Elias POV I can feel the pain in the room at everyone remembering the lost, but mostly from Chilli and my mother. I glance from one to the other as my mothers eyes release a single tear that rolls down her cheek. I know without asking who and what she is thinking about, I've known for years that day weighs heavy on her soul. After it happened I noticed a difference in my mother, she was still the same loving woman I'd always known but now just a little broken in side and no matter what I did it never went away, I couldn't, try as I did, fix it for her. I remember over hearing her crying in my fathers arms, and him repeatedly telling her Rosalee's and Bill's death was not her fault. I remember thinking that's Chilli and Erin's dead mother and father names. Mother was crying also because she thought Chilli hated her, as she barely saw her anymore and when she did Logan would pull her away. I remember wanting to ask Chilli if she hated and blamed my mum for the loss of h
Chilli POV "...Erin Stone." A loud applause thunders around the hall as Erin gracefully pushes out her chair to walk upto the stairs to join us, her mother, Regina, shocked face beams with pride and glee at her daughters newly appointed position in our pack. As Erin reaches us up on the stage, she embraces me, then hugs Elias also before she takes her place by my side. "And," Elias continues once the room dies down, "Leroy Miller!" The room gasps even louder this time as Leroy surprised eyes lock with his alpha as he slowly pushes back in his chair and sheepishly joins us on the stage as our guests clap unsurely, not completely following what's happening or what we mean, looking from one another complex with raised shoulders. I give Erin a subtle, gentle nudge with my elbow to get her attention so we can share a wink, as I think back to last night at dinner in the dining hall after Elias and I decided to ask Erin what she thought about our idea to share and sligh
"Next, we are bringing back the role of the Epsilon," Elias pauses for a few seconds before going on. "The Epsilon, their job is to ward off intruders and will be responsible for the safety and well being of this pack. They need to be warriors, so they will need to be skilled fighters but also be able to look for a peaceful solution first. Meaning, they should only resort to violence should peaceful persuasion fail. They are the guardians of a pack. They will also be taking part of the head of securities duties by being in charge of training our fighters in aid of protecting us and teaching us how to fend for ourselves." I fight to keep my eyes forward and to not make eye contact with the unknowing wolves he is talking about until he says their names, and my eyes flash two them both with a firey prideful smile eclipsing my face. "Jay and Chantelise Ackles," their faces pale with shock as surprise as Chant locks eyes with me as if asking if this is really happening, bu
Elias POV With the speaking done the food arrives at the tables and the hall fills with the low rumbling, mumbling of chit chat and chewing. Every so often I glance out at the room and its inhabitants, subtly looking and checking where Nathan is and what his is doing. I spot Chilli doing it too, but from where she is sitting it is a lot less noticeable as she simply has to look up and around without really having to move her head much. Each time her eyes meet mine and I give her a sneaky grin before we return our full attention back to the table. Every time I look to the alpha he is convercing with either his Luna or beta, seemingly fine, and looking over confident. Perfect. 'So he went to see him?' Chilli's voice sounds delicately in my head once our tables conversation moves on slightly amongst themselves, seemingly not needing or noticing our silence.'Must have,' I reply, sipping my drink, 'Taylor reported the guard at the cells door steppe
A few days laterLogan POV Leaning against the cold stone walls of my cell as I stare at the high up, tiny window as dawn breaks and fills the dark sky with beautiful reds, oranges and pinks. I wince as I sigh, 'how can my throat hurt when I still can't make a sound?' I think to myself, rubbing my rough hand over my swollen neck and up to the back of my head, 'I guess all that silent shouting did it.' What ever that prick drugged me with is still in effect and shows no sign of weathering off anytime soon, that crap burns even now, like acid dripping down my throat, I wonder if I'll ever talk again. That thought would have brought me to tears if I wasn't so dehydrated. Wow, I'm shocked and surprised, but I'm also weirdly a little proud at Charlie for following through with the punishment by keeping me down here like this for so long. I'd like to blame it all on Elias and Sam's influence but I know better than that, although, yes, they all probably support and
Nathan POV The look on Logan's face as he is brought out here for the banishing is priceless, my Luna questioned me slightly on wanting to be here so much and as I told her, I wasn't going to miss it for the world, even though we were just here the other day for the welcoming. Which is perfect, that means the toxin in his system would have spread and done it's job. Now, who ever next comes into contact with his blood, even just a drop, well, lets just say I won't be biting or scratching him anytime soon. I can't help but feel so gleeful that these idiots are none the wiser to the poisonous boobie trap laying in wait in Logan's veins. Sarah nudges me with her elbow as Logan miserably fails to try and get up with a look of murder in his eyes, as she links to me,'Wipe that grin off your face, you look like a fucking child in a sweet shop! Whatever your up to, your going to give it away if your not more careful.' Her words are not filled with love or worry for m
Chilli POV My stomach is in knots, twisting every which way it can and shouldn't, fear and dread filling me. It doesn't help with all the wittnesses eyes burning into the back of my head, especially ones in particular. Nathan. His whole body, attitude and energy has been ... I don't know, there's just something off about him today, and it's unsettling me. He is up to something, but that we already know. The day after the welcoming event Elias and I listened to the recording of Nathan's interaction with ... the prisoner. During his ... visit, Nathan did something, we could hear their conversation, if that's what you'd call it, but by the sounds of it he did something to cause the prisoner's sudden tight lips. However, there something that niggles at me, like there could be more going on, I don't know, it's just a feeling that something isn't right. I continue to ignore the other pack leader's eyes watching us as Elias finishes delivering his last words to the
Elias POV I follow his line of sight straight to Nathan as I expected, as Chilli's thumb rubs in a circular motion on my arm in a comforting mannor. But this just fills me with more guilt and heartache as I stare into her blue waterfall orbs, our family and loved ones waiting on the edge of their toes to rush to her side to help with baited breaths, as I can feel their fearful gazes on us. She was the one just screaming out in agony and now she's trying to comfort and soothe me."I'm so sorry Chilli," I whisper under my breath as she painfully gasps for air. Why did I let her do this? Why did I suggest it? And what the fuck happened, what the hell is in his blood? Wolfsbane? Why didn't I listen to my instincts? I knew I shouldn't have let her do this, fuck! Anger boils up inside of me at myself and the one responsible for my mate's pain. My eyes shift back to Logan still on his knees, now looking more paniced and worried at Chilli, but something tells me its more