"She said what?" Lily asked in an anger I've never seen from her before.

I sighed putting a few books up on a high shelf, "Yeah but please don't tell anyone." I said looking back at not just her but my other friends turned family. "No telling Mattie what she said."

While Toris and Feli didn't know what to say Natalia shook her head, "She's just upset because her kind is infertile."

"Natalia."

"What? It's true Feli." Natalia sighed, "But then my judge was just as bitchy."

"Berwald?" I asked but she shook her head.

"I heard he didn't talk to any of the Omegas." Feli said as he jumped up on the counter, "He just walked around the courthouse talking to the children."

For a moment I felt some relief, "So it wasn't just Cain."

"No."

"Feli how do you know all of this?" Toris watched him as Feli picked apart a small daisy, "You weren't there all day like some of us where."

"True but I have my ways." He smiled sweetly as the petals continued to fall, "But I will say he does like you Alfred."

"Funny cause I don't like him." I crossed my arms as I leaned on one of the bookcases, "There's something about him I can't place but I've seen those kinds of eyes before…"

"Was it another Alpha?"

"It was…" I tried to dig deep into my memory as the others talked around me. His blue eyes were shaper and colder but when I remembered I let out a slight gasp.

Instantly Natalia was by my side, "What? Is the baby okay?"

"What? Oh yeah she's fine but Feli do you know if Berwald has any brothers? Uh Alpha brothers?" It finally had clicked who had those eyes.

Feli slipped out his phone as his fast fingers glided over it, "I'm looking…he has a few brothers actually."

"One named Abel?"

He looked over his screen again, "I don't know…I'd have to look on another site cause it doesn't say if he does." After a moment he looked up, "But I'll find out by tomorrow."

"Or we could find out right now…" Toris motioned towards the door, "Because that looks like him right now." The door opened shortly after he said it and sure enough there he was standing in the doorway.

He was dressed slightly more causally but he still had that look of authority around him. "Hi Mr. Berwald." My son said in a chipper voice from his spot in the children's section. "Is you here to buy some books?"

The tall Alpha shook his head, "Actually I'm here to speak with your Mama." His gaze turned to me, "Hello Alfred."

I saw Lily in the corner of my eye walk towards her brother's room, "Hello Sir." I forced a smile as he walked up to me. It was only then that I realized how tall the man really was. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Your son has a very unique name." He said simply.

"Well he's named after a friend I met during the war." I looked back at my son as he watched and smiled.

Berwald nodded, "Hmm. I see…"

"Is there a problem here?" A new voice asked as Lily's brother enters the store. While being a much shorter Alpha, Vash wasn't a man to back down. "Because unless you're here to buy something I'd like it if you leave." He crossed his arms as he glared in Berwald's direction, really the only reason he was so hostile was because of what had happened a few weeks prior. So since I defended Lily he'd do the same for me, whether I needed it or not.

Berwald didn't blink, "Alright." He said before he turned back to me, "Correct me if I'm wrong but Cain killed Abel."

"He did but Abel loved him until the very end." I answered as I watched him go, "But what was your point?" That he didn't answer as he left. Sadly I should have remembered sooner as well as Abel's last words to me but that wouldn't be until I was once again sitting in the court room. They would have saved me the heartache that was to come.

The final day of court arrived and we were there early that morning. It would take most of the day due to all the Alphas being sentenced. I had some hope as a few early on was sent free but it was quickly dashed as more and more where given jail time. Some ten years, others up to forty. While a few unlucky men were given death sadly this included Natalia's brother.

I swear I could hear her heart shatter in a million pieces as I held her close if only to stop her from lunging at the judge that sentenced it. "Alfred…" She said through her tears, "I hate them."

"I know." I said quietly as she hid her tears in my chest, "I know Nat…"

Towards the end of the day out came my mate and his brother and instantly I started praying. "Ludwig Beilschmidt while you did leave the military," One Judge said as the courtroom quieted down, "The court's opinion is that you had all intentions of returning. And it was only due to outside influences that caused you to leave. So we find you not guilty and you are free to go."

My heart skipped a beat as a smile grew on my face. Gilbert turned back at me as he slapped his brother on the back as he walked off towards the doors. They wouldn't let the Alphas stay inside while the others were being sentenced so he went to wait just outside the door.

Gilbert mouthed a quick I love you before turning back to face his fate. "Gilbert Beilschmidt." Berwald said as he stared at my mate. "As a Captain we expected better of you, and since you forced others to join you in your desertion followed by the fact that you left the country shortly afterwards. The court has no other choice but to sentence you to a term of no less than fifty years and no longer than your natural life." He stopped as I let out a muffled scream but he refused to look at me as he banged his gavel.

As the officer started to take him away I stood up as I done seven months ago, "Gilbert!"

"I love you Bluebird. Take care of our kids." He said with that same smile that I feel in love with.

At that moment I didn't care if they threw me out of the courtroom, "I love you too." I yelled out as one judge told me to be quiet, "Tell me your mother's name."

He shook his head, "Name her Annabelle."

"Annabelle?" I asked as he was pushed out the door but not before I heard him say yes.

It wasn't fair as I found myself forced out of the courtroom and sat down on a bench across from the large doors. While Feli explained to Ludwig what happened I just stared at a small spot on the wall. I understood completely why Natalia would stare at spots at that moment.

When you feel completely numb and don't want to break down screaming you focus on a spot until the feeling passes. But when the shock wore off I found myself running to the bathroom and puked what little I had in me up. I didn't care if the others followed me but for that moment I wanted to be alone.

Sadly I wasn't. When I unlocked the stall door and walked out there he was washing his hands. "Alfred…"

"Save it." My eyes narrowed, "He didn't do a damn thing wrong yet you destroyed his life for no reason."

He let out a loud sigh before shaking his head, "It wasn't my decision."

"Like I believe that."

"Believe what you want." He grabbed a towel and wiped his hands, "But can I ask you something?"

"What?"

As he turned off the water he looked at me in the mirror, "Is my brother dead or is he hiding somewhere?"

In that moment I understood, my mate wasn't found guilty because of that but because he couldn't find and convict his own brother. "Yeah he is dead. He died thinking of you and the rest of your brothers."

It was the first time I saw real surprise on his face as Abel's words came back to me, "What? That idiot, he…where is he buried then?"

Half of what I said next was out of spite as well as I felt like he'd just simply want to know so he could go piss on Abel's grave. "Go fuck yourself." I said as I opened the door, "He's in a pauper's grave but that's all you'll get from me."

"Alfred.."

What he asked me I don't know since I slammed the door on his face and didn't look back. I didn't have time for any more questions anyway since I had a life to piece back together. It would be hard but…I wouldn't let this destroy me.