Chapter 6 - Goodbyes

Hudson POV

I didn't like this feeling.

Regret.

I felt disgusted with myself for banishing Sally.

She only tried to defend herself from a much larger guy and she ended up with one of the harshest punishments that existed in werewolf law.

I had tried to get the council to reconsider, but it seemed like they wanted to set an example “To make sure that no one should get any ideas to challenge the higher ranked in this pack.” as councilman Jeb put it.

My whole body screamed that this was wrong, but there was nothing I could do. I’ve never felt more helpless in my entire life.

A knock on my door startled me and I called for whoever it was to come in.

It was George.

He looked like he had been crying.

I understood.

I felt like crying too.

"Alpha." George bowed his head.

"I'm sorry about Sally." Was the only thing I could come up with.

"Yeah, me too Alpha." George said in a small voice.

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" I asked.

"Could you get her back in? I will take full responsibility for Tommy's death and you can banish me instead. Please Alpha?"

I shook my head.

"I'm sorry George. She confessed and was found at the scene. I know that you want to protect her, but I can't undo this."

"Then I would like to ask for your permission to leave for Fallman Lake for a few days. I need to clear my head."

My heart ached for him.

"Granted." I said quickly. "Whatever you need."

"Thank you Alpha." George bowed and left the office.

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Luke POV

We were sitting in utter silence in our living room.

Me, mom and dad.

I felt helpless. I was a Beta, the second in command of this pack, and yet I couldn't do anything to help Sally.

Maybe I could talk to Hudson, but I knew there was only so much he could do. The pack elders had a lot more pull than you'd might think, and if they deemed Hudson unfit as Alpha, they could even replace him if the votes were unanimous. Even if he tried to cross them, it probably wouldn't make any difference. They would just replace him with an Alpha that would follow their lead.

Everything had to be done by the book, and changing pack laws would take time. Hudson had already tried to change a few things, but the council worked against him every time he motioned for something new. I knew that Hudson would want to change the pack laws to bring Sally back here, but it would take time.

In the meantime, Sally would be alone out there, packless. Without anyone to support or help her. And like a fool, I promised her that everything would be alright.

My heart clenched in my chest at the mere thought.

"We have to do something to save the family name now." My mother said.

"Family name? Is that what you care about?" I asked. "Your daughter is alone out there and you want to talk about our family name. You slapped her before she left. You told her that she was a disappointment. And you want to talk about family? What kind of family does that?"

I was angry. Mom and dad had a lot of influence with the elders, they could have used that to help Sally.

"If she would have stayed in the pack she would still have been an outcast. The whole family would have suffered for her stupidity." My father said.

"Okay, so you threw her under the bus to save yourselves. Is that what you mean?"

"You and George would have been affected by this too. You're a Beta. You can't have a scandal like this and continue to be Beta for this pack."

"I don't care!" I yelled. "I would never sacrifice my little sister for a title!"

Our argument was interrupted when George stepped in. He had a bag slung over his shoulder.

"I'm going to Fallman Lake for a few days. The Alpha granted me permission to leave the pack territory."

Mom stood up.

"George, do you really have to do this now? We can't look like the family is torn over this in front of the pack."

"Yeah, because all you care about is how we look in the eyes of others." I muttered.

"I'm sorry mom, I just need to go away for a while to clear my head. I'll be back soon." George smiled at my mom, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

I started to get a bad feeling about him leaving.

"I'll walk you out." I said.

George nodded.

Once we were out of earshot from our parents I asked:

"So, where are you really going?"

George looked like deer caught in headlights.

"I'm not gonna stop you if you wanna go, but if you're going after Sally I strongly advise against it. I gave her money and a map to start over. She's a smart girl. I'm sure she'll be alright." I said

George looked down.

"Sure. I just need to be alone for a while. Everything here reminds me of her."

I gave him a hug.

"Stay safe, George."

George hugged me back.

"You too." He said before he got in his car and left.

I really felt the need to clear my head as well, so I mindlinked my mother saying that I'd be back later.

When I reached the forest clearing I took my clothes off to prevent them from ripping, shifted into my wolf and ran the fastest I could.

I didn't know how long I was out there, but when I got back to my pile of clothes it was in the middle of the night.

That's when I felt it.

The pack link to George severed.

My heart raced. Was he dead?

I looked at my phone and saw a text from George:

Luke.

I'm sorry I lied. But I know you would have stopped me.

I met my mate. It's a guy named Alex that moved to town a few months ago. I am homosexual and Alex is a human. Still I am mated to him. I didn't want to reject my gift from the Moon Goddess, so I started working on a plan to leave the pack months ago. Sally's banishment was the last straw and I will be going to a new pack that is more accepting of homosexual mates.

I'm sorry that I had to leave you, and I pray that you will understand.

I love you, big bro.

George.

This was the last straw for me and I walked directly to Hudson’s office. I opened the door and barged in without knocking.

Hudson looked at me and said:

"I'm sorry Luke. I felt George sever his pack link. What happened?"

I tossed him my phone without saying anything. Hudson read George's text and gave the phone back to me.

"I don't know what to say."

"All of this went on behind my back. I should have known. I should have supported him. I should have…"

I slumped down on the couch and sobbed.

"Best brother of the year." I said, my voice dripping with irony. "First my sister is banished and then my brother leaves the pack because there is no way he'll ever be accepted for having a human guy as a mate!"

Hudson didn't say anything.

"How can I be Beta, your second in command, the one to protect you in battle, if I can't even protect my own family?"

"Don't say that!" Hudson frowned. "This is not your fault Luke. If it's anyone's fault it's mine. I am Alpha of this pack, and yet I let the elders have more say in things than they should. If I just had been the strong Alpha everyone expects me to be I could have prevented this from happening."

"The elders have power over you too. They can replace you at will. I understand that you don't want to pick a fight with them. You can't change thing just like that."

Hudson remained silent for a while before he spoke again.

"Yes I can. And I will. I promise you, as Alpha of this pack, that this will never happen to anyone in this pack ever again. But I need your help. I need to abolish the elder council for this to work, and I can't do it alone."

I smiled at him.

"I'm in. Whatever it takes."