Born This Way

by IrunwithWeres

Phoenix is no ordinary werewolf. You could say she's special. Of course she would fall for the last person her father excepts. But what happens when she is attacked and has to come out to the public? It is still kind of rough. I am looking for a beta if anyone feels up to the challenge. rated M for future content.

10. Chapter 10

They started off the trail by calling my grandpa to the stand. He sat there with his usual goofy grin

"Could you state your name for the record?"

"Bran Cornick."

"Now Mr. Cornick I am to understand that you are a werewolf, Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"And you are for all intents and purposes the leader of all North American werewolves."

"Yes I am. You could say I'm the alpha to the alphas."

"You are the one that makes decisions that affect all the packs in this country. Correct?"

"Yes"

"Are you the one that decided that you have to be 18 to become a werewolf?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

"Becoming a werewolf isn't easy. Half of them don't survive the change. I don't feel that a person is able to understand the consquence of this choice until they are an adult. Kind of like the way you can't buy cigarettes until 18 and alcohol until 21."

"Then how is it that Ms. Cornick is a werewolf at 17?"

"She was born one."

"And how did this happen?"

"Her mother was a medicine woman and a werewolf and her father was a werewolf. Her mother knew how to put off the change. But doing that left her weak and she ultimately died giving birth. Her father went crazy and started attacking humans thinking he was protecting her."

"What happened to her father?"

"I had to have him taken out."

"Now by taken out you mean killed don't you?"

"Yes we like the fa, take care of our own problems. Humans just aren't equipted to deal with a crazied werewolf."

"I see and why didn't you just kill Ms. Cornick when you found her?"

"We thought she was human. We didn't know she was a werewolf until the first full moon after finding her."

"I see. Do you remember meeting the defendants?"

"I have only met one of them and it was only breifly."

"And under what circumstances did you meet the defendant?"

"His family came to Montana, were I live to ask me to change their sick son."

"And why did you turn them down?"

"I didn't feel that he fully understood what being a werewolf meant?"

"And why was that?"

"He was only 16 at the time and all they knew about werewolves is that the change might save him. I told them to do some research and come back when he was 18."

"Did they come back?"

"No. I thought that they had just changed their minds."

"And when did you find out that he had died?"

"Not until his brother attacked my granddaughter."

"No futher questions your honor."

"Your witness."

"Now Mr. Cornick. You stated that they came to Montana, Is that correct?"

"Yes"

"Did the defendant see Ms. Cornick on that trip?"

"I believe so yes."

"Was there any way he could have known she was a werewolf then."

"No"

"So how did he find out what she was?"

"I don't know."

"No futher questions."

"You may step down."

"Call your next witness."

"The state calls Dr. Stephanie House."

"Please state your name."

"Dr. Stephanie House."

"You Saw Ms. Cornick in the ER the night of the attack?"

"Yes I did."

"And what were her injuries?"

"She had several bruises on her face and a stab wound on her abdomen. She had also been raped."

"Upon examination were there any signs that she was any thing other than human?"

"No"

"Thank you."

"Your witness."

"Have you ever knowingly treated a werewolf?"

"No"

"So is it safe to say that you have no way of knowing if there are any physical differences between humans and werewolves?"

"I suppose you could say that."

"Thank you."

"You may step down."

"The state calls Phoenix Cornick."

"State your name."

"Phoenix Cornick."

"Ms. Cornick had you ever meet the defendants before the night in question?"

"I had seen them in school. That's about it."

"Had you ever talked?"

"They would tease me and call me a freak."

"Objection. What does this have to do with anything?"

"It shows that the defendants bullied her before the attack."

"Overruled."

"Now what happened on the night in question?"

"I was walking across the school parking lot headed toward the football field when Mark and Jason walked up to me. Jason said 'Hey look it's freak girl' I told them to leave me alone, then Mark said 'No I don't think we can do that you see I know what you are.' I asked them what it was they thought I was and Mark said 'You are one of those werewolves.' I told them that I wasn't and that whoever told them that was lying. Then Mark told me about going up to Montana with his family a few years ago and seeing me there. I asked him why he went up there and he told me that his parents had been told that going through the change would save his sick brother and that Bran told them that he wouldn't do it until he was 18 but he died before that. That's when I told them that I was born this way and that I wasn't 's when he slugged me in the face. I fell on the ground and he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me behind the building were no one could see. He told me that I was lying and asked my what made me so special. He said 'Is it because you are that Bran guys granddaughter?' I told them that I'm not special and I told them again that I was born this way. That's when Jason stabbed me saying maybe this will make her talk. I screamed and he hit me again. Mark said 'Now lets try this again. What makes you so much better than my brother? Why did they let him die but not you?' I told them again that I was born this way. Then he said 'I'm going to make you wish they had let you die.' Mark started taking my pants off and I struggled saying no please don't. He just told me' shut up bitch and he hit me several more times in the face. Jason held me down while Mark raped me and then Mark held me down for Jason. After they were done they jabbed something in the stab wound on my stomach. Mark then grabbed me by the face and said ' I hope the silver I put in the wound kills you. You lying fucking bitch."

"What did you do after that?"

"I laid there shaking and crying for a while then I got in my care and drove to my alpha's security company and parked in the empty parking lot.

"Did you call anyone for help?"

"Yes I knew I was going to pass out so I called my alpha's daughter. She found me and drove me back to her dad's house."

"Did you tell her what they had done?"

"Yes when she said she was going to call my dad."

"Why didn't you want her to call your dad?"

"I knew that my boyfriend was with him and I didn't want him to know that I was raped."

"And why didn't you want him to know?"

"I thought that he wouldn't want me anymore."

"You didn't think he would want you anymore."

"Yes."

"Who stitched you up?"

"My father Sam Cornick. He took out the silver and stitched me up."

"And why didn't you just go to the hospital for that?"

"Werewolves are allergic to silver and I didn't want to lose control and hurt anyone."

"What does silver do to you?"

"It makes me very sick. It also blocks my ability to heal and if left in the wound can kill me."

"Do you think that they were trying to kill you?"

"Objection. She can't speculate on my clients intentions."

"Sustained."

"Withdraw the question."

"Have you ever hurt anyone?"

"No"

"Thank you"

"Your witness."

"Ms. Cornick why didn't you fight back?"

"I couldn't."

"You are a werewolf are you trying to tell me that you couldn't have fought them off."

"I could have"

"Then why didn't you. You wanted it didn't you MS. Cornick"

" No I didn't. I didn't want to hurt them"

"Why not?"

"Because I would have lost control of my wolf and either killed them or turned them."

"Why would that be so bad? If you killed them then they could never hurt anyone else."

I looked at Grandpa and he nodded.

"Because if a werewolf attacks a human then that is an automatic death sentence."

"So what you are saying is you didn't want to pay for what they did?"

"No matter what I pay everyday. I get to relive it every time I close my eyes. I have to live everyday knowing that they took the one thing that I had to give someone else. I live knowing that one of them gave me a child that I will never get to hold, will never get to watch grow up or hear say mommy. So you tell me what's worse that or dying."

"What do you mean a child? I thought that female werewolves couldn't get pregnant."

"We can we just lose them when we change. The change is too stressful on the baby."

"I would like to reexamine"

"Go ahead."

"How do you know it wasn't your boyfriends?"

"We have not had sex yet."

"And why not?"

"Alpha's orders."

"What do you mean alpha's orders?"

"My alpha ordered me not to have sex with my boyfriend until I was 18."

"And you can't go against alpha's orders?"

"No I can't."

"How then do you know that one of the defendants was the father and not someone elses."

"I was a virgin and I have not willing had sex with anyone."

"Nothing futher."

"You may step down."

I walked back to my seat with my head down and sat down.

"The state rests your honor."

"We will resess until tomorrow morning 9 Am."

I stood up and looked around for Ben, but the only people I seen were my father and grandfather.

"Were is Ben?"

"I don't know he just got up and left"

"Great he hates me. I knew this would happen. I have to find him."

I walked out of the courthouse and got in my car. I dialed his number but he didn't answer. So I went to his house and his truck was there. I knocked on the door but he didn't answer.

"Ben I know you're in there. Let me in."

He opened the door and I squeezed past him.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. It just didn't seem that important."

"NOT THAT BLOODY IMPORTANT. YOU WERE PREGNANT WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S BABY AND IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I DON'T KNOW PHEE. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YOU EXPECT THIS TO WORK IF YOU DON'T TRUST ME."

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?"

"I don't know what I'm saying. I need time to think."

"Please don't do this. I need you Ben."

"I don't know if I can be with someone that doesn't trust me."

He opened the door a clear dismissle. I didn't even look at him as I walked out the door. I got in the car and sat there for a minute. I pulled out of his driveway crying so hard I could barely see. I was still crying when I got to Adam's house. I went in and ran to one of the spare rooms and locked the door. My dad came and tried to talk to me but I didn't answer him. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I wished I had never said anything. I feel asleep crying. I woke up to my dad knocking on the door.

"Phee it's 8 Oclock you need to get up we have to be in court in an hour."

"I'm up."

"Well get dressed."

"OK I'll be right out."

"Here eat something."

"I'm not hungry."

We all rode in one car. I sat in the back and stared out the window. It took me a minute to realize that my dad was talking to me.

"Hey earth to Phee."

"Yeah what Dad."

"I said is Ben going to meet us there?"

"I don't know."

I wiped a tear off my cheek.

"Hey what's going on?"

"Nothing Dad I'm fine."

We got to the court room and I went and sat by the DA.

"Today will be easier then yesterday."

"No it won't."

She didn't hear me though because I said it as the judge came in.

"Defense call you first witness.

" Defense calls Mark Stockwell."

"State your name."

"Mark Stockwell."

"Do you know Ms. Cornick?"

"Yes."

"How do you know her?"

"I go to school with her."

"Is that the only place you know her from."

"No I met her the first time in Montana."

"How did you know that she was a werewolf?"

"I didn't at first."

"When did you figure it out?"

" When she moved here. I noticed her last name was the same as the man we went to see in Montana. I also noticed that her eyes would turn green when she was mad and I read that werewolves eyes change color when the wolf is in control."

"Did you intend to hurt her the night in question?"

"Objection leading."

"Sustained rephrase."

"What did you intend to do the night in question."

"I just wanted to talk to her."

"How did things get out of hand?"

"She lied to me and I just lost it. I thought she thought I was stupid or something so I hit her."

"Did she at any point say no?"

"Not that I heard."

"Did you intend to hurt her."

"No I just lost my temper."

"Have you ever done anything like this before?"

"No"

"Thank you."

"Your witness."

"So you say you just wanted to talk to her. Is that correct."

"Yes"

"If you just wanted to talk then why were you carrying silver with you?"

"I don't know."

"You mean to tell me that you always carry a silver bullet casing with you."

"No"

"Then you meant to hurt her all along didn't you?"

"No."

"I think you and Jason planned this. I think you were trying to kill her."

"I just wanted that bitch to suffer just like my brother did."

"Nothing futher your honor."

"The defense would like a 15 minute recess your honor."

"Fine we will have a short 15 minute recess."

We walked out of the court room into the hall way.

"What is going on?"

"We got them. He just confessed."

"So what happens now?"

"Well if I were the defense attorney I would rest. There is nothing he can do now. I have to go back in there the judge wants to see us in her chambers."

"I'm going to grab a snack out of the machine. Phee you want anything."

"Nope"

"You ok?"

"I'm fine Dad."

I stood by the window and zoned out. Someone touched my shoulder. I hoped it was Ben but when I looked over I saw my dad.

"They want us back in there."

I quickly blinked the tears away.

"OK"

When we walked back in I noticed that the jury wasn't in there.

"My clients would like to change their plee."

"Would the defendants please rise. How would you like to pleed."

"Guilty"

"Guilty"

"Well I will review the case. I will let you know when I have reached a decision on sentencing."

"You should go home and get some rest. I will call you when I hear something."

"OK. Do I need to be here for sentencing?"

" No I will call you and let you know."

"Thank you for everything."

"No thanks necessary it's my job to put people like them away."

When we got home I went straight back to the bedroom and locked the door. My dad came and asked me if I wanted anything to eat and I told him no. At 2 O'clock the lawyer called my cell and told me that they each got 12 years in prison. I went out to the kitchen.

"The lawyer just called. They both got 12 years."

"Well I think we should go celebrate."

"That's OK you guys go."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing I just don't feel like celebrating."

"Ok you want us to bring you back anything?"

"No"

I stayed in the bedroom for the next couple of days and cried. I didn't even let Jesse in. I woke up one morning to my dad talking to someone and it took me a minute to realize who it was.

"She won't come out of that room."

"What do you want me to say Sam? She's the one that didn't trust me "

"I don't know. For the Christ sake I can't even get her to eat anything. I don't know what to do. Is it because it was another man's?"

"I don't even care about that Sam. It's the fact that she didn't even trust me enough to tell me that it happened at all."

That's when I came out of the room and into the kitchen.

"WOULD IT HELP YOUR GOD DAMN EGO TO KNOW THAT I DIDN'T TELL ANYONE. NOT EVEN JESSE. DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?"

"No it doesn't. I just don't understand why you didn't tell me."

"IT'S NOT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL YOU. IT'S JUST I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE TRUE. IT KILLED ME THAT I WAS EVEN PREGNANT WITH ANYONES CHILD BUT YOURS. HELL I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE I WANTED KIDS TIL IT HAPPENED. HOW DO YOU TELL THE PERSON YOU LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT KIDS YOU CAN NEVER HAVE. I WAS AFRAID. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR?"

"I don't ever want you be afraid to tell me anything."

"I know and it's stupid but I thought if I told you that I wanted kids you would run away screaming or something."

"I would never run away from you screaming. In fact kids don't sound half bad if you were their mother."

"So are we OK?"

"Of course we are. I wouldn't have even come if I didn't want to work things out. Like I told you. I'm not going anywhere."

"I love you."

" I love you too."

He put his arms around me and kissed me.