Shattered (Complete) #Wattys2019

Chapter 12: The Letter

"Respected Council Members, please indulge me as I jump back to the beginning of all of this. I acknowledge that this trial is for Alpha Donovan and you have an interest in delving into his mate's choices at another time. However, as we are learning, the issue is far deeper than we once thought." Jax echoed around the room.

"What is your point?" Elder Lyle asked.

"My point is that Alpha Donovan has shown you a carefully constructed image. Given you just enough information to feed into tradition and old laws, chosen those nuggets of truth that make him look like a law abiding wolf who was pushed to somewhat extreme and less than conventional choices by the fear and stress of his mate's rejection, worried for his own life. All without telling a lie that would give anything away."

"That is your opinion." Elder Riley snarked.

Jax only grinned wider. "But it is? I'm curious Alpha Donovan, why did you complete your mating with Rose?"

The accused wolf had to of known he was inching closer to losing his case after his outburst and Rose's testimony. When he returned, he remained in the burning silver cuffs. His teeth ground together before he spoke. "She was my mate."

"Was that the only reason?"

His eyes snapped to Jax, golden and defiant with his wolf. "No."

The royal representative raised a brow. "What other reason was there?"

Donovan remained silent and refused to answer.

After several minutes, the Council members became increasingly curious. Jax handed them his thoughts. "I wonder if it was because of the power you gained from bonding to your true mate?"

Again, the alpha refused to speak, though his wolf flared in his eyes.

"So, if we were to let Rose officially reject you, you would be happy? A chance to break the bond and allow you to search for your choice mate without breaking any laws?"

The angry growl emanating from the Blood Moon leader grew louder as Jax questioned him until he lost it. "She's mine!" His wolf took over enough to scream out. "I won't let go of my mate! Why wouldn't she accept us?"

Well then... it was his wolf who chose to keep her. That was unexpected.

Jax, however, didn't pause. "So, you never would have let her go, would you?"

"Never!"

"Then why search for a choice mate?" He continued to question the wolf in control.

He growled again. "That was my stupid human. He didn't like that she was an omega or scared of him. But he only accepted her as mate for the power of the bond. Still he wanted more power, he wanted to break her with his abuse until she was nothing but a bitch to control completely." Elder Lorena gasped at the crudeness of it. "But I knew. I knew she was stronger than him. Her body weakened, her mind was beaten, but her blood and heart were strong with alpha blood." He shook his head several times, the man and the wolf in battle for control. Yet he continued. "He never wanted a choice mate. He attacked those other females to vent his aggression. He used them the way he wanted to use and hurt my mate. The way he never could because he would feel all of the pain that he wanted to inflict."

A deafening roar was heard in the room as he fought with himself until Donovan slumped over the table in front of him and growled. But it was too late, the damage was done.

Silence hung in the air like a fine mist. Pure and delicate, something that no one wanted to disturb.

Yet, it was once again Jax who took the reigns and plowed on. Not letting the confession go to waste or giving Donovan time to spin it once again. "And there we have it. One of the hidden truths. Alpha Donovan never had any real intention of rejecting his true mate. His wolf wouldn't let him. His motives for hunting down other women were aggressive, predatory, probably hormone driven during his mate's heat, but targeted with intent to hurt them and hurt his mate."