Stephanie's Trial

Completion

Simon stood before us as we assembled in the entry hall, and though my back was killing me, along with the certainty that I'd probably ruined my tailbone for life, I nevertheless felt a deep sense of accomplishment. We'd done everything Simon had asked of us and more - never mind the work had been driven by coercion. It was still a wonderfully satisfying feeling to stand in the entry hall and know that we'd gotten the job done. In fact, we'd really gone above and beyond, and I smiled to myself as I admired the beautiful stained glass panels in the double doors. Siobhan had been responsible for that, as well as the regal gold-bordered runners that lined the stairs, all the way from the ground floor to the third floor. 

Outisde, the lawn had been transformed from a jungle to a veritable smorgasbord of flowers, and the pastures had never looked greener. The stables had been fixed, and though the horses had been sold a few weeks after our arrival, the newly repaired stalls were ready and waiting for new occupants if ever the need arose. 

All the leaks had been repaired, and the wiring was as good as new - better, in fact, since Colin, who had an eye for all things electrical related, had bluntly told Simon the house was a deathtrap, and all the wiring needed to be replaced, even those parts which looked okay on the surface, but were riddled with all manner of problems underneath. And the pool area was looking much neater with the installation of a glasshouse which kept the ambient air temperature at a comfortable 23 degrees, thus ensuring the area was always welcoming no matter what the weather. The pool itself had been rewired to keep it pleasantly heated all year around, and new lights installed along the walls ensure ample illumination for nighttime swimming. The oak tree at the deep end had been relocated with Barry's help - and the help of professional aborists - and new banana lounges had been put inside the glasshouse. The area outside had been retiled, as had the pool itself, and the presence of the glasshouse now ensured no leaves or other debris would litter the water's surface. 

And the mansion itself had come in for the most thorough scrubbing and painting of its life. In fact, we all agreed that it looked better than new, and with new gravel on the driveway leading up to the house, as well as the installation of some beautiful wrought iron gates, the place looked much more inviting. 

Simon's face, however, remained impassive as he studied us, and for once, his mind was concealed, meaning we couldn't get any idea as to how he felt about the improvements. Ethan, Samuel and James stood at his side as usual, and their faces were just as impassive as his. But I noticed something in Ethan's eyes - pride. This surprised me, and when he caught my eye, he nodded slightly. This warmed my heart more than I thought it would, and I felt much more confident as Simon finally addressed us. 

"It's adquate," he said at last. "Too frivilous in parts for my taste, but the ladies of the pack are quite taken with the new additions, and that ridiculous pool table on the second floor is a welcome addition according to Caleb and Zachariah, so I must admire the boldness of the male who put that in."

Colin raised a hand. "My idea, Alpha," he said. He'd never come in for a punishment for being so blunt to Simon with regards to the wiring, which was a good thing; at least the Alpha had the smarts to bow to a wiser head when it came to things he didn't understand. 

Simon raised an eyebrow. "I see," he said. "I congratulate you for your inventiveness." 

He then turned to address us all. "Tomorrow, three packs are coming here," he said. "They are the Blackwater pack, the Redwood pack, and the Rainbow Heart pack. They are all here to listen to my argument as to why they should join my other allies in battling against the Windsong pack."

I went still at that name. The Windsong pack were formidable fighters, and their Alpha, Joe, had been Dad's best friend. I knew without a doubt they'd been the ones to take Doreah in, and I felt relieved that she was in safe hands. The Windsongs were fiercely protective of all their pack members, born or adopted, so Doreah was definitely in the right place. 

Simon's next words shattered the momentary relief. "However," he said, "though I have a Beta and a Gamma, I have no Luna. No female in my pack is unmated, more's the pity, or I would have them stand here in the Luna's place. And I need a Luna to talk with the other Lunas, to ensure they talk with their Alphas and convince them that joining our cause is the right thing to do."

His eyes swung over us, and I felt myself go rigid. This was it, I thought to myself. He's going to choose me as his Luna. 

"Aoife."

Dead silence reigned, and we all turned to look at Aoife, who went pale. Shannon looked ready to do murder on the spot, and for good reason, but Simon ignored them, his eyes never leaving Aoife's. She herself was rigid, but then she gasped, her eyes going wide, and I knew without being told she'd just been reunited with her wolf. Simon smiled coldly as dawning realisation and horror filled her eyes, and I wasn't the only one who winced as she stepped towards him, drawn by a compulsion beyond anything even his power could command. 

'Oh shit,' a distant voice said in my head, and I blinked, momentarily snapped out of my horror. 'Kira?'

'One and the same,' she said, and I sighed in relief. I wasn't the only one; Simon's release of Aoife's wolf had obviously done the same for everyone else, but then the horror came back as Simon took Aoife's face in his hands and kissed her, making sure there was no doubt he'd found his mate. Aoife went rigid again, but the newly formed mate bond forced her to comply, and when Simon let her go, his eyes were glittering in triumph. "You shall be my mate," he told her. "But you will not be my Luna."

"Oh shit," I said. 

Simon smiled again as he looked at me. "You will be my Luna," he said.