We park our cars at the nearest car park to the California Council District Court. My men and I rode in the same car while my dad, even though he was wearing a disguise, rode in a different car with some of my men who were guiding the estate.
They left ahead of us because I didn't want the press to see a man who is wearing a hoodie and face mask coming out of my car live on camera. I don't want them to call unnecessary attention to us with their wild assumption about someone they can't identify.
We already informed Alpha Nate of our plans before our arrival and he assured me he would arrange a private room for my dad to stay in pending the time that the trial proceedings will commence.
"This is going to be exciting," I say when we walk out of the parking lot and I see the front of the courthouse crowded with pressmen and people holding placards.
"I wonder what they have on their placards," I say since I can't see it from the direction we're coming from.
"Yeah. At least they're being contained by metal barricades and– just five Council police, I see." Eric chuckles in a sarcastic tone
Ivar laughs dryly
"Yeah. As if that can hold them back."
"They want a public spectacle. They get public spectacle. It's their crowd and it doesn't matter if they aren't able to hold them back. Killing in self-defense is still legal so don't worry about it." I tell them
"Worry?" Eric says looking amused. "I'm not worrying man. I'm pumped up!" He says again. He repeats the word 'worried' under his breath and scoffs as if it's the most ridiculous word he has ever heard.
We walk and soon arrive at a traffic light where we wait with other pedestrians for the light to change so we can cross directly to the road that leads to the courthouse.
"Take Bear with you. I want you to find Alpha Nate and make sure the private room he promised to get the old Alpha is indeed private and secure." I say. It's not as if I don't trust Alpha Nate, I just don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. I have no intention of losing my dad. Not now that we're so close to victory.
The light changes and we cross to the other side.
"And what about you? What will you be doing pending the time the trial proceedings will begin?" He asks as we walk towards the court's massive building with Bear and Ivar closely behind us.
"I'll be around– oh, here are Henrik and Ella..." I say when I see the two who are now walking towards us.
"I just want to look around, you know." I continued my reply to his question. "I'll take Ivar and Henrik with me. You take Bear and Ella" I say as I check my wristwatch.
"The trial is starting in twenty minutes anyway. I won't be long. I'll see you guys in the courtroom." Henrik and Ella meet us halfway and we all walk to the court together.
"He's here! The bastard is here!" Somebody shouts amongst the crowd holding placards and the crowd responds immediately. Surging forward and waving their placards threateningly.
"A peaceful protest, I see!" I sarcastically say. I'm surprised though when they didn't cross over the barricade to meet me.
"This is ridiculous. You just ignore them. Evelyn and Justin are only digging deeper graves for themselves." Eric says
"Their words are catchy though. What happens to, innocent until proven guilty?" I chuckle in amusement when I see what they write about me on their placards...
'Thor the bastard! Thor the murderer!'
'Alpha my ass! A bastard cannot lead us!'
'We want the death sentence!'
'It's the law. A life for a life!'
'Death sentence for the bastard!'
"Ignore them too," Eric says again as the pressmen come rushing forward, pushing their microphones in our faces while shouting out ridiculous questions...
"Is it true that you killed your father, the old Alpha, and his Beta!?"
'Yeah right! Like I'll openly confess to the press if I indeed kill my father and his Beta. What a dumb question!'
And another one asks...
"We heard about the mass murders of innocent humans and shifters perpetrated by you. What do you have to say concerning that?"
''Did you indeed make wine goblets out of your victims' skulls?''
'God, that stupid question again!'
Even though their unreasonable questions irritate me, I still ignore them. Bunch of brainless buffoons!
They all fall back as we start to climb the court stairs. They know their boundaries that they can't go any further unless they have invitations to cover the trial.
"As I said earlier, I need to look around..." I tell Eric the moment we enter the court building.
"Ivar, Henrik, you both are with me," I say and immediately take a left turn towards the stairs while Eric and the rest continue down the long, busy passageway.
I have a hunch about danger. If I had told Eric that I wanted to look around because of my intuition, he would insist on staying with me but I can't allow that. I need him to see to my dad. There's nobody more capable in my stead than him.
The Council District Court is about seven stories high. I honestly don't know why I chose to go towards the stairs. I also don't know what I'm looking for as we go up the deserted staircase. I just know I have to look around in this direction to be sure that everywhere is safe. There's this feeling of danger lurking around that keeps gnawing on my mind.
"What exactly are we looking for, General? We have just twenty minutes until the trial proceedings will begin. We can't afford to be late, you know" Henrik says behind me
"Danger!" I simply reply
"Danger? We're looking for danger?" Ivar asks, sounding confused.
"I don't know! I just know I have to..." I stop in my tracks and automatically stop talking when I turn right to go further up and see a man sitting on a stair landing, blocking my path. I know right then without being told that he's the danger I was searching for.
He grins widely the moment he sees me, turning to a second man leaning against the wall, three stairs ahead of him.
''See!.. I told you he would come to find me, didn't I!?"
I raise my brow questioningly at him. They certainly look like they're waiting for someone but– me? How could he have known I was looking for him when I didn't know what or who I was looking for? I'm an Alpha and a warrior so this is not the first time my instincts had alerted me to danger but this is the first time it led me directly to it.
I look hard at the man before me, giving him a quick once-over.
He's a shifter like us. I know because I can clearly sense his wild and aggressive wolf. Although he's sitting down, I can tell his human form is tall with a sturdy, muscular physique. He reeks of wildness, darkness, and of course danger.
I would have been able to know more about him if I could see his eyes. That would have helped me gauge him better but they were covered with dark sunglasses. Expensive sunglasses at that. Even though I wouldn't be caught dead in ripped jeans, I know quality when I see one. At least I can tell that from his leather boots and jacket.
So apart from the fact that this dude reeks danger and is probably rich from the way he's dressed. I can't pinpoint anything else about him. So much for a quick once-over.
"Alpha Thor! Here you are!" He says my name, smiling brightly like we are familiar with each other.
"I wanted to see you so I decided to wait here. I don't know, I mean, I just kinda knew you would come find me so here we are. Isn't that surprising?"