Page 104 of Awakening

Perfect fucking timing, ladies. “Nick and I are waiting for the ruling on Austin’s punishment at the council meeting. Stay there, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she whispers, as if the council might hear her on the phone. “Okay, we’ll just wait for you.”

“And, Olivia?”

“What?” I can’t help but smile as she continues to whisper.

“No more fucking champagne. See you soon.”

The door to the conference room opens as I disconnect the call. “Gentlemen, you may come back in,” Bill Weathers, the council president says. “Please, have a seat.” He gestures to the long table as Nick, Lance and I enter the room. My dad is still red in the face with anger as he sits across the table from us after watching Austin admit to what he did to Olivia. “So,” Bill says with a sigh, “after discussing the information you provided, as well as the video footage from this morning, we’re ready to make our judgement regarding the punishment of Austin Mills.” My heart pounds in my chest while I wait for him to tell me exactly what I get to do to that motherfucker.

“As you know, when making a decision such as this one, we have to take into account our laws, the age of the perpetrator, prior offenses, as well as the severity of the crime,” Bill says.

“I understand.”

“Because Mr. Mills is only twenty-four years of age, and has no prior offenses or complaints of any kind, we do have to allow him a bit of leniency.”

I shove my chair back and pound my fist on the table as I stand up. “Leniency? He was involved in the death of my baby.”

“Ethan, sit down,” my dad says from across the table. “Just hear the man out.” He looks me square in the eye and nods to my chair.

“I know this is a very emotional topic for you, Alpha Sullivan,” Bill says, “but I expect you to sit and listen to our ruling respectfully. This is your only warning.”

I sigh with a nod as I sit down. “My apologies, Mr. Weathers.”

“Continuing on then, am I to assume you will be terminating his employment with your security team?”

“That’s correct.”

“I’ll make a note of that. We would usually allow some type of immediate capital punishment, but according to the video you provided, it seems he already received that this morning. Because we have no proof that Mr. Mills gave Luna Newman anything other than a sedative, we have no evidence that he was directly associated with the death of her unborn child. Therefore, I cannot order automatic death or banishment from the pack.”

So much rage boils within the pit of my stomach that I have to practically bite through my tongue as I clench my fists under the table in order to keep myself from destroying this room right now.

“However, I do think you’ll find the punishment we approved to be quite…satisfying.”

I lean forward, crossing my arms on the table. “I’m listening.”

“We consider this to be giving Mr. Mills a dose of his own medicine. You will be allowed to sedate Austin Mills by surprise, as he did to your Luna, on a designated date, which will not be disclosed to him. You’ll then be allowed to take Mr. Mills to a location, predetermined by the council. The rules are simple. No weapons or torture devices. To be perfectly blunt, you’re allowed to beat the shit out of him, as long as he is alive and capable of making a full recovery once you’re done with him. A hospital stay is acceptable.”

Nick and I look at each other. This might be exactly what I need, and what he deserves.

“Once Mr. Mills has fully recovered, he will be required to do one thousand hours of community service, determined by you. He may obtain employment outside the pack security field, either at another pack establishment, if anyone will trust him after this, or within human society. However, his community service debt to you must take priority. This will be an opportunity for Mr. Mills to get his act together and turn things around. If he has another offense of this severity, he will be banished from pack grounds.”

This isn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

“Finally, if Mr. Mills should attempt to physically attack Luna Newman or yourself again in the future, you have council clearance to use lethal self-defense. I must stress that this clearance is only for a physical attack or threat to your lives. Any other type of harassment by Mr. Mills will result in pack banishment. You will be emailed a copy of this ruling, but do you understand the terms presented here today, Alpha Sullivan?”

“I do, yes. Thank you, sir.”

“Good. You’re all dismissed.”

As Nick and I leave the room to find a private space to talk, Nick asks, “So, what do you think?”

I shrug with a small smile. “I mean, I don’t hate it.”

“He has to be alive and capable of a full recovery when you’re done with him, son,” my dad says, coming up behind me.

“I know, but man, is it going to be sweet revenge getting to inflict his punishment myself after what he did to Olivia.”

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