Dark of the Moon

Chapter Twenty-Six: Evan's Trial

The door opened at the far end of the council room and Evan was ushered forward by two werewolf guards, it was clear that he was sad and scared about what would happen at this trial; he knew what he had done was wrong.

Evan stopped in front of Monk Gilbert; he bowed his head and turned his eyes down, showing submission as he waited to hear what he had to say.

“Copas, you have showed disrespect to the mercy Lord Ramos bestowed upon you. How do you plead?” Monk Gilbert said sternly as he looked at the young werewolf that was stood before him, he knew that Eliza had spoken about the options to his punishment and it had made them think long and hard about what they would possibly do with Evan.

“I plead guilty,” Evan said lowly as he wondered if his sister was in attendance, he hadn't seen her on his way in and it worried him that he might never get to tell her how sorry he was for what he had done to her and her husband.

“This court has discussed the punishment that we could sentence you with, however we have not yet made a unanimous decision, as we are undecided about whether to exile you or to sentence you to death,” Monk Gilbert said sternly making Evan swallow as tears filled his eyes as he tried to wrap his head around what he had just been told.

“Lord Ramos,” Monk Gilbert called summoning the older werewolf to the stand, Evan watched as the older werewolf stood from his seat next to Eliza; the blonde was wearing a black lace bandeau maxi dress paired with black heeled sandals.

“Since it is your mercy that he disrespected and your life that he nearly claimed, how do you wish for this court to judge?” Monk Gilbert asked as he looked at the werewolf, he was pleased to see that Sergio looked well after what had happened.

“I do not wish for his death, Monk Gilbert. Copas might have tried to kill me, but I forgive him for it,” Sergio said as he glanced at his wife, he couldn't bear the thought to agree to sentence her brother to death; no matter how much Eliza was upset with him, he was the only family she had left.

Monk Gilbert nodded his head as he looked at the werewolf, he had never seen a werewolf offer another two chances of compassion and yet Sergio had done so.

“Why do you offer compassion to one that showed you none?” another council member asked as he looked at the werewolf curiously, he didn't understand why Sergio didn't want the other werewolf dead after all that he had put him through.

“Because he is my brother-in-law, he was confused and now understands what he has done,” Sergio said making the council look at him before he took his seat again next to Eliza, he took her hand in comfort as Evan watched the two of them; he couldn't help but be glad that his sister had someone in her life like Sergio.

“We will take a moment to consider the punishment,” Monk Gilbert said before he and the other council members rose and exited the room, and a soft murmur spread fairly quickly as everyone waited for the results.

***

The room fell silent again when the council returned, they moved silent as they took their seats before Monk Gilbert signalled for Evan to stand; his eyes glanced over at Eliza and Sergio.

“Copas, do you have anything that you wish to say?” Monk Gilbert said as he looked at the werewolf, he knew that he hadn't gotten a proper chance to tell his sister how much he regretted what he had done.

Evan nodded his head as he swallowed before he looked at his sister and her husband.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble that I caused you both; I should have listened to you both,” Evan said as he looked at them.

Sergio nod his head as he looked at his brother-in-law, he knew that Evan regretted his actions but what happened now was out of his hands and he hoped that the council would see that he was just misguided about what he had done.

“The council and I have decided that you shall be…” Monk Gilbert started to say before someone rushed into the room, Eliza furrowed her brow as the young woman raced forward; she had a feeling that there was something that her brother had failed to tell her about.

Evan stared at the brunette wondering what she was doing her; he licked his lips as he saw the tears in her eyes as she was stopped from approaching him while Monk Gilbert furrowed his brow.

“Why do you interrupt this council trial?” he asked making the young woman look at him, she blinked a couple of times a little nervously before she cleared her throat and prepared to speak.

“I am Evan’s fiancée,” the brunette revealed making Eliza stare at her brother dumbfounded, she couldn't believe that he had kept this from her while he had been completely against her relationship with Sergio.

Evan hung his head as he noticed the look on his sister’s face while Sergio comforted her slightly, he knew he had made a complete mess of things and now he would never get to have somewhat normal family.

“You are Copas’ fiancée, even after he protested and tried to kill his own sister’s mate,” one of the council members asked, the brunette stared at him shocked at what he had said; she looked at Evan as if pleading with him to say that it wasn’t true.

Evan, however, couldn't bring himself to look at his fiancée as she blinked back tears as she realised that he was in serious trouble.

“Copas, we have decided that you are to be exiled back to Andorra unable to return for five years,” Monk Gilbert said making Eliza close her eyes, she might have been mad at him for what he had done to Sergio but he was still her brother.

Evan closed his eyes as he nodded his head; he knew that this was for the best, he had done a horrible thing and this was a fitting punishment for what he had done to his sister; he had never meant to hurt her.

Evan’s fiancée stared for a moment before she moved to stand by his side, she laced her fingers with his making Evan look at her confused until she smiled up at him; a promise that she would be by his side no matter what.

Sergio laced his fingers with Eliza’s as the room was dismissed, he helped the blonde to her feet as she offered him a small smile as they carefully made their way out of the room.

“I think that’s the last of our bad luck,” Sergio said softly as he nodded at a couple of people as they prepared to leave and head home to the twins; Eliza grinned as she allowed him towards the car, she couldn't believe how fast things had changed for her since she had met him.

“I don’t know, we still have to wait until Sofia starts dating,” Eliza teased softly making her husband frown, he had come protective over his daughter since she had turned into her human form and had sworn that she would never date.

Eliza laughed softly as they prepared to leave; she knew that he was never going to stop being protective, they had been through a lot since they had married and now things were going to be quiet it made her wonder what the future held for them.