Merely Human

Chapter 25

The gathering of werewolves erupted into absolute chaos at Tobias' words, some people jumping to their feet and others looking too confused to know how to react. Caden observed the madness for a brief moment before bellowing out a loud "SILENCE!" The effect was immediate as everyone froze in place and the room was plunged into silence. Tobias and Emmett still hadn't broken eye contact.

"Tobias..." their mother breathed, but no one paid her any attention. I felt a pang in my heart at the look of utter desperation and joy on her face at his sudden return.

"Did you think I was dead?" Tobias finally whispered. It was so low I could barely hear it, but I was sure it was perfectly clear to everyone else in the room. "Or perhaps you just hoped I was since I never returned."

"This is outrageous!" Emmett's face had taken on a reddish purple hue at his son's accusations.

"Caden?" A large looking man in the front row suddenly spoke in a loud, clear voice. "What is this?"

"Thank you for asking, Lawrence." Caden responded, sounding perfectly calm. "I'm sure many of you have heard the same story I have, that my brother Tobias left the pack following an argument with my father. Recently, I've heard Tobias' side to the story and would encourage you all to listen as well."

The people still standing seemed to suddenly come to themselves and sat back down. Emmett opened his mouth angrily but Caden cut him off before he could say anything.

"Tobias has the right to address the council with any demand for justice against any pack member. Isn't that right, Paul?"

Ben's father shifted slightly in an uncomfortable manner but didn't seem able to go against a command from his alpha. "Yes, that is correct."

"Thank you." His voice was curt, but Paul didn't seem offended. "As the accuser, Tobias has the right to address the council first and then you will have time to respond to his allegations. I will ask that you sit quietly until directed to speak."

Emmett looked furious, but he seemed unable to go against Caden's words either.

"You may begin." Caden told Tobias.

For the first time since entering, Tobias looked a little uncomfortable. His eyes flickered to me and I sent him the smallest hint of a smile, subtly nodding my head to show my support. He inhaled deeply before turning to face the room, addressing most of his words to the front row which I assumed held the members of the council.

"My father has been lying to everyone." He began. "And I apologize to my mother in advance, but to truly understand the depths of his lies I must reveal that she was never his true mate."

"No!" Someone from the middle of the room cried out as everyone else gasped and wildly looked over at Emmett. Caden and Tobias' mother closed her eyes, looking a mixture of ashamed and resigned. It seemed to hold all the confirmation that anyone needed at the truth behind his words.

"Why?" Someone from the front row croaked, seeming disturbed.

"Because his true mate was a human." Tobias said wryly.

Murmurs erupted and everyone seemed to glance over at me unconsciously. As Tobias began to tell his tale, everyone became quiet and the room seemed held captive by his words. Eyes flickered between him, Caden, me, and Emmett as if trying to take everything in at once. When Tobias spoke of Danny, some people seemed to begin to see where the story was going. Those people let out a visible flinch when he first spoke the name, looking at me in shock as if remembering the last words I had spoken to Emmett. At least, I hoped that was the reason.

The horror reverberated around the room when Tobias described what it felt like to wake up in the middle of the night, feeling his mate dying and knowing his father had murdered her. He ended the story simply by saying he had run off after fighting his father, not mentioning anything about his role with Alpha Ford as he, Caden, and Ben had discussed that it may not play favorably with the council, but the crowd didn't seem to need anything further after Tobias ended his story. He took one look around the chamber as if trying to sense any doubt before finally reaching his final declaration.