7: His To Claim

"I believe you're willing to accept the penalty of death if you answer these questions incorrectly?" Elder Festus asked.

Finlay paused for a moment, from where he stood in front of the crowd. They were gathered yet again for his interrogation and today was his last straw. He knew that forgetting somethings would cost him his head.

"Yes, my lord." Finlay gave the elder a firm head bow, then let his eyes rest on the council of elders.

"What is the Dupree's heirloom?"

"A patchwork gothic moon was crafted by my half-Scottish half-British sixth grandfather, Elrod Dupree and he passed it onto Dankworth who was next in line to the Alpha throne. Dankworth died from a plague by the moon goddess because of his cruelty, so Whitlock, his younger brother was crowned Alpha and so was the patchwork gothic moon handed over to Carnel Dupree who was the crippled Alpha. He was known to be impotent and couldn't pregnant his own wife so was he childless until the Sun God aligned with the Moon goddess to bless him with child. From a maid..she rode him to all hell and back until he released his seed inside of her." Finlay paused when a collective gasp erupted from the crowd, followed by laughter.

"So Carnel's maid gave birth to my great grandfather, Burton, who in turn fathered Robinson and transferred the heirloom to my father who is dead. It felt like he knew he was going to die so he passed it to me when I was ten. The patchwork gothic moon is in my chambers as I speak..well, that's if my careless and wayward half-brother hasn't brought in a whore who stole it since he lacks knowledge of its importance." Finlay concluded with a smile, leaving the crowd and both the elders astounded.

Silence relapsed in the air as everyone tried to process this.

"What? You cannot buy the lies of an impostor!" Cestus gnarled with fear and confusion evident on his face.

"Bullshit, he's lying!" He hollered, tossing in his seat and there was an uproar from the crowd against him.

From where she was seated, separated from the crowd, Ophelia bit down on her bottom lip to keep from sucking harshly in her breath. She clasped her hands together as she shivered in fright and amazement. It was beginning to dawn on her that this man was Finlay. Yet a tiny part of her refused to accept it.

"His answers are accurate." Provided Elder Adolphus. He didn't have any glasses today, because he had taken the advice of Finlay and visited one of the pack doctors to get his eyes treated.

The council of elders joined their heads together and came up with yet another powerful question.

"Alpha Finlay tattooed a red scorpion on his back, a symbol of integrity, strength, and humility, do you have that tattoo? You cannot tell us you had it removed."

Ophelia's eyes widened in their sockets because she suspected that this man didn't have that tattoo. She closed her eyes and counted to ten, there was no response from him. She counted to twenty and flickered her eyes open when murmurings erupted within the crowd.

Somehow, she feared for him. She was so close to believing he was Finlay and now this? He remained glued on his standing spot, maintaining eye contact with his half-brother who had relief creeping on his face.

Ophelia didn't want this man to get killed even though he might turn out to truly be an impostor. He had acted so well and she would feel sorry for him if his head ended up on a spike. He had the same face and voice as her husband. Of course, his death would affect her for days.

"Care to take off your shirt and show us your back?" Elder Festus asked.

Finlay gave off a tight-lipped smirk and then he stood up, taking his shirt off immediately.

And the entourage broke into yet another gasp.

Everyone was expecting his back to be bare, including Ophelia, but they got shocked in return.

Because on his back, was a scorpion tattooed in red ink.

"Unbelievable," Cestus uttered, with eyes as huge as the saucers.

The crowd broke into cheers, chanting Alpha Finlay until they were stopped by the elders.

"A headless body was buried in place of you, what do you have to say about this?" Elder Festus inquired.

Finlay whirled his head around to look at Ophelia who had tears brimming in her eyes.

"Like I've been telling everyone, the Barbarian pack members beheaded someone else and held me hostage for twelve months. Gave me treacherous torturings until I managed to escape."

Silence fell like a graveyard as the elders discussed within themselves and then turned to face Finlay.

"There's nothing else we can ask you because of your responses. Truly, an impostor wouldn't behave as you have. So we've concluded that you can reclaim the Alpha throne." Elder Adolphus announced, slamming down his gavel on his desk to proclaim that the council of elders' decision was final.

And the entire council hall went haywire with screams of joy and euphoria.

People were hugging themselves like it was a memorable day. Some did tap dancing with their feet and clapped. It was such a joyous moment and ill-stinking not to join.

Finlay laughed, feeling a heavy weight uplifted from his shoulders. He looked at his wife who was sobbing, with her small shoulders shaking along with her body.

***

Why did he have to come back? Although she was banished by Cestus and suffered, at some point, it felt like she had broken from him completely, she was free under a disguise in Petersburg. But now, she was imprisoned once more.

Ophelia was in the castle again. Not as a rogue who fainted and was taken to a servant's quarters for rest, but as Luna of the Crimson Paw pack. Finlay had reclaimed his throne, there was no question fired at him that he couldn't respond back at the council hall. He even squeezed a bit of humor in the tense ambiance and then the large scorpion's tattoo on his back.

The man toyed with the hearts of everyone who believed and gambled that he was Alpha Finlay, by choosing to hesitate when he was asked to remove his shirt. She had her heart in her throat during that very moment, until he took his shirt off and showed them the tattoo, red-inked to perfection.

As she walked beside Finlay, who had her small hand in his, she felt her knees wobble but tried as much as she could to not slip once again. He might think she craved to be in his arms so much to consistently lose her balance. She didn't want him to touch her, afraid he might ignite a fire she never knew she had. But she let him hold her hand because it was required.

There was a loud excited howl from the servants, butlers, maids, and every other person who served at the castle. They were elated he had returned and couldn't hide it as roughly a hundred of them bowed their heads in fidelity.

Finlay had this tiny victorious smile at the corners of his lips as he copied them. His hand caressed hers gently.

Ophelia never thought she would return to this place again. She believed it was over, but now here she was and it all felt like a dream.

The castle wasn't the same as the time they thought he was dead. Cestus had made some changes, taken off their portraits that were hung on the walls. He changed the paint on the stairs.

"Alpha Finlay, my Luna," the head Butler stepped forward with a smile. And Ophelia seized this opportunity to withdraw her hand from Finlay's hold.

"It feels good to be back again, Clinton. Judging from my brother's poor governance and lack of competence, I'll say you didn't like your duty so well." Finlay fought against the urge to glance at his wife, wondering why she stepped backward.

"Yes, my Alpha. No one could put up with Cestus." Clinton replied, putting his hands behind his back.

Finlay glanced through the crowd for a minute and returned his gaze to the butler. "Where is Byers? I don't see the under butler."

"I'm afraid the lad withdrew from his position after the Luna was banished," Clinton answered.

And before Finlay could ask yet another question, there was an immediate interruption because hollers of insults were tossed in the air.

Cestus Dupree, his half-brother was being shoved like a slave, by the guards.

"And there's the rotten impostor with the slut of a rogue!" Cestus cursed, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"You can fool everyone else, but not me! I know you're not Finlay, you're an impostor who made a deal with this slut by your side, if she covered up for you she could become Luna again.." Cestus spat out when he got pushed toward Finlay.

His words made Finlay boil and Ophelia could see her husband's veins bulging out along his neck.

"I can tolerate your disrespect, but I won't have you insult my wife!" Finlay growled, baring his fangs and Ophelia put her hand on his to stop him.

They just arrived and she didn't want him to get into a fight with his pottymouth half-brother.

"Well I intend to take matters into my own hands, no impostor would claim a position that is rightfully mine!" Cestus snapped as he walked ahead to stand right in Finlay's face without an ounce of fear.

"Take him away, to the walls in East landing. He'll spend the rest of his days there, for deem fitting my wife as a rogue and mishandling my pack!" Finlay barked and there was a gasp from Cestus himself.

"Isn't that a bit too harsh, my lord?" Ophelia squeezed Finlay's hand as she tipped her head to look at him.

Finlay took one look into her hazel eyes and swallowed hard, completely in awe of why she would feel pity over someone who showed her no mercy during his death.

"No, my Luna. He'll pay for his crimes." Finlay answered and then snapped his gaze back to Cestus who was still in shock.

"You were hell-bent on putting my head on a spike, tried to convince the entire pack members that I am not Finlay, therefore I cannot keep someone with the likes of you close by. You could poison my food."

"Liar!" Cestus clamored with venom.

"He's proven to everyone that he truly isn't an Impostor. The uncanny resemblance, voice, answers, and the tattoo. He is our Alpha Finlay." Clinton directed this to Cestus and there was a chorused grunt from the servants.

"Take him away," Finlay commanded the guards authoritatively.

Cestus spat in his face and pointed at him, "You might have everyone fooled but I know who you are and I will expose you one way or the other," directing his finger to Ophelia, he shook his head. "A time will come when you'll regret standing by this man, but it will be too late because you'd be completely doomed."

These were Cestus's last words as he got dragged away.

And Ophelia was left with a continuous gaping hole boring violently into her chest, accompanied by an unexplainable feeling.