Chapter 170: Seeking Help from the Council of Elders
[Edward’s P.O.V.]
On the second day after I had returned to the pack, I woke up very early. But it wasn’t because of the jetlag – I didn’t feel it at all. I simply felt full of energy and hardly felt tired. It must be because I had found Rose and I had been so excited about our child.
I decided to make full use of my early start to the day. I went to the library first and tried to gather some information about the Southern Wilderness Pack massacre. But everything I could get my hands on wrote superficial stuff. I had known whatever was written by heart – I had never given up on investigating the tragedy for so many years.
Then I locked myself in my office – informing the guards that no one was to disturb me – to access the pack’s local area network to search for information or rumors about the incident. I looked up any and all news reports about the incident as well. I had gone through some of these before but I did not have as much information back then as I did now.
I decided to recruit my parents to brainstorm ideas and theories. Between the two of them, I knew my father would have more connections and knowledge about the past so I requested him to help find out what the Alphas of other packs knew and thought about the matter.
Finally, I had Clyde come to my office. He probably thought I was going to reprimand him for lying about him cutting off his connections with Alonso. But I didn’t bring that up – it was of no relevance to me right now. I simply asked him to recount in as much detail as possible what he had witnessed Rose go through at New Moon Pack. There was a recording pen on my desk which I knew he noticed, but he didn’t protest. He must have figured out my true intentions and willingly offered to be of any assistance I needed.
Once night fell, I called for a meeting with the ranked members. Patrick presented his report of the investigation I had assigned him to and listening to the contents of it made my blood boil.
I was right. The owner of the house Emily had placed me under house arrest was Alpha Alex of New Moon Pack.
Early the next morning, I drove five hours to the Council of Elders with all the information I had gathered, including two videos that Patrick had recorded with his surveillance camera.
Once the guards had verified my identity at the gate, I entered the huge, secret Baroque building. Rather than putting in a request to meet all the elders of the council, I simply asked to see Liam, the Grand Elder. I hadn’t seen Liam since his inauguration, but my father had told me that he was a man of integrity.
We sat in a closed conference room as Liam reviewed all the information I had brought, watched the two videos, and listened to all my statements and requests. In the end, he looked up while stroking his white beard in thought.
“Alpha Edward of Sunset Pack, will you take responsibility for the veracity of everything you have said and provided?”
“Yes, I will, Grand Elder Liam. I’ve never given up on this matter in all these years.”
“Because of your Luna? As far as I know, she seems to have left your pack and severed all ties with you and your pack.”
“Yes, Elder, but that doesn’t stop us from revealing the truth, does it? Although things have already happened, we still have a chance to correct historical facts and clear the names of those innocent souls who died unjustly.”
“Alpha Edward, this is not a small matter. If your claims are wrong, it will affect the reputation of the Council of Elders.”
“I understand. But I also know that you voted for the investigation of the massacre to continue during a Council of Elders meeting, despite the majority voting otherwise, which means that you agree with me that this matter is not as simple as it seems. You might not have been the Grand Elder at that time, but now that you are, I sincerely hope that you will stand on the side of justice. Think about how we would feel if this had happened to either your pack or mine.”
“Alpha Edward, I will consider your proposal and inform you of any updates. However, there is one thing that I still have doubts about. You are currently only requesting the Council of Elders to investigate the Southern Wilderness Pack massacre. However, the evidence you have submitted seemed to suggest that there are other parties beyond the massacre that have done some significant damage to you, your Luna, and your pack.”
“Yes, Grand Elder, you are right. However, I will do my best to investigate that second matter. All I want is that when the matter has been completely resolved, the criminals be over to me for them to receive the punishment they deserve.”
“Well, that is the way and law of werewolves However, do remember that if the criminal is from another race, they will have to be returned to their race for sentencing. One more thing, the person who provided these videos must be punished as well. Despite their significance in the investigation, this person has violated the privacy of pack members.
“When the truth is revealed, I’m willing to accept the punishment,” said I.
“Alpha Edward, I know you didn’t do this and I know you’re also trying to protect your people.”
“Elder Liam, forgive me for being presumptuous, but I have to disagree with your earlier statement. In human societies, police officers can legally install and access surveillance cameras during investigations. Similarly, the person who provided these two videos had to install surveillance cameras to look for more evidence against the criminal suspect. The only difference is that he or she is not a police officer simply because the werewolf race does not have police officers. Grand Elder, if such a crime like this happens and we do not have similar means as humans to thoroughly investigate, I am willing to push the boundaries and accept my punishment.”
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