"So Thundering Falls may be a problem," Sam said, looking at his Alpha who was still poised next to the window staring out at the forest.
August was out there sowhere. That is all Grae could think about, and it was slowly driving him mad. He knew it shouldn’t be... he trusted her. She was more than capable of whatever it was that the Goddess had put before her with this vampire issue. But Ranier was just one more reminder that most lycans did not hold the alyko in high esteem like their pack now did.
The alyko were distrusted at best, and at worst they were hunted, imprisoned, experinted on, and killed. He wanted his alyko mate safe by his side where he could protect her, if only to reassure himself of that fact. Hell, he would take her protecting him at this point. He just wanted her ho. Goddess, he needed her ho.
Every part of his being reached for her, ached for her to return quickly. And he wanted to rip Beta Ranier to shreds for insinuating that she could be anything like that maniac Cassian. She was a Luna! How dare he disrespect her. She was glowing with the Goddess’ own blessing now that she was pregnant with the Hallowell heir! She hadn’t ruthlessly killed anyone to claim the position she was in. It was hers.
Sam watched Grae silently fuming and imagined plus of smoke coming out of his ears. He knew exactly what was going through Grae’s mind. It was hard to control his own tongue when Ranier was making careless comnts about August as if he had so kind of insight into what the Hallowell pack’s future may hold given what Thundering Falls had been through.
"He sure got cocky once he heard we weren’t going to retaliate," Sam thought aloud.
Grae grunted. "Once he heard that Cassian was truly no longer a threat," he turned back toward his desk. "Little does he know that we defeated Cassian thanks to our alyko."
"I doubt that would change his mind," Sam said, swiveling in his chair.
"Oh, of course not," Grae scoffed. "But this is sothing that we will always face. Anyone who distrusts the alyko—any lycan leadership—will be unhappy to know we have an alyko Luna here."
"Not to ntion the fact that your eyes are now that characteristic golden hue," Sam added.
"Right," he sighed. "If only I could hide them sohow."
He chuckled softly at the mory of August’s contacts that she had worn in the beginning. His poor mate. It was painful to recall that he had encouraged her to hide herself even that much... and to think it was for the sake of the elders that he had her hide. If he would have known then what he knew now about the truth of their deceit...
"Brown contacts," he said, pushing the what ifs from his mind. "Should I wear so? Is it best to appease the fear of others or stand confidently in your own truth regardless of what problems it creates?"
"You don’t want anyone to have a reason to distrust you," Sam said.
"Is that an argunt for contacts or against them?" Grae asked with a crooked smile. He knew the answer, but it was a relief to find even a small amount of humor in this predicant they were in.
"If you wear them, you are disguising your truth. It could be viewed as a lie by outsiders but also by pack mbers. I say embrace it," Sam smiled. "Embrace what your mate gave you."
"Wise beyond your years, Samuel," Grae said approvingly.
"Thank you," he replied. "I am quite wise."
"Okay, Samuel the wise," Grae chuckled. "I have not listened to you or my sister about Violet. What do we do with her now?"
The smile fell from Sam’s face, and he groaned. "You told her she could have a trial. Perhaps that is what is best. I don’t see you ordering her death on your own. You will require soone to force your hand, and it may be better in the eyes of pack mbers as well... if they hear everything and have a say in the outco. Then it won’t look like you are shielding her from retribution or shielding them from the truth. How you deal with this will also set a precedent."
"That is true," Grae sighed. "But that also ans we will have to live with the outco of a trial. It is a gamble."
"It will co out the way it is intended to," Sam said confidently, spinning in his chair like a pup.
Grae was thankful that he had Sam here to weather significant issues like this with him. He was thankful for everyone he had in leadership roles, but Sam was as close to a brother as Grae would ever have. And he had an undeniable childlike energy always about him even in the midst of the most serious of topics. He could be wise and level-headed and honorable and also not take himself too seriously.
"How soon can we put a trial like that together?" Grae asked.
If they could get it done before August returned, that would be ideal. He didn’t want her to have to go through the potential turmoil that a trial like that could cause, especially if she was just getting back. Who knows what kind of wild accusations Violet was going to co up with.
There was also a chance, although quite minute, that Thundering Falls would decide they wanted Violet. Ranier did not initially seem interested in that possibility, but if the council at Thundering Falls was worried about rivaling the perceived threat of alyko leadership from another pack, they might change their minds.
That was another reason why a fast trial would be ideal. If Violet’s fate was decided prior to Thundering Falls coming to claim her, there would be nothing they could do. And a Luna Violet was not sothing Grae wanted to see made into a reality. Nobody would want that. It would be an absolute nightmare for everyone involved.
"I will find out. Would you be open to having it as early as tomorrow?" Sam asked, picking up the phone on his desk.
"Yes. Yes, that would be good. Let’s try for that," he replied. "The sooner the better."
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