Authors note: The second you are done reading this chapter please put your thoughts in a review. Even if someone else has the same reaction as you put it down. I am so curious to see how this chapter makes you feel about the story. As always happy reading. ;)
Chapter 54
POV: Ren
I left Jake. Faking confidence in my walk. I hope it appeared that way. Growing up with vampires has allowed me to learn how to fake a confidence walk. This is just the first time I am using it when I am actually not feeling confident. Seth gave me the comfort I needed to continue to walk away from Jake. I wanted to walk over to Jake and sit on his lap. Though I can not do that right now. Needing to show our strength.
Seth reached his hand out when I was near him. I circled into his arm. Sitting on my own chair. His arm rested comforting on my lower back. I needed this touch from him. It allowed me to feel able to face what I was about to go through. Claire rested her hand on my thigh. This small touch grounded me to the earth. Between the two of them I could take on the world.
I noticed the truck pull up. Why did it have to be Quil's truck. I have so many great memories of beach and icecream trips in the box of that truck. Now when I see it my memories will be tainted by this memory.
Colin climbed out of the passenger's seat. He stood next to the back door of the truck. Quil walked around to the back door. Colin placed his hand on the handle. I felt my heart drop as I watched the door slowly open.
Colin helped Brady out of the truck. I do not know what I was expecting. He was standing without chains. Nothing restrained him.
Emotions washed over my body. Shock infested my brain. Fear struck my heart. Anger pulsed in my palms. Vulnerability tingled in my feet. Stress rested firmly on my shoulders. Anxiety settled in my gut. Defensiveness coated over all my skin.
I leaned back against Seth's hand. It was a small enough change to not draw attention. Seth added pressure against my back. I used the added pressure from his hand to quell the emotions bubbling up inside me. Knowing that if I allowed my emotions to take control I would lose control.
I refused to look away from Brady. Not giving him the benefit of seeing how his presents affected me. His eyes looked only at the ground. I felt a pang of concern hit my heart when I saw all his bruises. It had been at least 24 hours since his last surguy. The fact that he is still bruised proved to me how much he had been hurt. Why did they want us to have the tribunal this early? At least let the boy heal!
The pang of concern for him hurt my conflicting emotions. I wanted to hate him. Wanted to watch him get everything that he rightfully deserved. Needed to see him be punished for his actions. The concern nagged at the back of my head. My anger shifted from anger at him for what he had done. To anger at this tribunal.
No, mentally yelled at myself. I am not giving him the benefit of the doubt. I am not the one punishing him. This is a tribunal this is not someone asking me if I want him to be punished. Concern pagned in my chest as I looked at Brady walk.
He limped forward obviously in pain. I focused really hard on not allowing my eyes to widen. The shock of seeing him hurt washed over me once more. The pack healed fast. Mom told me stories of a wolf who broke all the bones on one side of their body. Three days later they are fine. If Brady is still limping after two days he was really hurt.
"You okay?" Seth whispered in my ear low enough so no one else could hear.
I whispered back "he is really hurt"
"Yeah" Seth said without emotion.
I looked at Seth through my peripheral vision. He has a line on his forehead that he only got when he was upset. I forced myself not to shy away from Seth. Only seeing him with this line once in my life. It was when I had went cliff jumping by myself. He was meant to be in charge of me but I saw the cliffs and desperately wanted to try jumping. I convinced Claire to distract Seth so I could jump off the top. Knowing if I asked Seth he would force me to jump off the lower ledge. I had just turned the grand old age of 10. In the public's eyes though I was at least 16.
I remember jumping feeling the wind cause my hair to fly in all directions. Hitting the cold salt water in a perfect dive. Growing up I had watched and learned how to dive from the top. So what if my Dad disapproved I looked old enough to not need my Dads permission. The salt water felt good against my skin. I broke the surface and that's when I saw Seth. He hauled me out of the water. All the tourists at the beach looked at us. Seth so angry he was shaking.
"What were you thinking?" Seth yelled. I had never heard him raise his voice before. Let alone raise it at me.
"I just jumped from the top. You guys do it all the time" I definitely said back.
"We are stronger than you. You could have been hurt." Seth growled back.
"But I was not hurt" I told him.
We stood in a glaring match him mad at me, me embarrassed that he was mad.
A small old lady walked over stepping between. Looking at both of us she said "you can not punish the past. You can only do better in the future."
Claire squeezed my hand. Pulling me out of my memories and my eyes away from Seth.
Brady was now kneeling in front of the elders. I scanned the circle feeling sick to my stomach. This should not be happening. Brady is a member of the pack. I can take care of myself. He should not be punished by his brothers. If my father wanted to punish him that would be different. His family should not be punishing him for his actions.
The imprint bond forced me to look up at Jake. I could see the range of emotions in his eyes. The imprint bond was sending all my emotions to him. Guilt was added to the slew of emotions I felt. I saw Jake shake his head at me. He wanted to support me through this. In his mind that must also include supporting my emotions. I did not want to be causing Jake more pain. He was already upset with the topic about to be discussed. Jake did not deserve the confusion that I was sending through the bond. He deserved better than me. Jake shook his head harder at me.
I looked away from him. Focusing instead on his father. Billy was clearing his voice getting ready to address the crowd.
"The tribunal for Brady Fuller will commence" Billy spoke in a loud and powerful tone. Goosebumps radiated across my skin. Everyone in attendance sat up a bit taller in preparation for the events to come.
All I wanted to do was leave. I wanted to run into the forest and never come out. Temptation to run to Jake and steal him away rushed over me. I needed him to take me away from this situation. I felt my breath pick up.
Claire squeezed my leg. She breathed a tiny bit louder. I followed her breath. It helped me stay calm. Seth ran his thumb in a small circle on my back. Focusing on the small circles I forced myself to calm down. I can do this. I can stay strong for Jake. Taking a deep breath I adjusted my attention on the tribunal. Forcing my emotions down inside me.
"Would you like to report why you are here Brady?" Grandma Sue commented. The hairs at the back of my neck stood on end. Grandma Sue used her mom voice. I could feel Seth react to her tone as well. Seth paused making circles and shivered slightly. This reaction lightened my mood. Reminding me of all the moments that Seth and I where scolded in that tone. Especially after we would steal fresh baked treats from the tray.
"I am here because I ignored my patrol schedule" Brady said in an emotionless tone.
I heard the growls come from a spattering of wolves around the group. Some of the imprints that are here made a hmph noise. I could hear Claire, Rachel and Emily's the loudest. This reaction gave me a mixed feeling. I was happy that I had so many loved ones around the circle. Yet, I could tell that not everyone here was on my side. Knowing the pack everyone here knew why Brady was on tribunal. Yet, not everyone believed the story.
That is when it hit me. I was not believed by everyone in this group. Sure there are some people who believed and supported me through. Though not my entire pack family believed me nor wanted to believe me. That thought had not crossed my mind. I thought they would accept me. I blamed myself. Maybe if I came forward with the story.
A silence fell amongst the crowd. I took the moment of silence to glance around all those who are attended. I could see my supporters who had a very upset look on their faces. Those included; Jake, Rachel, Paul, Claire, Quil, Embry, Chris, Seth, and Leah. On the other side there was definite people who did not believe me. These included; Kim, Jared, Colin, and Sam. A few others at in the circle I could not tell what side they are on. This group included the Elders who all trained their faces into emotionless masks, attempting to stay neutral.
A realization hit me. I could not be considered a victim if people did not believe me. Though if people did not believe me justice could not happen. I was not demanding Brady's head or anything like that. All I wanted was to be believed. Maybe I should have come out of the forest telling everyone about what happened.
Thinking back to that moment I remembered feeling so lost and in shock. I would not have be able to tell everyone what happened in that moment. Feeling the need to be strong for me was more important for me to accuse Brady. Recogision hit me as I realized we would not be able to survive this tribunal without reliving my nightmare.
"Before we begin look around at one another and remember we are family" Old Quil called out.
As everyone was looking at each other I watched Brady. Neither of us are going to make it out of this tribunal, without being ripped apart. Brady took this moment of no one looking at him, to look back at me. He winked.
