After Rebirth, I Broke Our Bond and My Alpha Regretted It novel · Chapter 21 of 24
Chapter 21: Standing Behind
The Ironridge envoy was a narrow man in a grey coat, and he read from his paper in a flat dry voice.
He stood on the trampled grass in the ring of stones.
Half the pack stood around him, and he did not look at any of us.
"By Ironridge law," he said, "Alpha Joss Rotheram had no right to release a treaty promise without his council's vote."
"I had every right," Joss said.
"The bride Lenora Hesketh left her promised house in the night, which is a breach. The flight-price for a breach is ten years of Thornwood's tolls at the ford."
Murmurs went round the ring.
"And," the envoy added, folding the paper, "the council asks that Alpha Rotheram step down."
I looked at Joss.
He was standing with his thumbs in his belt, jaw set, and he did not look like a man who had expected to win.
"Who speaks for Thornwood?" the envoy asked. "The seat is empty. I'm told the former Alpha is present."
Caleb was behind me.
I had felt him there the whole time, by instinct now and not by the cord.
He stood a step off my left shoulder with his gloved hands loose at his sides.
He didn't answer straight away.
"The Beta speaks for herself," he said finally. "I'm standing behind her."
The envoy's eyebrows rose.
I stepped forward.
"Beta Thorley," the envoy said. "You have no standing."
"I have a question." I kept my voice level. "Who signed Lenora Hesketh into the promise?"
"Her guardian, naturally. Her mother, Maud Hesketh, as the widow of the Gamma."
"The same Maud Hesketh who was struck from this pack at the Moon Court?"
The envoy paused.
"I'm told so."
"Then I'd like the elder to read us our law on a guardian who's struck for poisoning her ward."
Keep reading free with an account. Start After Rebirth, I Broke Our Bond and My Alpha Regretted It from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 20 · All chapters · Chapter 22 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend