(Alaric's POV)
"Order in the court," Cassandra yells out and bangs the gavel down on a wooden base.
Hailey follows her son out of the courtroom in a hurry and I watch as the judge panel whispers with each other.
After reaching a decision, they turn back to the crowd.
"We will move on and call up our next person," Kora says.
"Can Alpha Arsenio come up to the stand," Gianna calls out.
I search the crowd and see him swiftly stand on his feet. The asshole moves towards the stand and I catch him give a grin to Anne. She shows nothing, but I can tell she's glaring on the inside.
"So, from the moment you've met Anne to present day, how would you describe her," Gianna asks.
"Demanding, cold, and dangerous."
"The fact that you, as an alpha, describe Anne as dangerous, cold, and demanding says a lot about yourself," Cassandra says in a mocking tone.
The audience can't help, but let out a snicker and I full out laugh at Arsenio's embarrassment.
Cassandra can see through his dramatic tales and that asshole clearing isn't getting his opinions across.
"I have proof. On the first day she arrived to my pack house, she was going around throwing a tantrum about some stupid box. She also demanded my pack members around. You can ask anyone of them. She also disrespected that my son was soon to be married and tried to seduce him. Plus, one of my wolves were shot in the legs multiple times by the defendant for absolutely no reason," he exclaims.
"First off, I did not throw a tantrum. After the devastating fire of our house, I lost a very important present from my mother, which I was very broken about, but your son found it and returned it," Anne speaks out, getting tired of Arsenio.
Everyone goes quiet and when Arsenio tries to interject, Kora stops him and allows Anne to continue.
"Secondly, I demanded your members to stop bullying your son, which you should have been doing. A real alpha wouldn't allow their members to push their next alpha around. I put them in their place and I did the same to your member that was shot in the legs multiple times. I stood by your son's side like the rest of your pack should be doing. Lastly, I only did things with your son that he also wanted," she says the last part with a snark and smile.
I remember why I love Anne, not that I ever stopped loving her. She's so powerful with everything she says and does, even against an alpha werewolf.
Although, Arsenio can't really be identified as an alpha. He's more of a coward than anything.
"I think anyone is seen as dangerous in your eyes. You've shown your cowardliness once when your pack had to fight a battle and you were nowhere to be found. No one can trust your word when you say one thing and do the exact opposite," Greg finalizes.
Arsenio's face is fuming and he slams his hand down on the table in front of him.
"Everything you have said has nothing to do with the fact that your daughter and her cousin went to New York to seek revenge against the people who killed their loved one, but instead found the first set of innocent wolves and slaughtered them."
"The reason my cousin and I went to New York had nothing to do with revenge. We stopped in many states on our way there and I have pictures to prove it. There are packs of wolves in each of those states we passed and we didn't stop to kill any of them. If we were really out for revenge, wouldn't we have kill them as well?"
Kora clears her throat.
"It seems that your anger with Anne is clouding you from giving us anything that's really incriminating against Anne. If all the evidence is just based on your emotions, we can't help you."
Arsenio growls out and slams his fist on the table while standing up.
"She's a crazy, schizophrenic, bitch! Why don't you call her therapist up here?!"
Gasps are heard all around the crowd and I can see Anne's fist balling from here.
I remember when Anne trusted me enough to tell me about her schizophrenia. It was a very intimate moment between us and I know she never trusted herself enough to get over it.
She's lived with it for years and I know that it's always been hard for her to come to terms with it because she's always seen herself as not normal.
Arsenio is airing out her secrets like it's something shameful and it's not. Having schizophrenia does not make Anne crazy. It's just something that she's been trying to control so she can live her life.
And I know she's gotten better with it because the old Anne would've attacked Arsenio already.
I don't know what Anne has been up to the whole time that she's been gone, but it looks like it was the best thing that could've happened to her. It looks like the world is more transparent through her eyes.
Now that she's back, I won't let anyone take her progress away.
I stand up from my seat in the court and everyone's eyes set on me, including Anne.
Our eyes meet for a second and I feel my body warm from her gaze. I've missed this connection, even if it's from a distance.
I sound crazy.
"I think Arsenio has a very biased opinion on Anne and isn't a great witness to be on the stand. I am someone who has seen Anne at her worst and best, and I can say that Arsenio's description of her character is wrong."
I can feel the glare of Arsenio, but I'm only focused on Anne and her reaction.
She's shocked, but I don't know why.
Is she shocked that I'd ever stick up for her or that I'm actually speaking in front of a crowd?
I know I've never been the brave type, but I'll be brave for her everyday if I had to.
"Sir, we haven't called you up to the stand. You have not been asked to speak. Your opinion will not be used in our decision," Gianna says.
My jaw shuts tight. I can feel my hands shaking.
No. I won't let her shut me up.
"Well, Anne's schizophrenia should not be used as well because that is a personal matter and should not be used against her. She should not be submitted to judgement for a condition she has. It doesn't make her a killer. Plus, isn't this trial conducted to judge Anne's character? Who better to give an accurate description then someone who actually knows her?"
I challenge Gianna head on, not letting her shut me up.
"You shouldn't even be on the judge panel, Gianna. You already had a formed hatred towards Anne before your father died. We all already know what your final judgement is going to be," I finalize.
"There are laws in place that protect patient-therapist confidentiality. We aren't allowed to bring Anne's therapist on stand," Cassandra says. "Also, there aren't any laws against someone voluntarily coming onto the stand if they have relevant information for the case."
Conversation started roaring around the crowd and Kora slams down the wooden gavel for the hundredth time to silence the crowd.
"We will pause the trial for a little break so the judge panel can discuss the information we have so far. Everyone exit the courtroom."
The big crowd makes their way out of the court and I can feel the effects of the spell Cassandra casted in the beginning ware off. She must need some time to rest before she can use more of her energy keeping up this spell.
As I walk out and catch the fresh air from outside that isn't filled with the tension from the courtroom, I feel someone wrap their arms tightly around my neck.
"You think you're clever don't you," I hear Arsenio say as he tries to choke me to death in front of everyone. I maneuver my way out of his hold and push him away.
"I can't have you go around lying like you always do." He looks around at the crowd that has gathered to witness the fight between father and son.
"You're so smitten with this girl that you won't even see what a devil she is. I'm your father and you should be listening to me. I know what's best and that girl is not it."
I pull out the thing I've been hiding in my pocket for some time now. I'm tired of this asshole.
I lift up the Beretta M9 in my hand and point it at his head. A gasp goes through the crowd and Arsenio pauses where he stands.
"One of these days, you will be killed and it will be by my hands if you don't stop talking about my mate like that."
I can't control my breathing. It's coming out hot through my nose. Everyone is looking at me crazy instead of looking at the true villain, Arsenio. I steady the gun in my hand.
"Alaric, you have to stop," I hear Don whisper to me. He's standing somewhere nearby me, but I don't acknowledge him.
"I'm not the one that needs to stop. It's that son of a bitch," I growl out.
A hand lands on top of mines and I can feel sparks run up my arm.
"You're not helping anything by doing this, Alaric."
The soft voice of Anne coos into my ear and softens my stance. I turn to see her next to me, looking me in the eyes.
Those gorgeous eyes.
"Why are you saving him? He's against you," I ask her.
"He's not worth it. This will only work against us."
I look back at Arsenio to see him glaring at our encounter.
"You'd be dead if it wasn't for her. Think about that before you speak poorly about her again."
I turn back around to face Anne, but she's already gone. Most of the crowd has already gone back into the court house.
"What's gotten into you," Don asks me.
"I don't know." I breathe out a sigh. "I just tried to kill Arsenio in front of a crowd and I announced Anne as my mate. Out loud."
Don sighs and shakes his head.
"I know the mate bond makes you overprotective. I know from experience, but you have to learn to control it. Anne just got back and I'm sure you haven't discussed anything with her yet. Just stay calm and sit through the rest of the trial. You look like a crazy person."
"Fine, lets go."
We both walk back into the courtroom and I can spot Anne and her dad standing in their same spot again.
I can't believe our first conversation in about a year was about me killing Arsenio.
"We have come to a decision. We've decided to let the defendant decide if she wants to allow Alaric on the stand," Gianna says bitterly. Kora side eyes her and Gianna breathes out a sigh.
"That won't be necessary. I would like to go on the stand instead," Anne says.