Bound to the Tribe (Bound to the Pack, #2) (10 page)

I nodded slowly. It was the truth, but I didn’t like hearing it. It put a new light on my previous actions, particularly of the past few weeks.

I had gone to town to stop my sister from bonding Troy, not because it was best for her or the pack, but because
I
thought it was beneath her and that it would reflect poorly on me. And in the end she hadn’t needed or even wanted my help.

If I hadn’t interfered they might still be happily together.

“I agree, eldest.” I answered him even if he hadn’t asked a question. “My selfish acts led to almost universally unfortunate ends.”

Logan nodded, thoughtful, but it was Richard that spoke again.

“So, the mighty Liam has finally found some humility,” he spat. “That still doesn’t fix the transgression that brought you here today.”

There was a moment of silence before Ian spoke out. “As unprecedented as it might be, I believe they are a true pair.”

This caught everyone’s attention, my own included. Jen looked to me questioningly while Kristen looked us both over, thoughtful. “That,” she spoke to the group, “Makes a surprising amount of sense. It would explain a lot too.”

“What’s a true pair?” Jen asked as many of the gathered alphas nodded slowly. Even Richard looked thoughtful.

“Well,” Kris began, looking for the words, “You know how people can fall in love, move on and fall in love again? It’s possible for a single person to fall in and out of love dozens of times or more.” She paused, looking between Jen and I. “A true pairing is, basically, when two perfectly matched people meet. It’s impossible for them
not
to fall in love.”

“It is very rare,” Logan spoke, “But when it happens it is
very
powerful. Overwhelmingly so.” He looked to Kristen and Ian. “You would both vouch for this?”

“Definitely,” Kristen replied immediately.

“You can’t be serious, eldest.” Richard’s voice was full of disbelief.

“Richard,” Ian spoke, getting everyone’s attention again. “A week ago, Liam was the picture perfect traditionalist. A few days later he’s breaking one of our laws.” Ian looked around, meeting everyone’s eyes. “
Liam
broke a law. The man who could quote every law and bylaw word for word from memory. A true pairing is the only possible explanation.”

“I can add your name to Kristen’s then, Ian?” Logan asked, getting a nod and shrug from him.

“He is alpha,” one of the previously silent alphas said into the silence.

“He is alpha,” others began to acknowledge, Ian’s voice clear in the group.

Richard regarded me a moment before nodding as well, anger and hatred dancing in his eyes. “He is alpha.”

You weren’t required to like an alpha.

Once all of the others had spoken, Logan looked me over and said, “It seems that you will face the tribal elders as an alpha, Liam.”

I nodded and watched as the group of alphas began to disperse, feeling like more was in motion today than I realized. Why go through the effort of acknowledging me as alpha if I was to be tried and executed immediately after?

A glimmer of hope wormed its way into my chest but I forced it down. I could imagine no outcome today other than my death.

“Kristen, Duncan.” They both looked towards the elder as he spoke their names. “You will both need to leave, this will be a closed trial with the elder council.”

“Yes eldest,” Duncan nodded to Logan and, surprisingly, to me as well before turning and following the alphas.

“I want to stay here with my brother,” Kristen spoke as she looked at me, “Please.”

“I understand your reasons, but you will not be allowed to stay.” Kristen turned to face him, an argument on her lips. “Do not press the matter, child. I will find you once the trial is concluded, understood?”

Kristen looked like she would choke on the words she wanted to say, but nodded and came closer to Jen and I. “Good luck.” She gave me a tight hug. “Make it through this. If anyone can, it’s you, little brother.” We shared a sad smile as she released me before turning to hug Jen as well. “Stay strong.”

“Thanks Kris.” Jen hugged her back, smiling.

The three of us silently watched Kris leave. Soon, we were all alone in the clearing and I attuned myself to the place. Power thrummed through me, body singing with nature.

“Liam, a question before the rest of the elder council arrives.” Logan waited for my nod before speaking again. “Aside from the fact that you did not have permission to mate with her, how, by all the gods, did you not realize you were on a sacred site when you did?”

He gestured around us, his sweeping hands taking in the scenery and indicating the power I was just basking in.  His question was something I had thought long and hard about since the moment it had happened. Jen’s scent came to me, supportive, encouraging, and I answered him simply.

“When we arrived I
did
feel the power of the place around me. But you were right, I was so focused on myself and my goal that I gave no thought to it.” I shook my head slowly, hindsight giving me the clarity I had lacked that day on the mountain.

“You just chose to ignore it?” Logan’s voice was incredulous, the idea was anathema to our kind. Who of us could not be fully aware at being on a sacred site?

“I did not ignore it, it was just not important to what I was there to do. I had every intention of coming back after ‘saving’ my sister and requesting permission to take Jen as my mate.” I smiled down at her but was met with a flat stare.

“Yeah, not sure I’d have been receptive to just being your temporary toy till you were able to find a shifter to bond.” She stuck her tongue out, but smelled amused.

“That still doesn’t answer my question.” He looked between us, shaking his head. “You have admitted that you knew it was a sacred site and that you had intended to seek permission. But neither of those seemed to have stopped you from bonding her.”

“When we made camp that night and I looked upon her, all thought was gone. Why I was there in the first place, the fact that we were on a sacred site, our laws, my intentions, all just gone.” I watched Logan’s face darken, but pressed on. “Even the sense of power at the sacred site was gone. There was only Jen before me, the only course available was for us to mate then and there. It wasn’t a selfish decision, I had no thought of taking her as some personal reward or desire.”

“It was simply meant to be,” Jen spoke softly beside me.

Logan regarded her for a moment before nodding slowly. “I’ve never heard of the like, but if you are in fact a true pair...” He let the words hang in the air and lost himself in his own thoughts.

Jen leaned against me, shivering in the clothes she had taken from the gym. It was cool, on the cusp of being cold, with the slight tang of snow in the air. My favorite weather. Inhaling deeply, I felt at peace; it would be a good day to die. Looking down at Jen I smiled.

It would be a better day to live.

“How long until the rest of the elders arrive?” Jen asked quietly, looking back off to where Kristen had walked out of sight.

“They should be here shortly,” Logan replied, watching her. “They were waiting for us to finish here.”

Jen nodded and turned to face him. “So, is there time for you to tell us what that meeting was all about? Some of you were in on it, whatever
it
is, but most weren’t. And tell Richard he’s a good actor for me, would you?”

“So,” Logan looked Jen over again, wary, “It
is
true then. You can read minds?”

“Not exactly.” Jen looked to me, her scent spiking with love and determination. “But enough to look out for my mate.” I beamed at her and was rewarded by a smile in return.

Logan nodded, grinning. “That is still unsettling enough. Hopefully, it will be able to see you both through the trial.”

I looked at him as my thoughts raced. “You won’t tell us what is actually happening?”

“It should be easy enough for you to figure out, boy,” he said flatly. “I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“Well, that is highly reassuring.” I grinned, “Will you let us in on the actual plan?”

“No, I most definitely will not,” he snorted a laugh.

“Don’t worry love, it’s just because he’s making this up as he goes along,” Jen said to us both, grinning. “You’ve got an idea, maybe even part of a plan, but you have no clue how it will work out.” Her face softened as she frowned. “Or even if it
will
work.”

“Enough of that!” Logan was no longer smiling. “I see if you both make it through this, you won’t be popular here.”

“There is a possibility then,” I asked, hope again raising, “That we will both live?”

“Who can say?” Logan turned, I heard others approaching. “It is time. I will have my say, but ultimately it will be up to the council as a whole.”

He backed away to where he had stood with the alphas and waited for the arrival of the other elders. Jen leaned closer and wrapped her arms around one of my own, hugging herself to my side and smiling up at me encouragingly.

Moments later the small group of elders walked into view and joined Logan before us. Most were wearing various states of sadness on their features. It was rare that anyone broke a law as ancient as this and execution was still the most likely outcome. It went against our nature to kill someone because of the choices they had made.

“Let us be done with this.” The bear elder hardly waited for the others to stand in their positions before speaking. “Liam, you have broken one of our cardinal laws. The penalty is death.” Looks of irritation passed through the elders as he turned to leave.

“I believe,” the moose elder spoke, “That this is a trial. Not simply a sentencing.”

It became apparent to me, as the bear grumbled his way back, that my education when it came to the other tribes had been woefully inadequate. I knew nothing of these elders, what motivated them, what angered them, nothing that could help us in this trial.

I didn’t even know their names.

It was another indicator of how self-absorbed I had been. I had only concerned myself with elevating my own status in the wolf clan. What use was knowing the other elders? It was a long way before I’d have been old enough to concern myself with such things.

“He isn’t denying it,” the bear continued, irritated, “The human is right there, hanging off of his arm. I don’t see any need to discuss this further.”

“Agreed,” the fox elder spoke, getting a few nods from the gathered elders.

“I believe there are circumstances that may weigh in,” Logan spoke, stepping forward. Most looked to him with interest. Even though our clan was the smallest he was highly respected. His words carried weight.

“Oh please, Logan,” the fox sneered. “Your star youngling committed one of the worst possible crimes, whatever you have to say won’t change that.” The bear grinned wickedly at the fox's words. They were working together, but to what end?

“Bonding a human is forbidden to keep the average shifter from becoming strong enough to challenge their alpha, or to declare themselves one and form their own packs.” Logan spoke simply and I found myself hanging on his words. “There are some specifics on allowing an
alpha
to complete the bond.”

His words were met with another round of nods throughout the gathered council. I felt light headed. There were allowances for bonding humans? Why have there been no rumors of such things happening anywhere?

“It is highly unusual though, the vast majority of alphas have bonded mates much earlier than Liam.” The moose elder then focused his attention on Jen. “the opportunity for alphas to bond humans is rare indeed.”

The bear shouted, “He was only made alpha this morning! In a sham of a ceremony! Well past when he committed the crime!”

“I’ve been alpha for some time now,” I spoke to my accuser. “The ceremony is just to give others a chance to see.”

“Is that all you have? That you were alpha, so you get a free pass?” The fox and bear shared a smirk.

“No.” Logan turned and, one by one, looked them all in the eye. “They are a true pair. I have those that will vouch for this if required.”

There was a great deal of murmuring at that pronouncement. Jen hugged my arm more tightly. I looked down, smiling, but she was focused on the elders, staring at them intently...

Reading them.

The bear seemed particularly angry at this turn of events, disproportionately so. “And we’re just supposed to believe any old wolf you put before us? Do you take us for fools?”

“I believe Ian’s testimony would hardly be just ‘any old wolf’ but I can tell him you said so.” Logan’s words brought utter silence. Even the bear stared wide eyed.

Ian was one of, if not
the
, best hunters in the entire tribe. Everyone knew of him. If he vouched that Jen and I were a true pair it just might work.

The fox recovered quickly. “Again, that is irrelevant...”

He was cut off as Jen spoke, all eyes turning to her in shock. “You aren’t angry that Liam broke the law, you’re angry that it wasn’t one of your own.” Jen turned to the bear. “You as well. You both, you
all
knew that this was going to happen.”

The stillness that descended on the group at my mate’s words was shocking. Every elder, even Logan, stared at her. I felt my own eyes straining, for that matter.

She looked at them all in turn, some actually flinching away, before continuing. “This is why you wanted to have a reservation next to a human town. It just didn’t go the way you had planned, you couldn’t have known a true pairing would happen.” She paused, shaking her head. “You each hoped it would be a member of your own clan that would be given permission to bond a human.”

“We had also hoped to have more time,” the moose spoke into the silence that followed. “More petitions to mate with humans, eventually giving an alpha permission to bond.” He looked at Liam and sighed, “We were still decades away.”

“But, why?” My head was spinning. The elders had
intended
to have a human and shifter bond? It was unbelievable.

“They were told to.” Jen said, looking up at me, confusion on her face.