Will had listened to what happened to me with surprising patience before telling me he would see what he could do and hurrying to his office.

If Jackson wasn't such a great Alpha, I would definitely vote for Will to be the next one. He had a calm, cool and commanding demeanour. Although, from the what I could tell he didn't handle the stress too well. He was an amazing man and an outstanding Beta. I couldn't be happier to be a member of the Merphate Pack. I couldn't be happier to be their Luna.

Will got back to me almost three hours later with both good news and bad news.

He couldn't get Jackson away from the Cardaver confinement as they were the ones to capture him for disobeying his banishment. We couldn't possibly have him released to us because they knew that we couldn't and wouldn't be unbiased to him.

Yeah, I snorted, Like the Cardavers are going to be fair as well.

What Will did manage to do was have the Tribunal moved up. It was supposed to take place three days from now. He managed to convince the majority of Alphas to have it moved up to tomorrow afternoon.

It may have been Jackson's saving grace, I thought. The less time my father has with Jackson a prisoner under his guard the higher the chance of Jackson's survival.

---------------------------

The day of the Tribunal was probably one of the most nerve-wracking days of my life. I went between being so scared that I was visibly shaking to being so mad my body was a body of energy just waiting to be released.

There were only a select few wolves that were permitted within the Tribunal. There would be an Alpha from each of the packs in the nearest two states. There would be about fifteen in total, discluding Jackson who had no voting rights. Will would be there for the Merphates.

I was also permitted at the Tribunal as the defendant's (Jackson's) mate.

As Will and I got into one of the pack cars, I was wringing my hands in my lap. We were silent throughout the whole car ride, both going over all the possible outcome. We were both preparing for the worst.

Because we both knew that the normal consensus was when someone broke a binding banishment order before a Tribunal.

Death.

Werewolves on a whole were an unforgiving species. That was probably why we were constantly in wars and fights over pack turfs. We didn't easily forgive and we never forgot.

We were also merciless when dealing out punishments to our neighbouring packs. Especially if we had crossed paths before.

Still, I knew that Jackson had friends among the other Alphas. I knew that he was recognized as being a just, kind ruler by most of his peers. I just hoped that was enough to save him from the threat of a Cardaver pack attack.

We pulled up to the spot that had been designated as the Tribunal meeting place.

The Tribunal Area sat in the forest in the small neutral zone in this state. It was a lot like a small, outside Greek-inspired amphitheater. It wasn't always used just for Tribunals. Sometimes it was used for spectacle fights between wolves where a bunch of packs could come and sit to watch. Kind of like pro-wrestling, werewolf style. Sometimes, they showed outdoor movies there, which I found super strange.

Regardless, it was protected from humans finding it by a large stone wall the circled the perimeter with a locked gate. There were large "No Trespassing, Private Property" signs posted what seemed like every foot.

We had to park on the side of an old, abandoned road and walk to the amphitheater. By the time we got there, the gate was unlocked and you could see down into the seating and the stage. We entered slowly. Most of the Alphas were already there, down in the front starting to take their seats.

"Let's get this over with," Will said to me, resigned as we began to descend the stairs to the front.

The seats were build in a semi-circle bleacher-like fashion, only dug into the ground as we descended. There was a large circle on the very bottom. In Greek times, it would have been used for an orchestra. Us wolves used it as a fighting ring. Past the fighting ring was a large stage. This is where they held the Tribunal.

When Will and I got to the bottom of the stairs all of the chattering Alphas suddenly got very quiet. I bit the side of my cheek and tried my best not to glare. I didn't know yet which of these men would support Jackson and which ones I would have to detach the heads of.

Will ushered me to the front row where I sat center. My father, I noticed, was sitting to the far right. His arms were crossed on his chest and he had a self-satisfied grin on his face.

It took everything in my being not to cross the ten feet that separated us and rip his heart out of his chest. That is, if I could find the black, shrivelled up organ.

I was a millisecond from jumping up, throwing caution to the wind and just wiping that smirk off of Tony Cardaver's face when movement on the stage caught my attention. My head snapped back to the front.

Jackson was marched out to the front of the stage. He wasn't restrained by anything but his own pride and duty. A growl emanated from deep in my chest at the sight of him, breaking the silence in the amphitheatre and echoing off the walls menacingly.

When I had left Jackson yesterday he was in perfect condition. Now, I could see what being in the care of my father entailed. His face was swollen and bruised, his right eye black and almost swollen shut. He was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and black jogging pants to hide the rest of the damage I knew was there.

"What the hell did you do to him?" I snarled, standing and whirling around to face my father.

Will stood beside me and tried to usher me back down to my seat. I threw his arms off as I glared at the man who had helped give me life.

"He fell down the stairs this morning on the way out to the car," my father shrugged nonchalantly. "We would have been more careful if he had known how clumsy he was."

That was it, I had had it. I launched myself at him, only to be caught by strong arms and held back as I struggled to get to him.

"Romy, calm down," Will said urgently to me. "This won't help Jackson!"

I snarled once again in my father's direction before allowing Will to drag me back to where we were sitting. I sat back down, the fury leaking off of me in waves. The Alpha that had been sitting on the other side of me inched slightly away.

A voice cleared uncomfortably on the stage and I noticed for the first time that someone else was on the stage with Jackson. My jaw ticked in suppressed anger. I could barely stand breathing the same air as my father, let alone being in the same amphitheatre.

"We are all here today to decide the fate of Jackson Merphate, former Alpha of the Merphate Pack," the man who cleared his voice previously continued. "He is here today on charges of attacking and slaying the Beta of the Cardaver pack unprovoked in neutral territory. Additionally, he is also here for breaking the Banishment order given to him while awaiting the Tribunal."

I glanced at Jackson who stood there on the stage, holding his head up high and standing straight.

"Jackson Merphate, do you admit that you killed the Beta of the Cardaver Pack on neutral territory?" The orator asked.

"Yes, I did." Jackson answered simply.

My heart was beating so hard and furious that I was surprised anyone in the amphitheater could hear anything else.

"Do you admit that the attack was unprovoked?"

"No, it was provoked alright," Jackson growled, losing his composure for a moment. "And everyone in this room should know why by now."

Jackson had previously been secretly making his way through the smaller packs and speaking to their Alphas. He had tried to get them on his side, to tell them the truth of the matter.

"Do you agree that you broke your Banishment order?"

"I did." Jackson said returning to being stoic and poised.

"We'll start with the Banishment. You know the rules for breaking a direct order from the Tribunal," the speaker said. "Death."

I gasped and everyone else in the room fidgeted uncomfortably.

"But we are a Tribunal. It must be taken to a vote. All those in favour of the death penalty for breaking his banishment order, raise your fist."

Slowly, arms started to raise in the air. I turned and cast my glare at them as I counted quickly. Six. Six people including my father had voted on murdering my mate. I tried my damndest to keep my emotions in check. Six out of fifteen was not a majority rule. Nine people did not want him to die.

Jackson stood up on the stage still. His stance had changed from firm, rigid and ramrod straight to something more domineering. His legs were spread apart slightly and he had his hands folded behind his back, glaring down into the crowed. I knew he was mentally remembering whose six hands had voted for him to meet his death.

"Jackson Merphate is not to be put to death," the man on the stage announced and I let out a breath that I wasn't aware that I had been holding.

"I object!" My father, of course, stood and huffed indignantly. "He ignored orders from the Tribunal. The penalty is always death!"

"The penalty is always voted on," the speaker corrected. "And this is not a human court of law, Alpha Cardaver. You cannot object to the results of a vote."

My father laughed and it sounded a little manic. The Alpha beside me that had shifted from me now shifted back and forth in his seat uncomfortably.

Coward.

"Fine," my father said, an evil grin spreading across his face. "If he is not to be put to death for breaking the law, then I want to call him out. A life for a life. He must fight me to the death, as is my right, for the life of my Beta."

The amphitheater instantly erupted in a whispered fury as all of the Alphas talked amongst themselves.

Leave it to my father to expect someone else to do his dirty work. He only got his own hands dirty when every other dirty trick he tried failed.

"Alpha Cardaver," the speaker said. "As you know full-well, Jackson cannot accept any challenges while facing the Tribunal."

"I refuse to wait!" My father yelled. "I challenge Jackson Merphate! If he cannot or will not accept someone must step in for him or he must be put to death for cowardice!"

Jackson seized up, his body tensing and I could see every muscle in his body bulging.

The speaker, clearly uncomfortable, took it to a vote.

"All those in favour of allowing a champion to fight in Jackson's place?"

Ten. Ten of these d!ckheads agreed with my father.

"Great!" My father's smile grew more as he laughed. "Now who will it be?"

He knew that none of these weak-willed assholes would step in for Jackson. He knew none of them would risk their lives, even if it was for justice and what was right. As more time passed Tony Cardaver's smile got wider and more maniacal. He thought he had won.

Will moved to stand and placed a firm hand on his arm. The Merphates didn't need to possibly lose both Will and Jackson in one day. No, if none of these asshats had balls enough to stand up to an evil psychopath I guess that left it up to me.

And boy, would I enjoy ripping his head clear from his shoulders.

"I, Rosemarie Merphate, will be Jackson Merphate's champion."

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