Destiny's Choice (19 page)

Leaving Rivera was probably the one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. With her being in such a state, he wanted desperately to stay by her side. Regardless of how much he would just be in the way if he did stay, being near her calmed him somewhat. But
,
with the job waiting for him in the clearing, common sense dictated that he
saw
it through. 

“She’ll be fine, Roan
.
Y
ou won’t be gone from her side that long,” Sash
a assured him
.

He let out a harsh breath. “I know. It’s just…I should be with her.”

“You will be, big brother.” She pa
t
t
ed
his arm. “Besides, from the little I’ve gleaned from her, she doesn’t seem the type that
’d
want you to
put this off just because she can’t be with you.”

Roan couldn’t help but grin at that. “No. She understands perfectly well what’s at stake. In fact, she’d probably be upset with me because I’m thinking more about her than the coming confrontation.”

“Well, there you go.” She grinned
,
then a serious light came into her eyes. “You two have only been together a short time and I can tell that a lot has happened. She’s had to adapt and learn quite a bit in a narrow time frame. But she’s highly intelligent, Roan
and she knows her place.”

He shook his head
, still amazed at her insights
. “Alright, little sister. I understand. Doesn’t mean that I won’t try to hurry things along though.” Roan also knew his plac
e. It may be as Pack Alpha, but his True
Mate
needed him too
. So
he was going to do everything in his power to return to her side as quickly as possible.

“Then let’s get this party started.” She rubbed her palms together with glee.

Roan laughed, some of his tension leaving
. It was probably the woman’s plan all along
, the
sneak. He was
extremely grateful that Sasha was on their side.

Set
in the thick forest
quite a ways from the house, they made good time as the trees began to thin out
a bit
the closer they came
to the clearing
. The sun was still up, making dappled shadows along the path. The young man waiting at the end of the path was the last person Roan had expected to see though. It was Nicolai
Reynard
. One of the youngest in the Pack, he and two others were the last to be born for nearly a century. But
,
he didn’t share Boone’s thirst for power or his greed. No, Nicolai was a lot like his brother
Mikeal. In looks, personality, and power. Though the youngest of the brothers, he was taller and leaner than the other two. A fact that caused no end of misery for
Mikeal
and a great deal of humour for Roan.

“My parents send their apologies for not being here, Roan,” Nicolai said as Roan and Sasha walked up to him. “They hoped you’d understand why.”

“Of course, Nicolai.” He reached out and squeezed the young man’s shoulder. “Are you staying?”

“Yes
,”
he growled
.
H
is cheeks turn
ed
pink
when
he realized what he’d done. “Sorry. I’m a little angry.”

“Hmph. I’m pissed and he’s not even kin to me.” Sasha snorted. “You’re allowed to be more than a little angry, Nicolai.”

“Yeah.” He grimaced. “Thank you, Sasha.”

“We understand completely.” Roan motioned for Nicolai to walk with them. “Boone has caused no end of trouble for the Pack and your family. You have every right to be angry about it.”

Nicolai nodded. “I want to make sure he’
s punished for this crime
.” He gave Roan a pointed stare. One that Roan was all too familiar with
considering
it made Nicolai greatly resemble Mikeal.

“Boone will be executed according to Pack Law, Nicolai. Not even his status and so called connections can prevent it from happening
,” he
promised.

After
seeing,
and no doubt scenting, that Roan meant what he said, Nicolai let out a harsh breath. “Good. He…he has to be stopped, Roan.”

“I’m well aware of what he’s been up to,” he told Nicolai calmly. “
After
what transpires today, the Pack will be better than ever.”

“I’m glad.”

Standing in the middle of the large
,
cleared out
,
space surrounded by thick forest, Roan gave Nicolai’s shoulder another squeeze then looked around. Everyone he had contacted was there. With a few extras. Elise
Reynard
,
with
her cornflower blue eyes full of fear, stood beside Boone
,
who was still incapacitated
and
laying on his stomach. Next
,
was Morgan’
s father, Darren
Salaud. His
Mate
had died giving birth to Morgan. Standing beside each other, one could tell they were father and son. Clo
se by was Kyle’s parents, Carlyle
and Muriel Montblanc. They didn’t look happy. But then, Darren always wore a frown. Roan couldn’t remember ever seeing the man smile.
Dane, Cole, and Tristan were off to the side of the little group, keeping watch over the troublesome trio.
Several yards away, Maurice and Arianna St. Paul stood beside Ian and Lillah
. The two were still bound,
with
Steven
and Mikeal standing guard over them
. There were tears in Arianna’s eyes every time she gazed at her daughter.
Near the St. Paul’s were Eli and Kate Truesdale. Kate was Arianna’s you
nger sister. Odd they were here when they
really didn’t need to
be
. Looking around further showed Phillip St. Paul standing a great deal away from his family. His expression was one of boredom. But the real shock came when Roan saw just who was standing beside his uncle Quinn.

Rafe Teague had been one of Roan’s father’s personal guards. A powerhouse of strength, he was as tall as Roan’s 6’3” height
,
with plenty of muscle and the superior knowledge to use it. He had taught Roan and Flynn everything they needed to know abou
t hand to hand combat. Especially
the dirty stuff.

R
oan walked right up to the pair as Sasha followed. Nicolai moved towards an empty area near Mikeal, but far enough to let him do his job. Roan simply ignored
the others for the moment as a wide grin split Rafe’s face. A face he heard his sister sigh over more than once while they were growing up and lament the fact that he had a
Mate
. One he loved dearly despite her not being his True
Mate
.

“You look good, mijo.” Despite living in the states for decades, Rafe hadn’t lost his
Spanish
accent. “Finding your True
Mate
seems to agree with you.” He then reached out and grabbed Roan up, giving him a bear hug. When he put Roan down, he looked around. “And just w
h
ere is your other half?”

Roan straightened his clothes, trying not to show his upset at the question. “She is a little indisposed at the moment. Flynn and another are watching over her for me.” He gave Rafe a look
.

Rafe nodded with understanding. “Ah, I’m sure she will be up in no time. Being the True
Mate
of a LeGuer, she would have to be strong, no?”

“She is very strong.” Roan smiled.

“This is good then.” He pa
t
t
ed
Roan’s shoulder. “Si, very good.”

“It’s good to see you, Rafe. Glad you could be here.” He turned to Sasha. “Rafe Teague, this is Sasha LeGuer. She’s Flynn’s True
Mate
and Alpha female.”

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Flynn always had an eye for a beautiful red-head.”
He winked.

Sasha’s smile was sweet as she took her hand back. “He did, yes.”

“Ah, belleza.” He chuckled. “You are perfect for him.”

“I am, yes.”

Roan just shook his head at the exchange as he turned to Quinn. “Uncle.”

Quinn put both hands on his shoulders and gave them a light squeeze. “You done good, boy.
And the jewellery is a nice touch.
”

“Thank you, uncle.”

With one last squeeze, Quinn let go, turning to Sasha. “You got his back, spitfire?”

She snorted. “Of course.”

“Well alright then. Let’s get this done.”

That being said, Roan faced those assembled.
Their eyes alighted on the torques around his and Sasha’s necks. Some seemed surprised, others glowered. Not that Roan cared. The torques were back where they rightfully belonged. With the Alpha’s of the Pack.
Not that these fools would ever recognize the torques meaning as such. But they would. Before the day was over, they would all know what the torques stood for.

“For those I told to be here, I’m sure you gave your own version of why to the ones you invited without my permission. But
,
no matter. The more that know, the better.” He then went on to explain about Ian and Lillah
, moving on to Boone and his cohorts. When he was finished, those invited wore expressions of dismay and shock. The un-invited
,
even more so.

“So
,
you want to execute my daughter and son-in-law for a crime that happened centuries ago,” Maurice St. Paul spoke up.

“Not want to, Maurice, going to,” Roan stated. “I didn’t call you and the others here for a debate. Nor are their crimes up for negotiation. 
Alt
hough
there is no precedent for the time limit, the crime of telling a human about us and subsequently changing him was wilfully committed. The child that resulted was tortured and nearly murdered to cover up this crime. Pack Law must be upheld, Maurice
.
R
egardless of the time frame
,
as Alpha, I intend to see it carried out.” He looked over his shoulder and nodded. “Quinn.”

As Quinn walked over to the bound and gagged couple, Rafe followed, his sharp eyes moving over everyone.

“Now Roan, I must protest,” Maurice spoke up again, his voice sounding agitated.

“You can protest all you want, Maurice, but Pack Law was broken. These two knew the consequences of such actions and will pay the ulti
m
ate
price.”

“
W
ith their lives? You can’t be serious?”

“When it comes to Pack Law and the safety of this Pack, I’m always serious, Maurice.”

“But, Roan. She’s our daughter,” Arianna pleaded.

“And still, you’ve yet to ask about, Rivera. Very interesting.” The two opened their mouths, but Roan held up a hand. “Spare me the false concern. I would rather not hear it.”
Their mouths shut with an audible snap.

When Quinn and Rafe reached to the pair, Quinn stood between them. “As appointed by my Alpha-“

“I won’t let you do this!”

Before Maurice could take a step, Roan froze him in place. Finding the thread to his wolf, Roan pulled, ripping the wolf out with a wet pop and a painful shout. The others gasped and screamed in horror, but Roan ignored them all.

“You forget your place, Maurice,” Roan snarled.

Arianna fell to her knees beside him with tears streaming down her face. “How…how did you…”

“Quiet!” He threw some of his power out, affectively silencing them all.
“Proceed, Quinn.”

“As appointed by my Alpha, Roan LeGuer. I, Quinn Lowry, have hereby been given the duty to carry out the execution of one Ian Montgomery and Lillah Montgomery
,
for breaking Pack Law and attempting to murder their child, Rivera Montgomery. May your souls find redemption and peace in the Sacred Forest.”
A
s quick as he could, he twisted their neck
s
, effec
tively breaking
their brain stems. It was one of the very few ways a Lupus could die.

Roan felt the moment Ian and Lillah passed. Their bond, the filaments that
tied them to him, snapped
,
letting him know they were truly gone.

“I, Rafe Teague, have witnessed this execution. It was merciful and just according to the Laws of Nature and the Pack.”

“Aye.”

“Aye.”

Both
Steven
and Mikeal agreed
.
Going over
to the bodies
, they
remov
ed
their bindings, laying them out.
With their job finished, Quinn and Rafe went and took up position behind Roan
and Sasha. Not that they couldn’t handle anyone there
. It
would make the others think twice about trying anything stupid. Quinn and
Rafe
had the
reputations of being swift and brutal when they were with Roan’s father.
Retirement hadn’t
changed that.