When I took the stand, I kept my answers short, clear, and stated in no uncertain terms that I was fine and didn’t consider myself a “victim of an unprincipled, unethical animal mage.” Their words, not mine.

I might have growled. Okay, I definitely growled. Prisha hid it well, but I saw her lean back before she could stop herself. Though it was her job and she meant well, she was still threatening my mate. My wolf didn’t like it and neither did I. Until yesterday, Prisha had only seen the caretaker side of me being an alpha. Once you see a man half naked and covered in blood, it’s a little hard to shake the image. I wasn’t mad about it, either. I wanted them to remember that side of me. To remember both sides of the alpha.

“I thought you were going to bite her,” Lou whispered as I slid back into the seat next to her.

“Naw,” I said, putting my hand on her thigh. Mine. “Woodbridge, though…” The ferrets had wanted to TP his car. They were very unhappy with him, not only for how he’d treated me, but how he’d treated Van and Juliet. I probably wouldn’t do it. I would wait a few weeks. Consider my options. I could be a patient hunter.

Lou held my hand through the proceedings. She kept her chin up, her eyes clear. Only I knew she was shaking inside, fearing the worst. I couldn’t control whether the council would take away the possibility of her certification. All I could do was be here to support her no matter what happened.

Our mate is strong, my wolf reminded me. And when she is not strong, we will be strong for her.

Sometimes the wolf had a very simple way of looking at things. He never borrowed trouble. But then, simple didn’t mean wrong. In this case, he was right.

After hearing all the testimony, the Tribunal left the room to confer.

It was a long forty-five minutes.

And there was nothing I could do except hold Lou’s hand. It felt inadequate.

It also felt like a lot.

Finally, the Tribunal filed back in, taking their seats. Prisha took a long sip of water before she addressed the room. “Thank you to everyone who spoke today, for giving us your expertise and opinion. This was a difficult case, and you helped us come to a decision.” Prisha didn’t look thrilled with the decision, but she wasn’t angry. Patrice smiled, which made me relax some. Woodbridge looked like he was irritated that we were all still here, taking up his time.

Maybe instead of TP, I could get the ferrets to hide a dead fish in his office.

Cat thoughts, Lou said, are so seductive, aren’t they?

I put my arm around her. Maybe cats are on to something.

Prisha folded her hands in front of her. “After much discussion, we’ve decided that Louise Matthews didn’t act in a malicious manner. The bond was created as an act of empathy.”