Chapter 5. The interrogation

Henry wasn't pleased with the fact that his mother had sent the young lady he brought away with the two guards. He knew she was slightly naked and not wearing any underwear underneath the white towel.

His wolf growled, but he silently returned to the mansion, hoping that Camila was safe in the refugee house.

Alpha Collins remained silent as he watched his only son walk into the Grand Hall and finally make his way to the dining hall to join them.

Juliet and Madelyn weren't pleased with the sight either. They approached the dining table with their mother while the whole family settled down to eat.

"Henry, you don’t seem happy. What's the problem?" Alpha Collins asked, continuing to observe his son's behavior.

"Nothing, Father. I’m fine," Henry casually replied, and his father didn't press on the topic.

Luna Ruth frowned as she settled beside her husband at the dining table. Alpha Collins stared at her and asked, "What troubles you, my mate?"

Luna Ruth looked at her son and then at her husband before replying, "I am not pleased with the fact that Henry brought that foreigner here."

"It’s okay, my Luna. Let's not worry about the stranger since we don’t know her intentions. Whatever they are, we will find out tomorrow," Alpha Collins assured her as the dining hall fell into a great silence.

"Shall we start eating now?" asked Alpha Collins. Luna Ruth replied, "Yes, maids..."

Luna Ruth signaled for the maids to come closer and serve their meals. They began eating quietly around the dinner table.

After dinner with his family ended, Henry stood up from the dining chair first and said "Good night" to the family members who were still eating. He returned to his chamber on the third floor of the magnificent mansion but couldn't shake the image of how beautiful the young lady he had brought into his father's mansion looked.

He walked to his bathroom to take a shower. When he was done, he stepped out and put on his white robe before retiring to bed to sleep.

----

The following day in Alpha Collins’ mansion, after the morning routine was over, Alpha Collins and some of the elders gathered in the Grand Hall. He informed them about the new foreigners who had come into their pack to become part of it.

"Guards, go and bring the new foreigners here for their interviews so we can understand their reasons for coming into our pack," Alpha Collins stated as he sat on the royal head seat, signifying that he was the ruler.

The guards left for the refugee house, where there were five other newcomers aside from Camila White, and they were brought into the Grand Hall to meet with Alpha Collins.

Alpha Collins is still the ruling Alpha of the Western Wood Pack. Although he had ordained Henry as the new Alpha of their pack, Henry could not truly rule until he had a mate or a Luna to assist him in governing the pack. Until then, Alpha Collins Dominic remained the ruler of the Western Wood Pack, until his son chose a mate or found his destined partner.

"They're here, Alpha," the head guard informed as he arrived outside the Alpha's mansion with the six new foreigners.

"Let them inside," Alpha Collins responded, and the head guard ushered the six people into the Grand Hall.

There were two males and four females, with Camila being one of the females. As they walked up to the front of the Alpha's throne where Alpha Collins and his wife sat, they stopped as the head guard instructed them.

"Yes, I hope you all know that you are foreigners in our pack. Foreigners are not allowed to roam around freely with us," Alpha Collins stated, his gaze falling on all six new captives standing before him.

Henry Dominic was upstairs on the second-floor balcony, staring down at Camila and the other five captives standing in the center of the hall. He admired her in the long oversized blue gown that swept the floor beneath her.

Camila was nervous, recalling how her father usually judged defaulters in the Eastern Wood Pack. Now that she was a defaulter herself, she couldn’t imagine the level of anxiety she was feeling.

She felt an intense gaze upon her. Looking up, she met the eyes of the man who had brought her the previous night and also saved her from the pack's security guards who were chasing her. 

Unknowingly, her cheeks flushed a deep red as she caught Henry Dominic's gaze.

Luna Ruth was seated beside her husband on the throne. As the ruling Luna of the Western Wood Pack, she was regarded as a queen, and her gaze burned angrily on Camila as she noticed her blushing while her husband spoke to the new foreigners.

Luna Ruth's angry gaze returned to Camila. As Camila felt Luna Ruth's subtle glare, she gulped and listened attentively to the Alpha King speaking.

"As I stated, it's a rule in our pack to welcome foreigners freely, as every life matters. However, while welcoming foreigners into our pack, we must also ensure the safety of our pack members. Thus, we created the refugee house where all new captives are kept and used as servants in our pack house. To earn the privilege of living freely in our pack, you must show your honesty by serving our pack members and in the pack house. You must not act superior to any Western Wood Pack member, or else you will be punished.

Starting with the confrontations, we would like to know why you all fled from your various packs and chose to join ours. We understand that some of you are travelers who enjoy exploring different areas, but we also know that some of you are defaulters in your packs. It is not easy to leave your pack borders unless you have been banished.

So, starting from you, what brings you to the Western Wood Pack's territory? And mind you, you will be tested on your answers; if you are found guilty of lying, you shall be whipped and severely punished, and your treatment here will be worse than death," Alpha Collins warned, his yellow eyes calmly fixed on all six foreigners.

Camila gulped heavily as she heard Alpha Collins' final judgment.

"Are you ready to speak now? Now you?" Alpha Collins pointed to the first foreigner, as they all wore similar oversized blue garments.

"Speak! Tell us your name, where you're from, and why you were banished from your pack or why you left," Alpha Collins questioned, while Camila noticed the treasurer writing down all of Alpha Collins' statements.

Camila looked to her left, recognizing that she was the third person to speak. As the first person introduced himself, she realized he wasn’t from her pack, but rather from the Northern Wood Pack. He claimed he was visiting as a tourist and wanted to learn more about plants.

"Hmm," Alpha Collins hummed, and he turned his attention to the next person. The second person spoke and revealed he was from the Southern Wood Pack. He admitted to stealing multiple times, which was the main reason he had left his pack.

"Hmm..." Alpha Collins lowly growled.

Camila could see Alpha Collins growl at the second person, and when his gaze finally fell on her, she gulped heavily as her forehead became sweaty. She felt extremely nervous and began to stammer as she prepared to reveal the reason for her banishment.