I smiled at Luna Beatrice as Finlay and I took our seats for the second day of the Alpha meeting. According to the plan, we were to discuss trade opportunities between packs today, but because of what happened yesterday, the plans had changed. Finlay was a bundle of tensed nerves. I had tried to get him to relax in every way I could think of. It worked for a while, but before I knew it, it all came right back to him. The only solution was to get through the day and get some closure. I knew he was afraid that neither of our plans would work and the only option left was a hostile solution. The idea scared me as well, but I had faith that others saw how truly horrible the situation in the Ocean Shore pack was.

The stage had already been set to continue the council’s hearing and as soon as everyone was in place, the head of the council called Alpha Ryan to come forth. He walked up on the stage and took the same spot as Alpha Lars had done the previous day.

“We have heard Alpha Lars‘ accusations towards your pack, Alpha Ryan. Please, the floor is yours and once you are done, the council may have questions for both you and Alpha Lars,” the head of the council said and then took his seat.

“Thank you. I have to say it is a sad day when I, as Alpha, have to step onto this stage and defend how I chose to rule my pack,” Alpha Ryan started. His emphasis was on the word ‘my’. “Since when do we get involved with how others run their pack? Should I petition the council every time I don’t agree with how another Alpha rules their pack? If that is the case, we will have to prolong the Alpha meeting by a couple of months. It is tradition to let each Alpha run his pack as he chooses. I think it’s sad that Alpha Lars has taken the steps he has, but I know it’s not his own doing. No, this is all because of my brother. He wants to take revenge for me suggesting, in an attempt to protect my former pack members, that our packs should be unified. My brother took offense and is now out for vengeance. He isn’t brave enough to do it on his own, so he is using his allies to do it. It’s pathetic and a coward’s way. If he wanted to strip me of my Alpha status, he should challenge me.” There was silence as he stopped speaking.

“That is the worst defense I have ever heard, was it even a defense?" Finlay mindlinked.

‘I don’t know. I don’t know what to say,’ he linked back, obviously as shocked as I was.

“Erhm, was that all?” the head of the council asked.

“Yes,” Alpha Ryan told him.

“Well, yes, good then. Do we have questions from the council?”

“How many members are left in your pack, Alpha Ryan?” a man on the council asked. We all wanted to know the answer to the question.

“I don’t see what that has to do with things,” Ryan said, squirming a little.

“Please, just answer the question, and let me remind you it is a crime to lie to the council,” the head of the council said. For a moment, it looked like Ryan was about to refuse and I wondered what would happen if he did. Then he spoiled it all by opening his mouth.

“Twenty-five,” he said.

“Twenty-five families? It’s not much, but I thought it would be worse,” the man who had asked commented.

“No. Not twenty-five families, twenty-five individuals,” Ryan corrected him. There was a stunned silence and then a murmur. I could hear comments from a few rows behind me.

“Twenty-five wolves? Is that even a pack?” one Alpha asked.

“I don’t know. No wonder they aren’t having pups. There is no stability in a group of twenty-five. How are they even supposed to protect their borders?” another one answered the first.

“True. I’m guessing not all of them are warriors, so they may have even fewer to cover patrols. Even if we don’t take away his Alpha title and disband the pack, another pack will overrun them within months,” the first one said. I could see how pale Finlay had got.

“Are you still with me?” I asked in a mindlink.

‘Yeah, I just… Twenty-five,’ he answered. Sometimes I forgot the Ocean Shore pack wasn’t just Finlay’s brother’s pack. It was the pack Finlay had grown up in and had thought he would spend his life in. It was the pack his family had protected and ruled over for generations. I couldn’t imagine how hurt he must feel knowing the state of it now. I took his hand and put both of my hands around it, keeping it secure. I leaned in and put my head on his shoulder. ‘Are you tired?’ he asked. Always worrying about me.

‘No, I’m just giving you some social cuddling that is appropriate for the occasion,’ I told him.

“Alpha Ryan, you say you would prefer your brother to challenge you,” a woman on the council asked.

“Yes,” he confirmed.

“Is that your way of telling us you wish to step down from your Alpha position?” she followed up.

“What? No! Why would you assume that?” Alpha Ryan asked.

“Because a year ago you met your brother in one-to-one combat and you lost. That was when you had marked and mated your true mate and were in your prime, while your brother had no Luna. Now he has his Luna and is expecting a pup, while you have declined in strength. Do you see such a challenge ending in any other way than his victory?”

“You don’t know… That is not… You are twisting the truth!” Alpha Ryan said, sounding taken off guard.

“Now, now. We are all adults. Let’s keep this civilized,” the head of the council reminded everyone. It wasn’t hard to see things weren’t going Alpha Ryan’s way, and it confused him. “I think we will break here. Let’s have lunch and then we will hear Alpha Ryan’s defense for Alpha Jonas‘ accusation, have the Alpha vote and the council’s verdict,” the head of the council said.

“No need. I have the same defense for those accusations,” Alpha Ryan said.

“Are you sure? It would be wise to take the lunch break to think it through.”

“I’m sure,” Ryan insisted, and I sighed. He was an idiot.

“Well, does anyone have a question for Alpha Ryan?” the head of the council asked. No one spoke. “Okay, do you want to take the lunch break to think about how to vote?”

“I think we are ready,” an Alpha said and there was an agreeing murmur.

“Nothing ever goes to plan when you are dealing with Alphas,” the head of the council murmured. “Okay. Alphas, those of you who agree with Alpha Jonas that Alpha Ryan should be stripped of his title please raise your hand now,” he then said. I could see Finlay, Lars and James all raise their hands. I looked back and saw a sea of hands. There was no questioning the outcome. I kissed Finlay’s cheek. “Thank you. And could those of you who don’t agree with Alpha Jonas raise your hand now.” I looked back again and saw a few hands sticking up. It took a moment but then the head of the council stood up. “The voting has concluded. 132 agree with Alpha Jonas, 12 are against him and 3 stand mute,” he told everyone. He stepped around the table and walked up to Finlay’s brother. “Ryan Cadwick, you no longer hold the title Alpha. You no longer may lead a pack. You no longer have the right to attend this meeting. A short extension will be given so you can join us after lunch to hear the council’s verdict,” he told Finlay’s brother.

“Now. Let’s break for lunch.”

For lunch James, Elder, Jonas and Beatrice joined us again. The mood was a kind of shocked silence. We had all hoped for this outcome, but it was still overwhelming to see an Alpha being stripped from his rank.

“I didn’t think it would be that easy,” Alpha Jonas finally said.

“After listening to those horrific testimonies yesterday, the worst possible defense had to be; I can do what I want and you should mind your own business,” Elder said. Then he looked at Finlay. “Sorry,” he added.

“No need. It was a terrible defense for a terrible crime,” Finlay said and kissed his cheek. Some of his color had returned and I took it as a good sign.

“I didn’t realize stripping him of his rank would get him banned from the meeting as well. Silly of me, but I didn’t connect the dots,” I told them.

“I think it’s a good thing. It will give him time to run away and lick his wounds,” James said. We all agreed and finished our lunch. No one wanted to be late for the council’s verdict. I wished I could sit on Finlay's lap and keep some of my dignity, but that wasn’t an option so I sat in my own seat. Finlay put his arm around me and I took his other hand between mine. The council walked in and got settled. Finlay’s brother stood where he had stood before they went for lunch. He looked smaller and more fragile than he had before. The head of the council stood up.

“I would like to say this was a hard decision, that we struggled with it and its consequences. Revoking a pack’s right to be a pack is not something which should be taken lightly. But this decision was easy. We, the council, find enough proof and credence in the evidence presented by Alpha Lars, and in Alpha Ryan’s answers, to disband the Ocean Shore pack. From today, no pack shall use that name. The pack land will be sold by the council and the profits will be split equally amongst the wolves of legal age who were members when it ceased to exist. The members will not be turned rogue, this is of no fault of theirs. They will be considered lone wolves and are free to seek homes in other packs or to roam free. This is the council’s decision. It is final, and it is in effect immediately,” he declared. There was silence. Ryder seemed to sink in on himself. “As this was the final matter for the day, we will end it here. We all could need some time to decompress and grasp what has happened,” the head of the council told us. We all nodded and stood up.