“Just that he's going to be making his move soon, and everyone who didn't help is going to pay.”
The Council muttered together, and Frank's hand grabbed mine once more. He gave it a squeeze.
“How are we sure she isn't still possessed or that it won't happen again? We don't.” Jennisa said, “She should be locked up.”
I felt my eyes widen. “That's not true. She's clearly normal. She had black eyes, and you could tell something was wrong.”
“We don't know anything, Nina. And we can't make slip-ups at a time like this.”
“She's normal,” Frank snapped. “We can all tell she's normal. Right?” Frank looked at the other guys. “Katie said she was fine.”
Jay and Henrik nodded in agreement with Frank. “She should be released.”
Jone, Maddox, and Aaron remained quiet for a moment longer before Jones nodded. “If Katie said she is on our side, then she should be let go.”
Ralph looked at Jillian. “What do you have to say as your argument here, Jillian? Can we trust you?”
“I want to go home,” she said softly. She wiped her eyes as fresh tears made their way down her face. “I just want to go home.”
“For god’s sake, let her come home,” Frank snapped at them. He pulled himself out of his chair. “I'm fine. I'm healed. She, on the other hand, needs to. As her Alpha, you can release her to me.”
The Council was quiet for a moment before Ralph looked at Zed and Willow. “While she is still under investigation, you two would be responsible for anything that happens. Do you think she is safe to be released?”
Zed looked at me and Frank. Willow looked as cruel as always, but they both nodded. “We trust Frank's opinion.”
My shoulders sank at their words, and I got out of my chair. I walked across the room, hurrying over towards Jillian. I pulled her into a tight hug, holding onto her tightly. “We'll take you home,” I said softly, feeling how tense she was.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered. “For everything.”
“Don't be. We know you didn't do it.”
“That will be all for today.”
“Wait, we still have the issue of the darkness,” Aaron asked. “What is our plan here?”
“We will let you know once we know more,” Ralph said.
“I don't want to wait anymore. We want an answer now. What aren't you telling us?”
Ralph's eyes narrowed. “You are dismissed.”
The guys all looked furious as we left. Maddox muttered something under his breath that I couldn't catch, but I knew it was swearing.
“We will give you a ride home,” Frank told Jillian as we got outside.
Jillian frowned. “No one is going to believe I'm innocent.”
“That's not true,” I told her.
“But it is.” She wrapped her hand around her middle. “Everyone thinks I did it, and I did. It was my body.”
“Jillian, we know you didn't do this. We are on your side.”
Jillian looked at Frank, and I knew why. I was her friend, but Frank, well, Frank was her Alpha. A bond I would never have understood since I wasn't a shifter.
Frank softened his gaze on her. “Jillian, I know you're innocent, and you wouldn't have hurt me. I'm your Alpha, and I know you.”
Jillian wiped at her eyes as Frank patted her head. It reminded me of a father patting his child, and I knew Frank was going to be a great father because he was a great leader.
