Finding Course

17

Zane.

Jack and Kat came with me to council with the elders. We were seated in a conference room and I could see the confusion written on their faces at her presence. I started to explain what happened once we were captured, the experiments, forced marking, and escape. They remained silent, save for a few clarifying questions. One of them cleared his throat and quirked an eyebrow. "And what of this, Liam? Hmm? Will he be questioned?"

"Yes. We'll see what we can find out from him. How long he was there, what information he has."

Kat stiffened next to me and glanced around the room. "I think he was there for a while, or at least was captured by them for a while. He may have even been at different facilities."

"What makes you say this?" someone questioned.

"If you saw what he looked like, he isn't healthy," she whispered the last part, looking nervous and out of place. I'd been to council plenty of times, both a kid learning the ropes with my father and then as an adult once I'd become Alpha. I wasn't intimidated by these people; but I could easily see how Kat would be. I realized then that it was likely overwhelming to just waltz in to council with me and my hot headed agenda.

"What is your proposal?" Their question had me already tensing for the debate that would surely follow.

"We keep increased security of our land. Once we see what Liam can tell us, we go back and finish them off. Every last one of them, if there are any survivors." I could see the disagreement on their faces before I'd finished speaking.

"We've been through this, with Jack during your absence as well. It's not safe, and it's a rash action. We need more information. This lead with Liam could be helpful, move us in the right direction, but we need more time to plan," a man said.

"Plan? More time to plan what? Last time we waited to 'plan' Katherine and I were captured, drugged, forced against our will," I began ranting and saw her start to blush. "Marked, mated, and experimented on like lab rats. You can't be serious." I was standing by the end, and positive she could feel my frustration.

"This council does not promote brute force and violence."

Jack raised a single finger and tilted his head to the side. "I think they," he gestured to Kat and I, "were on the receiving end of brute force and violence. There's a need, a balance, for justice in this situation."

Another elder spoke up in warning, "Beta, there may be a need for justice but murder is not the answer."

I ran a hand down my face and looked around at each of them. "We're certain they were behind Daniel's murder. Katherine and I are here in front of you as evidence. I will do my due diligence and question Liam; but let me remind you I don't need your permission to make a decision. I seek your guidance and counsel, not your blessing."

One of the younger elders, which is an odd thing to consider, motioned to Kat. "Your emotions from marking her are leading your decisions without consideration to the consequences. This could result in covering up a lot of death - human death. You should focus your time on your new mate, securing our pack's future." Her insinuation of children did not go unnoticed by anyone in the conference room, Kat included. Her cheeks stained pink with uncomfortable nerves and I couldn't help but let my mind wander there for the briefest moment before I shook my head.

"There won't be a pack unless we finish what's been started."

The same elder then turned her attention to Kat. "My dear," she said. "You are now the Alpha's mate, a serious position within this pack. You should be guiding and supporting as another leader to the pack. Encouraging his idea of a murder spree is not a wise choice as his mate."

I wanted to say something to this old woman, but Kat beat me to it. In a calmer voice than I expected, she said, "I may be brand new to this, but I believe my job is to support Zane - not you." I heard Jack suck in a breath and could see him holding back a laugh of surprise.

'Holy shit,' Jack linked me, and it took significant effort to not let a smile slip past. I cleared my throat and addressed the council once again. "I appreciate your words, but I've made my decision on what needs to happen. As promised, I will question Liam, but I will not sit waiting while more of us get picked off by any survivors." Not giving them a chance to say anything further, I ushered Kat outside with Jack trailing behind us.

'Oh my god I messed up, I should have stayed quiet,' she linked me with a concerned glance on her face as we walked back toward the truck.

'You did great.'

After meeting with the elders I linked Ian for an update on Liam. 'I want to question Liam. Has he said anything to you?'

'Not much. He's been sleeping basically since we got here to DeLaurent's.'

'I'll be by tomorrow to talk to him. Keep rotating a security on him.'

'You got it. How's Katherine?' I made a conscious effort to keep my emotions level at his question. The Alpha instinct in regard to Kat was strong, stronger with each day. Logically I knew Ian is just being considerate, but a flare of protectiveness surged through my mind.

'She's fine.'

'Let me know what you need. I'll be here,' he offered. I closed the link and focused my attention back on the road as we drove back to my house. Once we arrived back home, there was a constant rush of people in and out. Kat looked a bit lost, but hung in there through the throng of people. I sat in my office firing off orders and questions simultaneously as we speculated about any survivors from the gas at the facility. Kat remained out in the living room area with Sophia and some of the others who stopped by to offer their peace, confort, and also congratulations as the news circulated on our mating.

Through our bond I could feel her energy draining, and I was sure it was becoming too overwhelming for her. 'You can excuse yourself to the bedroom if you want a break. Don't feel obligated to socialize if you're tired,' I told her through our link.

'I'm okay. Sophia's here.'

'You know I can feel you're exhausted, right?' She didn't respond, so I tried to listen to Jack and Charlie talk about the gas that was used and the lethal levels for humans compared to shifters. Out of nowhere a heat of arousal burned through me in the middle of the conversation as I felt her touching her mark, my mark. 'You're distracting me,'  I said through our link.

'Sorry,' she answered, but there was a hint of excitement in her tone. If we weren't in the middle of an existential crisis threatening the future survival of our pack I would have kicked everyone out to spend time with her alone. Unfortunately, that wasn't the hand we were dealt.

"Zane," Jack said, pulling me back to the discussion at hand. "You good?"

"Fine. So, can we get more of this gas? Or are we better off with a direct attack infiltrating the building?" I continued our planning and deliberately tried to keep blood powering the head on my shoulders instead of the one between my legs.