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“You’ll do no such thing,” Craig said. “You’re the ones who cheated. You knew these males had broken our laws by laying hands on the alpha female and you did nothing. That makes you as culpable as them.”
“That’s not true. Don’t quote law to me,” Mark sputtered.
Craig held a leather-bound book. He opened it to a bookmarked page and read, “‘The alpha female is to be protected at all costs, whether she be in the full or interim position. Any pride members who cause her harm will be imprisoned for a minimum of five years per injury. Knowledge of intent to harm, or failure to assist the alpha female, will result in imprisonment for a minimum of five years.’”
Teresa crossed her arms defiantly. “Tell us again how you know the law better? Craig is quoting direct from the law book. You knew she was abducted and you did nothing. All six of those males were responsible for her abduction and should’ve been imprisoned and not allowed to battle for the position of alpha. You’re corrupt! It’s why you did nothing.”
Tiberius took a menacing step toward Teresa, and China snarled. He backed down quickly.
“Now,” Craig said, flipping to another bookmarked page. “There’s a little problem with Oz being interim alpha.”
Vince frowned. “What problem is that?”
“It’s against our laws to kill on behalf of a non-member.”
* * *
Oz blinked in surprise as Craig read from the book. “If a male kills the alpha to protect a member of the pride, he will be interim alpha until such time as an Alpha Battle is arranged.”
“We already know that!” Mark whined.
“Shut up, you degenerate asshole,” Angel said, his voice low and angry.
Mark clicked his teeth together and lowered his gaze.
“As I was saying,” Craig said, reading on, “if a male kills the alpha to protect a non-member of the pride, he will be exiled from the pride, not considered interim alpha, and not allowed to fight for the position.”
“She’s his mate,” Vince said.
Craig shook his head. “They aren’t mated officially in the eyes of the pride, therefore, China is a non-member and Oz broke our laws by killing Benecio to save her life. He should never have been part of the alpha battle.”
Oz made a surprised sound. Seriously? He could have had what he wanted in the first place—leaving Elk Hills with China and joining up with Kedrick—if only someone had known about the law.
Craig slammed the book shut with a loud clap. “You three know the laws better than anyone. I’ve been reading all week trying to find a way to get Oz out of the alpha battle. It didn’t make sense to me why you were pushing so hard for him to fight when he clearly doesn’t want to be alpha. There should’ve been a law that allowed him to step down, and it wasn’t until I went searching in Tiberius’s house that I found this law book stashed in a desk drawer. You took the book from the pride library in the alpha’s home and hid it to force Oz’s hand to battle. Why the hell would you want a male who doesn’t want to be alpha battling for the job?”
Mark sniffed derisively. “It’s our way. Oz killed Benecio so quickly that there was no way he wouldn’t be considered a male worthy of the position of alpha by the pride. We needed him to die so that the male who won the contest would be viewed by the pride as the rightful alpha.”
“You colluded with the battle participants to kill Oz and China for no good reason. You knew that the laws would allow Oz to leave the pride, and then a rightful battle could’ve taken place without him. Instead of following the laws, you made your own and nearly killed two innocent people. As such, I’m calling for the guards to take the elders into custody to await our tribunal. And take the battle participants into custody as well. Those who are alive, anyway.”
“You have no right!” Vince said. “You’re not alpha.”
“I am according to our laws,” Craig said triumphantly, his voice growing louder. “According to our laws, if the alpha is killed and there is no interim alpha named, the position of alpha goes to the next male in line. I’m the closest member of Benecio’s family. He’s a third cousin of mine. No alpha battle will be fought for the position, I’m stepping in.”
“You can’t do that!” Tiberius shouted as he was put into cuffs by one of the pride guards.
“I can and I just did.”
Two of the alpha battle participants were dead. Oz didn’t care. He’d have rather taken them all out. But at least the three elders and the four remaining males were going to stand trial before the tribunal.
When the males were gone, Craig spoke to the pride. “Things will be different going forward. I’m not a male like Benecio and I won’t be an alpha as he was. My first order of business is to hold the tribunal to punish the males who sought to destroy one of our own and harm an innocent female to further their cause. Then I’ll exile Oz for killing the alpha. Andthen,we’re going to party like we’ve never partied before. It’s a whole new pride!”
The pride erupted into cheers.
Craig turned to face Oz and China. “You did well, Oz. When you two are able to shift, I’ll perform the exile and you can be on your way. I’ll call your alpha and speak to him on your behalf as well.”
Craig left, following after the guards. Oz had never sat in on a tribunal before. Normally the elders were part of it, along with the alpha, but Craig would have to choose new elders in order to hold one officially. Or maybe he’d do away with the elders entirely. It certainly seemed like a job position that allowed males to be corrupted.
Teresa said, “Let’s go back to my place. I’ve got steaks thawing in the fridge.”
