Chapter 58: The Uninvited Claim
James
James sat at his desk, the numbers on the pack’s financial reports blurring into meaningless lines. His mind wandered, already plotting his next move, when his phone rang. He answered without checking the caller ID.
"James, my friend, how have you been?"
The orotund, oily voice of Alpha Peter of Greystone caught him off guard. He hadn’t heard from Peter in months, and for good reason - the man was a snake who thrived on chaos. James straightened in his chair, his instincts immediately on alert.
"Alpha Peter, it’s been a while," James replied carefully. "How are things with you?"
On the other end of the line, Alpha Peter smirked, the expression practically audible in his tone. He didn’t believe in friends; he saw everyone as disposable once they no longer served a purpose. People were tools to be used and discarded.
"I’m good. In fact, your new neighbour paid me a visit at Greystone recently," Peter said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "Nice fellow. Bradley Goldstone. Seemed kinda itchy, but I heard he had just found his mate and hated to be away from her. You know how that can be, right?"
Peter could practically hear James squirming in his chair. He always maintained a neutral stance with the other packs, careful not to show favoritism, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t start a little ember glowing. He was well-informed about what was taking place in other territories, thanks to his nosy wife and Luna, Shelly. If Shelly were a dog, a pure-breed bloodhound is what she would be. That woman could sniff out drama from even the most tight-lipped person, extracting secrets like a surgeon removing tumors. Peter had heard all about the love triangle between James and Bradley over some omega, and what could be more entertaining than ruining somebody else’s love life? He hated his wife and she hated him, a mutual loathing that was the only honest thing in their marriage. He had only marked her because his wolf would accept no one else, a decision he regretted with every fiber of his being.
James cleared his throat, forcing his voice to remain even despite the tightness in his chest. "How did he seem?" The words came out clipped, betraying more than he intended.
A dry chuckle escaped Peter. "He was a decent fellow. A bit too full of himself, but it was bearable. Heard he visited New Moon next. You know Alpha Paul was all too happy to have another ally." Peter sighed, feigning a concern so false it was almost insulting. "You know, my friend, I heard that Alpha Bradley is having his mating ceremony this weekend. I heard it from someone in Paul’s pack. Apparently, he and his mate were invited, and sadly, I was not."
The words hit James like a physical blow. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached.
Peter sighed again, for effect. "Guess they wanted it to be a private affair, but a few of the higher-ranking Council members were invited. Besides, it wouldn’t look good to just crash their ceremony for my own selfish reasons."
Peter knew James well enough. He knew how much the man hated losing, and this would be no exception. The silence on the other end of the line told him everything he needed to know.
"Really?" James’s voice was dangerously quiet, barely above a whisper. "Guess I should look through my mail for my invite. I’m glad that Alpha Bradley’s visit went well."
He gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white, anger and frustration starting to boil in his veins like acid. The thought of Trishelle standing beside Bradley, pledging herself to him, made his wolf howl with rage inside his mind.
"Well, Peter, I have to get going," James said, his voice strained. "Got some things to take care of. Let’s keep in touch."
With that, James hung up, not waiting for Peter’s response. He knew Peter well enough to be certain that the man was mocking him behind his back, probably already calling someone else to spread the news of his humiliation. His hand shook as he punched in the number for Sid, his legal counsel. He needed to make his move and he needed to do it now, before it was too late.
What he heard from Sid made a cold, triumphant smile spread across his face, transforming his features into something predatory. They quickly made arrangements for the next step in their plan, going over every detail with meticulous care.
---
James and Sid showed up unannounced and uninvited to the mating ceremony. The scene was picture-perfect, a sickeningly sweet display of love and unity that made his stomach turn. White roses adorned every surface, their cloying scent filling the air. Soft music drifted from hidden speakers, and guests in their finest attire mingled on the manicured lawn.
Bradley’s warriors tried to stop them at the edge of the property, their hands on their weapons, their wolves snarling in their eyes. The largest of them stepped forward, blocking their path with crossed arms.
"This is a private ceremony," the warrior growled. "You’re not welcome here."
But Sid just held up the legal document they’d acquired, his expression smug. The warrior’s eyes widened as he scanned the official seal. He stepped back, his face a mask of confusion and reluctant acceptance. After all, what Sid held in his hand was approved by the Council’s legal department, complete with their official seal. It was an order they could not legally defy, no matter how much they wanted to.
They made their way to the back, the soft music and happy chatter a grating soundtrack to his mission. James’s heart pounded in his chest as he searched for Trishelle. When he saw her, standing at the front, a vision in ivory, he could feel his chest tighten. She looked so breathtaking that his lungs refused to work, as if all the air had been sucked from the world. Her dark hair was swept up in an elegant style, revealing the graceful curve of her neck. The love in her eyes as she looked at Goldstone made her glow from within, and he wished, with a bitterness that tasted like ash in his mouth, that it was directed at him instead. Knowing that it wasn’t - that it would never be - ignited his anger like gasoline on a flame.
He made his presence known, stepping forward just as the Officiant was about to pronounce them mates. His footsteps echoed in the sudden silence.
The music screeched to a halt. The ceremony stopped.
Bradley
Alpha Bradley was furious when he saw his least favourite person crashing his mating ceremony. The day had been going so well. Trishelle was radiant, more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. His wolf was calm for the first time in weeks, content and at peace. The future felt bright, full of promise and hope. And now this bastard had the audacity to show up uninvited.
He immediately linked his warriors, his mental voice sharp with rage. *What the hell is going on? Why would you let James of all people in when the entire pack knows the threat he poses?*
What he got back made his mind reel. *Alpha, he has a council-sanctioned document. We couldn’t legally detain him. I’m sorry, sir.*
Bradley turned a confused, furious look toward the front row, where his aunt, Councilwoman Seers, was sitting. She was on her feet, her face a mask of confusion as she watched James and the greasy-looking man beside him make their way down the aisle. Her hand was pressed to her chest, as if trying to calm her racing heart.
Whispers rippled through the guests like wildfire, everyone wondering who these intruders were and why they dared to interrupt such a sacred ceremony.
Trishelle grew pale, the colour draining from her face until she looked like a ghost. She grabbed his jacket, her fingers clutching the fabric with desperate strength. He could feel her trembling, a fine, violent shudder that wracked her entire body. The scent of her fear hit him like a punch to the gut.
He was instantly worried about her and the pup. His protective instincts roared to life, drowning out everything else. He gently pushed her behind his broad back, wanting to shield her from James’s gaze as well as sparing her from having to look at the man. He nodded at Sam and Samuel, who were standing nearby, their faces already hardening with understanding. They returned the gesture, their expressions grim and determined. They knew if a fight broke out, it was their duty to ensure their Luna’s safety above all else. Both Nicole and Tiffany rushed to the raised platform and stood on either side of Trishelle, offering her silent support, their presence a wall of solidarity.
Once Bradley was satisfied that his mate was protected, he linked for more warriors to form a perimeter around her before stepping down from the platform. He headed straight toward the thorn in his side, his stride purposeful and dangerous.
"What is the meaning of this, you bastard?" Bradley strode toward James with every intention of snapping his neck once and for all. He really should have listened to his wolf and killed him when he had the chance, consequences be damned. Just as he was two steps away, close enough to smell the man’s cologne, the greasy little man stepped in front of him, holding up a hand.
"Alpha Bradley, I’d advise you to stop right there," the man said, his voice slick and self-important. "My name is Sydney Jones, and I am Alpha James’s legal counsel."
That made Bradley pause, his momentum halting abruptly. A lawyer? Maybe this had nothing to do with Trishelle but with the boundary of the pack lands? Perhaps there was some dispute over territory? That hope was soon dashed as Sid waved a piece of paper with the official, embossed seal of the Council, the gold leaf catching the sunlight.
"Alpha Bradley, as you can see by this document," Sid began, his voice loud enough for the nearest guests to hear, projecting like an actor on a stage, "Alpha James has come to claim his rights as the soon-to-be father of his one and only heir to the Alpha position of Bloodmoon. Based on this, he now claims the right to have the pup be with him so he can bond with him or her. The Alpha position has been guaranteed to be handed down to his offspring regardless of their sex and rank, unless there is sufficient evidence that it cannot be done based on a ruling from the council."
Bradley grabbed the document, his hand shaking with rage. He scanned its contents, his eyes moving rapidly over the dense legal text. It listed laws and by-laws from the code of ethics of the werewolf council, including some laws that were ancient, dusty relics from a time when packs were ruled by iron and blood, when might made right and compassion was seen as weakness.
"What? Some of these laws are ancient," Bradley shook the document in disbelief, his voice rising. "This is archaic. These haven’t been enforced in decades!"
Councilwoman Seers stepped forward and took the document from his trembling hand, her brow furrowed with concern. She looked through it carefully, her lips pressing into a thin line. She passed it to the other members of the Council who were present, each one examining it with growing solemnity. They all nodded slowly, their expressions grim, as if to say that what was printed there was true, however distasteful they found it. Cynthia, the pack’s elder and healer, moved to her nephew’s side, her face etched with sympathy and sorrow.
"I’m afraid that these laws, although old, are still in effect," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the shocked silence of the crowd. Her hand touched his arm gently, trying to offer comfort where there was none to be found. "Based on this, Trishelle has to go with Alpha James."