Chapter 19 - Hindsight
Alyssa's POV:
Walking through the cells back toward the door I felt a satisfaction I hadn't felt since I became a pack nurse. The sense of accomplishment overwhelmed every sense. The simple sound of my wedges clicking in the echo of the hallway made me smile. I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten this dressed up, or had the want to for that matter. I emerged from the front doors, the rays of sun on my skin. It was barely 60 degrees, but the warmth of the sun made it feel incredible. Not a cloud in the sky. I thanked the driver for opening my door. My guard, Stephen, climbed into the front seat and we were off. I had only a few more things to pack and we should be leaving in a few hours. I was thrilled and couldn't wait to get out of here. This place never felt like home to me. We had only stayed due to my mom meeting her second chance mate, the man I have called "dad" since I was three. My mom settled into a simple life here and while she missed my father terribly, she did not miss being a Luna at all. She had a generous fund left to her from my dad and that set her up for life. She deserved a life of ease after all she'd been through.
I was so grateful for how my biological dad cared so much for me, and I had another dad who was also incredible. I was very blessed in that department. With that thought, my mind drifted to my own daughter. My heart was broken that her biological father was such an evil man. I had fought hard with the decision of what to do in this situation. Do I plead with Brent, and the council to keep him alive as he is the father of my child, or do I let the investigation unravel as it flows and allow the council to come up with his punishment after the trial? I didn't want to hurt my child, but I was also fearful of what could happen if he remained alive. He would never be a positive influence in her life so what was the point in even worrying about this? My head was beginning to pound with all of the different scenarios that played on repeat and I was ready for some lunch and a nap in the short time it took to get back to the hospital. It felt so odd to still be coming and going from the hospital as I had been discharged mid-day yesterday, but Brent did not want me going into my old house nor did I see any reason to be placed in the pack house for only one day. So hospital room it was, but regardless, it still felt weird and I was ready to have the peace and privacy of a home. I was so excited to have an actual home, not just a house. I was ready to fill it with good memories and positive examples for Tenley. I smiled all the way to my room at the thought of our new beginning.
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Brent's POV:
My hands were, once again, covered in the blood of the Gamma in front of me. Only this time Anderson's were covered as well. We had been interrogating him for almost two hours. The entire time trying to get him to talk about the affair and what his intentions were by pushing it through the mate bond. Yes, their bond was one-sided, but regardless of her marking him, he would be able to send her visions. Thanks to the cleverness of my mate, we had a motive. We just needed proof that it was intentional and with Caitlin still claiming she remembered nothing, this psychopath was our only chance.
I wiped the blood off of the pliers before laying them back down, having just pulled his pinky nail off. He screamed and writhed but still refused to speak of the incident. He simply wanted to continue wailing that, "he was the Alpha of Reign Moon and we would pay for this."
He was still raving like a lunatic when my Beta pulled me to the side, "man, I'm not trying to tell you how to do your job here, but this dude is whacked out of his mind. We're not getting anywhere with this," he said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
I sighed, mimicking him by bringing my arm up to wipe the sweat from my forehead, "I know, but we have to prove he intentionally sent that vision to her which in turn caused her attempted suicide. Every wolf knows the repercussions of a betrayal. By sending that vision, he had to have known what could happen, but we need the fucking proof it was planned! But all we have is a fucked up Gamma and a Beta's daughter who can't remember shit," I punched the wall in frustration.
"Wait, he raped Alyssa," Anderson suddenly exclaimed loudly.
"I didn't rape her, the bitch liked it rough," a gurgled response came from my left and I looked over to see Dalton grinning wildly. What the fuck was wrong with him?
I walked over and silently grabbed him by the back of the head and threw his face into the table. His head bounced off of the steel table, effectively knocking him out cold. I glared at the pack witness, daring him to say something, but he simply dropped his eyes to the ground.
I walked back to Anderson, "why the fuck did you bring that up? We already know what he did to Alyssa, and she is Luna to you," I said as my finger jammed into his chest.
Anderson's hands flew up in surrender, "hey, hey okay big guy hold on and I'll get to the point."
"You better make it fast," I growled .
Anderson continued, "listen if he raped Aly- I mean Luna, chances are he raped Caitlin and that's why she can’t remember," his shoulders shrugging with the idea.
I silently mulled over his words, rubbing at the stubble on my jaw. This was an interesting thought. I was slightly annoyed that neither of us had thought of this. It was a strong possibility. She had been brought back into a holding cell the same day Dalton had been placed back in the cells for attacking Alyssa. The Beta and Alpha of Wolf Moon strongly lobbied against my executive decision, but ultimately the council agreed with me that due to the nature of the threat against a sitting Luna, she was also to be detained until cleared.
I looked at my watch, and 3:30 pm flashed up at me. It was an hour and a half until we would be leaving and I'd be damned if we didn't leave at 5:00 on the dot. Surely I had enough time to run a surveillance view and be done in time to leave.
"What are you thinking, Alpha?" My Beta caught my attention.
"No one has run a surveillance viewing on Caitlin, right?"
He shook his head, "No, Alpha. You never ordered one."
"Then let's go."
We stepped into the hallway, cleaners, and medics taking our place. Interrogations were messy, to say the least.
With the last of the procedures done and proper documents signed and filed with the cell warden, we headed to the cell of the Beta's daughter.
We had to walk back toward the main part of the cells as she was not in maximum security, just a simple holding cell. I am sure we looked quite alarming in our blood splattered clothing. Not that I cared.
I stopped in front of the cell door belonging to Caitlin. This one had a square window to see into, unlike the solid silver door of the maximum security wing. Her complexion turned ghost white at the sight of me.
'She hurt mate. She should be terrified,' my wolf licked his snout, baring his teeth in my mind.
' Back down. We're here for a surveillance viewing, not an interrogation,' I commanded.
I entered her cell alone as I had sent Anderson to the jet to ensure everything was settled and ready to go. I had zero plans to leave past 5:00 pm. I couldn't wait to have my family home.
"Caitlin, I am Alpha O'Connor. I understand you have been questioned by my Beta about the situation between yourself and Dalton, but I need to ask if I can do a surveillance viewing on you. However, I must warn you, if you do not consent, I will get a warrant for a future time, but either way this will be happening," I was empathetic to her potential situation, but if she was truly unable to remember what had happened, surveillance viewing was the only way we could confirm what actually happened.
Her prolonged silence made me suspicious, "unless, of course, you've had a sudden recollection of what occurred," I narrowed my gaze at her and crossed my arms over my chest.
She shook her head rapidly, "no, I am just afraid of what will be found. I truly do not know how I got in the bed," she whispered. There was something about her that I believed. My wolf was also picking up on it. Sniffing out her honesty and genuine fear, I cleared my throat, "would you feel better about this if I had a female come in and sit while the surveillance was underway? "
She slowly shook her head no, "honestly, I don't want anyone else knowing what might have happened...but go ahead, I consent."
She stood up from her cot, holding her hands out toward me, "let's get this over with," she whispered.
I reached out and grabbed both of her hands, placing my forehead against hers as she opened her mind completely allowing my wolf to enter into her subconscious. Surveillance was a way for wolf law to be carried out justly and swiftly. A tool that only an Alpha could use to investigate a wolf. I would have already done it on Dalton, but there was no way I would've been able to get him to comply, even with a warrant. I was frustrated that we hadn't yet done this on Caitlin, but I had been slightly preoccupied with the recovery of my mate and getting things settled back home.
I stepped out of my conscious, human mind, and allowed my wolf full mental control. The uncomfortable buzz between our joined hands alerted me that the surveillance was beginning.
Narration of surveillance :
"Daddy! I'm headed to Alyssa's!", Caitlin called over her shoulder as she grabbed her purse, shutting the door behind her. She walked down a well-manicured sidewalk and hopped into a shiny, black Mercedes. She pulled out her phone to text Alyssa when she saw a text from an unknown number pop up. ' Hey, Alyssa said you were supposed to come over tonight, but she isn't feeling great, and I'm stuck at the office and then on patrol. Can you meet me at the pub in town and I will get some food to go for you to take over to her and Tenley since you're going anyway? Too far to mind link so I'm texting instead. I got your number from Alyssa, hope that's okay?' She hummed and said aloud, "Well Alyssa not feeling well definitely explains why she hasn't responded." She quickly sent back a 'sure' and left to head to the pub in town. After about a fifteen minute drive she pulled in and entered the pub. She appears to have noticed Dalton at the bar and walks over to him. "Hey!” He exclaimed, "their burgers should be up soon. I got you a coke to drink for your trouble of coming all the way to town." She eyed him suspiciously, but accepted the drink and took a seat to wait on the order. Several minutes passed and the food still wasn't out yet. Caitlin looked at her phone, seemingly to check the time. "I'm starting to feel a little sleepy, can you check on the order please?" Dalton hopped up, almost too eager, "yep! One second." He got up and walked over to the hostess, and returned shortly after. "They said it would be another ten minutes, I hope that's okay?" She simply nodded her head and turned back to her phone. A few minutes later she attempted to stand and grabbed the edge of the bar for support. "Hey, are you okay?" Dalton asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'm not sure, I feel really dizzy," she replied. Her words sounded slurred. "Crap, I hope you're not coming down with what Alyssa has, here let me help you to the car. I can take you home and the food to our house and then head to patrol, I guess." He walked her to his vehicle where he hauled her into his front seat. He quickly ran around to the driver’s side and got in. After a short period of driving, he arrived at a motel and pulled a key card from his wallet, and carried Caitlin bridal style to the door of the motel room."
Flashback ended, present:
I pulled out of the vision quickly, not needing to see what happened next to confirm Anderson was right. I couldn't dwell on that for too long though as I realized what time it was, 4:00 pm. Shit, the jet was to leave in an hour and we had a solid drive to the airport.
I quickly alerted the cell warden to release Caitlin and I would finish this up at a later time. Things had taken a sudden turn and it appeared we were dealing with a serial rapist. There was no need to delay our trip home, however. I could have Caitlin transferred on a short term basis to my pack for further questioning and to have the council prepare her for a trial, if there would even be one at this point with all the evidence we had against Dalton.
I was on cloud nine when I walked out of the front door of the cells and into the vehicle awaiting me. I couldn't wait to shower and get my family home.
I quickly jumped out of the vehicle, barely allowing the driver to stop the car as I exited and practically ran through the halls to Alyssa's room. I walked in and Alyssa turned to me, her smile fading quickly as her hackles raised and her eyes darkened to the black of her wolf.
Her eyes filled with tears and anger rolled off of her in waves, "why the fuck do you smell like her?"