“Tell me exactly what happened, Nate.”
A little confused, Nate began telling Maryann what he knew. “I was waiting for Joe to get home when I heard the front door open.
Thinking it was him, I went into the living room, but he wasn’t there.
I heard noise coming from the office, so I—”
“You didn’t let him in?”
“Of course not. I don’t know him. I would never admit anyone into the house that I didn’t know. Not unless Joe told me to.”
“Okay, so what happened then?”
“I went into the office, and there was that man. He was going through the files Joe keeps in his filing cabinet. I didn’t know who he was, and I don’t think he had Joe’s permission to do that, so I grabbed that wolf statue off of the sideboard and knocked him out and tied him before calling Joe.”
“Did you talk to this man at all?”
Nate shook his head. He was even more surprised when Maryann grabbed his hands, looking intently at him.
“This is very important, Nate. Tell me again exactly what he was doing when you found him.”
“He was going through the files in Joe’s filing cabinet.”
“Well, hell!”
Nate’s eyebrows shot up at Maryann’s words. He hadn’t known her very long, but he had gotten the impression that she didn’t swear
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very often. Something had obviously upset her enough to make her swear.
“What’s wrong?”
Maryann looked at Nate for several moments before replying. “Do you love my son?”
“Of course,” Nate replied without hesitation.
“Then you need to listen to me very carefully. The man you tied up? His name is Roger. He’s a member of our pack. He’s brought charges, pack charges, against you for assault.”
“But that’s ridiculous. He broke into my house. I was just defending myself.”
“I know that. But the rest of the pack and Joe don’t. Joe had some papers that Roger was supposed to pick up. He left them on the porch for him to pick up. Roger was never supposed to come into the house, much less go through Joe’s private files.”
“Joe should have asked me. I would have told him.”
“I know you would have, but that’s not our problem right now.”
“Then what is?” Nate asked, still not understanding what had upset Maryann so much.
“If someone in the pack assaults someone else in the pack, there is a punishment. Because Joe didn’t want you to go through it, he’s taken on your punishment. That’s where he’s at right now.”
“What kind of punishment?” Nate asked, a sudden fear beginning to take place in his chest.
“Ten lashes with a leather whip,” Maryann replied quietly.
“What?”
Nate yelled, jumping to his feet. “That’s ridiculous. Joe didn’t do anything. I did it. If anyone should be punished, it should be me, not Joe. How could he—”
“Joe loves you, Nate. He can’t bear to see you hurt.”
“Do you think it’s any less for me? Especially if I know that he’s doing this because of something I did? I can’t let him do this, Maryann. Tell me where he is. I have to stop this before Joe gets hurt.”
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“Nate, listen to me. Roger brought charges against you for assault.
But he—”
“I know that. I did assault him. He was in my house.”
“That’s what I’m trying to say. Now, if you will just shut up and sit down for a minute…”
Nate rolled his eyes as he sat back down to listen to Maryann.
“Roger was not given permission to be inside your house or go through Joe’s private files. He was just supposed to get the papers off the front porch. He lied, Nate. He didn’t tell Joe he had been in the house before you hit him. He made it sound like you assaulted him outside and dragged him into the house.”
“But that’s…that’s…that’s crazy. Why would I assault him and drag him into the house? I’m not even sure I’m strong enough to drag him into the house. Why would he say that?”
“He hates Joe and will do anything to make his life miserable.”
“Why does he hate Joe, and what does that have to do with me?
Or him going through Joe’s files?”
“They dated once several years ago. It was one date, and nothing happened because Joe quickly figured out that Roger was only going out with him because he is the alpha’s son. He also wanted to be pack enforcer. When Joe got the position, Roger was furious.”
“Oh. But what does that have to do with him going through Joe’s files?”
“Joe has private files in there. I don’t know exactly what, but they are enforcer files, not meant for anyone to see but him and Daniel. I think that they have something to do with transgressions committed by members of the pack. If he could get certain information on pack members, he could blackmail them.”
“Oh, that’s not nice. This man needs to be taken out of the gene pool before he reproduces,” Nate said, making Maryann laugh a little.
Getting to his feet, he gestured towards the door. “We need to go stop this, Maryann. You need to take me to Joe.”
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“Nate, you need to understand one more thing. I don’t think I can stop this, no matter what you have to say. The pack is questioning Joe as it is because of your mating. If they think he is giving you preferential treatment…”
“I get the idea. But I can still stop Joe. This is my punishment, and I refuse to shame him by avoiding it. If I’m meant to be punished, I will be punished, not Joe. And then I’m going to put Roger in his place so he can never do this again.”
Maryann stood to her feet and grabbed Nate’s hands again. “Nate, you need to know that this will hurt, a lot. We’re talking ten lashes with a leather whip. You won’t just walk away from this.”
Nate nodded his head. Yeah, he kind of figured that much. But if he could save Joe from it, it didn’t matter what happened to him. Joe was more important.
“Let’s go.”
* * * *
Joe stared around the ceremonial circle. Most of the adults in the pack were in attendance. He could see Roger standing off to one side with his friends, the soft light from the torches set around the circle lighting the gleam on his self-satisfied grin.
It was all Joe could do to not walk over and punch him right in the face. He knew Roger was up to something, but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. But he did know that he wasn’t going to let him get his grimy hands on Nate.
“Are you ready, son?” Daniel asked as he walked up to Joe.
Joe nodded, reaching for the buttons on his shirt. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and handed it to someone standing behind him.
He wasn’t really going to need it later. His back was sure to be a mass of blood and welts. The shirt would just make him hurt more.
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He watched as his father stepped forward into the light, the crowd around them going quiet. He took several deep breaths to calm himself as his father began to speak.
“You’ve been asked here tonight to witness the punishment of one of our own who has transgressed against another in our pack. Let the accuser step forward.”
With a smirk, Roger stepped forward into the light.
“Roger Drummond, you have accused Nate Summers, mate to Joseph Nash, of assault. Is this correct?”
“Yes, it is. Nate Summers hit me over the head and knocked me out before tying me up.”
Joe grimaced as he heard the gasps going through the crowd.
Great, now everyone was going to hold this against Nate. It was just another reason for Joe wanting to punch Roger right in the face.
“What proof do you have, Roger?”
“You found me bound. Nate Summers admitted to Joe what he had done.”
“Do you agree, Joe? Did Nate tell you what he had done?”
Joe regretfully nodded his head, hearing more gasps coming from the crowd.
“I also agree that I found Joe untying Roger,” Daniel said to the crowd. “As pack law states, anyone in the pack who assaults another pack member shall be given ten lashes with a leather whip. Nate Summers, do you have any defense against Roger’s accusations?”
Joe stepped forward into the light. “No, but as pack law states, I have chosen to stand in my mate’s place and take his punishment.”
“Then step forward to receive your punishment.”
“No!”
Joe’s head whipped around at the sound of Nate’s voice, shock covering his features when he saw him walking through the crowd.
He felt horror sweep through his body as his mate stepped into the torchlight.
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“If I have transgressed against someone in the pack, it is my punishment to take, not my mate’s,” Nate said as he pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to Joe’s mother.
Joe stepped forward, grabbing Nate by the shoulders, shaking him. “What in the hell are you doing here, Nate? You can’t do this.
You don’t know what you’re agreeing to.”
“Yes, I do,” Nate said as he leaned up and kissed Joe on the lips.
“I will not let you take this for me. I will not shame you in that way. If someone has to be punished for this, it will be me, not you. You didn’t do this. I did.”
“Nate…”
“Just remember that I love you,” Nate whispered before he turned back to face Daniel. “I’m ready, Daniel.”
Daniel looked at Nate for several moments before nodding his head. “Come with me then, Nate.”
Joe watched helplessly as Nate followed Daniel to the center of the circle and waited, stepping into place when Daniel motioned to him. Nate held up his arms, wincing a little as he secured each of them to a post so that his arms were spread out to his sides and above his head.
Joe could see Nate take a couple of deep breathes then he looked up at Daniel and nodded. Daniel had a sad, regretful look on his face.
“I’m sorry, Nate,” Daniel said. “I wish you didn’t have to go through this. Just remember it will be over quickly, and then Joe can take you home.”
Joe’s hand clenched into fists when Roger stepped forward and Nate paled. Roger had a long black leather whip in his hands. The whip looked ominous and threatening. It matched the evil grin on Roger’s face as he walked around behind Nate.
* * * *
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Hearing the sudden crack of the whip, Nate held his breath, waiting for it to fall. Nothing he did could have prepared Nate for the pain he felt when Roger brought the whip down across his back. It hurt more than anything he had ever experienced.
He bit his lip, trying desperately not to cry out. He didn’t want to shame Joe in front of his friends and fellow pack members. By the fifth strike, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. Soft cries began to escape his mouth as tears fell down his cheeks.
Raising his head, he searched for Joe, his eyes finding him standing in the torchlight directly in front of him. His arms were crossed over his chest, his legs slightly spread apart as he gazed right back at Nate. He was too far away for Nate to read what his feelings were, but the message in his eyes was full of love and reverence.
It gave Nate the encouragement he needed to make it through the rest of his punishment. He just kept his eyes on Joe’s, blocking out everything except the love shining out of his eyes. Before he knew it, Joe was stepping forward to release him.
He felt something cold and wet cover his aching back before Joe let him down, cradling him in his arms. Thankfully, Joe held him against his chest, his hands holding onto his sides, not touching his injured back.
As Nate sank into Joe’s arms, Joe leaned down to whisper in his ear. “I love you too, Nate, and I’m very proud of you.”
Nate sent Joe a little smile, feeling his emotions coming though loud and clear. Not only could he read his feelings of love, he could tell that he was speaking the truth. Once again, Nate was thankful for his unique abilities.
“Roger Drummond, has your petition been satisfied according to the laws of the pack?” Daniel called out.
“Yes,” Roger replied. Nate knew he was just replying because he had to. He would have continued if he could have. He was as evil as the Teacher.
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“I have something to say,” Nate whispered to Joe. “Am I allowed to say anything in my own defense?”
“Nate, you’ve already received your punishment. What do you have to defend? It’s over. I can take you home now.”
“Please, Joe. It’s important.”
Joe stared at Nate for several tense moments before nodding his head.
“My mate was not given a chance to defend himself before submitting to his punishment. He has a right to defend himself from any accusations,” Joe said, holding Nate up and helping him to the center of the circle to stand next to his father.
“Now, wait just a minute, Joe. You already said he didn’t have any defense against this—” Roger began.
“He took your punishment. You will give him a chance to defend himself,” Joe growled.
“Just because he’s your mate—”
“That is enough,” Maryann said loudly as she stepped forward. “I have kept my nose out of pack business as much as possible. I have let my husband, your alpha, lead this pack, staying out of things. But I will be quiet no longer.”
She stepped forward so that everyone could clearly hear her. “My son’s mate is a good man, and he has been maligned by Roger Drummond. What Roger failed to tell you was that he had been sent to Joe’s house to pick up a file that was left on the front porch.”
She turned to glare over at Roger. “How was it then, Roger, that Nate found you in Joe’s office going through his private pack files?
He did not let you into the house. He did not let you into Joe’s office.
What were you doing there, Roger?”
“Now, that’s ridiculous. I was never in Joe’s office. He’s lying to save his own skin,” Roger quickly said.
“Really? Then how is it that I knocked you over the head with a statue found in Joe’s office, Roger?” Nate asked as he stood up
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straighter. “And how could I possibly drag you into Joe’s office and tie you up all by myself?”
“You must have had help. I’m sure that’s what happened. Joe probably helped you. He’s always hated me.”