From Here to Ecstasy

Dedicated to my friends, oddball, Penumbra, and N.Y.O.B. Thank you for all your comments. Thank you for waiting for the next chapter.

Recap

“Mom, please help me out with the questioning. I think she would be more comfortable if a woman asked her these hard questions,” I basically begged my mom. I wasn’t sure what else to do. My heart hurt for these women. It was if every bit of pain they were going through was affecting me the same way.

“Us women got this, Sonny. Why don’t you and Ares back off away from the table while we question them, okay?’ My mom suggested as I nodded my head, letting her know I heard her.

Sonny's POV

My mom sat down in my seat as I teleported a tape recorder in front of her. I gave the women a half bow and walked with Ares over to the computer tables. I wanted to make sure these women were on video as well as a recorder in case someone doesn’t agree with the verdict, not that I would let anyone disagree with me.

I listened to my mom question the women as Windy and Kat helped. If one of the women asked a question the other one would ask for more details but in a gentle way. They were good and took it slow, giving the women breaks for coffee or tea. It took longer but they were able to coax a lot more information than I would have, well, unless I had read their mind, but there was no way in hell I would put them through having their minds violated too.

After hearing each woman’s testimony I was so mad at the ‘men’ who hurt these women. I was happy, in a way, they had remembered the other fuckers, who raped them, names. It made it easier for me to go get them for their day in court. And, they would be here no matter what I had to do. Nobody should have been put through what the woman had been through.

Kat came over and sat down next to me, easing the pen I had in my fists down to the table. She rubbed small circles on my back, instantly calming me down to a low simmer. I grabbed her and buried my nose in her neck, breathing her scent in and pulling her on my lap. She knew how to calm me down or lift me up every time. I was so thankful to the Moon Goddess for my beautiful mate.

“Our beautiful mate, dumb ass!” my wolf exclaimed, making my family snicker. I turned towards my mom and sister, narrowing my eyes at them and shaking my head.

I set Kat on her feet and took her hand. I walked over to the women, noticing they looked as if they were about to pass out. “Come on, let’s get everyone some food and sleep. I know you’ve had a hard day, but you can rest until tomorrow or the next day. I’m not sure when the bastard will show up. I sincerely hope he brings his mate with him, she needs to know what he’s been up too. I’m heading to the dining room if you want to join me. If you don’t want to go to the dining room I can have a tray of food brought to your rooms.”

I slowly made my way to the other conference room to check on the women's kids. I opened the door and they were drawing pictures for their moms. They wanted to cheer them up. They were projecting their thoughts loudly. Sandra walked over to me and let me know they were great and if we needed help with them again she would watch over them. I could tell she was excited about the prospect of watching them. I needed to talk to Kat about Sandra watching our kids when we had some. She would be a great teacher and nanny if she wanted the job. I needed to find out why the kids weren’t in school anymore.

I watched as the women moved to their children, thanking Sandra as they walked by. The kids gave their moms their pictures, lighting up the faces of the women. I couldn’t wait to see Kat with our children.

“Mind out of the gutter, Sonny. It will happen one day but not right now,” Windy teased as I rolled my eyes.

“Anyone hungry?” I asked as the children cheered. “Let’s go get some food, shall we?” I felt as if I was the pied piper with the children and their parents following me to the dining hall. It was cute when Kat started singing a nursery rhyme, well, until I had the damn song rolling through my mind. It was the same with the song ‘the wheels on the bus go round and round.’

Fuck!

Torture yourself.

With nursery rhymes.

Dumb ass!

We finally made it to the dining room. I brought the children, the women, and their mates with me to the dias, making sure they were comfortable. We were served our meals by the Omegas’. I took a quick bite and watched as everyone started eating. I was happy to see the children eating and coloring.

I looked down at the table the Omegas’ usually sat at to eat but I didn’t see any of them. “Sandra, where are all the others?” I asked as she walked through the tables.

“They thought it would be better to eat in the kitchen, Royal Alpha King,” she told me as she bowed.

I stood up, excusing myself. I walked into the kitchen and watched as they bowed to me. “Up, up. Come on, you all are going to be eating in the dining room every meal. If you made the food you should be eating with us.”

The Omegas’ followed me out of the kitchen and sat at their table, smiles on their faces. I huffed quietly and walked back up the stairs to the dias, noticing the faces of the Elders’ mates light up at my actions. I didn’t ask them to sit with us to calm the minds of the females but if it calmed them then I was glad to show them a side of myself.

I didn’t understand the mindset of the last Kings before me. It wasn’t hard to be compassionate or kind. It was easier to be kind, to treat others as you would want to be treated. No one was better than the other person. Just because I was the Royal Alpha King didn’t mean I was better than my people. Not at all. I was hoping if they saw my actions it would inspire others to act the same way. But, I knew when it was time to be tough and stern, just like I was going to be at the trial. Dickwad was not getting away from his punishment for his actions - no way in hell. None of his pack would be let off easy.

I needed to find out how many of the pack knew what was going on and who was in on it. I knew the bastard had hidden some of the females and males in other packs and I wanted to know why and how. No one should have helped him with this crime but they did. I could feel myself getting angrier at the thought of everything that was done to the mates of others, what had been done to mine.

I felt Kat put her head on my chest, calming down from furious to mildly angry. She grabbed the bent fork in my hand, one I didn’t know I had bent, and put it down on the table. “Are you okay?” I heard my mate asked as she rubbed her hand on my back.

“Yeah, I’m-”

I heard the doors to the dining room slam open and looked to see what was going on.