Page 53 of Shattered Soulmates

The vision plagues me, and my dragon is unsettled and restless, like I feel when we prepare for afight. Unease. Something is looming, and I can’t put my talon on it. But the closer I get to the clubhouse, the more my dragon pushes me forward.

I shake my head in puzzlement and stuff my dragon back down. I need to focus on driving. I’m returning to the compound after working out some partnerships with other packs. I hope we can become more mainstream, making our jobs easier. Our goal is to protect the innocent and clean up our kingdom. Glancing to the side, I look at my baby sister. She’s only a few years younger than Lynsey and me, but Emaline has been through a lot in her short life.

As a teenager, she was kidnapped by traffickers because of her dragon heritage. Dragon shifters are rare, having been hunted to the brink of extinction. But Em was prized for her beauty as well. In her human form, she’s tall and statuesque, with long red curls and big gold eyes. Her time as a prisoner with the traffickers damaged her mentally, and I’ve been sending her to a therapist since she was 17.

I’m bringing her home from her latest stint at the mental health facility, because her therapist said he wants to give her a break. He feels like she’s finally improving, but it doesn’t appear so from the outside. She sits, staring straight ahead through the SUV’s window,almost in a catatonic state. She's remained silent since I picked her up this morning. I’ve tried talking to her several times, but she isn’t responding. Her therapist said to give her a few days before I start pressing her to speak.

I sigh heavily and turn my attention to the road. Even with all my worries about Em, my inner dragon remains distracted by the remnants of the vision.

We finally arrive at the clubhouse, and the main room is eerily empty and quiet. I take Em to her room, and she remains silent. The texts I’ve been receiving from Lynsey and Snake indicate that everyone will be gathering in the conference room. Lynsey sent me a full report of the events that occurred during my absence, and strict discipline will be meted out soon.

I’m also aware that the subject of the investigation, a female picked up due to Joyride’s prevarications, is now sick and in a coma in one of the guest rooms. I plan to check on her once Joyride’s tribunal is over.

Alpha Stone and his pack members have arrived, and we’ve all gathered in a meeting room. I sit at the head of the table while Joyride sits at the other end in the “hot seat.” She’s an unwilling participant, so we have her strapped into her chair. Sweating profusely, her eyes nervously dart around at the others assembled. I’m not sure if she’s aware of it, but I have the gift of perceiving lies, so everyone here will have no choice but to tell the truth. I don’t think anyone except Joyride will have issues with this.

I’m still struggling with the dragon inside me who wants to be free. He senses a disturbance, and it’s all I can do to trust my brothers to keep things secure. He’s currently overly territorial and wants to patrol the borders to ensure nothing and no one encroaches on our lands. He feels fiercely protective.

“Snake,” I address my VP. “Have a couple of the prospects do an intensive security sweep. My dragon’s hackles are up, and I can’t explain it.”

“Will do, Prez,” he lifts his cell and sends a text, likely to a couple of the on-duty prospects. He looks up at me, places his phone on the table, and nods.

“Thanks,” I acknowledge, addressing the group. “Shall we get this started?”

Murmurs of agreement fill the room.

“Byte,” I turn to my technology specialist. “Is the video and audio ready to go?”

“Yes, Prez.”

I look around the room. Someone placed printed name cards in front of all the attendees: Lynsey, Que, Snake, Byte, Alpha Blake, Beta Miles, and Beta Knight. My attention is suddenly caught by Beta Miles, and I recoil visibly. The dream I had last night flashes in my mind. Like putting together a puzzle, the complete picture begins to emerge: Joyride and Beta Miles were both in my vision. Three common elements are present in this room at the moment. I don’t believe in coincidences.So, who is the other female from my dream? Where is the missing piece?

I shake my head, trying to focus. We have a quasi-tribunal to conduct.

It takes some time, but eventually, Joyride’s pitiful excuse for her actions is revealed. As I sit at the head of the table, watching for false statements, I find none until we come to her. Joyride's testimony is littered with lies, half-truths, and evasions, nearly avoiding the answers altogether. She’s a skilled liar. It’s more time-consuming to question her than anyone else because getting her to admit the truth is like trying to catch smoke with your hands.

But, finally, we’re done, and I’m not the only one who looks fatigued. Everyone around the table is clearly flagging, while Joyride is actually slumped forward in her chair as far as she can go with her constraints. Snake looks devastated, while Beta Miles appears sad. So many families and lives have been destroyed if even half of what’s been said is true, and I know it is.

“Marissa Hunt,” I decree. “The charges against you are grave. The most grievous of which is that your actions caused members of the club to unjustly kidnap an innocent female from another Alpha’s jurisdiction, which could have resulted in a war between packs. This is treasonous against the club and the kingdom, which is punishable by death.”

Marissa jerks her head up and gasps, her eyes blown wide in shock. I see Snake flinch beside me, gritting his teeth. I know he has caught feelings for her, but after hearing about her crimes, I’m not sure how he can still support her.

“Since they’re the most severe, those are the ones we’ll address here today,” I say, leaning back in my chair and interlacing my fingers. “First, I strip you of your road name, 'Joyride,' and outlaw you from our club.”

At this, Joyride, now Marissa, with her arms still strapped tightly to the chair, lays her head on the table and begins to sob loudly.

I ignore her dramatics, honestly, over it. “Further, I propose that, instead of death, we banish Marissa to the wilds of Prisoner Island for the rest of her natural life. Is everyone in agreement?”

A resounding “Yes” echoes from all around the room.

“I think that is fitting,” Alpha Stone agrees. “I tried to show her the devastating results of Cheating Mate Syndrome, but she blatantly disregarded me, nearly costing the lives of others in my pack besides Paisley. I would also request that she be formally exiled from The Wind Howl Pack and banished from Stone Mountain Kingdom.”

“I agree with that suggestion,” I note. “As is custom, we’ll insert micro trackers into her bloodstream through her femoral artery. She cannot remove or disable them, and they’ll prevent her from ever leaving Prisoner Island.”

Marissa’s sobbing escalates into howls of despair as she begins to bang her head against the table.

“Snake, can you get Sawbones in here to sedate Marissa?” I ask detachedly, without emotion. “Make sure he brings the tracker injections as well.”

He nods, though I know he’s not happy about it. Taking out his cell, he sends a text, then looks at me and groans, “It’s done.” Wiping a hand across his face, he turns his attention to Marissa and stares longingly. A glance at Miles reveals he isn’t much better off than Snake, a foolish male.

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