Page 11 of A Luna's Revenge (Stone Mountain Shifters)

Jenson

The Day Tracy Arrives

Afternoon

Devastation Day 1

Meeting with Alpha Rich Simpkins, Lazy Moon Pack

"Alpha, I have the main screen set up in the conference room." Beta Ben sticks his head into my office. "Everyone else is in there waiting."

I walk into the conference room, where my lead Enforcer, Atlas Orson, along with Elder Roberts, Elder Frank, and Dr. Bridgit, are seated around the table. Notably absent is Elder Tina. Beta Ben sits down, and I pull up a chair at the head, facing the LED screen on the wall.

On the screen, I can see Alpha Rich Simpkins, the host of the Alpha conference from three months ago. I nod to him, "Alpha Rich, good to see you."

"Good to see you too, Alpha Jenson." He greets me. He introduces those in the room with him, which includes his beta, three pack elders, and his lead Enforcer. I introduce my team.

The elders had met with Enforcer Orson earlier this morning while I was at the clinic, briefing him on the issue at hand. After that, Orson reviewed the recordings of previous meetings, as all discussions in the Alpha's offices are recorded. Consequently, it was decided that Enforcer Orson would conduct this meeting.

"Alpha Rich," I say, "Enforcer Orson will take the lead on this call." Alpha Rich nods.

"Alpha Rich, members and elders of the Lazy Moon Pack and the Little Silver Creek Pack," Enforcer Orson begins. "We need to make you aware that this meeting is being recorded. Is everyone in agreement with this?"

"Sure." Alpha Rich states. "I do, however, reserve the right to stop the meeting, should I feel we need any legal representation brought in."

"Agreed," I reply. "Proceed Enforcer Orson"

"Alpha Rich, as you are aware, this is regarding your pack member," Enforcer Orson shifts through the papers in the file in front of him. "Tracy Vincent." He looks up at the screen. Alpha Rich nods. "She arrived here at the pack gate about 0400 this morning, claiming to need asylum."

Alpha Rich runs over his face with his hands and sighs deeply. "I was afraid something like this had happened when we couldn’t find her earlier this morning. Please continue."

"We need to ask you a few questions about Ms. Vincent and her work at the Alpha conference." He begins. Alpha Rich nods again with a wary look on his face. "We have reason to believe that Ms. Vincent committed a crime...well, possibly a few related crimes during her duties at the Alpha conference."

Alpha Rich sits up abruptly and leans forward. His mouth opens in disbelief. "What? What has she done?" He grips the table. "I should not be surprised," he sighs.

"The fact that you ask me what she has done, instead of what she is accused of, is very telling, Alpha Rich." Enforcer Orson's expression becomes angry. "Why don't you tell us about her and why she was allowed to work at the Alpha conference."

Gritting his teeth, Alpha Rich picks up a thick file lying on the table and hands it off to his right. "Bev, can you send Ms. Vincent's file over to Enforcer Orson?" He turns back to the camera. "Enforcer Orson, the file you are receiving is Ms. Vincent’s public criminal record. She is on probation within my pack." He huffs.

"As far as working at the Alpha conference, she has been meeting all her guidelines and goals towards progressing to full standing. She has been a model citizen within the last months."

"While we are waiting for the file, what were her crimes?" Enforcer Orson asked.

Alpha Rich leans back and pinches his nose. Blinking, he looks back at the camera and chokes out, "Among other smaller crimes, mate bond tampering."

Jenson shoots to his feet. "Why would you let her near any mated males at the conference?" He bangs the table.

"I thought the mate bond tampering was a one-off." Alpha Rich shrugs. "She tried to interfere with my mating and we all thought it was directly related to me. We had no idea she would become a serial criminal in this regard. What are the charges leveled against her presently?"

Enforcer Orson reads from a sheet before him, "Pending a full investigation, she is accused of sexual assault, attempted mate bond tampering, wolf suppression, using magic and/or drugs in said crimes. There may be others."

"What?" Alpha Rich growls.

"Before we answer any more questions, I need to follow up with a few of my own," Enforcer Orson interrupts. "At your Alpha conference, did you serve anything that would impair or intoxicate an Alpha?"

"No. The strongest thing we served was normal alcoholic beverages. They were not enhanced in any way and could not have intoxicated anyone, especially not an Alpha wolf shifter." He denies. "It would have burned right off."

"Well then," Enforcer Orson speaks directly to the Lazy Moon Pack Enforcer. "Alpha Jenson would like to make a report, about a non-consensual attack on his person while at the Alpha conference. He looks to me, and we spend the next thirty minutesreporting Tracy Vincent's unwanted overtures during the week and the final evening at the Alpha Conference.

After I recite everything, the room is still for a few moments. The Lazy Moon Pack Enforcer Gibbs asks, "Why didn't you report this at the time of the alleged assault?"

"Because I was traumatized." I put my head in my hands. "I still am. It’s embarrassing. I still haven't told my mate and I am ashamed to do so. It’s hard for me as a male, to admit that I feel weak and vulnerable. I’m a strong male and I couldn't even protect myself from a predator. How am I supposed to protect my mate, my pack, or others?"

The room is silent.

"After our investigation, we would like to remand Ms. Vincent over to you and your pack for theadministration of justice." Enforcer Orson breaks the silence. "She is not our pack member, and I am sure you would agree that you must do so as her Alpha."

"I agree." Alpha Rich sighs. "Just let me know when you want me to have her picked up. We can't be lenient again."

"We want her prosecuted to the fullest extent." Enforcer Orson demands.

"Agreed."

Since the meeting took up most of the afternoon, and the rest of the evening was spent pouring over Tacy's file, I didn't get a chance to talk to Charlie.

Even though Alpha Rich said Tracy's actions were a one-off directed at him, there were numerous reports of minor infractions of harassment of mated individuals while practicing magics and potions. Some of her infractions went back to high school. Thankfully, juvenile records in Wolfdom are not sealed.

With the things she had pulled in this file, especially with her past misuse of magic and potions, there should have been no way she had access to an Alpha's drinks. She should not have been employed at the Alpha conference with her unsavory past.

The only question remaining is if, goddess forbid, the pup truly is mine. We have to tread carefully as Tracy is malnourished and refusing to eat. She could harm my pup if I am not careful. It’s innocent in this. If only my wolf would return, this would solve most of my problems. My wolf would be able to sense if the pup is mine. In the meantime, we are waiting for Dr. Bridgit's tests to come back, including a fertility test. Until then, I must wait to see what fresh hell the next day brings.

Beta Ben knocks on my door. "The Enforcers that we have watching Ms. Vincent report that she is in the dining room causing a scene. They say she refuses to eat and loudly demands you eat dinner with her."

"I am going to lose my mind, Ben." I pull out the bottle of mild sedatives I was prescribed and take one. Swallowing it without water, I choke it down and feel my face grow cold. "Let's go feed her to shut her up."

When we arrive in the dining room, she is surrounded by the she-wolf Enforcers. Even Elder Frank and Dr. Bridgit are here.

"Ms. Vincent," Dr. Bridgit says, "I warned you about this in the clinic. You’re malnourished and dehydrated, and this can negatively impact your pup. You need to start eating better."

Tracy sits at the table with a plate of food in front of her, arms crossed and a defiant expression on her face. But when she glances up and sees me, her demeanor shifts. "Oh, I’ll eat for the pup, but I am so weak," she says, suddenly exhausted. It's clear she’s putting on an act.

I roll my eyes mentally because I know this is all a game to her. She is playing with my life. She did the same act in my office when they brought in the food tray; she instantly became too weak to feed herself. From the looks around the table, no one else will volunteer. Their expressions say, "You are on your own with this." Elder Frank even shot me an apologetic look.

Resigned, I sit at the table and pick up her fork to begin feeding her bites of foodagain! I'm speechless. However, I am thankful for themildsedative that Dr. Bridgit prescribed because soon, I am zoned out and task-oriented.

The rest of the day is a blur of the same pattern: making sure Tracy eats while catering to her every whim. Finally, I can disentangle myself from her as the she-wolf Enforcers coax her to bed. Thank the goddess!

Finally, I go to my room. I am anxious to talk to Charlie about what is going on. Surely, I will have time to explain things to her and we will be able to figure this out together. My hopes are crushed when I look at the bed and Charlie is lying facing away from me, her breaths even and deep in sleep.

The coward I am is relieved I don't have to face her yet. I begin my nighttime regimen and change for bed when my cell phone rings. "What!" I snap when I see Tracy calling. How did she get my number?!

I mind link Ben. "Why does Tracy have my cell number?"

"All due respect, Alpha," He answers, "She asked for it and I gave it to her because I don't know what to do about her. I'm sorry, but she's your responsibility."

I cut the link without answering because I could read between the lines. What he's really saying is that she ismy problem, andI guess that is fair.

Meanwhile, Tracy is talking in my ear about being hungry and wanting a full meal. I eventually convince her to agree to some ice cream. Redressing, I go get her some ice cream from the kitchen. When I talk to her, she latches on and tries to physically pull me into her room. I again get loose from her, telling her I need to get to bed.

No sooner am I back in my room, than she calls telling me she's cold. I take her some extra blankets and go to adjust the thermostat in her room and she clamps her arms around me again. I don't want to physically hurt her, but I have to use a bit of force to free myself. I want to call someone to help so I don't have to deal with her unwanted attention, but I don't want to wake anyone.

She continues to call me for one thing or another for most of the night. Eventually, I promise to go to a convenience store to get her some crazy thing she asked for, but instead, I turn off my cell and go to my office to sleep to avoid further disrupting Charlie’s rest.

At this point, my anxiety is off the charts, so I pop another sedative and curl up on the couch to try to get some sleep.