Page 42 of Understanding Fate

In the exchange of shots, the witness was taken to the ground, striking her head and knocking her unconscious.

When questioned, the witness stated she had no affiliation with the Reno Pack and requested permission to return to her home in Vegas.

All the above statements have been verified through the use of personal contact vivid replay by an authorized adjudicator.

Alexander

A blood-red signature at the bottom of the page certifies it as authentic and traceable to the vampire who adjudicated it.

Relief fills my chest as I think about how much this solidifies our case, and I intentionally school my expression so as not to give anything away.

Thank The Fates.

“It would appear, from this testimony, Alpha Marlo, that the Unawakened girl does not believe you have a claim to her. Under normal circumstances, based on the evidence presented,we would end this hearing in favor of the Vegas Pack. However, there was a second request submitted by Alpha Goodman inquiring about the witness’s lineage, and the results of that test gave us a new pause.”

With his statement completed, he passes out a new paper to each council member, leaving us to wonder how this new pack will affect the outcome.

One by one, eyes snap up, locking on Marlo and his lawyer in disbelief.

Dante: What pack is it?

My eyes slide over to Noah with the mind-link question, only to find he looks equally puzzled and gives me only a shrug. I turn my attention to the table across the aisle, but both members appear equally confused. After a long pause, Martin continues addressing the panel.

“As you all can see, this muddies the water on this case,” Martin’s attention slides back to Marlo’s table as he says the words that knock the wind out of my chest. “Paternity links back to one Deacon Marlo, Reno Pack Alpha, with a 99.8% match.”

Marlo pales as his hands hit the table, bracing himself. All sense of composure is erased as he processes the information that none of us can believe.

Deacon Marlo is Brielle’s father.

Brielle’s Home Pack is the Reno Pack.

Deacon just won.

Dante: Cain, get her out of there.NOW!

I send the mind-link as quickly as possible, infusing command to relay the urgency. All I can hope for now is that he can get her out before we're all trapped. As the silence hangs in the courtroom, I send one more mind-link.

Dante: Pres, prepare for war.

Chapter 17

Cain

My door is open, and I’m out of the car before Dante can even finish his message. Jess doesn’t need me to say a word. Moments later, she’s at my shoulder, matching my stride with a quiet confidence.

If Dante is calling a Hail Mary, the hearing must have somehow gone in Reno’s favor. Knowing Deacon Marlo, he probably blackmailed a panel member or bribed them. Hisreputation proceeded him, and I’d never heard of an Alpha who had gone against him and won.

Or lived, usually.

Well, no one except Dante’s dad, Marcus. He’d pushed back against Marlo and his pack over and over before his death.

Marcus Stone was a good Alpha, but more than that, he was a great man.

As we approach the hotel door, my arm slides around Jess, and she curls her body into mine, looking up at me adoringly.

Showtime.

“Is that so? I would’ve taken you for the rom-com type,” I say, forcing a calm flirtation into my voice.

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