Moon Tears

Chapter ♡ 23

16 hours later

It's late afternoon and we have all returned to the Firwood Packhouse.

Seth has handed himself in, confessing his crime.

I agreed because I also needed my true justice to be had through law.

I may be regretting supporting his confession a little late – however, after I ask Seth in the Firwood courtyard connected to their courtroom, "What's your punishment likely to be, Seth?" I ask.

"Council judgements for violent crimes like this vary. I could be exiled, defanged, castrated, worst case scenario, I could be put to death," Seth says this all too casually, while bracing with one hand against an old stumpy tree, dressed in jeans and a white shirt. He looks at peace. While I love that he's at peace now, what he just said makes me furious. Seth picks up on my halted breath, "Eliza, I have faith that whatever they decide, will be the correct judgement, and the payment will be the correct justice. Don't worry, love."

"Don't worry? I'll have a word to them, thank you very much," pumped full of adrenaline, I push back against Seth when he tries to step in front of me, "Move, please Seth – I have a right to say something while they deliberate about my justice!"

"Alright, alright, good point," Seth doesn't try to stop me now, "Tell them how you feel."

"Oh, I will. Onyx said your soul was disgustingly pure, they will not be giving you the death penalty," I snarl, feeling my inner wolf snarling with me, "Stay here," I speak firmly.

Seth puts up his hands in surrender, "Whatever you want, darling."

He's not even worried about himself.

I enter the compact courtroom and every row is full of Firwood wolves awaiting the end of the trial. I bypass all the prying eyes to head straight into the council chamber, interrupting an important discussion as the elders deliberate around a circular table.

They go quiet at my appearance as I slam the door, my hands clenched by my sides.

"I want to tell you what I think before you decide anything," I ask, "May I?"

"We have already decided he is guilty. Is there a specific punishment you'd like to request?" an older man asks me, wrapped in a green checkered scarf as he sips on a hot cup of herbal tea. He ushers me forward with a hand, and I move to an empty seat at his side.

"Thank you. First. Please. Do not kill him," I beg each one of them, "We are together now and I love him with all my heart and soul."

"He is also a father now!" Seth's mother is here, and she speaks up also, barely holding back tears, "...he's the f-father of your child... Jack... isn't he, Eliza?"

I nod, "I have no doubt. You are correct."

"I have no doubts either," Seth's mom nods, slamming her fist to the table, "He is a father!"

"Alright, alright... as I asked, was there a specific punishment you had in mind, that would balance the suffering you endured?" the elder asks me once more.

I nod and I speak.

"I suffered loneliness, not with my werewolf friend Melody, but with being a single mother, that inherent loneliness and a feeling of not being enough. Jack suffered from this too... I was not engaged as much as I should have been. I was also isolated from my human family and I was too scared to leave the house... after meeting Mr. Woodburn, as my therapist, he healed me. But as for the crime, I too believe there must be consequences. And I would like to lay out my terms now, even though it might sound a little unconventional..."