Chains to Crowns

Laura appeared as the door opened without invitation, her golden flaxseed hair swishing around her face. “You wanted to see me, Gamma Jess?”

“Go out and knock,” Xander rumbled, clearly annoyed. She frowned slightly, her forehead crinkling before she bowed and left the room.

The knock echoed and Marc didn’t respond straight away. Her bursting in clearly showed how little respect she had and he could feel his frustration growing. He needed to question her rationally and he feared he wouldn’t be able to. “Come in,” he grumbled after a long thirty seconds.

“Sit,” he demanded before she could say anything. “I need you to be honest with us.”

“Of course, my King,” she purred. He had to hide his deep breath of frustration.

“We are asking everyone individually," he announced, "What shifts have you done in the twenty-four-hours of the breach?”

“I was on the sunrise shift before the breach, then the moonlight shift during the second breach, I was in the western side of the border.” She smiled sweetly.

“Did you suspect anything during your midnight shift?”

“No, my King, all was quiet until I heard your mind link. I was glad to hear you were OK.”

“And your Queen?”

“Of course, her too.” Her smile was all false.

“What were you doing between 1400 and 1500 during the afternoon shift of that day?”

“I went for a run, I needed to work on my stamina.” She was answering him too smoothly, she sounded rehearsed and he didn’t like it.

“Did you meet anyone on the way? Notice anything out of the ordinary?”

“No, I ran around the woods then supported the search for the intruders when we heard there was some.”

“Did you see Jeff?”

“Yeah during the search, he wasn’t acting right though. Don’t know, I’d say he’s hiding something.” She pursed her lips into what he was sure she thought was a concerned line.

“Cut the crap Laura, you-” Xander coughed, cutting Marc off. Marc took a steadying deep breath. “Were you aware of the attack?”

“Of course not!” That, he believed. Part of him wanted Laura to know about it, wanted to make her a scapegoat and set an example. He knew he couldn’t, they ran on truth and justice, not personal vendettas. “You just happened to distract the guard that was assigned the area that the intruders entered?”

“I… I didn’t, Marc… I didn’t, I promise.”

“Regardless of your history, you use the King’s title!” Andrew scolded. Even with his age, Andrew hadn’t lost his bulk from being a warrior. His intimidation was something Marc was glad for… although… Marc narrowed his eyes at the elder male, what did he mean by history? Did he know? No, he couldn’t do.

“Sorry, my King,” she muttered.

Wade reached over to the pile of reports in front of Marc, plucking the top one he passed it to Laura. “What do you say about this? Jeff believed you to be on duty.”

“Well… I wasn’t. He’s hiding something.”

“He’s hiding that he left his post,” Wade stated diplomatically, “He admitted to that.”

“Well that’s guilt, isn’t it?” she asked with all surety.

“He left his post with you.”

“He’s lying.”

“Why would he lie? Why would he risk lashes or death?”

“Dea-” She faltered a moment, her confidence slipping ever so slightly before she straightened, “Well he would,” she sniped confidentially.

“Just admit what you did in those woods,” Trey commanded gently. “Admitting it always carries a lesser judgement.”

Laura stood abruptly, the chair crashing behind her. “I am the best warrior on the team! You cannot treat me like this!”

“We are merely asking you what happened,” Xander stated reasonably, his tone fatherly.

“You’re calling me a whore! Just because I fucked Marc doesn’t-”

“ENOUGH!” Marc growled, his wolf angered.

“I don’t think your personal past is what should be brought up now. Laura, this has nothing to do with that and everything to do with a breach that happened while on your watch,” Jesse piped up.

“I think he’s using it as an excuse to get rid of me! This isn’t fair!”

“If you are unhappy you are welcome to transfer,” Andrew shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“You can’t! I’m the best you have!”

Marc’s jaw was tight, he was embarrassed the men had heard what he had done. Part of him hoped they didn’t believe her… but it was still the truth. It was long before Klara, years before he met her. “Laura, I am only interested in keeping my Kingdom safe. We lost five in the breach and we were all in peril. If you had anything to do with it, speak,” Marc glared at her, how he ever thought jumping in bed with her was a good idea he’d never know.

“I had no idea the Silversmith’s were coming. I didn’t do anything!” Her panic increasing.

“I think you need to go on a pack tour. You have never asked for leave before, I think now is a good time.”

Marc didn’t think she had done anything on purpose, but he still felt a minor threat from her, a tiny notion of concern she would try to prevent Klara from becoming Queen.

“You really are mated aren’t you?” she asked, a note of defeat.

“That’s not a ques-” Xander started but Marc cut him off

“I am, Laura, what we had was a long time ago. I’m sorry if you thought they’d be more. Somewhere out there is someone for you.”

“Are you banishing me from Royal packlands?” Her confidence had been deflated, a note of defeat in her tone.

Marc glanced around briefly, he made eye contact with his father, gold to gold, before he gave Laura his full attention. “Yes.”

Laura was escorted from the room, he could feel the disapproval from the males around him but said nothing on the matter. “Jesse, can you deal with Jeff? I don’t feel it’s an act of treason.”

“Of course, would you like to be notified of what I decide?”

“Yes, just put it in a report, I trust you. I think all the guards need a notion that they all made a mistake. I’ll leave it to both Gammas, Andrew if you wish to join, you are welcome to.” Murmurs of agreement rumbled between the males. “I call the council to a close.” All but Xander promptly left the room.

“I’m disappointed,” Xander rose an eyebrow at his son.

“I know.”

“I thought I taught you better, you wait for your mate.”

“I…” Marc sighed, “It was a moment of weakness. Laura had been flinging herself at me for months, I just… stopped rebuffing her.”

“And how would Klara feel about this?”

“It’s not like she was pure when I-” He flinched at his own words and stopped, realising what he was saying. “I messed up, I know.”

“She’s young-”

“She was of age,” Marc snapped, not liking his father’s insinuation.

“Not what I was concerned at, young women get infatuated.”

“She’s not that young. She’s old enough to know duty comes above urges. If you’re blaming age what’s Jeff’s excuse? He’s my age.”

“Very well. You did well today,” Xander stated with finality.

“It was the past, couple of years ago, before you even announced when I was to take over,” Marc stated in desperation.

“But you knew one day you would.” Xander rose and left the room, leaving his words hanging in the air.

Marc ran his hands over his face hard, frustrated. But it was done, he’d leave it up to the Gammas and he could focus on Klara. She was his priority.

He collapsed onto the bed, a headache forming. “Everything OK?” Klara asked gently. He hadn’t even realised she was back yet as she exited the en-suite. “Yeah, just a long day. How was your tea with mother?”

“Yeah,” she stated in a slightly higher pitch. He buried his own stress at her worried tone.

“I’ll run you a bath, it’s going to be odd over the next few weeks. You’ll soon get into the rhythm though.” He stood from the bed and walked towards her.

“That’s what Adelaide said.” She frowned at him, “You look… angry,” she squeaked, still not completely over her fear. “I’m not angry, I had to make some hard decisions. I’m fine,” he promised.

“Maybe you need that bath.” Marc chuckled at her attempts to care for him. It coursed a sense of pride and contentment within him. “Maybe we’ll have a bath together,” he rumbled seductively, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“That sounds nice,” she whispered, pushing onto her tiptoes to kiss him.