Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Elder Leary leveled his gaze at me.
“A complaint has been made—not just by Harris but by several people—that you are acting in a lewd and licentious manner and not upholding your husband’s sacred memory, Lady Jamison,” he thundered, raising his voice almost to a shout. “And that you have been profaning the sacred title of ‘Moon Widow’ which was bestowed upon you at the passing of our beloved Pack Leader, Carter Jamison!”
At this the entire audience broke into chatter and every single one of them was looking at me.
In that moment, I wished that the ground would open up and swallow me whole. I could feel my heart pounding in every part of my body at once and it felt like my face was on fire, I was so hot with blushing.
I might as well have had a scarlet A pinned on my chest.
Did they know? Had someone seen us? Had they found out that Kor had touched me and made me come? That I had slept naked in his arms last night?
All these thoughts raced frantically through my brain, and I didn’t know what to say. Luckily, Kor was calm.
“And what evidence do you have that Vivienne has been acting in a manner unbecoming of her station?” He asked, lifting his chin. “Because she’s been nothing but completely proper ever since I met her.”
“Evidence? We don’t need no evidence!” Harris Murdoch growled. “Just look at her—look how she’s dressed and how she’s acting. She ain’t no grieving widow!”
I had to fight the urge to pull the sides of my cardigan closed to try and cover the cleavage the sundress I was wearing showed. How I wished that I had worn one of the stuffy black outfits in my closet at home! Why had I thought I could go out dressed in a pretty little sundress when I was supposed to be in mourning?
“So you called a Council meeting and allowed the entire town to attend if they wanted to without any evidence of wrong doing?” Kor lifted both eyebrows at the Council. “Just because Vivienne is dressed differently?”
“She ought to be in mourning—not gallivanting around with you, pup!” Harris exclaimed. “We all know you’re fucking her! We know what you’re up to—the two of you all alone up at that big old mansion. You’re filling her pussy with your cream and your cock every chance you get.”
“And I repeat, where is your evidence?” Kor thundered. “How dare you accuse me of defiling a Moon Widow—one who was married to my uncle! How dare you smear my reputation and Vivienne’s good name just because you’re afraid I’ll beat you at the Alpha Challenge?”
“You’re not fucking beating me!” Harris practically howled. “You widow fucker!”
“Enough! Enough—silence. Silence!” Elder Leary bugled.
Finally, Harris shut up and the townsfolk who had gathered in the audience quieted.
“All right, now.” Leary wiped at his bald forehead with a folded napkin. Clearly he hadn’t expected any pushback from either me or Kor.
I was glad Kor was there to speak for both of us. The whole town thought I was guilty as charged and I doubted I could change their minds, no matter what I said. So I kept quiet and let him do the talking.
“Councilor Leary,” he said now, looking directly at the elderly councilman. “I am not breaking the Unbreakable Laws with Vivienne Jamison. I am staying at my late uncle’s estate with her, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that we’re doing anything untoward.”
“But the two of you look so happy together,” one of the other council members said plaintively.
“And that’s a crime? Or a punishable offense somehow?” Kor demanded. “Can’t we enjoy each other’s company without you drawing dirty-minded conclusions about the two of us? Didn’t you hear what she said at my uncle’s funeral? She doesn’t even have Heat Cycles anymore. How could I be breeding her, even if I was so unwise as to want to break the Unbreakable Laws—which I don’t,” he added, frowning.
The Council members didn’t look happy about this, but there didn’t seem to be much they could say about it. They whispered together like a flock of old crows gathered on a telephone line. Finally, Elder Leary straightened up.
“This Council does not have evidence of any wrongdoing at this time,” he began.
“Oh please—just look at the two of them!” Harris interrupted. “They’re fucking! He’s fucking her!”
“Enough, Harris! One more outburst like that and I’ll have you ejected from this meeting!” Elder Leary gave him a stern look and Harris glared back, but at least he shut up again.
“As I was saying, this Council does not have any evidence of wrongdoing at this time,” Leary repeated. “So we will not sanction or punish you for now. But let me give you both a very strong warning—breeding a Moon Widow is forbidden by any save the new Leader of the Pack if he chooses her as his Omega.”