Chapter Thirty-Two

To say that he was shocked would be an understatement. Julian couldn’t believe he was seeing the Grange Michaels firsthand. He’d thought Grange was a made up Alpha that parents used to keep their pups in line. ‘Be good or we’ll send you to live with Grange’s pack!”

To most pack wolves the thought of a pack like Granges’ with an Alpha like Grange was an insult to werewolves everywhere. Most pack wolves tended to be very high and mighty, arrogant and unwavering in their old time beliefs in what a wolf should be.

“Grange… how nice of you to join us,” Tilton was clearly irritated by the wolf’s presence. “You came armed… were you expecting trouble?”

“When I’m visiting you fine gentleman? Of course I was.”

“We’ve already come to a decision on these rogues so it’s too late for your opinion to hold any weight, Grange. You are no better than they are anyhow!” Michael sneered. “You were born a mortal, the fact that you are an Alpha now is a disgrace to all Alphas! Not only that but you have a history of killing without cause--”

“Anytime I kill I have a cause,” Grange interrupted with a growl. “I’m starting to get the tickle of a cause right now.”

Michael slammed his hand down on the desk, “You surround yourself with creatures that are not wolves and have the nerve to call it a pack! A pack? I can smell your pack because it seemed you brought them with you!”

“Yes they’re out in the hall playing with your Beta’s.” Grange looked bored. “I told them to play nice.”

“You are a disgrace! A disgusting waste of an Alpha! You have no rights to be here! No rights to even bear that title!” Zeke exclaimed.

Julian’s hatred for that wolf burned in his gut but he knew not to say or do anything just yet. Instead his attention was drawn to the two men that walked in and came to stand beside Grange. One had a boyish face, carefree and almost goofy in his movements and very lean. The only thing that showed he’s seen any kind of danger in his life were the three raised scars running down his cheek.

The other was a bit more intimidating. While the man was short, he carried himself with the smooth, fluid confidence of a warrior who knew well how to kill. His eyes were a gray/blue that were close to emotionless and small scars littered the skin of his face. He raised a brow and it disappeared into the thick brown bangs that fell over his forehead.

“I do not believe they are happy to see you, Grange.”

“Having a party and not inviting everyone is mean,” the boyish wolf said before sticking out his tongue.

“I was invited, Trig” Grange countered. “I’m just late.”

“Fashionably.” the third wolf spoke up.

“In those clothes, Nickolai?” Trig glanced at Grange and shook his head, “Never.”

“Can we have some sense of order?” Tipton demanded. “Just how many pack members did you bring to town with you, Grange?”

“All of them.” Grange shrugged.

“All of them?!” Tipton exclaimed. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“Because they are attached to my ass, Tipton. I can’t even squat to take a shit by myself anymore. I live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere and still have company at all times.”

Julian was beginning to grow annoyed with the banter. Abbey was still in pain and she was crying. He wanted to comfort her more than he was but was afraid to do more than rub her back. She didn’t seem to be wanting him just now. Which was understandable.

He and Marcus had messed up by not fully making her aware of what this council was and how being with them could put such a big target on her back. They’d been so consumed with their desire to have their mate that they’d put their wants above her needs and for that they would have to grovel for forgiveness…. Which Julian was more than willing to do; if they lived past today.

“Good, as well as exterminate some rogues today we can get an accurate count of your pack size since you have declined to fill out the many census forms we’ve sent to you,” Milson informed him, looking down his nose at the other Alpha.

“I’ve already killed two Alpha’s in your pack. You keep looking at me that way and I’ll make it three.” Grange stated with boredom.

“You can try!” Milson shouted, rising to stand.

“Enough!” Tipton declared. He rubbed his face. “I have a mate and a pack to get back to. This has gone on long enough. Grange we need to know exactly who is with you and you need to remove your Beta’s from this room. Alpha’s only.”

“Good luck. I’ve been trying to remove these two from my side for over a hundred years.”

“So you’re going to refuse to obey even that simplest rule?” Tipton asked with defeat.

“Yep.”

“Before we get to the matter of these rogues we need to know your pack size.”

“Bigger than most,” Grange replied dryly and Julian actually had to fight the urge to chuckle. He liked Grange--of course he’d like him more if he could save Abbey’s life.

“Grange, please!” Tipton sighed as the other Alpha’s murmured angrily. “You have a vast array of creatures in your pack. What are they?”

Grange leaned against the bench he was standing beside and appeared thoughtful, “Wolves, vampires, Hunters, were lions , an elf..."

“Elf?!”

“Hunters, as in more than one?!”

“Vampires?”

There were varying levels of disgust with each outburst but Grange simply shrugged, “What can I say? My mate has a soft spot for those in need.”

“And how many members are there in your pack?” Tipton questioned.

“Twenty-five.”

“Twenty-five?!” Michael exclaimed. Julian knew that Michael’s tiny pack had less than half those many members.

“And you brought all of them with you?” Tipton asked.

“Yes.”

“You brought an army.’

Grange shrugged, “Never know when you’ll need one.”

“Alright then. I need their names and then we’ll get to the issue with the rogues.”

Grange seemed irritated, “Can I at least sit down?”

“Of course. There is room here--” Tipton began but Grange shook his head.

“No, I think I’ll have a seat over here.” Grange walked to the jury bench where Julian, William, Abbey and Marcus sat. He stepped around it and took a seat beside Julian. Trig and Nickolai followed but they sat behind their Alpha.

Julian could feel Grange’s power. His wolf sensed it as well as he kept his head bowed to the man. A glance at his brother told Julian that Marcus was feeling that same energy coming off of Grange. Abbey was shrinking away from him and seemed so lost and scared that it tore at Julian’s heart.

“Dare I ask, why?” Tipton questioned.

“Because I’m not like you. I’m afraid if I sit beside you pompous assholes then some of your pomposity might rub off on me. You see I don’t feel that I’m any better than any other wolf simply because I’m an Alpha and they’re not. If you would pull your inflated heads out of your narrow asses for ten minutes you’d see that you’re no better than anyone else and you could lose your so-called Alpha power with just the slice of a sword or the snap of your neck.”

Silence followed Grange’s statement. A very thick silence. The Alpha’s were fuming, beyond angry. Julian couldn’t believe that Grange would say that to them! Was he not worried about a fight? Then again there were a total of nineteen on their team and according to Grange he had quite a few more pack members than that just outside.

Laughter came from behind Julian and he glanced back to see Trig laughing, “I do believe you shocked them a bit, Grange!”

“Unless you want war, you’ll watch what you say!” Zeke growled with clenched fists as he glared at Grange. Six other Alpha’s, including Tipton seemed to agree, but another Azer, who had remained mostly silent until then shook his head.

“If you go to war with Grange you go on a suicide mission,” he stated. “The man has hundreds of thousands of square acres of wilderness, helicopters, his own armories, every member of his pack is trained and trained well…. It would be foolish to pick a fight with him.”

“You forgot about the tanks!” Trig stated, flopping his head to the side. Grange glared at him. “What?!” Trig exclaimed. He flopped back in his seat and pouted, “Well they did forget about the tanks.”

“No one wants war,” Tipton finally conceded. “At least I don’t. If Zeke does then that is between he and his pack. All I want is a name list of your pack members just as every other Alpha has provided and I want to see these three, Julian, Marcus and Abbey, punished for their crimes of murder and changing mortals without permission.”

Grange’s sharp blue eyes went to William, “Murder?”

William tipped his head, “The men deserved it. I assure you.”

Grange looked at Abbey, Julian and Marcus in turn. His gaze lingered on Abbey’s tear and blood-stained face the longest. He let out a long sigh and then turned to the other Alpha’s.

“You still want that name list?”

“Of course.”

“Alright then, Grange--of course, Dawn, Brie, Nickolai, Anika, Blain, Maggie, Creed, Carol, Trig, Joe, Isabelle, Zachary, Aggie, Sarah, Emily, Brendon, Gilliam, Carson, Roland, Ella, Rebecca, Nora, Farrah, Charlotte--’

“That’s twenty-five.” Tipton acknowledged.

“Yeah well I made a slight miscalculation and have a few names to add.”

“Shit… Michael muttered, sinking further into his chair.

“Proceed,” Tipton encouraged.

“Thanks for the permission,” Grange snorted. He leaned over to Abbey, “What’s your kids names?”

“Why?” she whispered.

“Tell me.”

“Audrey and Tanner.”

Grange nodded and sat up straight, “I have five more names.” He paused and the tension in the air was thick, “Audrey, Tanner, Abbey, Julian and Marcus.”

“What?!” Marcus and Julian exclaimed in unison as the Alpha’s deafened everyone else with their yells of rage.

“They are angry.’ Nickolai noted.

“What kind of game are you playing?” Marcus demanded of Grange.

“No game. William says you’re innocent and don’t deserve death so I’m here to see that you don’t get it. Or I can leave and you can see how well your plan will turn out… you do have a backup plan don’t you?”

“Don’t’ argue with him!” Abbey snapped when Marcus opened his mouth again. “He doesn’t have to do this and yet he is. He is saving us and he is ensuring that I’ll get to hold my children again. The least you can do is be grateful.”

Julian knew why Marcus was unsure because he was as well. If Grange was their Alpha than he owned them. Their wolves would be unable to disobey him--or at least it would be very very hard for them to. They didn’t know Grange. Did they really want to give him their loyalty?

“What kind of trick is this?” Tipton demanded.

“No trick!” Abbey assured him quickly. “Grange is my Alpha.”

Julian looked at Abbey. Saw the hope finally lighting up her green eyes and he sighed. For her he would take any chance and do whatever had to be done.

“Yes, he is my Alpha as well.”

Marcus growled, “Sure. What the hell.”

“So as you can see, Alpha’s, you really aren’t needed here. They are my pack members which means I will deal with whatever wrongs they’ve done and punish them how I see fit. You can scurry on home now.” Grange waved his hand.

“Thank God!” Tipton declared as he rose. “I don’t fully understand what just happened but I do know that this has given me a headache. They are no longer rogues, we will count on Grange to punish them how he sees fit and keep them in line from now on. If I hear of anymore trouble out of them there will be firm consequences.”

“Thank goodness,” Trig grinned. “Nothing worse than a limp consequence.”

“So that’s it? They kill my Beta and now they just get to leave?” Matthew demanded. “Unacceptable. I will kill the one who killed my Beta myself. Rise Julian!”

Julian stood slowly but a single glance from Grange had him sitting again. His wolf wanted nothing to do with making this powerful wolf angry; his Alpha.

Grange stood and stepped back around the jury seats coming to a stop on the granite floor, “Anyone who wants to harm my pack has to come through me,” he growled. His large broadsword left its scabbard with a whoosh. “So come through me.”

Michael was honor bound now to follow through with his threat. If he didn’t then he’d be seen as weak and there was nothing worse for any werewolf than to be seen as weak.

Michael lunged and Grange sidestepped, swatting him with the flat edge of the sword and sending him sprawling to the floor. Michael quickly got to his feet and faced off with Grange.

“Shift!” Michael exclaimed. “Let’s fight like wolves!”

“No,” Grange shook his head. “Then I’d have to bite you and I don’t like the taste of jackass.”

Michael lunged again, shifting in air. Grange tossed his sword aside and caught the wolf in his arms. They wrestled a moment and then Grange swung onto the wolf’s back and wrapped his arm around his neck.

Michael threw himself on the floor, pinning Grange who simply maintained his hold. Michael twisted and turned but he couldn’t shake off the other Alpha.

“Do I have to snap your neck or will you call a truce?”

After several moments, Michael shifted back. Grange released his hold and stood up, “Now leave.”

Julian was surprised when the Alpha’s slowly filed out of the room. That was it? They were giving up just like that?

As if on cue Zeke came back in the room followed by his large Beta, “This is war, Grange. I want those wolves. Julian and Marcus. You either give them to me or I will have to declare war on your pack.”

Grange picked his broadsword up from the floor and stuck it back in it’s scabbard before shrugging, “Take them.”

“What?” Julian, Marcus and Abbey cried out in unison.

Grange just stepped closer to Zeke and stared the shorter man down, “From what I hear you’re the reason they’re rogues to begin with. You killed their father. I’m sure they’d love the trip back to your territory with you and your sad excuse of a Beta here. And even if you did somehow get them out of here and back to your territory I’d have to come for them because Abbey here would go crazy without her mates. So you see either way you’ll have me coming for you and I really don’t think you want that. I believe you’re more the type to pledge your loyalty to someone and then stab them in the back as soon as it’s turned.”

The reminder of what Zeke had done to their father had the brothers growling low and deep. Zeke swallowed hard.

“Whatever you were trying to do here, you failed,” Grange continued. “Go home, Zeke. Go back to your little pack that has no respect for their sniveling Alpha and get on with your life. If you do that I might just forget about your threat and how badly it pissed me off.”

Julian found it nearly comical the way Zeke quickly hightailed it from the courtroom. He was afraid to breath a sigh of relief. He as afraid to think that all this was really over.

“Inhale, exhale, you three.” Trig exclaimed happily. “You are now members of the most dysfunctional pack that this world has ever seen. Welcome to the family.”

Julian studied Grange’s scent a moment. Already his wolf was seeing Grange as Alpha. Wolves could sense dishonesty but Julian smelled none on Grange. He found that when he turned off his human mind and simply listened to his wolf, his wolf told him that Grange was a good wolf, a wolf that could be trusted, a fair Alpha who would do right by him and his brother.

Julian turned to Abbey, eager to take her into his arms and tell her that everything was going to be okay now, but she swallowed hard and sidestepped him. She walked to Grange and chewed at her lip, “Grange, thank you. I will never be able to repay you for what you’ve done here for me today.”

Grange shivered and took a step back. He looked at Julian, “Tell your mate I don’t like being thanked for things.”

Abbey wrung her hands, “I want to see my children.”

“Dawn!” Grange called out.

A woman walked in. It was clear from her scent and from the softening of Grange’s expression that she was his mate. She was the Alpha female. She was only a little taller than Abbey and had the same soft build. Her hair was a mixture of blonds, golds and reds and she had freckles littering her face. Her green eyes were kind as she looked at them, “Welcome to our pack.”

“Thank you,” Abbey tipped her head.

Grange took Dawn‘s hand, “Love, does Aggie have a room at the hotel?”

“Yes she does.”

“Will you take Abbey there and help her get cleaned up so she can go see her children?”

Dawn smiled and waved for Abbey, “Come on then, Abbey. We’ll let the men have men time to discuss manly things and grunt.”

Abbey raised her brow, “Grunt?”

“Yes and growl. That’s what men do the best. Grunt and growl.”

“We do other things,” Trig countered with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Julian was surprised that someone would talk to their Alpha female that way but Dawn laughed, “Yes but we’re talking about things you do well.” She winked and then took Abbey by the hand gently and led her from the room.

Julian watched his mate walk away and not once did she look his way.

He looked up at his brother and saw that Marcus was watching Abbey as well and the man’s eyes were red and his throat was bobbing. Their mate was hurting and hurting them in return and Julian had no idea how to make it better.