POV: JACKSON
Soft whispers filled the air as the pack assembled, chatting among themselves. I had called this long-overdue meeting to share some important updates. All the pack leaders and Chris stood behind me—Chris a few steps back, with the others lined up behind him—as we faced the crowd.
"Quiet down," I commanded, my voice cutting through the noise. The murmurs faded, and everyone turned their attention to me. "As you know, there's been a lot happening lately. Until now, I shared some information only with the pack leaders because the situation was too unclear for everyone else. But somehow, it leaked out." I glanced over at Chris, giving a subtle glare at the pack leaders behind me; they quickly looked away.
Turning back to face the crowd, I continued, "I'm here to provide a clear explanation of what's really going on. We've encountered some strange events within our pack that go beyond what we understand as wolves—specifically, magic. It turns out that Sam, our trusted delta, has been working with Ava, a witch, to invade the minds of pack members and my mate, making them do things that are questionable."
The crowd started murmuring again, exchanging whispers with one another. "Quiet," I commanded, and the noise faded once more. "He kidnapped his mate, Evelyn, and their child, Blake, pretending they ran away. He also took my mate. They were held in a hideout eight places from here. It has come to light that he was behind Evelyn's miscarriages and has been abusing her and Blake—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Just yesterday, we managed to capture him and bring back my mate, Evelyn, and Blake. Sadly, Sam had already killed Evelyn by the time we arrived."
Gasps and cries erupted from those who knew Evelyn; most of them were teachers. I continued, "She will be laid to rest after this announcement. I hope we can all honor her with a proper farewell." I paused for a moment before adding, "Her son, Blake, is not doing well right now. He will be under the care of my mate and me moving forward. Sam is locked in the dungeon at this moment, and after Evelyn's burial, he will face public execution decided by the pack's vote."
Historically, our pack has a specific way of handling threats or traitors. We put several methods up for vote—like stoning, burning alive, or being beaten to death—and the option with the most votes is carried out on the traitor. I couldn't recall anything like this happening during my father's leadership. This brings me to another question for Sam: Why did he do all of this? And who else should we be cautious about?
"Any questions?" I asked. A few hands went up, and I pointed to one person. "Alpha keeps talking about his mate, but the Luna hasn't been introduced to the pack yet. Should we be concerned?"
I anticipated this question. An alpha's mate can only be introduced to the pack after they have mated and the Luna has been marked. Since Saint and I haven't done that, he can't be presented as the Luna yet. It's understandable for them to wonder if something is wrong between us.
"There's nothing for the pack to worry about. My mate, Saint, and I are perfectly fine with each other. He will be introduced as my Luna soon—ideally at the full moon." A few whispers spread through the crowd, but no one seemed to disagree with me.
I pointed to another hand that was raised. "Will the Delta position be open since Sam will be executed?" a man asked.
"No, not right now, and I don't expect it to happen anytime soon. The rest of my administration will consist of just Chris, my beta, and the pack leaders. The delta position will stay vacant until my son becomes Alpha." The man frowned and looked down at his shoes. Beta, delta, and pack leaders are all roles based on mutual trust. Did he really think I would just choose anyone for delta?
Another hand went up. "What was his reason for doing all this? Did he mention anything that makes us worry about another pack leader turning against us?" a woman inquired. It appeared that many others shared her concern, as several people nodded in agreement.
"We still don't know why Sam acted this way, but he will be interrogated before facing execution. As for trusting pack leaders, that's a personal choice, but I believe this should serve as both an example and a warning to anyone who even considers betraying our pack."
There were some murmurs in response, but no one raised their hand again. "That wraps up our meeting for today. Evelyn will be buried this evening, and Sam will be executed afterward," I concluded.
POV: SAINT
I waited nervously for the pack doctor to guide me to Blake's room, my eyes fixed on the doors, wishing they would reveal his location instead of just standing there. People walked by, some glancing at me and whispering.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," the doctor finally said.
"Oh, it's fine," I replied, not wanting him to know how frustrated I was during the wait. "I arrived too early anyway," which was true; I definitely had shown up way too soon.
"This way," he instructed as he began to walk. He took me down the hallway and around some unfamiliar corners until we reached a room. "The Alpha wanted Blake to be treated in a private room, so that's why it's away from everyone else," the doctor explained, seeming to sense my confusion.
As soon as we entered, I rushed over to Blake and took his hand, feeling a wave of emotions hit me. "His heart failed due to shock from trauma. I'm guessing he witnessed something he shouldn't have?" the doctor added.
"Yes, he saw Sam... kill his mom," I answered.
The doctor hummed thoughtfully. "I advised Alpha to have him see a therapist once he wakes up. The sooner, the better, so he doesn't face difficulties as he grows older."
"I would really appreciate that. But will he be okay when he wakes up?" I asked.
"Yes, he'll be alright. His treatment response is getting better," he assured me. I nodded in agreement. "I'll leave you with him. Just call me if anything comes up," he added before exiting the room.
Jackson had asked me to wait for him so we could come here together. He needed to talk to the pack about what happened. Reliving the events of our kidnapping and all those horrible things Sam revealed to Evelyn was tough for me at first. Jackson was stunned to find out that Sam was actually Blake's father and started guessing who the mother could be.
I told him to keep it a secret from the pack that Sam was Blake's biological dad. I knew they'd view him differently if they found out, and I worried about the possibility of bullying. I wanted to protect Blake from any potential harm. I was determined to fulfill my promise to Evelyn and look after Blake.