Stronger- #Wattys2019

Part 11

"I don't see why you've called us all here." Elder Aisling grumbled. "We have already addressed the issue of the omega girl."

He and the other Elders had finally arrived, taking a moment to settle into their seats before quieting down to hear what their king had to say.

"New information has come to light regarding the girl from the Bosch Pack." Alexander started, but the Elders didn't remain quiet.

"What could possibly be information enough to drag us all here again?" Elder Gideon questioned. "I agree she wasn't guilty of trying to spy. She didn't deserve to be arrested. However, she is a complicated mess we shouldn't be getting our hands dirty over."

"Well stated." Elder Zima smirked. "This is far too much uproar over a girl who willingly suppressed her wolf. She made herself an omega. Pure insanity."

By that point, Grace couldn't hold back. "Beatriz Zima, I would hold my tongue if I were you."

"Or what?"

Alexander rolled his eyes. "Or you risk making yourself look the fool. This young lady is the one you should be fighting the hardest to protect." He ground out, ignoring the knowing look from his mother. Alright, he will admit he's being a tad hypocritical. However, he also wasn't dragging his mates reputation through the mud.

"Why would I..."

Alexander cut her off with a low growl. "If any of you interrupt me again, you will not like the outcome." He glared around the room. Once he was sure each of the Elders submitted and remained quiet, he turned to his computer screen and turned the monitor for them all to see. "As most of you were Elders eleven years ago, you would recall the tragic events which lead toward the loss of Alpha Roman Zima. At the time, everyone assumed a rogue was responsible for the abduction and murders of young women from several packs. Alpha Roman and his family were on their way to visit with the Bosch pack, in order to coordinate efforts with Alpha Lukas. Unfortunately, they never arrived. Roman, his mate, and their seven year old daughter, were found ripped apart, like the other victims of the rogue."

Elder Zima's hands were fisted into the long skirt she wore. Her jaw as clenched so tight, the king could make out the scraping sound as her teeth ground together.

"After ordering the royal pack doctors to look over the files sent to us by the Bosch Pack warriors and clinical staff who investigated the tragedy, some discrepancies were discovered. Primarily in the little girl. The body collected was not a genetic match to the parents."

"What?" The Elder covered her mouth quickly. She knew not to interrupt. Yet the news was too shocking to stop the reaction.

Alexander looked her dead in the eye. "The child buried as your granddaughter is not your granddaughter at all. Nor was your son killed by a rogue. Rather, in delving into her past, my mother and I have learned that Nadine Grey, was once known as Nora Zima, daughter and heir to Alpha Roman. It appears that Lukas Bosch intercepted the family and offered to escort them to his pack. However, he used the guise of friendship to get close and then strike. And used his pack to help cover it up."

"It can't be."

"Her story matches events. Details others wouldn't know. Even the evidence supports the claim. I had her blood tested. Full DNA results won't be ready for a few weeks. However, preliminary tests show her blood is a type match to the records we have for Nora. There is also a birthmark in the records. A similar mark can be seen on the back of Nadine's neck."

"Why? How? Why would he do such a thing? Why didn't she tell anyone?"

Grace reached over to grasp the woman's hand. "I was only able to piece it together when she asked about you. Once the story was in the front of my mind, I could see the resemblance and I pushed. She hasn't said much yet, only a few details. But she seems to be filled with shame and guilt. Apparently Lukas told her the Zima pack hated her. Who knows what else he put in her head. Markus didn't kill him until five years later. That is a long time for anyone to suffer the way she did, let alone a child. All we know for sure, is she seems to think you and the rest of her old pack would hate her for who she is and what happened. So, she kept it hidden. Letting you all believe she was dead."