Landon

Gustavo was just about to leave the pack house when Harry returned home. He had come to check in on me, we had a nice talk. He was worried for my mental health after Spencer was arrested for supposedly attempting to kill me.

He knew I was gonna feel so conflicted about the whole thing and he was right on the money. I love our friendship and I am glad he is here in Regency Falls. Like Harry, he probably only has one more week of vacation left.

My heart was so full immediately just by seeing Harry arriving with Rhiannon by his side. I smiled at them, happy they were both safe, not that I expected they'd face any real danger. No one is gonna mess with the Alpha's son or the future Luna of their pack.

"You're here!" I greeted them, grinning widely at the pleasant surprise.

"I am. I missed you too much." He replied and I instantly melted.

"Good evening, Luna. I'm mad at you." Gustavo told him with a frown.

"Mad at me? Why?" Harry gasped in shock at this. I was puzzled too.

"I heard you said Ares was Landon's best friend. He is NOT. I am!" Gustavo pouted and I legitimately snorted at this. Rhiannon also laughed.

"I'm sorry for the confusion, Carillon. I exaggerated the truth for dramatic purposes. Someone's life was on the line." Harry explained, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

"As long as we're clear on the subject. Have a great night. It's good to see you again." Gustavo smiled boastfully before heading out.

"Well, mission accomplished. Good night, Alpha, Luna." Rhiannon also said goodbye and I thanked her for bringing my mate safe and sound. She smiled and told me it was an honor for her.

Once we were alone, I kissed my mate as if I hadn't seen him in a week. Not that he complained.

"How was the trip? Did you find out the truth like you wanted?" I asked him as we walked towards our room.

"I did, yes. At least, as far as one can know the truth without actually talking to Spencer. But it was a nice trip, I got to see my family." He replied, breathing out a sigh.

"That's good to hear, I'm glad for you." I said, feeling content.

"Though Rhiannon's trip was even better. Did you catch her wrist bandage?" Harry snickered with a mischievous grin.

"What? Shut up! She and Aaron?" I gasped in shock. Of course, I know what the wrist injury means. Every werewolf does, even teenagers.

Harry told me all about his trip as we got into the bedroom, including his impromptu visit to Spencer. I was glad he had that at least. Because Goddess knows it's not looking good for the accused.

I slept great with my mate by my side on the bed. In fact, I made sure to treat him to the 'Alpha special', if you know what I mean... *naughty grin*

On Friday, I woke up reinvigorated. Almost as if someone's life wasn't hanging in the balance. In fact, I even forgot about Spencer for a while. Well, at least until the end of breakfast.

I was walking towards my office when I noticed Javier's scent already inside. It's funny how we werewolves can scent anyone way before we see them.

That is precisely why warriors learn to disguise their scents before battle so that they can surprise their enemies.

That is not indicated in the daily patrols because we want rogues to know we are around. They make sure to spread their scents all over the perimeter so that it scares possible threats or unsuspecting passersby.

Of course, nothing in the world is as powerful as our mate's scent. We can scent our mate even from a longer distance than normal people. But our noses remain our most powerful organ.

"Good morning, Alpha. Beta Carillon is waiting for you in the office." Lourdes greeted me, bowing her head.

"Did we have an appointment I'm not remembering?" I inquired, not that he needed one to see me. I am just surprised because of the early hour.

"No, Alpha. But I understand he's got some urgent news, not that he shared that with me." She replied, slightly sulking.

I laughed nervously and proceeded to enter my office.

"Good morning, Beta. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" I asked him in a good mood.

"Good morning, Alpha." - He bowed his head. - "I have received word from the Blood Moon pack. They have set Spencer's trial for tomorrow." He informed me in a dead serious tone.

"On a Saturday? So soon?" I gasped in shock at the information, taking my seat.

"Yes, Alpha. They don't want to prolong this issue any longer than they have to." He replied in a somber tone.

"Have you told Delta Saunders yet?" I asked him, curiously.

"Of course not, I came straight here once I was notified." He replied in a duh tone. Almost offended by the implication that he would talk to anyone about this before me. I gulped awkwardly. Javier takes his job very seriously - not that I do not - and I am very lucky to have him, especially without my father here.

I miss my father so much. *sigh*

"Thank you, Beta. I really appreciate your dedication." I said after a moment thinking about my late great dad.

"I imagine you'll want to attend his trial, so I already started planning accordingly. I'm gonna coordinate all the details with Beta Wilmont and your entourage will depart tomorrow after breakfast." He informed me, taking me aback by his efficiency. Even though I really shouldn't be surprised. He is formidable at his job.

"Thank you so much. My mate and I are going together and our security is paramount. I wouldn't travel if it wasn't for the personal significance to me, to us. But you know I can't skip this trial." I said, feeling some type of way about it.

It's not like I want front-row seats to Spencer's execution. I really don't. But I cannot miss this, nor do I want Harry to go without me. I have a feeling he is going to need me now more than ever.

"Yes, I do. It's fine, Alpha. Hopefully, after tomorrow we can all put this ugly chapter behind us and work towards unity and peace between our two packs." He said, getting up from the chair across from me.

"I want nothing more." I said, also standing up to walk out the door.

Javier got busy with the preparations for tomorrow as I walked past Lourdes' office.

"Lourdes, I'm gonna step away for a moment to visit Ares. I shouldn't be long, okay? But he needs to hear this from me before word reaches him." I told her in a dreadful tone. She simply smiled at me, knowing it was going to be a hard conversation.

But I owed him this much. If the roles were reversed, I would've wanted to know about my mate's impending trial date as well.

Devastated. Wrecked. Gutted.

The conversation with Ares went as bad as I expected it to go. He was completely devastated once I told him the news. It broke my heart to see him like that, I cannot lie.

There is not a part of me that wishes any harm to come to Spencer, despite what he may or may not have done to me. Honest to Goddess, if it were up to me, I'd pardon him in a heartbeat.

After I returned from the Saunders residence, I checked in with my mate to tell him the news. He was surprised to hear it as well, but he didn't take it as badly as I thought he would. I think he is trying to make peace with what is to come.

By lunchtime, word had already spread throughout the pack that the trial was set for tomorrow morning and it was going to be the hottest ticket in [their] town.

Naturally, only warriors will go with Harry and me to the trial. The security apparatus is going to be next level tomorrow.

My mom wasn't too happy about my trip, but she understood I had to go. This isn't something I could send a proxy to attend, though I'd much prefer it that way.

"Do you think Ares is going to the trial?" Clark, my brother, asked me during dinner.

"If you only had one more day with your mate, wouldn't you want to see them?" I pondered with a longing expression on my face. Harry hiccuped at my statement, feeling terrible for this. But there's no sugarcoating the truth.

On Saturday, everyone was on pins and needles about the trip.

A massive force of one hundred warriors is going to protect our journey. The first half of the numbers traveled earlier to sweep the gymnasium for bombs and to secure the perimeter around the place.

Checkpoints were established around a five-block radius. Drones were launched to monitor the sky around the neighborhood. Metal detectors were installed at the entrance and every single attendee was going to be patted down.

Nothing was left to chance. Beta Carillon couldn't go - the pack cannot be left without a leader - but he made sure I would definitely return. Harry and I brushed our teeth after breakfast and got dressed according to the occasion.

Our car was being driven by a warrior and another was riding shotgun. Two other vehicles were escorting us, not counting a motorcycle. Buses with the other 50 warriors left at the same time as our entourage.

As expected, the gymnasium was filling up when we arrived. We used a separate entrance from the rest of the public and were going to be seated at a tribune located near the stage set for the trial.

Harry and I were seated with Aaron and their mother. I asked Ares to join us, so he came with his father. No less than 10 warriors were stationed around the tribune for our protection since the majority of our force was going to be guarding outside and helping out the Blood Moon pack warriors.

Sat by the front, I see Dr. Jonas and his mate with tears in their eyes. That man literally saved my life when I was shot, so the fact that he has to watch his own son on trial for the shooting must be agonizing.

Not everyone who wanted managed to squeeze into a seat inside. With the place at capacity, Alpha Staedler and Beta Wilmont arrived at the stage with Spencer being accompanied by warriors on each of his sides.

He looked wrecked, but not mistreated or malnourished. When he looked at Harry and Ares, he began weeping. My friend looked rough, worried sick about his mate.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen." Beta Wilmont started, projecting his voice to the crowd of hundreds of werewolves.

"We're gathered here for the trial of Spencer Goliath Jonas, arrested for the attempted murder of Alpha Landon Barnett." He continued in a somber tone. He was standing while Spencer was sitting not far from him on a high chair. Alpha Staedler was sitting back, watching the whole thing play out.

"This shooting took place outside of the pack house when Alpha Barnett came in to sign the peace treaty."

"I don't need to tell any of you that an attack like this leaves a mark on our reputation. In the lives of the victim and his mate - he pointed at me and Harry as he said that, directing the attention to us - and our society in general."

Lucas played a video on the projector located at the back of the stage, the image was big enough so that everyone could see it.

"Using security footage from outside of the pack house, we were able to trace back the location in which the shot was fired. It was this alley where the accused is shown walking away from." Wilmont stated as the crowd gasped in shock.

"Mr. Jonas, do you deny it was you in the video?" He asked him point blank.

"No, I don't deny it." Spencer replied, dreadfully.

"This video was taken on the day of the shooting. Do you deny being in this alley when the shot was fired?" He grilled him in an accusatory tone.

"I don't deny it." Spencer replied, fearfully.

Lucas showed a picture of Spencer holding a rifle and everyone gasped in shock.

"This is an image of you holding a rifle. A rifle of the same caliber that the shooter used against Alpha Barnett. Note that the background of the photo is clearly the same alley from which the shot was fired. Do you deny it is you in the picture?" Lucas inquired.

"No, I don't deny it." He replied and the crowd gasped inside the gymnasium.

"Just to recap, you were at the place where the shot was fired, holding the same rifle used in the shooting?" Lucas confirmed.

"I didn't shoot him!" Spencer protested loudly.

"Right. This is an image of you as a kid with your grandfather. Isn't it true that he used to take you shooting and taught you how to handle a rifle?" Lucas showed yet another image on the screen, surprising most present.

"This is Texas. You can't be surprised that my grandfather owns a rifle." Spencer snickered, sounding annoyed.

"So you don't deny you know your way around a gun?" Lucas insisted, frowning.

"No, I don't deny it. But that doesn't mean–"

"Just so we're clear. You've admitted to being in the place where the shot was fired, at the same time that it happened. We showed a picture of you holding the gun used in the shooting. We've established you know how to handle a rifle. All this and you expect us to believe you aren't the shooter?" Lucas accused him, distrustfully.

Spencer was taken aback by the facts as they were pointed out. It does look bad.

"Yes, because I'm not! I swear!" He insisted in a desperate tone.

"Right. You just happened to pass by the wrong place at the wrong time, holding a rifle?" Lucas teased him, maliciously.

"I, Lucas Wilmont, Beta of the Blood Moon pack, present the case to Alpha Staedler for judgment. In my honor, I state that the evidence here presented is the truth, so attested by the accused. Under pack law, my sentence recommendation is death by combat." He concluded, causing the Jonas family to cry.

Ares, Harry, and Spencer wept as they heard his words. He took a seat next to Staedler, who rose.

"Thank you Beta Wilmont for all your hard work on this case. I know it wasn't an easy task. You have my appreciation." He started off, referring to Lucas, who nodded.

"This isn't an easy case for me." He looked at the crowd, pained.

"It isn't a secret that Spencer is my son Harry's best friend. I have known him since he was born. His parents are friends of mine, and respected members of our community. There isn't a doctor I trust more than Doctor Jonas, the same person who saved Alpha Barnett's life after he was shot. This is not lost on me." He declared, clearly distraught.

"I can only imagine the kind of pain you were in after your mate died, Mr. Jonas. I knew Kevin to be a kind-hearted man and a fierce warrior. I understand he loved you very much as you did him." Alpha Staedler turned to Spencer, who sobbed at this.

"The pack law is clear. The shooting took place right outside my house. Against another Alpha. The implications for our pack should Alpha Barnett have died that day, on our territory.." He trailed off, pensive. He had a dreadful look on his face.

"I know this war between our two packs has cost us dearly. It's not lost on me the incredible amount of pain Mr. Jonas was in. My own son lost his mate that day. And for some time, I thought I was gonna lose him as well to the grief." He continued, looking at Aaron who got uncomfortable.

"Given the evidence presented by Beta Wilmont, I, Walter Staedler, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack, hereby find you guilty of the crime of attempted murder against Landon Barnett and sentence you, Spencer Goliath Jonas, to death by combat."

Literally every single person was gobsmacked by this. Spencer's parents were wrecked. Ares unraveled next to his father and my mate wouldn't stop crying.

https://youtu.be/lz90JZuOckM

A|N: BOOM!

If you're not crying by the next chapter...

OFF: Literally searched the title to this chapter to discover this song. I kind of like it.

Love,

Léo.