Chapter Twenty

Madelyn awoke to very loud yelling. She couldn't really make out anything that was said, but she could tell that Alcide was upset. She sat up and grabbed Alcide's robe from the bathroom door. She snuck into the kitchen and the words seemed to get a little clearer. Alcide was no longer the only one yelling. Jackson was tearing at someone with words just so he wouldn't do it with teeth.

"He has to be punished," a voice suddenly said.

Madelyn looked up. She didn't know that voice. She heard a sudden reply that came from Colonel Flood. He sounded almost as angry. She took a step forward, peeking her head around the corner. Jackson and Colonel Flood stood to one side while the man she didn't know stood closer to the door. Alcide stood next to one of the windows with his arms folded. He seemed to be listening to everything but not giving his opinion. He looked up slowly and saw her standing there. She quickly moved back into the kitchen.

"You are not going to punish my son," Jackson yelled suddenly. "When our pack master went out and fought too."

"The rules say that we cannot expose ourselves to humans, and now we are fighting wars for one human."

Alcide stepped forward. "That human has a name and she is going to be my wife, so watch your tongue Patrick!"

"You watch your tongue with me, boy!" Patrick Furnan shot back. "She is not your wife yet."

Madelyn looked out at of the kitchen again. She stared at the man Alcide called Patrick. She didn't know him, but she had seen him at some of the pack functions. She felt a shiver down her back. The man worried her. He seemed to watch Colonel Flood too much and stick his nose where it didn't belong. She noticed him move his head and moved back into the shadows.

"That is enough from both of you," Colonel Flood snarled. "I am to decide Alcide's fate."

Alcide turned to Colonel Flood and sighed a little. His eyes showed all the fear and pain that he was trying to hide. He chanced a look over in the kitchen to find Madelyn still standing there. He closed his eyes a little.

"Colonel Flood, whatever your decision, I will support it."

"I demand a vote!" Jackson shouted suddenly.

"No." Patrick growled. "The boy accepts that he deserves punishment. Now, I say that our pack master gives it to him."

Madelyn could no longer stay hid. She ran out of the kitchen and straight into Alcide's arms. He reluctantly wrapped them around her. He was scared. It wasn't just for him. It was the fact that Madelyn had interrupted a semi-pack meeting. He finally pulled her closer, touching her hair. Whatever he was about to face, he wanted her there with him. She held on to him and turned to all the men.

"What is this?" she asked softly.

"Is this the girl?" Patrick said, reaching toward her.

"Don't!" Alcide snapped and pushed Madelyn toward Jackson. "You will not touch her!"

"Alcide," Madelyn said, grabbing his arm. "Stop this."

Patrick turned to Madelyn when she said that. He had only heard about this girl from stories. She was so much more in person. He looked at her for a long time at her. She seemed hopelessly devoted to Alcide. With the exceptions of a few mistakes. He looked down at her hand and found that she still had her ring on. Her hand was reaching for Alcide's hand as if it was a lifeline. He then noticed the necklace around her neck. That's what started all of this.

"This is Madelyn?" Patrick asked.

"Patrick," Colonel Flood stepped up. "Get out for a few minutes."

Patrick looked at Colonel Flood for a moment. Madelyn looked between the men, sensing a fight brewing. Alcide pulled her a little closer. Madelyn could tell that Patrick didn't want to leave, but he wouldn't cross Colonel Flood. At least not yet. He left the room with a quick slam of the door. Madelyn turned back to Alcide to have him pull him closer.

"What is going on?" Madelyn asked, looking Jackson and Colonel Flood.

Jackson looked at his son and then back at the floor. Alcide turned to Colonel Flood, awaiting permission to speak. Madelyn looked at each of them. She wasn't going to wait forever, and if she had to talk to Patrick Furnan, it would not be pretty.

"Alcide, exposed the pack to danger," Colonel Flood, started, "and he will have to be punished."

"What?" Madelyn almost lunged at the pack master until Alcide grabbed her. "Is this because of me?"

Jackson gently took her arm. "Madelyn, you may be considered part of the pack, but it is not official yet."

"Madelyn," Alcide spoke up. "This isn't about you. Patrick is just trying to cause trouble with the pack. He wants me to be punished because we lost wolves trying to help you."

Madelyn suddenly felt the couch under her. She looked up at the men around her. None of them did anything they didn't want to do. She knew that Alcide had not forced any man to help him. Colonel Flood was the pack master though, and he could have died because he had rescued her. Her selfishness was not going cost Alcide. She looked up at him and could see that he was ready to pay whatever price as long as it was for her.

"But you didn't force any of those wolves," Madelyn said, trying to make sense in all this.

"It doesn't matter," Colonel Flood started to explain. "I didn't call a vote to see what the whole pack thought of this."

Alcide looked at Colonel Flood for a moment and sat down next to Madelyn. He pulled her into his lap. He knew that he couldn't make her feel any better about this. He'd explained were punishments a long time ago. She leaned against his shoulder with tears in her eyes. She slid his arms around him, half hugging him.

"How bad will it be?" Madelyn asked.

"I don't know," Alcide whispered.

"I'll try to make it as painless as possible, Madelyn. I don't agree with this anymore than you do."

Madelyn saw a look pass between Jackson and his son. It was as if they were saying the words that they couldn't say in front of Madelyn. They didn't realize that she saw the writing on the wall. She knew that Patrick was using her and the situation to try to usurp power. She had never liked Patrick from the time she had seen him at a pack event and from the stories Alcide had told her.

"When will this happen?" Madelyn asked, looking at them.

"Tomorrow," Jackson said.

"But I don't want you to see it, and I can't leave you here alone."

Madelyn looked up. She started to ask why one of the other men in the room couldn't look after her, but she already knew the answer to that. Alcide was right too. Russell or Debbie would come after her. Alcide tightened his grip on her. She couldn't help but snuggle up with him. How had all this happened?

"Can someone else from the pack watch me?" Madelyn asked as Alcide ran his fingers through her hair.

Colonel Flood shook his head. Alcide gently kissed her head as he started to explain. "They have to witness the punishment."

Madelyn laid back against Alcide's against as Jackson and Colonel Flood started arguing again. She could tell that Alcide wanted to jump in and give his opinion. However, he knew his place. She just wished that this wasn't all about her. If she had just had enough sense to know what she was doing, this wouldn't have happened.

"Tell Patrick I'll be there at sunrise, but I want today with Madelyn," Alcide spoke with a tone that was final.

"But son."

"Dad, leave."

It took a few minutes for Colonel Flood and Jackson to finally give in and walk out. Alcide and Madelyn could hear them telling Patrick of the decision. There were a few shouts but then silence. Madelyn sat up a little and looked at Alcide. He quickly diverted his eyes as if ashamed.

"Can they punish me?" Madelyn said, turning his face toward her.

"If we were married."

Madelyn sighed. "If we were married, this wouldn't have happened."

Alcide pulled her close. He wouldn't waste the day thinking of all the things they should done. It was easy enough to do that. And there was still the problem of leaving her. He couldn't let her be alone. Debbie would do something to hurt her or worse. He felt her tighten her arms around him. He looked at her for a long time, gently kissing her.

"Call Eric," she whispered.

"What? Madelyn, are you crazy?"

Madelyn knew how this sounded. She knew that she was even acting a little bipolar. She had sent Eric away with a flick of her tongue. Now, she was asking to be sent back to him. Alcide growled a little. He didn't want to send her there or have him there. Some part of him knew that she would be the safest with him.

"Do you really want to stay with him?" Alcide asked.

"No, but you and I both know that's the only place I'm safe."

Alcide looked at her. He would do what she asked so that he would not have to spend all day fighting about it. During the day, she would still be vulnerable but no one would do anything. Debbie was not even that stupid. He knew what was coming would be bad, but it was worth it. Madelyn was worth every bit of pain he would have to go through.

"Why can't I go watch this?" Madelyn asked.

Alcide sighed. "You can, but I don't want you to. What I will go through will be awful."

Madelyn knew what that meant. There would be plenty of more battles to come. She wished that Patrick would call this one off until much later. Alcide had little fear, but she could tell he was scared now. She didn't blame him. All she could do now was be the fiancée she should have been a long time ago.