Chapter 147

Third Person POV

Angela, proud of her accomplishment in tainting Fiona’s name in the East, stands before the gathered elders and council members. Her parents stand with her, supporting her in her efforts to keep a human from becoming the Luna of the Silverclaw Pack.

“Yes, sir. I can prove that Alpha Ethan Montgomery is not in a pure relationship with the woman he claims to be his mate,” Angela announces to the room. They mutter to each other, motioning her forward when they see the paper in her hands.

“This is a copy of a contract I found. It details that Alpha Montgomery and this human woman have a contracted sexual relationship,” she announces, passing the secret copy of the contract she made to the main council member. The men to his sides lean in, looking at the page. “The details are all there, about how they formed this contract to benefit both of them. The woman used Alpha Montgomery to end her marriage. There is nothing there about them being mates, and if they truly are, there should have been no need for a contract like this.”

“Where exactly did you find this?” Council Member Thaen, the man in the middle, asks, looking up.

Angela shifts on her feet, aware that she’s about to expose her snooping.

“I found it in Alpha Montgomery’s office. I was looking for something to prove their fake relationship, sir,” she says.

He nods, and they go back to reviewing the contract. Content to wait for them to finish, Angela stands quietly, smirking along with her parents as the Council Members and Elders talk.

Then, Angela’s father steps forward.

“Esteemed Elders and Council Members, should we not look at Alpha Montgomery with more critical eyes?” He asks, surprising Angela. She turns to her father, unsure of what he means, but the Alpha ignores her, having plans of his own.

“How do you mean?” Council Member Thaen asks.

“Well, Alpha Montgomery has been less than exemplary as an Alpha in the past few years,” he starts, and Angela grabs his arm.

“What are you doing?” She hisses, alarmed at her father’s words.

He shrugs her off and takes another step forward, addressing the council and elders, “Alpha Montgomery has proven himself unfit to be included in the Lycan King Selection. He has not only been absent from his pack, but he has lied to his pack and elders, dishonored the sacred gift of the mate bond with this contract, and has allowed a human woman to taint his reputation.”

“The fact that Ethan Montgomery created this contract does not disprove that this human woman is his mate. It is not easy to bring a human into our secret. Also, do you forget what he is doing in the East? Did you forget he is the one searching for a cure to the blood disease that ails many Lycans, the King, included?” Elder Raen speaks up, defending his Alpha.

Angela’s father, the Midnight Pack Alpha, scoffs. Irritation rises within him at the man’s argument.

Several other Elders agree with Elder Raen, but it’s a Council Member who speaks next.

“You are correct, Elder Raen. Alpha Montgomery is an upstanding and honorable man, doing the Goddesses’ work, but we can not look past the truth right in front of our eyes,” Council Member Westwood says. He shifts to look at the two Elders from the Silverclaw Pack. “If they were true mates, he should not have needed such an unpleasant contract.”

The tension in the room vaults up several levels at the Council Member’s words, and Angela nervously picks at her fingernails. She hadn’t meant for Ethan’s character to be questioned.

“We are not here to discuss Alpha Mongomery’s position. He is the rightful heir and Alpha to the Silverclaw Pack,” Council Member Thaen says, addressing Angela’s father sternly.

The Alpha holds back his grimace of annoyance and nods in understanding.

“This human, Fiona, could very well be Alpha Montgomery’s true mate, which brings us to the reason we are here,” Elder Mathis, of the Redwater Pack, says from off to the right. “If he is to mate this human, she would become a weakness that a Lycan King should not have.”

“Yes,” another Elder shouts. “A human could not possibly protect herself, and her genes would more than likely pass to any heirs produced between the couple. This could create a weak family line unfit to rule. It would damage the future royal line.”

Angela steps forward boldly, offering an uninvited opinion, “This is why my father has been proposing a union between the Midnight Pack and the Silverclaw Pack through a marriage.”

“However,” her father adds, “Alpha Montgomery, against the wishes of his parents and Elders, has declined the proposal. He claims the human as his mate, rejecting the alliance and the marriage for her. It has created a rift between our packs.”

Murmurs break out between the Council Members and Elders, each of them muttering negative comments before Council Member Thaen speaks again, “Rejecting a strong, capable Alpha female for a human is unwise.” He then turns to the two Silverclaw Pack representatives, Elder Raen and Elder Nguyen.

“You know your Alpha best out of any of us,” Council Member Thaen says, “Is there a way to convince Alpha Montgomery to marry the Midnight Pack Alpha’s daughter?”

Elder Nguyen shakes his head, bowing it slightly in respect before he answers, “We have met with our Alpha many times on this matter, and he will not budge. In one of the meetings, one of our fellow Elders, Elder Johnson, pushed for the marriage, and he was dismissed from the board.”

Council Member Thaen hums in response, not liking this information. Elders are chosen with the Pack’s best interest in mind by the previous Alpha. Even though the new Alphas have the power and ability to replace them, it usually isn’t a quick decision or process.

Council Member Thaen wasn’t the only one with this worry on his mind. Nearly every official in the room had the same question on their mind.

Was Alpha Montgomery fit to enter the Lycan King Selection?

After much argument and questioning, the officials turn to talk. Angela nervously watches the men discuss Ethan’s fate. She fidgets with the hem of her top, nearly jumping out of her skin when Council Member Thaen suddenly says, “We have decided.”

“Due to circumstances unforeseen and unavoidable, Alpha Ethan Montgomery will be disqualified from running for Lycan King as the Alpha of the Silverclaw Pack,” Council Member Thaen announces, and the two Elders from the Silverclaw Pack sigh. “However, if he were to forsake the human mate and mate with a strong Lycan partner, the disqualification will be lifted.”

Angela keeps her excitement inside, feeling that she won this battle. This will surely show Ethan that she is the superior mate.