The Alpha and the Exile
Chapter 16

I sat in my office, staring at the calendar. I had three days until the big meeting with the other pack. Three days and I was no closer to discovering who was leading the rogues or a solid plan to stopping them. Though, since Michael arrived the attacks had nearly stopped. That had to be worth something in the other alpha's eyes right? A sign of stability. I sighed and rubbed my forehead when I heard the knock. Koreyon nodded, waiting for me to return it before he came in. "Please tell me you have some good news," I pleaded with him as he sat down in front of me, but by the pinched expression on his face I could tell it wasn't.

"The witness that saw Flinn is Polly Green," he told me.

"Polly Green?" I repeated, confused. "Polly lives on the other side of town, Koreyon..."

"So what would she be doing on the north east border?" he said, voicing my question for me. "I haven't been able figure that out yet. One of the elders told me to back off when I went to question her and when she seems me she runs off in the other direction."

"Why?"

Koreyon shrugged. "Just said I should leave it alone unless I wanted to challenge Mario on it."

I leaned back into my seat and frowned. "That doesn't make sense, Koreyon. She's been holding a grudge against Flinn since he not only showed up her brother, but refused to go out with her."

"Hell if I know," he said, throwing up his hands in obvious frustration. "I'm the Chief of security, but I haven't been able to actually see any of the evidence against Flinn," he said then started to say more then stopped.

A moment later, Mario walked into the office. Anger radiating off him in warm waves. "We have a problem," he said, his voice a gruff growl.

My stomach clenched with dread, all worries of Flinn and why Mario is interfering gone. "What is it?"

"The shrink, Doctor Evans was attacked."

"Attacked? How? By who," I demanded, sitting up straighter.

"He had the crap beat out of him. He wasn't even breathing when he was found," Mario snapped out. "And we all know who. We only have one abusive psychopath in the pack."

"Michael? You think Michael did this?" I asked, feeling skeptical. Why would he attack Dr. Evans now?

"Of course, I do," Mario said. "He's a violent abuser and everyone has heard him threaten Evans time and time again."

"Yes, but why now? Why would Michael hurt him after all this time of nonviolence, despite the threats?" I asked then with a small laugh, "Dr. Evans didn't seem to take them seriously. Probably Michael's way of coping."

Anger passed over Mario's face, but he took a slow deep breath. "Well, maybe if Evans took them a little more seriously he wouldn't be fighting for his life," he explained the kneeled next to me. "This is my fault. I should've told you to reject

him the moment you told me who he was, but I thought...I thought he could help us, but he can't. Mike can't help anyone. I know you two have started to grow close, but you have to take action, Alice."

My throat tightened as I looked down at his worried expression. "But it's all coincidental, Mario. We don't know for sure yet. When Evans recovers-"

"If he recovers," Mario said, his bitter tone returning. "The doctors aren't sure if he will. Evans was never a very strong wolf. Alice, no one else has a motive to attack him. No one, but Mike.

"I would still like to see more evidence than this before acting against Michael. It's not fair-"

"Not fair?" Mario yelled, standing up. "What has he done to deserve fair? He's attacked one of our own. What kind of Luna are you that you'd chosen him over your people."

"I am not choosing him over my people," I yelled back. "I simply want to know more."

"What more is there to know? He's dangerous and violent," Mario demanded, his face reddening with his anger. "Is this how it's going to be, Alice? Every time Michael hurts a pack member, you're going to ask for detailed proof? What about when he starts hitting you? Will it be that you hit yourself with a door or fell down the stairs? Or perhaps, it was he didn't mean it and that he's sorry. He promised it won't happen again."

"Never," I snarled, shooting up from my chair and glaring at Mario. "No one will ever hit me and I will never make excuses."

"Then do what you have to do," Mario ground out, through his clenched teeth. "Being Luna means making tough decisions,” he said calmer. "You're hesitating on carrying out Flinn's sentence and now this? Hesitation is weakness, Alice." "I am not hesitating because I'm afraid to do what I know I have to," I told him darkly. His words and tone hinted at a challenge to my authority, but it was Mario and I knew he was simply trying to help. "I'm hesitating, Mario, because a Luna is fair and just. I will not punish the innocent just because circumstantial evidence points in their direction. I need to know that I'm punishing the guilty, Mario."

"This isn't CSI. You're not going to get everything wrapped up in a neat little bow, telling you perfectly who the guilty is. You need to act, Alice," Mario told me, his voice soft. "Because if you don't I will. You have until tonight to make up your mind." Shock kept me still and silent, when every instinct told me to do just the opposite as he turned and left the room.

"Did he just threaten you?" Koreyon said slowly. His expression matched my own shock and horrified awe.

I didn't say anything, but instead sat down in my chair. I wasn't sure what to think at Mario's threat. My instincts told me that I needed to put Mario in his place, though I'm not sure I could. Yet, I've known Mario my whole life. Surely he wouldn't resort to threats unless he was really worried. "What do you think?" I asked, ignoring his question. "Do you think Michael would've attacked the shrink?"

Koreyon blew out a breath, his expression thoughtful. "My instincts say no,” he replied. At my questioning look he explained, "All of the times Mike's gotten violent or physical he was in control."

"He didn't look so in control when he attacked you and put you in the hospital," I told him, keeping my voice cold and emotionless as possible. I couldn't afford to let emotions get the better of me right now.

"That's because you weren't on the receiving end," Koreyon said and gave me a lopsided grin. "He was in control and it wasn't senseless either. He was proving that he was stronger than me and that if he said I wasn't teaching you right, he knew what he was talking about. Mike was pulling his punches and kicks. I was never in life threatening danger. From what I've seen, Mike and Evans aren't exactly friends, but Mike doesn't hate him as much as he pretends."

"That's the feeling I got," I admitted then frowned as I thought. "Koreyon, get me answers, tonight."

"I will."

Dr. Evans was hardly recognizable as I stared down at him. His face was badly misshapen from all the swelling that if it wasn't for his scent I couldn't be sure it was him. Garish bruises and cuts made his appearance all the more horrific. My throat tightened as memories of the night my family's murder haunted me. Was this what my father had looked like or was it worse because he had died?

Unshed tears stung my eyes and I had to blink quickly to keep them from falling as I heard the doctor come into the room. "Luna," he said as soon as he saw me. "Doctor," I replied then once I was sure I wasn't crying I turned to him. "How bad is it?"

"Well he's alive which considering everything is a miracle," the doctor told me. "There is massive swelling in his brain, his skull is shattered in several places, nearly every bone in his body has been broken and I'm seeing evidence of bruising on several organs."

"What can you tell me of his attacker?" I asked, voice tight around the lump in my throat.

"I'm not a forensics geek," he admitted, sounding almost ashamed of it. "But I'd have to say this is the work of an alpha or a wolf almost dominant enough to be one. I'd say the attacker is also right handed as you can see most of the damage is on Evans' left side."

I pressed my lips together tightly as I looked back at the shrink. Was Michael left handed or right? It felt wrong that I didn't know the answer. "Thank you Doctor, keep me updated on his condition."

I should have gone to look for Michael and talk to him, ask him about what happened after his session with Evans, but I didn't. Instead I went back to my office. I needed to center myself and regain control over my emotions. I wouldn't inspire confidence and trust with anyone if I'm all over the place. I took several slow breaths before I picked up the phone, hating what I was about to do and hating I was doing it out of fear.

"Alright, Mario," I said as soon as he answered. "You get what you want. I'll have Koreyon put Michael in the cells."

"No," Mario said quickly and I frowned. "Koreyon isn't a match for Mike. He's made sure we all know that. I'll do it."

"Wait," I said, before he could hang up. If Mario went to Michael there was a good chance there would be violence which was exactly what I was trying to protect Michael from. "I'll go with you. We'll do this together. That way there's a better chance no one gets hurt."

"Alice, I don't think-"

"I will go with you, Mario," I told him sternly then hung up. Did Mario want there to be violence between him and Michael? Something twisted in my gut. This didn't feel right, but I got up and met with Mario to take Michael to the cells anyway.

"You've got to be kidding me," Michael demanded when Mario told him about the attack. "You can't really think I'd be that stupid."

"No one is saying you did it," I told Michael trying to ease his ire.

His furious gaze landed on me and I did my best not to flinch. "Yes, I think Mario has made it very clear he thinks I beat the quack doc up." "This is just a precaution," I told him.

"This is just a bunch of bullshit," Michael snarled before walking up to me. Mario tried to stop him, but Michael shoved him off. "Look at me, Alice."

"You don't have the right-" Mario started, but I waved him off and looked up at Michael.

"Look at me and tell me if you think I did this," he told me.

"I..." I started, knowing I couldn't lie to him. "I'm not accusing you, Michael. This is just until we figure out the events of what happened." And keep you safe, I added silently.

"Bull shit," Michael said, the betrayal he felt obvious in his voice. "Don't know why I'd thought you be any fucking different. Fine, let's go."

My throat tightened and the urge to stop Mario as he escorted Michael out of the pack house and into the car was so strong that I had started to reach out to him before I could stop myself. This was for the best, I told myself. I didn't want violence. I didn't want Michael to feel as if he had to defend himself. I watched them leave, then did my best to keep the meager lunch I had eaten earlier from coming up. Please, let this be for the best.

I returned back into the house, ignoring the curious looks as I went into the bathroom and got sick and then went to the office where I stayed, hoping Koreyon would bring me good news. I tried not to think that I had just ruined any chance of a relationship with Michael or at least him staying here. My chest hurt, but thought as I might, I didn't see a way around it. Koreyon looked grim when he joined me in the office around eight o'clock. "Michael's innocent and so is Flinn," he said with a certainty that for some reason didn't make me feel as reassured as I thought it would. "I'm sorry Alice," he said as he laid down the grainy picture on the desk.

I picked it up, stared at it for a long, long time. "How bad?" I asked, my voice sounding dead even to my ears as I set the picture of Mario smashing the surveillance equipment. Since he wasn't involved in the security, he probably didn't realize there was a hidden camera in the room that wasn't shown on the monitors.

"Seeing as I've had to go around almost all of the council, I would say pretty bad," Koreyon admitted. "At this point, I'm not sure who to trust outside this room besides Michael and Flinn."

My throat tightened and I had to blink quickly to keep tears from showing. "When do you think he'll challenge me?"

"My guess? Just before the big meeting with the other alphas. If you solidify your position with the others, his claim will be weakened," Koreyon explained.

I closed my eyes and leaned back into my chair. I was going to lose. With the support of the council, training, and physical strength on his side there was no way I could win. It was over. I had lost the pack and with it the last piece of my family that I had.

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