Page 4 of Accepted Bonds

“But what if the truth serum is fake or just water in a vial?Wouldn’t that mean that you’re just lying?”Nathan’s father, Councilman Smith, countered.

Before I could retort, my father started speaking in a smooth, indolent tone that usually spelled trouble.“What you’re trying to say, Councilman Smith, is that I and my Luna changed the truth serum to water to help our son lie to the pack council?”

Councilman Smith pursed his lips, looking back at my father.

From where I was standing, I could see his fists clenched by his side.He parted his lips to defend himself, but no words left his mouth because we all knew how dangerous things could get when my father used the tone he was using to speak.

“Very well.That’s very possible.Therefore, we’ll test out one of the truth serums on you today.I think the reason this stupid meeting is taking place even though I’d already said that Aurora Byrne wasn’t a threat was because everyone in this council thinks they can ignore my opinion and disrespect my judgment so we’ll use you as a lesson to the pack council.I AM THE ALPHA OF THE CRAWFORD PACK!I call the shots.You guys?You’re just advisers to keep me in check, not to control me.Eleanor, give him a truth serum vial.Capheus, get over here.You will be responsible for making sure Councilman Smith answers all my questions without trying anything stupid.”

Despite the anger thrumming in his voice like a musical tune, my father still spoke in his lazy, I-don’t-give-a-damn tone.Fortunately, everyone in the conference room wasn’t as blind to my father’s anger as before.

The hall was pin-drop silent even though many people were squirming mentally, afraid to even make a single movement or sound that could make my father notice them.

Within five minutes, Councilman Smith was standing before the council while I was standing behind my father.Capheus was standing behind Councilman Smith, who had just emptied a truth serum vial down his throat under my stepmother’s watchful gaze.

“The serum should have taken effect now.Councilman Smith, did you know that your son had a shooting match with Aurora Byrne some time ago and lost to her?”My father started his questioning this way.

“Yes, but it was just luck.Girls should just stay home and care for their families.What is she doing learning to shoot better than a man?”Councilman Smith’s face reddened after he said those words as if they were internal bigotry that he knew others didn’t believe in.

Evident with the way frowns and condemnation covered the faces of many members of the council, they did not appreciate his undisguised misogyny.

“Well, did you know that after apologizing, your son called the Walker family and told them several mixed lies and truths about Aurora?He informed them that Aurora was a spy who killed Angelique and that my sons were shielding Aurora from getting punished, urging them to go to Crawford University to make an undignified fuss?”My father asked in an indolent and unconcerned tone.

Councilman Smith’s lips twitched twice as he said, “I’m aware but—”

“Let me finish asking my questions first.Did you or did you not call Councilman Walker to work with him to persuade several council members to vote for a council trial for Aurora Byrne behind my back?”

Beads of sweat formed on Councilman Smith’s forehead from my father’s questions and he tried to purse his lips to avoid speaking but couldn’t help answering under the truth serum, whose force became harder when someone didn’t want to tell the truth.“Yes.”

“When you did that, didn’t you know that I’d investigated and absolved Aurora Byrne of all guilt?”My father picked up the pen in front of him, tapping it on the table.

Beads of perspiration were now rolling down Councilman Smith’s forehead, proving that he was fighting for control over the truth serum.“I did.”

“So, why did you do that?You felt like I was a useless Alpha, uncaring about my pack and its members, and wanted to prove that to the council so you could all start a rebellion to challenge your Alpha?”My father’s words and the invisible pressure emanating from him made the atmosphere change as perspiration started glistening on the brows of many pack council members.

I didn’t need to see my father’s glowing eyes to know that he was in full-on challenged Alpha mode now.I could hear it in his voice, which now had a guttural undertone to it and I could feel the pressure of a mature Alpha pressing down over everyone in the hall.

While other pack councilmen could stay silent and avoid my father and his Alpha werewolf-half’s condemning gaze, Councilman Smith couldn’t and he had to answer my father’s questions.“N ...no Alpha.I just ...Mateo challenged my son to a duel and got my son expelled from the pack enforcer’s training program because of that girl and I just couldn’t bear to see it ...”

My father clasped his fingers together and locked gazes with Councilman Smith.“Well, since you couldn’t find an honorable way to go about appealing your son’s expulsion from the pack enforcer’s training program, I’ll help you out.You and I will duel and if I win, you and your son will be expelled from the pack to become rogues.For your wife and daughters, they can either choose to go with you or stay in the pack.Of course, if you win, you get to stay in the pack even though I don’t want you in my pack anymore.What do the pack council members think?If you want to plead for Councilman Smith, I don’t mind dueling with you right after.If you win, he can stay.If you don’t, you can all leave together.”

The room fell silent as all the council members stood and bowed their heads, saying in one chorus, “We have no objections.”

“Very good.Everyone, please sit down.”My father’s tone became normal again, leaving the dangerous indolent tone that meant bad things for anyone opposing him.

After the pack council members were seated, he smiled and asked, “Now, do we all agree that Aurora Byrne is not a threat to the pack?”

After that scare from my father, everyone became yes-men agreeing to my father’s words.“Of course, of course.”

“That’s good.If I were you, I would advise my children to restrain themselves at Crawford University.I don’t tolerate people spreading malicious rumors about other people or bullying them when they don’t know the whole truth.I have spoken to the Vice Chancellor of Crawford University and we will be adding a carefully crafted no-bullying clause to the University’s laws.”

“Understood, Alpha.”Everyone chorused.

“Capheus, organize the duel between Pack Councilman Smith and me.It’s taking place today.The first person to draw third blood is the winner of the duel.”

After Capheus nodded and left the conference hall, my father turned to the members of the pack council.“If there are no objections, this pack council meeting will end now.Any objections?”

“None.”

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