he is James’ wolf and Danny, he was not involved in James’ actions. He withdrew himself from James and came to be with Jacinta when Mum was still living. He only went back recently, to be James’ voice of reason after you took action and left the River Moon Pack. As you can see; he did not succeed in being one” Mum explains to us.
“What about the witches, werecats and werebears?” Dad asks. “To my knowledge; they are not pursuing them. I am not sure why.” “Enough” James screams as we all look towards him. “Are we able to gagged this asshole” Tim scoffs, glaring at James.
“Tim; you no longer need to be at the River Pack. I forgive you for trying to stab me. You may come onto our territory again” Danny says, giving him a wink. “I can’t come back; Todd is now Alpha and under Michael’s reign. I don’t know what they are planning, but it’s not good by the fear in Todd’s eyes. I need to be there to find out, so we can stop them” he answers, refusing to look at Chelsea.
“Just don’t get yourself killed. If you do; I will ask Goddess Selene to bring you here and I will kill you again” Chelsea fumes at him.
“One thing I do know from Todd; Craig told Michael how Todd took Alpha Henry, Jason and you and was intrigued by it. He would like to know more” Tim tells us, as we all look at Chelsea.
“I think we have heard enough” Goddess Selene announces; dragging James behind her. “I love you” Mum says to Danny and I, as her, Quinton and Grandma Nelly head to the edge of the sanctuary behind Goddess Selene.
I look at Tim; “When are they planning on taking Danny?” I ask him. “I don’t know; I wasn’t sure if Chelsea told you about our code. Given James was here, I didn’t want to openly say it”’ he responds.
“What happened, with James” Dad asks, looking toward the edge of the sanctuary again. “Callum told Michael about all of us before James was involved. He had never been to the pack before so he didn’t know we were there. When I got there, Callum didn’t trust me. I told him; I had enough of being Goddess Selene’s chosen warrior and refuse to be a part of it. I prayed to her later and told her it was a lie; so, she doesn’t think I am going against her” he answers.
“Doesn’t explain; Michael killing James” Simon injects. “No; I guess not. Michael yelled at him from the moment I got to them. He was screaming, you should have known and Danny could have been raised to fight alongside them. He was also screaming about Rick and I; how he let us get from his grasp. James was fuming; I could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears. We got into his office and he stammered through his explanation of how Danny killed my mate; but word has gotten out of how Luna Rachael really died. He didn’t like being told what to do by Michael. James scoffed and swore at Michael and before any of us knew what was happening; Michael shifted and ripped him apart” he explains.
“Damn; not a way I would choose to go” Rick chuckles. “Me either. After Michael’s wolf Randall killed James, he shifted back and looked at Todd and said welcome Alpha Todd of the River Moon Pack. Todd was so scared; I think he pissed himself. I made the decision to stay because, if I leave now; they will know it was a move on our part to be there and start a war or something” Tim tells everyone.
“If you are going to stay; we will need to have you come here every couple of days. Even if it is to only see Chelsea” Danny says to him. “I was thinking the same. I didn’t get a chance to send another message through to Chelsea about James. They got me into the training compound immediately, to show them what I can do. Jeremy was dumbfounded about my training, since I never did any before. On that note; I will find out what they have planned; if they have an army and who is in it” Tim answers him.
“We should get back. We have a lot to talk to Oliver and Sariah about this, in the morning” Dad says. “Oh; I almost forgot; Sariah. The reason why James was asking all those questions about her, Callum gave a brief description of her to Michael, Craig and James; telling them she was Hecate’s chosen. According to Todd, James noticed who she was; I’m not sure if he had the chance to tell Michael or Callum she was at the ceremony” Tim explains. “We will talk with her and Oliver in the morning” Simon tells him.
“I will bring you back, same time in two days” Amanda tells Tim and Chelsea. “We’ll be ready” Chelsea answers, smiling back at Amanda as Danny moves over to Tim. “Stay safe, my cousin” he says, giving Tim a hug.
As a flash of light sends Danny and myself to our room.