5. Truth

Author POV

"I'm Skyler Rogers", Skyler was before kings. Ryan convinced her to attend the court. Alex and Luca tried to find her parents. They used all the sources but failed.

"I'm the daughter of beta Miles Rogers of Red Moon pack. Six years back my pack lost the war with Pearl Moon pack. Maverick killed our alpha and threatened to burn the whole pack. Having no other option my father submitted to Pearl Moon pack. They killed many of our pack warriors who tried to fight back.

My father and our Gamma Nathan tried to save our alpha's son Vince. Nathan was killed and my father was threatened by using me. Maverick forcefully took me to his pack house. They all treated me terribly. I would be released only when my father handover alpha's son. I spent two years there. Later I managed to escape and ran to West Valley pack. Alpha William was an old friend of my former alpha. He provided me asylum and protected me.

When I was twenty I returned to my pack. At that time Vince returned with a force and we all stood with him. He challenged Maverick. In the middle of their fight, Maverick used some sort of witchcraft and killed Vince. He killed a few of our warriors too. Later he announced to marry me. I escaped again and ran to West Valley.

Maverick was working with a dark witch against werewolf laws. My parents and a few other companions started collecting proof of the atrocities of Maverick. He got to know that and tried to erase them. My father gave me that evidence. Alpha William suggested I present those proofs in council. With his help, I reached here. With the remaining proofs, my parents and their friends had to come here. Before we meet, Maverick's men found me yesterday evening and locked me in his room.

He wanted the evidence from me. He abused me and threatened me. He said he would kill my whole pack if I didn't give him the proof. He tried to rape me and I managed to escape", she said everything.

"I don't know where my parents were. They were definitely in this town. Maverick had something to do with this", she sobbed.

"Where are the proofs you are talking about?" King Judah asked.

"I'm sorry my king. My parents.... my pack might be in danger", she cried. Maverick sat at his place with a smug face. He didn't expect that she would attend the court. But he came prepared.

"King, I request you listen to my side", Maverick asked. King accepted.

"Killing enemies in war is not a big deal. Yes, I killed the alpha and his warriors in war. Kidnapping and abusing her was a lie. I never imprisoned her. They all swore loyalty to my pack. Yet, that girl and her parents met other packs. They broke their oath and did things behind my back. They even revolted along with that alpha pup. With all fair means, I won the challenge. They lost it and called it witchcraft.

I ordered execution for their treason. This girl came to me and asked me to leave her people. She begged me to marry her to prove her loyalty. Before the wedding, she went missing. After that, I had seen her yesterday in the palace. She was lurking behind walls and searching for something. I caught her and take her to my room to talk. I wanted to know where she was all the while and what she was doing here.

She didn't answer me properly and lied she knew someone from the palace. I didn't trust her. I said I would take her to the people she knew. She said no and attacked me with a vase. Then she ran away from there. Then she was lying that she found her mate. Coming to proofs and all. I really had no idea about anything. If she had any, I request her to show them."

"Trust us and give the evidence", Ryan requested Skyler. She looked at Alpha William and he was exactly in her state. Keeping his hesitation aside, he nodded.

"Please give me some time and I will submit them", Skyler said.

"You have time till evening", King Samuel accepted her request. He dismissed the court. Everyone had to attend the afternoon.

Ryan, Jason, and five other royal warriors accompanied Skyler. She maneuvered them to the slum. Streets were narrow and highly crowded. They went to a poorly maintained apartment. They got into the small old rusty elevator and she pressed the fourth floor. The corridor of that floor was narrow and the hand railing was extremely damaged. If anyone pushed it with little force, it would fall.

She opened the door of a room. Dull walls, worn-out paint, leaking ceiling, damaged furniture, and dirty mosaic floor made it look older than it was. A small torn couch lay in the middle of the living room. Skyler and Ryan went inside while remaining to wait in the living room.

"Who's this place?" Ryan asked.

"Mine", Skyler answered.

"You are living here?" he shocked.

"Maverick wouldn't suspect this place and it's hard to find me in the crowd", she said and smiled. He hugged her close.

"How did you even get access to the royal pack?" he asked.

"One of William's old friends help me get inside", she answered.

"Don't mention this to anyone. He may have to face consequences", she requested. He nodded.

She drew out a file from the back of the wooden wardrobe. She packed the file in a polythene bag to avoid water leakages. Taking that file everyone returned to the palace.

*****************

After coming out of the royal court Jake received a message from Maverick saying to meet him at mentioned address. Jack along with his beta and gamma went to the address. It's outskirts of town. They stopped before private property. Security before the gate checked their identity and let them inside. There was a medium-sized house in middle surrounded by a large beautiful lawn. Different kinds of flowers decorated the entire area.

Jake knocked on the door of that blue-walled building. A short mid thirty aged house maintenance woman opened the door. She invited them and guided their path to the backside. There was a small gazebo on the back side lawn. Maverick with his beta and two other men of his age sat there.

"What's the matter?" Jake asked in his usual stern tone without beating around the bush.

"This is Alfred Lance and his brother Steve Lance", Maverick introduced the men beside him. Jack gave them a firm nod as he already knew them.

"My friends from the royal pack. This property belongs to Alfred", Maverick said. Jack looked at him expressionless because of his lack of interest in this nonsense.

"I need your help", Maverick said. Jake knitted his brows showing slight interest.

"I want you to hide a few people in your pack", Maverick said and Jake understood.

"Are they parents of that woman?" Jake asked and Maverick nodded.

"So whatever that woman said was true", Jake stated slowly nodding his head.

"It's none of your concerns. It's my pack business. You have to hide them that's it", Maverick said in an irked tone.

"Why me?" Jake asked.

"No one would dare to suspect you and your pack without proof. Not even the kings. Moreover, North Mountain never meddles in other pack businesses", Maverick stated the fact.

"Alpha, I think it's not wise to support him", Jake's gamma Vincent advised through the mind link.

"I heard you are recently facing problems with Green wood pack. I will back you whenever needed", Maverick offered.

Jake was thinking about the possibilities. Meanwhile, Alfred signaled something to his brother and Steve left. Steve returned with three men and a woman. All are in their mid-forties. They were slightly wounded and bruised.

"You better listen to us and your daughter will be safe. If you use any of your tricks, consider her to be dead", Maverick yelled at them. The woman was sobbing for her daughter. They thought that Skyler was with Maverick and didn't know anything about the court.

Maverick was looking at Jake for his answer. He was acting all bold and loud outside but he was scared inside. Jake was his only option. Vincent and Liam were saying Jake to not accept the deal. If anything went wrong their whole pack had to face the consequences. Both Grey Lake and Royal pack were involved. North Mountain couldn't protect itself from the largest packs in the country.

"Okay", Jake accepted. After a few minutes of discussion, he left with Skyler's parents.

"Alpha, it's not wise. How can we take them to our pack at this time?" Liam asked.

"Keep them in town for now", Jake said. He obliged.

***************

Afternoon everyone attended the court. Skyler gave evidence to King. It had only the financial details of the pack and other administrative details. Of course, they showed the corrupt administration of Maverick but nothing about his connection with the dark witch. He thought that he could escape.

"And this?" Skyler took out a small bottle with dark liquid in it.

"What's that?" King Samuel asked.

"Few of Maverick's men taking pups from foster care submitting fake identities. Later those pups were injected with this liquid. They were transferred to another place secretly. No one had seen those pups again. Once I tried to follow them but lost in the forest. I don't know about the liquid. All I knew was it's not a good one", Skyler said.

Athena, the witch of the royal court took the bottle. She poured a few drops of liquid into her hand. She rubbed that liquid to her fingers and chanted something with closed eyes. After a moment she opened her eyes and looked at king Samuel. Maverick who didn't expect this started panicking.

"Dark magic", she said. Dark magic was prohibited in the country. King's eyes turned black from his usual grey.

"King, please listen to me. I don't know anything about that black magic. I think this girl trying to frame me in this", Maverick said in a panicked tone.

"He is lying", Jake said in a loud tone. Everyone turned towards him.

"A few hours back he asked me to hide her parents", Jack said pointing to Skyler.

"Now they were with me. Safe", Jake said and signaled Liam to get them. Jake didn't like the tone Maverick used on him earlier. Yet he accepted to help to find the truth. He would help only when Maverick was right. After listening to the things Maverick did to his pack, Jake wanted to punish him. Moreover, he didn't want to become an enemy of the royal packs. Being Alpha, the safety of his pack was his priority.

After 30 minutes Skyler's parents and two others were in court. King ordered to lock Maverick and his men to close all his escape routes. Skyler's parents submitted the remaining evidence against Maverick. All the fake details Maverick's men submitted to foster care and details of adopted pups. They gave minimal details about the dark witch.

"King, we have a person who could help us to find the dark witch. There is a human girl who is under the control of a dark witch. We caught that girl a few days back and tried to reach the dark witch. Suddenly, that human is sickened, and her health is deteriorating day by day. May be dark witch did something to her. She is the only hope we have. We want some help to save that girl", Skyler's father Miles asked.

Athena looked at King Samuel and he nodded. "Take me to that girl", she asked. Two men beside Miles guided Athena along with four other royal warriors. Maverick was prisoned. King ordered his council to look into other pack issues of Pearl Moon and Red Moon packs.

Skyler went to her parents and cried holding them. Ryan stood with Alex looking at her. Eva and Jake were looking at each other. Jake averted his eyes to the other side but Eva continued to look at him.

"Papa, meet Ryan. My mate", Skyler introduced.

"Honey", Skyler's mother hugged her in joy. Ryan and Miles exchanged a handshake.

"This is Alpha Evan Silver and beta Alex Rider", Skyler introduced. Miles greeted them politely.

"She is Eva, Ryan's sister", she said. Eva gave a polite tight smile.

"They helped us a lot", Skyler said.

"Thank you", Miles and his wife said. Ryan smiled at them.

"I think we should thank Alpha Jake", Evan said. They all went to Jack.

"Thank you so much Alpha", Miles said. Jake nodded.

"Thank you Jake", Evan shook his hand. Ryan thanked him. Eva stood silently behind her brothers.