Intuition

The letters found inside the home of Clark offered a clearer picture. Bastian had used the name Candor to flatter the ex-elder and get all the information he could on every move made by both Elijah when he was Alpha and Flint there after. All this evidence was presented to the elders and their sentence was unanimous. Death.

As soon as this discussion concluded, Graham was called into the conference room. He sat in the only chair across from the four men chosen to advise the Alpha. He felt tense. Though he hid it well, only the mindlink betrayed it.

“Graham Monroe, your father has been convicted and sentenced on charges of treason against StarLight, aiding and abetting rogue activity, and planning the assassination of Alpha Flint Dolan.” Joshua informed him.

“May I see the evidence against him?” Graham asked stiffly.

Edward slid him a file filled with documents. It took him twenty minutes to read through everything, including his father’s interrogations. The entire time, he had no expression. He eventually closed the folder and pushed it away.

“His sentence has already been given.” Elijah stated.

“And?” Graham probed.

“Death.” Tim answered grimly.

The Beta fell silent. He closed his mindlink, concealing the raging emotions he was surely feeling.

“That isn’t all.” Edward got his attention.

“Your mother has been convicted and sentenced on charges of aiding and abetting rogue activity.” Joshua explained.

“Her sentence?” Graham asked simply.

“Exile.” Elijah replied.

He inhaled slowly. A long but measured breath. Upon the exhale, he nodded curtly.

“Now, we have some questions for you. Open your mindlink.” Joshua stated.

Graham nodded, slowly this time and his emotions could be felt. He was sad, angry, overwhelmed, and seemingly grieving.

“Did you know your father was communicating to a rogue named Candor?” Tim asked.

“Yes and no. I saw an envelope once. I didn’t know Candor was a rogue.” He replied in an even tone.

His mindlink was still raging with his feelings, but none of them were guilt.

“Did the deadly move you employed during the Beta tournament come from Candor?” Edward probed.

“My father advised me. His sources are his own.” Graham answered.

Again, he projected no guilt.

“Are you loyal to StarLight pack and those who lead it?” Joshua asked.

“Yes.” The Beta stated firmly.

Elijah had been watching him. Examining Graham’s every movement and answer. He might not have sensed obvious deceit, but he wasn’t entirely convinced.

“Tell me, have you been sewing discontent amongst the pack? Turning them against their Alpha?” Elijah asked in a deep tone.

“I don’t agree with everything Flint does, that’s not a secret. But I’m not turning anyone against him.” Graham met his gaze.

No guilt, no deceit. Elijah grimaced. He still wasn’t convinced, it seemed no matter the man’s honesty... Graham would be held in the same place as his father in Elijah’s mind.

“We have found no concrete evidence of your guilt and so, you have not been charged with a crime. Now, I want to hear the consensus.” Joshua stated.

“Truthful.” Edward nodded.

“Truthful.” Tim agreed.

“Truthful.” Elijah grunted reluctantly.

“Truthful. That’s unanimous. Next on the agenda is your position as Beta.” Joshua folded his hands on the table.

“Alright.” Graham’s expression remained unreadable and he closed his mindlink once more.

“Your father used rogue help to make you the Beta of StarLight. He hoped to kill Alpha so you could take control. This will never come to pass.” Elijah informed him bluntly.

“Until the time Alpha Flint retakes his place here at HQ, you cannot be acting Beta. For now, this role will be filled by the tournament’s runner-up. Duncan Green.” Joshua explained.

“When Alpha returns to his usual duties, so will you. This isn’t permanent.” Tim stated.

“Unless you’re found guilty of conspiracy before then.” Elijah added gruffly.

“Your insurance firm doesn’t have to close but you can’t be involved there until after your reinstated.” Edward told him.

Graham took in the information and nodded to himself. He didn’t interrupt or ask any questions. Finally, after a minute of thought, he spoke.

“Alright.” Graham stood. “Should the pack need my help with anything before then, I hope you’ll feel free to ask me.”

Joshua nodded to him and Graham left quickly. Elijah stepped into the hall and made a phone call as Duncan passed him to enter the conference room.

“Hello?” A deep voice greeted him.

“Donald. It’s Elijah Dolan. Can you be at HQ right now?” He spoke into the phone.

“Yeah. I’m jogging two miles away. Assignment?” He answered.

“Security level A-1. Subject is Graham Monroe. Watch, do not approach.” Elijah stated.

“Yes, sir.” Donald agreed immediately.

Elijah hung up and took a deep breath. He felt Flint in his mind. His son was running wild, unable to slow down. Unable to rest. He understood his pain. Elijah had felt it for a mere eleven hours during Selena’s absence.

The thought of prolonging that feeling seemed torturous. Still, he feared what came after it. In Elijah’s situation, Selena’s mark was broken. The feeling that came over him was like someone peeled his skin off. It was devastating.

If that happened to Eve and Flint, he feared for his son. The white wolf had never been known for his impulse control. He had watched Flint struggle since childhood with the rages and whims of the power inside him. If that were destroyed, the way Elijah had been, he wasn’t sure his son would survive it.

He didn’t bother going back to the other elders in the conference room. Elijah left and drove toward the valley. He needed to find Flint, tell him what happened during the meetings today. It took two hours of driving along the southern border before he caught the scent.

Son. Elijah’s wolf reached his mind.

Flint came to the same part of the woods where his father had parked. He looked his father over. His dark hair had familiar silver streaks over his ears. He was clean shaven and his green eyes were piercing, as sharp as ever.

Father. The wolf replied silently.

Clark’s execution is in three days. He informed him gruffly.

The half moon is in five. Flint openly thought.

“You will be expected at the execution. You’re the only true leadership left. Graham’s been suspended.” Elijah spoke aloud.

We have to find her. There’s a pull. We have to follow it. The Alpha stated.

There is no pull when her link is closed. His father’s wolf replied.

There is! The white wolf snarled.

Not hers, son. Her link is closed. Elijah’s wolf was firm.

Flint growled aggressively but he stopped himself nearly immediately.

Not hers... He looked at his father quizzically.

“So?” Elijah asked aloud.

I feel it but I can’t find it. It’s there then it’s gone. It’s strong at times but at others- He didn’t finish the thought.

Flint shifted into his human form. He stood and looked his father in the eyes unflinchingly.

“If it’s not Eve that’s calling to me, it’s the pup. It has to be.” Flint stated decisively.

“To feel it from such a distance... Your pup is strong, boy. Very, very strong.” His father furrowed his brows.

“Why can’t I follow it?” He growled in frustration.

“I couldn’t feel you until Selena was ten months along. By then, she had to be a wolf three days a week.” Elijah pondered.

Flint was thinking deeply. He wondered if Eve was in her wolf form. If she was eating. If she was coping. If she missed him too... Pain echoed in his chest. It felt like a cold absence, swelling like a balloon.

“Maybe it’s because no matter how powerful the pup is, it is still growing on schedule. The mind must be formed fully for a strong, clear link.” Elijah interrupted his son’s thoughts.

There was obvious sense in his father’s words. Still, Flint was infuriated. He couldn’t wait. He couldn’t keep following the illusive feeling in circles but he couldn’t wait either. Stress, frustration, anger, sadness. It all blended into a chaotic tornado that Flint struggled to contain.

“You have to perform the execution, boy. Afterwards, when you go to see the SilverCrest elders, I’ll go with you.” Elijah stated firmly.

The thought of killing Clark Monroe sounded really good to the Alpha in that moment.

“I’ll be there.” He grunted.

Flint shifted into his wolf form and ran toward the illusive pull in his chest. Knowing now where the sensation was coming from made it feel stronger somehow, and warmer.

Even if his unborn pup couldn’t yet finish the directions... Flint’s instincts obligated him to follow this invisible thread when he felt it tugging on his heart.