CHAPTER 17

**Scarlett pov

"Scarlett's an old friend of mine from the rival pack" Viktor divulged as the man approached me, he wasn't even smiling, although he was handsome for an old man but the grin on his face got me amused but I hid it to avoid being embarrassed.

"What business does she have here?" he inquired as he stared at Viktor, Viktor held my hands.

"Well she was banished" he divulged, as he escalates,

"Have you asked questions about the reason why she was banished?"

"We need to deliberate this with the council, they're all waiting" He added as he held Viktor's hands and led him into the mighty castle.

"Guards bring her in" he ordered, I couldn't believe that someone erected this massive building here, the expensive materials made me understand that they've fought so many wars that they had taken their spoils.

"Do not treat her like a criminal because she's not" he ordered as we walked behind them.

"Why are you acting like we've not been over this before?" He uttered as he stared at Viktor, while they walked slowly. The guard held me back from eavesdropping on their conversation only if he knew my ears were sharp enough to hear what they were saying.

"I'm not Stone who brought in a random girl who was at the verge of killing you and blaming it on me, if I hadn't switched the drink you would be a dead man and she would be alive" Viktor retorted, staring at Stone who was standing beside him.

"This is a practical example of what he did" I hoped that I wouldn't be rejected and asked to go out of these lands, this would leave me no choice than to hang myself because there's no way I would survive out here all alone.

"I'm not Stone, I'm hie elder brother but I'm not like him. He's wise and very talented but at times he makes mistakes, no one's above mistakes" I uttered as Stone felt very impressed at my words, I didn't even realize that he was standing there.

"You can address all of them with the words Sir, you don't need to know their names because knowing it you would be forced to call them by their name which you can't pronounce and that would lead to disrespect. Act normal and be light hearted" I whispered into her ears as she wore a smile on her face conceding to my words.

"What's going on here?" One of the council members uttered as I walked in accompanied by Viktor,

"Who's she?" He inquired,

"You all should settle down, Our Alpha brings a lady from his brother's pack into our lands on the day of his coronation" I knew this man really wanted me to get out of these lands, I was wondering why he wanted this.

"Please explain to us in details" he divulged,

"What would you do if you felt like someone you loved was stranded outside these lands would you leave her to die out there or take her home?" Viktor started out with a question that left the council saddled, wondering what he was implying.

"It's depending on the circumstances surrounding it" One of the council members uttered,

"I love those words, this lady here is Scarlett and Scarlett's the reason Stone's father which is also my father found me and brought me here," he divulged,

"Interesting but you can't trust her after all it's been a long while" The Council Chief retorted as Viktor vouched for me, wondering why he wanted me to stay and be accepted into his lands.

"Well I trust her" he uttered,

"What's your name Lady?" The council Chief really wanted my downfall, asking me weird questions.

"My name's Scarlett " I divulged, trying to be light hearted.

"You got this Scarlett, do not be scared" Luna encouraged me.

"It was said that you were banished from those lands, tell us what your offense was?" he inquired,

"I should lie about this, maybe say a I stole an important book from the library or killed a man who tried to rape me, or killed my father who tried to rape my sister" I thought to myself.

"Do not lie they would know when you're lying, Viktor would be disappointed if you lie" Luna advised, she was right in her words. I had to come out clean and face them head to head.

"Well I allowed my wolf to have Xavier's wolf deceived so he could love me. Although he did love me formerly but there's this lady that we're battling with and she was winning over him so I was desperate and I lost control" I uttered as he stared at me, knowing that he was going to ask another question.

"How did he catch you?" Heasked further, wanting to get the whole truth out of me.

"My rival recorded a tape of me talking to my wolf, appreciating her for a job well done" I divulged,

"Interesting, love drove you to your own exile " he mocked me indirectly.

"I'm glad I'm out of that pack, they're no good" I uttered trying to be light hearted and feigning my annoyance to Xavier and Amelia.

"The environment is toxic I guess" he continued, switching to indirect questions,

"Very Toxic" I divulged.

"Are you toxic?" He asked,

"Probably" I stuttered, hating the fact that he was asking irrelevant questions, I just want to know if I would be accepted or rejected.

"You're not certain, we deal with certainties here and if you don't give enough we'll be forced to reject you" he threatened as he understood the look on my face.

"It depends on what you describe certainties as" I uttered, knowing that it was time to act normal.

"What we need to know is exactly why we should expect that'll surely come out from you, your behavioral attitude" he concluded his words with the ones I could understand.

"I cook a lot so you'll be bound to taste my meals" These words made all the council members laugh, they all wore smiles on their face, I guess they were all food lovers.

"And I dance sometimes when I'm working" I added as he turned his head to Viktor,

"Is she a maid Viktor?" This question talked about my future I guess.

"That hasn't been decided" he divulged and I knew he meant his words, I couldn't hide the smile on my face.

"You could keep her in the kitchen, she would do great" he chuckles,

"Scarlett welcome to the strongest rouge pack alive, we're all sinners but we're trying to claim back what's rightfully ours, some of us has been accused wrongly and some of us have been accepted to change what we did in the past and channel our anger to the enemies which is why we haven't been defeated in the battle field" he accepted me, this was what I wanted.

"In the long note let me make it short you've been accepted" he added,

"Thank you so much" I was elated as I didn't even realize how I jumped up twice.

"She has a free spirit" I heard the words of the Council Chief before walking out of the courtroom.

"She would do great that I'm sure of" I didn't believe my ears, I was accepted after being rejected by my own people. Maybe this is u second chance to life and this I wouldn't waste.

"Now that you're accepted into this pack, let me do the honors of showing you around the pack" Stone uttered as he wore a smile on his face staring at me.

"Shall we?" He asked,

"Ok fine" I conceded to his words as I heard Viktor's voice.

"Don't go harsh on her" We locked eyes as I rushed into his arms, hugging him so tightly.

"Thank you for accepting me," I divulged as he grunted due to the fact that I was strangling his ribs.

"Oh sorry about that" I divulged.

"They did accept you and not me, I only vouched for you" he uttered as he stared at me, tears dropped off my eyes.

"Thank you" I uttered as I planted a soft kiss on his right cheek with the words of whispers,

"Thank you"

"Why would you leave my brother stiff in that manner?" Stone chuckled as we both laughed and then I couldn't hide the excitement in my words as I said,

"I didn't, I just appreciated him for what he did for me"

"Well let's walk" he utters as he led me upstairs.

"Did you mean those words you said in there, about deceiving your Alpha to love you" He inquired,

"Yes and to be honest I wanted to lie at first but I couldn't bring myself to doing it" I divulged, staring at him for a while. I knew he was getting suspicious that I could try it again.

"I hope you don't repeat that on my brother" he stutters as we walked into the dinning room.

"I wouldn't dare do that and besides he's my friend" I retorted, knowing that he was going to think of that.

"I'm thinking you need a new name"

"What name?"