Page 30

Chapter Thirty

RENALL

L eland stands in front of the entire clan. His yellow eyes beaming and desperate. As he growls his frustration, spit flies out between his fangs. I have felt the pain of not being able to reach my Guardian, the panic, the need. He suffered with that until she succumbed to death. I have sorrow for him, but what I see in his eyes as he lists off my previous atrocities (some of which he was a part of) is nothing short of sheer jealousy.

“Why does he get to keep his Guardian? We all know what happened to his last Guardian. Do we want the same fate to happen to this Awe-tum creature? Or should we give her to someone who deserves her? Someone who obeys the rules?”

The surge of anger causes me to rise to my feet, “Are you insinuating that Awe-tum should belong to you?” I seethe.

“Or another member of the Warriors who require one,” he remarks before meeting my eyes and adding, “Especially one so beautiful.”

My eyes widen and I leap for him. A heavy body slams me into the cave wall. I rise, baring my teeth for another attack, when Zev steps into my line of view. The Alpha. I growl, collecting myself again.

“We’ll be having none of that today. This is a trial, let’s act accordingly,” he states loud enough for all to hear. A warning. He will not show favor for me in public any longer. Zev, my closest friend no longer. Now, he’s only Alpha Zev.

I nod in submission to the Alpha and retake my seat on the stump beside the throne.

“Thank you, Leland, for your statement. Would anyone else like to speak?” Zev demands.

A few more wolves raise their hand. I groan in frustration. How long is this going to take?

We all know how this is going to end.

“As an unmated male, I would also like the chance to find my mate. If we can all just ignore Alpha orders, then how can we have any order?”

Another male holds up the newspaper article. “The demons are looking for her … it’s only a matter of time before they find her. She should leave.”

“But she can’t leave, she knows where we are. No, the best option is for her to be mated.”

“We’ve been hidden for centuries. Renall walks out on an Alpha order and brings the whole world down upon us.” That was Trefaun. I’m starting to regret allowing him into my cave.

Hearing my shortcomings and reliving all the problems I’ve ever caused anyone is draining. It’s like being in front of the Goddess herself on judgment day. Only Zev and Lupe know the truth, only they understand the things I’ve done in my past. But we can’t explain that to anyone. After hearing my entire life splayed before the clan, I doubt they’d even believe me.

“I would like to speak.” One of the twin Guardians rises from her spot beside her sister. I can never tell them apart, but I believe this one is Cana. “As a Guardian who grew up on the outside, I was frightened and scared, and if it weren’t for my twin, I would have been alone. I can’t imagine if I was also being hunted while grieving the loss of my sibling. I know what Renall did was disobeying an order, but Autumn would not be here if he had not. Renall just would have been another Leland, and we all know how miserable he is to deal with.” She finishes and sinks back into her chair.

I swallow back the emotion swelling in my throat. I would’ve been like Leland. Miserable and desperate. Awe-tum would not be here, I’d feel her age and eventually die. That’s if the hunters didn’t get to her first. Then I would have to feel that tragedy as much as she felt her brother’s bond break. Ice slithers down my spine at the thought. The truth is, I would make the same decision as the Guardian did today if it came to it. I’d rather die than be subjected to a fate without Awe-tum. The way this ‘trial’ is going, I have some serious decisions to make.