03-Strength of the Mate (30 page)

Noah was holding his tribunal today. Dawson warned Adam that the punishment could be severe. It might seem barbaric to his human sensibilities. Tim had said pretty much the same thing, when they’d talked the day before. Adam reminded himself that things were different for werewolves. He also knew Noah well enough now to trust his judgment.

Holding the door open for the Ares employees Noah had asked to give testimony during the tribunal, Adam gestured toward a group of empty chairs. “Have a seat, guys,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Noah and Dawson will let you know what they need from you, as things go along.” At least that’s what Dawson had told him.

A handful of human Marines were already in the room. Noah had determined that the civilians had been targeted to a much greater degree. Nobody seemed surprised. The victimized Marines were all in their teens, smaller statured, and as Privates First Class, were outranked by everyone.

Dawson placed two chairs directly in front of the long banquet table Noah and Lucas were using as a desk. The door opened again and the hair stood up on the back of Adam’s neck. The room fell nearly silent. He turned to see Granger and Carson being escorted into the room by Paul, Jason, Will, and two other large Marines. It was a moment before Adam recognized the two Recon Marines, Martelli and Jackson.

“The Recon guys are outside of our chain of command,” Dawson said, like he sensed Adam’s surprise. “They’re considered impartial, so they can speak out if it looks like Noah’s trying to railroad anyone. Also, there’s no chance Granger or Carson can take them on—not that either of them have a chance against Mercer or Rodriguez, but Noah’s playing it safe.”

Noah stood behind the banquet table, near the wall. His head was lowered as he spoke quietly with Major Aceves. Lucas and Captain Murphy both listened in, but didn’t seem to be contributing to the conversation.

“Major Aceves and Captain Murphy are human, right?” Adam asked.

“Yep,” replied Dawson. “They’re sitting in so the major can determine if he should recommend the Marine Corps take disciplinary action.”

“Do you think he will?” Adam had no idea what punishment Noah was going to impose, but he was darkly pleased with the idea Granger and Carson might have to face human military justice, as well.

“Noah thinks he should, and that he will,” Dawson answered. He placed two chairs at one end of the banquet table.

Aceves and Murphy parted from Noah. They crossed to the front of the room by the door. Mercer and Martelli shoved Carson and Granger into the two chairs Dawson had placed in front of the table. Granger looked passive. He was docile as he complied with the guards. Carson’s expression was angry and he pushed back against the restraining hands. Jason arranged several more chairs around them. Noah stood behind the table, watching everyone settle down. Lucas was just behind him.

Dawson led Adam to the chairs at the far end of the table. Adam looked around the room, turning toward Noah just in time to see him nod at Dawson.

“Everybody, on your feet, and listen up!” Dawson addressed the room with a booming voice. He commanded everyone’s attention as they all stopped talking and got to their feet. “The True Alpha is ready to get this started. I am Dawson Rivers, pack leader for the Camp Fallujah
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of the U.S. Armed Forces Pack. My Companion, Adam Madison, stands with me, and will also give victim testimony to my True Alpha in this tribunal. I recognize the authority of Noah Hammond as my True Alpha, and will abide by his final judgments.”

“I am Noah Hammond, True Alpha of the U.S. Armed Forces Pack.” Noah swept his gaze over the room. His voice held a note of command, but it was also packed with tangible power. “My Dominant, Lucas Young, stands Sentinel over this tribunal.” He stood tall and straight, as usual, but still managed to appear relaxed.

All the formal speech seemed really strange to Adam. It made it feel like they should be in a church service, or a court room. But they sort of were in a court room. The formality was still incongruous with the civilian jeans and T-shirts, as well as the camouflage utilities worn by the Marines.

“As Dominant to a True Alpha werewolf, I have accepted the gift of his pack, as a symbol of his love and fidelity,” Lucas announced, stepping up to stand beside Noah. “My pack has been harmed from within and my True Alpha will mete out justice.”

As Lucas ended his pronouncement, panic swept through Adam and his mouth went dry. He grasped Dawson’s hand reflexively and whispered, “I don’t have to say anything, do I?”

Dawson squeezed Adam’s hand in return. His skin was warm, the grip of his fingers on Adam’s was reassuring. “You only have to answer Noah’s questions when he asks them.”

Relieved, Adam turned his attention back to Noah. He wouldn’t have known how to make what he had to say sound that official.

Lucas sat down behind the table, Noah settling onto the chair beside him. The rest of the room’s occupants immediately followed suit.

When quiet finally settled over the room, Noah spoke. “Nick Carson and Lance Granger; your pack leader, Dawson Rivers, has provided a large number of victim witnesses who have all charged you both with multiple egregious crimes. Both shifter and werewolf laws have been violated. This tribunal will verify the veracity of the victim statements, and determine an appropriate punishment.” Noah gestured toward where Aceves and Murphy sat in the front of the room. “Major Aceves and Captain Murphy will observe the proceedings on behalf of Third Battalion/Third Marines, to determine if there have been violations of the USCMJ that need to be addressed. Major Aceves and Captain Murphy are both human and have no authority here. However, I will allow Major Aceves to ask questions, so that he may clarify facts and events. Do either of you have any questions before we begin?”

Granger and Carson both sat rigidly in their chairs. They answered, “No, Alpha,” in unison. Carson’s expression was tense, some of the anger had faded. Granger just looked scared. They were smaller, paler shadows of the arrogant, abusive bullies they had been. They were pathetic. Just before he turned away, Adam saw Carson direct a hostile look in Dawson’s direction.

Noah sat up straight in his chair. He addressed Granger directly, not reading from any of the documents stacked in front of him. “Granger. You stand accused of taking and holding the position of pack leader for the Camp Fallujah
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, despite your lack of qualifying skills or abilities. While standing as pack leader, you repeatedly victimized those smaller and weaker than you are. You used the position to encourage a group of werewolves to behave in an identical manner, and then shielded them from any legitimate consequences of their actions.”

Granger looked like he hadn’t even realized he’d done anything wrong, until Noah announced it. Adam was sure Granger didn’t regret anything he’d done, only that Noah was going to punish him for it.

Noah’s expression didn’t change when he addressed the lieutenant. “Carson. You also stand accused of victimizing those smaller and weaker than yourself. You facilitated Granger’s crimes through dishonesty and manipulation. Worst of all, you pressured Granger to withhold significant updates of both policies and vital safety information from your military superiors. This resulted in both the unintentional, and in your case intentional, killing and maiming of your fellow pack members.”

Adam hated Carson’s angry expression, and his air of defiance. His skin crawled at the memory of Carson’s hands and breath on him. Carson had been so arrogant when he knew he didn’t have to face any consequences. He’d enjoyed scaring, intimidating, and assaulting men who were weaker than he was, and now he resented Noah’s authority over him?

They were both pathetic cowards, Adam suddenly realized. They couldn’t intimidate Noah. He was larger and stronger than they were. Now that the tables were turned, neither of them had the guts to face their accusers.

Noah rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward. His expression was disdainful. He looked relaxed, but his tightly leashed anger showed in the sharpness of his movements. “Each of you will have the opportunity to disprove victim witness statements, or to defend your actions. Until I advise you it is your turn to speak, you’ll both sit there in silence. You do not want to piss me off any more than I already am.”

Noah’s voice left the air in the room feeling heavy and warm. Adam thought his eyes looked even paler than they usually did. He always felt a little nervous around Noah, he was kind of a big guy after all, and it felt like there was a lot of barely contained power in him.

Adam’s stomach dropped when Noah looked over at him. The weird lighting in the room definitely made his eyes look more silver than blue.

“Adam Madison,” Noah announced, “I’ll question you first.”

Adam rubbed his damp palms on the thighs of his jeans. He caught a slight movement in the corner of his eye and realized Dawson was subtly indicating he should stand. Adam nearly leapt to his feet. “What do you need to know, Noah?” he asked, surprised at how steady his voice was.

“It’s my understanding you have personally been assaulted by a number of my werewolves during your time in Camp Fallujah. Is that correct?” asked Noah.

Adam stood awkwardly, wishing he knew what to do with his hands. He used to stuff them into his front pockets, but he wasn’t a kid anymore. Folding his arms in front of him made him look defensive, which he wasn’t. Everything Adam had to say was the truth, and he was completely in the right.

He squared his shoulders, planted his feet squarely, and drew his arms behind his back. Adam clasped his wrist in his opposite hand. “That’s correct.” It occurred to him that he’d seen Tim stand just like this, many times.

“When did these assaults take place?” Noah was asking questions he already knew the answers to. They were on the record now, though, and this would be the foundation for his judgment against his errant pack members.

“A few took place after convoy runs,” Adam answered. “The most frequent, and most severe incidents, took place the mornings after the full moon.”

“What would happen?” Noah asked, lacing his fingers.

“Many of the weres roamed the base in a predatory manner. When they encountered humans, they used their greater strength to restrict our movements. They touched us inappropriately, and obviously without our consent.”

“I need you to be specific, Adam,” said Noah.

“The most recent example took place after the last full moon.” Lucas and Dawson had warned him how Noah would conduct the questioning, building on the facts as they went along. “I exited one of the shower trailers and was spotted by Nick Carson. He pinned me to an outside wall and groped my genitals. He didn’t have my consent, and he used werewolf strength to prevent me from escaping.”

Beside him, Dawson made an angry, but quiet sound.

Noah probably heard Dawson, but he continued like he hadn’t. “Have you ever been seriously harmed?”

“No,” Adam confessed. “The groping was the worst that happened to me. It always seemed like Carson, and the others, got the most pleasure from my fear, anger, and desperation. They seemed to enjoy using their greater strength, just because they could.”

Noah arched a single eyebrow as he asked, “Did you ever witness this happen to anyone else?”

“Yes, several times.” He’d provided Noah a list of names that had been used to approach other victims.

“How did you, and others, cope with these regular assaults?” Noah fanned several sheets of paper out on the table.

“By staying in our hooches, as much as possible, the evening after a convoy and the day after a full moon.”

“This behavior violates both Marine Corps, and werewolf regulations. Did any of you report these events to your own superiors with Ares International?” Noah swept his gaze over the other witnesses.

Adam gestured toward his fellow Ares employees. “When we did, our superiors told us that Marine Corps officers had advised them that this was standard behavior.” He glanced at Granger and Carson, surprised at how angry he still was at all their lies. “The werewolves had excess aggression and sex drive that they needed to burn off, and this was how it was done.”

Noah’s expression was thunderous. His eyes were definitely silver now. He made an aggressive sound as he stared hard at Carson and Granger. “Thank you, Adam. That’s all for now. I may have more questions for you as this progresses.”

Adam resumed his seat. Tension radiated off of Dawson, seeping into Adam. Leaning toward him subtly, Adam pressed his shoulder to Dawson’s. He willed them both to relax. To his amazement, it worked.

Dawson sighed, flashing Adam a small smile.

“Dawson Rivers,” Noah called, turning back in their direction.

Dawson retrieved a folder from the floor at his feet. “Yes, Alpha,” he said, getting to his feet.

Carson watched Dawson, not bothering to mask his hostility.

“You issued Challenge to Lance Granger for pack leader of Camp Fallujah
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, and were successful in your bid, correct?”

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Did you arrive for deployment aboard Camp Fallujah with the desire or intention of issuing Challenge?”

Dawson gave a shake of his head. “I did not, Alpha. As you and I discussed, I arrived with the intention of determining what behavior issues the
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had. I intended to influence behavior and make corrections by leading through example, and providing advice and guidance to the existing pack leader. I arrived at Camp Fallujah with the desire to retain my position as Omega, which I had to relinquish when I became pack leader.”

Carson gave a small, disbelieving shake of his head. Adam wondered if Noah was aware of it. The hatred and the resistance seemed excessive to Adam, but it wasn’t like he really knew a lot about what made the weres tick.

“What did you determine were the behavior issues of the werewolves of the Camp Fallujah
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?” Noah referenced a paper that looked like it was a printed email.

Dawson removed a neatly typed sheet from the folder he held. “In violation of our laws, the pack leader, Lance Granger, encouraged and participated in acts of physical and sexual assault against humans, and weaker, submissive werewolves. These behaviors took place after any event where multiple werewolves spent extended time in wolf form, such as convoy protection, and the full moon.”