Page 58 of Henri's Little One
The Russians in the back mumbled, suddenly sounding concerned.
The Alpha continued, “You are charged with attempted murder of both of your Betas when they, as they are bound to do, tried to curb your excess.”
“My Betas, traitors, you mean.” Chernof stood defiant.
“This charge brings a whipping until all of your skin in flayed from your back before execution,” The Alpha intoned. “Who brings this first complaint against the Russian Chief Alpha?”
“We do.” Two young wolves rose in the back of the conference room. “We are Artyom Pasha Pozlin and Sofiya Zlata Pozlin. I am the elder, so I will speak for my sister. Our mother was Shona Griselda Pozlin, a human, of Scottish descent. She was taken by Alpha Chernof, placed in a wooden shed with other humans and part humans. He put kindling around the perimeter, poured kerosene around the kindling, lit the match himself and laughed as my mother and the others burned. Our father screamed in pain as our mother died. He burned himself trying with the other Mates to put the fires out.”
Chernof laughed. The young wolf broke out in tears.
“Can you continue?” The Alpha asked.
“Yes, I must for my mother and my father and all of the others. My father was in decline, but he heard that next, Chernof was going after those of the packs that were part human. Papa snuck us out of Russia to Europe and we later immigrated to Canada and became pack to Alpha Giraud. Our father died of grief.” The boy pointed to Chernof. “He murdered them both.”
“The first charges are supported by…?” Alpha Armando of Spain asked.
“Betas Anatoly and Maxim Matveev, pack member KristinaStasyaSokolov, and Omega Vitas Anton Kosloff-Giraud.”
“You have met the criteria of two witnesses, the defendant is judged guilty of the first offense.”
“The second offense of trying to steal a Mate, who is the first witness.”
“I am Vitas Anton Kosloff, newly Kosloff-Giraud. I am an Omega with a great gift. I can tell the truth from lies at the request of my Mate or The Alpha or by myself should I so choose and if the gods allow. Alpha Chernof murdered my parents, he tore out their throats and let their blood splatter my face.”
The room broke out in stunned whispers.
Henri looked on, pride warming his chest, as Vitas bravely continued. “He proclaimed himself my Mate to steal my gift. My Papa stood up to him while he slayed my mother. He turned on him and did the same. I would not yield. He kept me for three months in a dark cellar, naked, with shit and mushrooms. I had no place to urinate or defecate but the farthest distance my chains would allow. He forced weekly injections on me which rendered me unable to make the change. He tried to break me into declaring he was my Mate to the packs. I had no food but scraps and no clothing or blanket to keep me warm or cover my nakedness during the cold Moscow spring. I developed human pneumonia and was beaten daily by his reluctant Betas. They finally helped me escape.”
“Where did you go?” Alpha Macar questioned.
“I was given a ticket to New York and Alpha Davidoff’s address. When I went to his home, Boris and Katya Polansky, the factotum and housekeeper of his household, sent me to Alpha Bellaire’s home in Eugene, Oregon. It was there I met my Mate, Alpha Henri Giraud.”
“Can you prove Alpha Giraud is your True Mate?” Alpha Macar persisted.
“Yes, I can. As an Omega, my fangs will only drop for my Mate. If Alpha Giraud removes his shirt, you will see my marks just above his heart.”
Chernof stood and shouted, “Fake, this can be faked. One of Giraud’s pack Alphas did not see the marks. Therefore it is void.”
Alpha Utkin stood. “I am the new Alpha of the pack in question. I fled Alpha Chernof’s tyranny and settled in Alaska. There are two Alphas in Training who are members of my pack before it was given to me. Both of them and their Betas witnessed the mark. Also, Alpha Giraud appointed me Alpha, and the pack accepted me right after they awoke the following day, even though they showed the mark the night before. Neither The Alpha nor The Alpha Mate left the room. Alpha Giraud’s mark could not have come from anyone else but this Omega.”
“I have heard enough. I am appalled by Chernof’s behavior and further appalled by the Russian Council’s indifference to it.” Alpha Macar scowled.
“The European Council will discuss the matter, but I believe their verdict is the same as mine, guilty on all counts, including the charge of the attempted murder of his Betas, because only such an offense would lead them to turn against their Alpha,” Alpha Armando announced. He looked about him. The other European Alphas nodded, as did the North American Council. “We are in agreement.”
The Alpha rose. “Under the Charter that the Russian and the European Councils signed, I am revoking Russian autonomy. The Europeans have agreed to become a sub-council of the North American Council according to the original Charter. Alpha Chernof, the court has no wish to draw out your death. My Betas will take you through the secret ways to the subfloors of this building where you will be beheaded according to our laws, and according to our gods, you will forfeit further turns on the wheel. We will bury you below, and no one will remember your name. Martin and Rene, take him. His executioner awaits.”
Vitas was shaking beside Henri. “Who is the executioner?”
“No one knows, not even The Alpha. It is said that the executioner is one of the gods. The headless body disappears, the head remains for burial.”
Epilogue
Alpha Giraud’s Home
Reception for Julien and Richard and Vitas and Henri
Henri and Julien invited the European and the new Russian Councils to come to their reception. There was a band, and Henri and Vitas danced together for the first time, with Vitas resting his head on Henri’s heart. “I love you, my little one. Shall we dance all night?”
